Panama Canal, Russia, and Danube River: Armchair Travel Series

By Pauline Hager

An 18-day ocean cruise through the Panama Canal was filled with excitement and adventure for Pauline and husband. In Acapulco, Mexico, they watched divers jump off the La Quebrada Cliff, a 125 ft. overhang, into the Pacific Ocean. In Nicaragua they walked around an active volcano. A whitewater rafting expedition on the Corobici River in Costa Rica was a new and exciting adventure. Arriving in Panama City they boarded a round trip train ride on a picturesque path through the Panama Canal. Next day they sailed through the Canal. The ship's loud speaker emitted a voice explaining how the locks operate and the Canal's history. Entering the Caribbean Sea they continued to Colombia, SA and explored a fortress built in 1536 by the Spaniards. Onto Jamaica to visit Dunn's River Falls, a natural waterfall cascading 600 ft. down, spilling into the Caribbean. Last visit was the seven mile coral-sand beach of George Town, Grand Cayman Islands. The Volga Baltic Canal and River Waterway Cruise began in Moscow, Russia. The Hagers toured the city by bus and then a long walk through Red Square, viewing Lenin's Mausoleum. Continuing walk to visit the venerable St. Basil Cathedral, famed for its colorful, eight onion-shaped domes. Next day included a trip to the vast Kremlin, where five cathedrals, four palaces, the Armor Museum and the seat of Russian government is housed. Leaving Moscow, they sailed north to four historical cities, via lakes and canal, including Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritzy and Kizhi Islands. Final destination ended in beautiful St. Petersburg. Visited the opulent Catherine's Palace and on to St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral. Peter the Great and the last Romanov family, Nicholas, Alexandra and their children lie here. The Peterhof Palace, a version of Versailles by the Sea, built by Peter the Great was an exciting visit. The palace is famous for its fabulous Grand Cascade, consisting of 3 waterfalls, 64 fountains and 37 statues. A mini canal ride on one of the city's 66 canals was a great way to see the city. Final tour was a visit to the famous Hermitage Museum, with over three million exhibits, much too large to see in one afternoon. The Viking River Cruise on the Danube River consisted of four Balkan countries; Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and north to Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. The Hagers toured beautiful cathedrals, ancient castles, Roman excavations and military camps, among other interesting and colorful ancient ruins, including buildings pocked with bullet holes and shells of buildings in the war-torn cities of Serbia and Croatia, during conflicts between the Serbs and their Muslin and Christian neighbors in the 1990s. Due to two months lack of rain, the Danube River at this point was too low for navigation and all the passengers had to abandon ship and board another Viking ship farther north in Hungary. A three hour bus ride transported them to Kalocsa, Hungary to an equestrian ranch. They were treated to an outdoor horse show with Magyar cowboys riding and performing on Puszta horses. They continued to the fabulous city of Budapest for two days before boarding their next ship. Continuing their journey north, they sailed to Vienna, Austria via the picturesque Wachau Valley on the Danube. Visited the midlevel towns of Durnstein and Melk. Next stop was the delightful Austrian city of Salzburg. The famous Christmas markets were mostly up and filled with hundreds of colorful ornaments. Final city was Passau, Germany, another old and historic city, ending their scenic and historic tour.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pauline Hager
• Release date: May 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311917928

Pauline Hager

A native of Clinton, Massachusetts, a graduate of The University of South Carolina, and a longtime resident of Southern California, Pauline Hager presently lives in La Jolla, California with her husband Randy. Ms. Hager writes from her home and is presently working on her third book. Her first book Memoirs of an American Housewife in Japan humorously recounts her two and one half years living among the Japanese, and her second book is a novel Giorgi's Greek Tragedy, an epic tale during the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Turks. The author contributes articles to a monthly e-newsletter www.foxandquill.com/

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Preface

My husband and I have traveled to many countries around the globe, via ocean and river cruises, bus/auto and rail. Twenty-one countries (including the US) are chronicled and published into four separate travelogues. name of each country and mode of transportation

The four travelogues and twenty-one countries are as follows:

AUTO:

Nikko National Park Japan 1995

Thailand (1996)

TRAIN:

Durango, CO (2005)

Grand Canyon, AZ (2008)

Chama, NM to Antonito, CO (2010)

Kansas City, KS & Missouri (2011)

CRUISES: OCEAN & RIVER

Panama Canal includes Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman Islands (2003)

Russian River Cruise: Moscow to St. Petersburg via Volga Baltic Canal & River. Cities along the way include Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritzy and Kizhi Island (2005)

Danube River Cruise includes Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany (2011)

AUTO, BUS & RIVER CRUISE:

China—bus and river cruise (2007)

England—auto (2008)

PANAMA CANAL 2003

My sister-in-law wanted us to celebrate her sixtieth birthday on an ocean liner sailing through the Panama Canal, and asked us to accompany her and her husband. We eagerly accepted.

Mexico was our first port of call. Flying from San Diego to Los Angeles, we transferred to a shuttle taking us to the Los Angeles port city of San Pedro where we boarded the MS Veedam, a ship with the Holland America Line. After a courtesy bon voyage drink, we entered our new living quarters for the next eighteen days.

An announcement over a loud speaker stationed in each room informed us to gather on deck for the mandatory ocean safety instructions. Later, a loud, long blast from the ship's horn broadcast our imminent departure. We headed for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, located on the tip of Baja California, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.

Los Arcos - Mexico

At the entrance to the bay looms Los Arcos, a spectacular rock formation worn by wind and waves into a rugged natural portal. Los Arcos is Cabo's trademark. It's possible to take a boat ride to and through the arch, but we settled on taking pictures, instead. An unusually strong hurricane had recently passed through Cabo, and although there was an occasional breeze, the air was still hot and extremely muggy; a forewarning of the weather ahead.

The lingering heat and humidity had drained our energy. Instead of joining a planned mining tour we opted to stay behind, relax in an outdoor cafe and have a glass of cold cerveza, or two. Eventually we returned to the ship and back out to sea. It took one sailing day to arrive at Acapulco, queen of the Mexican Riviera. In my view, Acapulco is a string of modern high-rise hotels lining the oceanfront, similar to Miami Beach.

Acapulco

It may be considered a world-class resort, but the La Quebrada Cliff was the main attraction for me. We visited the celebrated cliff to watch professional divers jump off the 125 ft. high overhang, into the ocean. As the divers perform a perfect swan dive, they must also calculate the right moment to jump in order to catch an incoming wave, or possible death. Fortunately, this did not happen.

La Quebrada Cliff

Our next visit was to a boutique shop and a jewelry store (one of many throughout the resorts). My sister-in-law loves browsing through them! The following day on our itinerary was slated for Santa Cruz Huatulco, a quintessential Mexican village. It was once the main port of the Pacific and now a quaint resort community, noted for fantastic snorkeling opportunities. Our main interest was finding an outdoor cafe and a bottle of cold cerveza. We didn't look very far as they are in abundance, everywhere, and certainly the best places to spend torrid Mexican days.

The advantage of a large ocean liner is the many activities aboard ship. What's your pleasure? The ship offers myriad activities, such as computer services, cooking instructions, lectures, auctions, movies, wine tasting, and more, designed to keep you busy and entertained. They have casinos for those who like to dabble in gambling, professional entertainers in the evening, and swimming pools and spas on deck. You have the option of staying in your room to relax, read a good book, or simply nap. Most ships have well supplied