January 26, 2019. – San Blas Islands, Panama
Today stop is a tender port. The islands have no port that a ship this size can get close to so we anchor a ways out and take the ships tenders out to our stop. There are over 300 islands in this group off the coast of Panama. 49 are inhabited and we are stopping at one.
The seas are calm and the tender process went smoothly. This tender/lifeboat is stored right above the walkway outside of our room.
We spent about an hour on this cramped island. The women and children were out selling their goods. The men seemed to be in the huts on hammocks resting. We heard television sets as we walked by some of the huts.
We tendered back and prepared for dinner. Tomorrow is the Panama Canal and the dinner theme is Panama hat night. We did not make dinner reservations in the main dining room so we ate in the Lido cafe. Still plenty of great food.
The main stage featured Mario D’Andrea. Italian born and raised in Australia. Currently he lives in Las Vegas. He opened with El Cumbanchero on his electric guitar. Great tune. He sang some classic Italian tunes, some Dean Martin and Chuck Berry. He is quite spontaneous and the house band members were digging through their charts every time he broke the set list. The pianist at one point just threw up his hands but they all took it in stride. A few times he lost his place in the introduction of tunes because he liked to talk. His final number was a Spaghetti Western Tribute. Great music and a very down to earth guy. …