In route, we fly over Valles Caldera, (click link for info), the large circle of brown grass and mounts that measures about 14 miles in diameter. This depression is the collapse of a monster volcano about a million years ago. The mounts are caused by magma rising again. The largest mount is Redondo Peak at the top center which towers more than a half mile above the valley floor.

The snow covered runs of the Pajarito Ski Area can be seen at the bottom of the picture.

Colored pins on a Google map to show our ports;

San Francisco
Mazatlan, Mexico
Acapulco, Mexico
Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Manta, Ecuador
Callao, Peru (Lima)
Arica, Chile
Coquimbo, Chile
Valparaiso, Chile

We get in an open air taxi and ride along the malecon.

The Mexican beaches are public property and vendors use them to show you their wares of many kinds and colors.

While walking the beach, we saw someone that owned a Colima dog. This is the dog frequently modeled in pre-Columbian pottery from the Colima, Mexico area. Carol is fortunate to have a couple of pieces.

Leaving Mazatlan, we have another day at sea on our way to Acapulco

We arrived in Acapulco on a Sunday so Jane and Carol went to the Cathedral.

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. Jane has decided to stay aboard ship.

The road from Puerto Quetzal to Antigua took us from sea level through a forest region and a mountain pass. It looked like one of the mountains was smoking.

From Wikipedia:
Volcán de Fuego ("Volcano of Fire") is an active stratovolcano in Guatemala. It is close to the city of Antigua Guatemala. It has erupted frequently since the Spanish conquest. "Fuego" is famous for being almost constantly active at a low level. Smoke issues from its top daily, but larger eruptions are rare. On August 9, 2007 Fuego erupted spewing lava, rock and ash. Guatemala's volcanology service reported that seven families were evacuated from their homes near the volcano^[1]. The volcano is joined with Acatenango and collectively the complex is known as La Horqueta.

Down the street we saw the ruins of this colonial church.

Some examples of Baroque architecture

Stuffed quetzal on a pole by the clock tower. Time did not appear to be very important.

The Resplendent Quetzal is Guatemala's national bird and an image of it is on their flag and it is the name of their currency.

Our taxi driver told us these tents were for growing flowers for export to the U.S. and elsewhere.

Our taxi took us through the crowded streets of San Jose to see the volcanic black sand beaches. Note the mother holding the child on the motorcycle.

We have another day at sea in route to Puntarenas, Costa Rica. I amuse myself by photographing the birds. The one below I do not know, but the one on the right is a frigatebird.

We had 2 days at sea in route to Peru so Carol opened up her necklace and bracelet factory. The sound track for the bead work was Don Quixote de la Mancha, in Castilian Spanish. The CD set was a gift from Brian. What better occasion to listen to such an erudite piece?

Joe is disembarking at Lima and we are helping to carry his things; hammock, chair, snow board, surf board, computer, basket ball, volleyball, pump and oh a few clothes. He plans to hang out in South America for a couple of months to do some surfing, hiking and climbing.

Lima at 12 degrees south of the equator is in the tropics but because of the cold Humboltd ocean current of 65 degrees, the air was a very mild low 70s for mid November (their summer).

We hire a cab and take Joe to the Flying Dog Hostel, his home for the next few days.

One of our recollections of Lima in 1986 was the stark contrast of the ocean meeting a desert with no greenery in sight. Presently Lima has devoted some of their scarce water to beautify their coastal vistas.

We took Jane to see the Cathedral where Dick had proposed marriage to her years ago. She and Carol are standing at the entrance.

We have arrived at Arica, Chile. It looked like a city surrounded by desert.

From the Internet:
The Morro de Arica is a steep and tall hill located in the city. Its height is 139 meters above sea level. It was the last bulwark of defense for the Peruvian troops who garrisoned the city. It was assaulted and captured on June 7, 1880 by Chilean troops in the last part of their Campaña del Desierto (Desert Campaign) during the War of the Pacific.

A bar along the pedestrian only street seemed like a happy place.
Note the unusual beer server on the table.

Carol enjoyed shopping for Christmas gifts for all the grandchildren.

A local politician was attracting attention to his campaign.

A sea lion?

We have arrived in Coquimbo, Chile. In the background is supposedly the 2nd largest cross in the world.

We find a stall selling swords made from actual swordfish blades.

Later we visited the fish market.

Little boy tentatively touching the shark

November 22, arrival in Valparaiso, Chile and the end of the cruise.

Joe, we greatly enjoyed your company, hope all is going well with your extended travels in South America.

The service is over and it is time to go ashore, round up our own bags and find our ground transportation. Jane bussed directly to Santiago and a flight home. We stayed on a couple of days waiting for a flight on the 25th. Our additional pictures are here.

Jane, thank you for making this wonderful cruise possible.

Hope you all enjoy our pictures.

Jerry and Carol