Mexican Coastline by randjb
The coastline near Copalita Point Eco-Archaeological Center
Pyramid at Copalita Point Eco-Archaeological Center by randjb
This is the small pyramid at the archaeological sight. The large one has also been excavated but is so large and has enough trees around it that I could not capture a good picture of it.
Skull from Copalita Point Eco-Archaeological Center by randjb
Under excavation since 1997, the ruins of a pre-Columbian civilization, the Mixtec, include pyramids, burial grounds, and a ball court dating to 500B.C. A modern museum displays a few of the artifacts from Mesoamerican cultures including this skull.
Sitting on the dock of the bay by randjb
Huatulco is located in the state of Oaxaca where the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. The town is tiny, five minutes to walk the whole thing, but cute nevertheless. It's primary function is to welcome the cruise ships.
Santa Cruz Bay by randjb
This is the latest of the cruise ship ports Mexico has established. A tiny town, the main feature is the long pier the ships tie up at. From there, most passengers take an excursion to someplace nearby.
Santa Cruz Bay by randjb
Nine bays bordered by 36 golden-sand beaches form the Las Bahias de Huatulco in the state of Oaxaca.
The Coral Princess by randjb
The Coral Princess is a Panamax designed cruise ship, meant to fit and fill the locks of the Panama Canal. Once in the lock, the ship has about 18 inches of clearance on each side - that's all. The ship was launched in 2002 and holds 1,970 passenger with a crew of 900.
- 11 December 2017 - Santa Cruz Huatulco, Mexico
- Tags: mexico cruise panama
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Whale at Porta Vallarta by randjb
After snorkeling, we cruised the bay looking for whales. We found multiple females each pursued by multiple males; mating season. Exciting to see even though no of them cleared the water completely.
IMG_1322 by randjb
We took a small boat across the Bahia de Banderas to an island national park, Marietas Islands National Park. The area is considered one of the destinations to practice snorkel and visit the natural environment, however the seas were high enough on the morning we were there to make snorkeling less than ideal.
Sailing to the tip of Baja California by randjb
The cruise began with two sailing days. Here we reached the tip of Baja California near Cabo.
- 8 December 2017 - Mexico
- Tags: mexico cruise panama
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Inside the Coral Princess by randjb
The atrium in the ship was decorated for the holidays making it even more festive than usual. The cruise began in Long Beach, went down the west coast of Mexico and Central America, crossed through the Panama Canal, visited Columbia and Aruba, then sailed into Fort Lauderdale.
Santa Croce by randjb
Just one of many churches in Florence, but a special one nevertheless because of who is entombed there. This list is impressive, though from what we heard, most people never visit. A short walk from the center of town, it's definitely worth an hour or so. Some of the greatest minds in politics, art, science, and music are entombed in this one church.
Galileo by randjb
The father of modern astronomy and sometimes called the father of modern physics, Galileo was entombed in Santa Croce after dying in his ninth year of house arrest. Though most known for the telescope, which he made practical but did not invent, his greatest contribution might have been the creation of the modern scientific method.
Michelangelo by randjb
Certainly the most famous of the people whose tombs are in Santa Croce, Michelangelo had carved at least on statue he intended for his own tomb. However, this is elsewhere in Florence and instead his tomb was created by Vasari. The tomb is a mixture of painting, sculpture, and architecture to celebrate the three areas the master most excelled at. Personally, I would have liked to see the tomb that Michelangelo himself would have created.
Dante by randjb
Though his body is in Ravenna where he went after the Fiorentino exiled him during his life, Florence now pays tribute to the greatest of the Italian poets. Dante's impact was so enormous, his Divine Comedy became the basis for all Italian literature and eventually for the modern Italian language
Machiavelli by randjb
In one short volume, "The Prince," Machiavelli enumerated the principles politicians have been using ever since - though they no doubt used them before as well. Machiavelli was the first to say out loud that the morality that governs the average citizen cannot be applied to those who run the state. Governing is too important to be constrained by religious conventions such as telling the truth.
Rossini by randjb
Gioachino Rossini's music is probably familiar to more people than any other operatic composer with a list of overtures that includes Barber of Seville, William Tell, Cinderella, and many more. Though he lived in Florence for only a short time, his remains were removed from Paris, where he died, to Santa Croce at the request of the Italian government.
Stained glass window by randjb
Many churches in Italy are more impressive than Santa Croce, though it does have interesting architecture and a few notable features. What makes it special, however, is who ended up there.
Iconic image by randjb
Many building in Italy, as well as elsewhere, tilt. The bell tower is famous, I think, because it stands far enough away from other buildings to show all of itself. Also, I think, it is famous because it is such a beautiful structure, even if it didn't lean.
Bell tower and Duomo by randjb
We took a short trip from Florence to Pisa to see the leaning tower. Arriving at 9:30 a.m., we left at 1 p.m. Other than the Piazza del Duomo, which contains the bell tower, we didn't find a lot to do, so after climbing the tower, we ate lunch and headed back to Florence. Because the trip was so short, I'll cover discuss it using photos rather than a blog entry.
Yes, it leans by randjb
The tower had over a 5% lean in the 1990's which caused engineers to close it for a decade while they worked on getting it more upright. They were successful and in 2002 people were allowed to climb the tower again. The tilt now is less than 4%. The way they fixed the tower was not to raise the south side, which is the side that is sinking, but to lower the north side.
The entrance by randjb
Like almost every famous landmark we have visited, armed guards are a constant presence. In the case of the tower, no one is allowed to take anything inside larger than a small purse.
Top of the stairs by randjb
The spiral staircase leading up most of the way to the top of the tower goes around all of the tower and is wide enough for people to pass each other. The final stairs from the observation level to the bell level, is narrow. Luckily it is also short. And yes, when you are going up or down the stairs, you can definitely feel the tilt of the building making it harder or easier to climb or pulling you to one side or the other.
View from the top by randjb
The Piazza del Duomo contains the cathedral (duomo) and the baptistry as well as the bell tower. The duomo's cupola is close to the tower while the baptistry is on the far side.