Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage, Puerto Limon, Costa Rica...

Out and about bright and early loving the warm temperature…  It’s so nice to go out for sail-in photos without having to put on several layers…  That will come soon enough as we head to the Antarctic. I have been to Puerto Limon more times than I can count so there was no big plan today. Ann, Cathy and I got off the ship and walked around the town taking in the sights. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American areas that jointly declared their independence from Spain. A bit rundown due to the many earthquakes that have hit the area and further complicated by COVID, Puerto Limon has some fascinating architecture and colorful open-air marketplaces. The main market in the center of town is the place to go to buy everything from fish, meat, vegetables, wood carved items to souvenirs. The city’s main attraction is the waterfront Vargas Park, an expanse of bench-lined sidewalks beneath tall palms and tropical flowers. Theft is a problem and the ship advised us to take precautions against pickpockets. Our first stop was Vargas Park with its Victorian Band Stand, statues and tropical trees. We walked along the sea wall and then along First Avenue, the pedestrian mall taking in the French Neo-classical style buildings. My mission today was to go to the City Market in search of habaneros peppers for the Indonesian crew. We found the peppers and I bought all of them… The woman selling them was blown away, and the crew were thrilled to receive the habanero peppers. On every past stop in Puerto Limon, I have made a point of going to the market to purchase all the habanero peppers in the market for the crew…a taste of home for them. We headed back to the ship as it as another hot day in paradise, a heat index on 102 degrees… I spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up the rays by the pool. Last evening, we attended the Captain’s Welcome Toast and on our return to our cabins we had been lavished with very practical Grand South America souvenir gifts…well done Holland America! Loving this Grand South America voyage on the Zaandam!