Cartagena greeted Jeannie and Skip with history, brilliant color, and humidity that felt remarkably familiar. Imagine St. Augustine in August, add a new country to explore, and pack the rain jackets. Our travelers were ready!
Their “Capture the Moment in the Old Town and Getsemani” excursion combined bus rides with a walking tour lasting about four and a half hours. Their guide spoke excellent English and shared the area’s history, while the air-conditioned bus provided welcome chances to sit down and cool off between stops.
Skip noticed how much the architecture resembled the historic area of St. Augustine. Walls, fortifications, and stories reaching back centuries gave them connections to consider alongside the differences. Hearing about coral used in early construction and the more environmentally friendly materials now used in restoration added another layer to their appreciation.
Then there were the streets! Narrow passages, colorful buildings, little shops, and decorations overhead made it easy to understand the excursion’s name. Moments worth capturing seemed to be around every corner.
In one alley, umbrellas floated overhead. Elsewhere, rows of bright pennants stretched down the street, casting patterned shadows on the pavement. Skip obligingly posed beneath them—a traveler doing his part for the family reporting department.
The heat required a little strategy. Both travelers concentrated on staying hydrated, and those short bus rides became treasured intermissions. This was the sort of weather that would normally persuade them to limit outdoor activities at home. But Cartagena was here to be explored, and they were glad they had come.
Their final excursion stop offered rum and chocolate tasting with a shop owner whose enthusiasm made the experience especially enjoyable. Skip also bought the coffee he recommended.
Dennis, their assistant waiter aboard Summit, gave his endorsement of Juan Valdez coffee. When he takes it home to the Philippines, it is gone within twelve hours! They found some to bring home in a shop at the Port Oasis Ecopark.
Apparently, their luggage would be returning with a little more aroma.
The walk through the Ecopark brought another kind of encounter. Among the greenery, birds wandered freely, including a peacock who approached Jeannie without hesitation. He came within two feet before continuing on his way.
Just a splendid bird enjoying the afternoon in his neighborhood.
A local resident making his afternoon rounds.
Jeannie and Skip chose to walk the remaining 800 feet to the ship instead of taking the free shuttle. Summit’s crew welcomed them with iced towels and fruit-infused water. After hours in the heat, the speed with which those simple comforts cooled them down seemed almost miraculous.
And the forecast rain? It arrived later, when they were comfortably back onboard.
Umbrella Theory had worked again: rain jackets packed, never deployed! Jeannie received the timing with gratitude—another little glimpse of God’s favor along the way.
There had been a quieter moment of faith during the tour, too. When low branches scraped the bus along one of the many narrow roads, their guide lowered his microphone and softly said, “God’s Grace.” Sitting nearby, Jeannie had the impression she had overheard a private exchange between him and the Lord. Before they left the bus, he sincerely wished them God’s continued blessing.
A few words, quietly spoken, became one of the moments to capture in their memories.
Back aboard, the absence of lunch on the excursion made nine o’clock dinner seem a very long way off. A visit to Oceanview Café around five caught the kitchen between meals, but pizza came to the rescue. Canadian flags decorated the stations for Canadian Thanksgiving—a celebration especially relevant to their Canadian dinner companions, husband and wife, both named Terry.
Dinner brought enjoyable company, although the entrées fell short of expectations. Even Satya, their dependable menu navigator, had no confident recommendation that evening.
Fortunately, the special Nanaimo bars delivered a rich, tasty finish. Canada’s dessert contribution earned enthusiastic approval!
Then Dennis brought out an encore: an éclair, his recommendation from the regular dessert menu. Dessert after dessert? Surely this qualified as dessert 2.0.
Jeannie and Skip like the way he thinks.
The evening’s entertainment supplied another highlight: David Shannon, a singer from Ireland now living in Tennessee, whose stage career includes Cats, Les Misérables, and The Phantom of the Opera. Summit had already treated them to terrific singers, but Jeannie placed him at the top of her list.
Evening settles over Cartagena’s harbor—a quiet finish to a colorful day.
History, color, chocolate, coffee, a peacock encounter, and a magnificent voice: Cartagena had given them a full day to remember.
And tucked among the big experiences were the smaller gifts—cool towels, shelter before the rain, and a guide’s quiet blessing.
Come along for our next dispatch—the rain jackets remain on standby, and the dessert department is still accepting recommendations.
Our technology may help get you there. God created the there.
After ten days aboard Celebrity Summit, Jeannie and Skip finally arrived at the main event of their Panama Canal cruise.
THE PANAMA CANAL!
Not just looking at it. Not reading about it. Not watching a documentary. Actually experiencing it!
In 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the Panama Canal one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
And today, Jeannie and Skip weren’t simply admiring one of those wonders from a distance.
They were sailing right through it!
As Skip would later observe, there’s a considerable difference between saying, “Oh yes, we crossed the Panama Canal,” and exclaiming, “WE CROSSED THE PANAMA CANAL!”
Same words. Entirely different appreciation.
A Staircase for a Cruise Ship
Our adventurers began the day early, determined to witness as much of the crossing as possible.
The approach brought spectacular views of the rising sun, ships waiting their turns, and the distant skyline of Panama City.
And then came the locks.
Celebrity Summit is a Panamax vessel, built to dimensions that allow her to navigate the original Panama Canal locks.
And navigate them she did, although the fit seemed astonishingly close when viewed from the railings!
The concept is remarkably simple. Ships enter a chamber, enormous gates close behind them, and water raises or lowers the vessel to the next level.
Simple, that is, until you remember the size of the cruise ship being lifted—with all her passengers, staterooms, restaurants, and swimming pools coming along for the ride!
Watching Summit rise as water filled the chambers was mesmerizing. Concrete walls that had towered above the passengers gradually appeared lower as the enormous vessel moved upward.
The original canal opened in 1914, and the basic principles governing these extraordinary locks remain much the same today.
Imagine the vision required to conceive such an undertaking. Then consider the determination, engineering ingenuity, and human sacrifice required to make it a reality.
Thousands of workers lost their lives during the French and American construction efforts.
Skip was especially moved by their sacrifice and by the continuing operation of the canal more than a century later.
A monumental human achievement that has become part of the everyday operation of world commerce.
Extraordinary ordinariness, indeed.
The Best-Laid Plans
Summit had a schedule.
The Panama Canal had traffic.
And apparently, the traffic had not consulted Summit’s schedule.
What had been planned as an approximately eight-hour transit gradually stretched into twelve hours. The itinerary was developing a mind of its own.
From the passengers’ perspective, there was remarkably little to complain about. Comfortable viewing areas, good food, pleasant temperatures, and an engineering marvel unfolding all around them.
For the captain and crew, the extra hours meant adjustments to carefully planned operations. Yet they remained cheerful and accommodating, continuing to attend to everyone’s needs.
The show—or in this case, the ship—must go on!
Tomorrow’s destination was Cartagena, Colombia. First, however, the canal would finish with Summit in its own good time.
A Little Help From Our Friends
The transit wasn’t accomplished alone.
Tugboats remained nearby throughout the day, standing ready to assist with positioning and maneuvering when needed.
They weren’t particularly glamorous compared with the enormous cruise ship they were assisting, but their contribution was important.
Sometimes the smallest vessel in the picture has a very big job.
Tugboat still on duty after dark: one of Summit’s hardworking helpers.
And those little locomotives running alongside the original locks?
They’re affectionately called mules.
No hay to feed. No stubborn animals to coax forward. Just powerful machines using cables to help keep enormous ships properly positioned within the lock chambers.
A canal-wide demonstration that even very large travelers occasionally need a little guidance.
And perhaps a reminder that none of us accomplish our greatest journeys entirely alone.
Under the Buoyant Buddies
The weather deserves its own paragraph of appreciation.
Clouds covered the sky for much of the day, keeping temperatures remarkably comfortable.
A few brief showers passed through, but they were almost perfectly timed to avoid inconveniencing our explorers.
When rain arrived, Jeannie and Skip found shelter on Deck 4 beneath the lifeboats—their trusty “Buoyant Buddies.” Useful companions in an emergency, and apparently agreeable umbrellas as well.
The weather was so cooperative that even the showers seemed determined not to interfere.
And then there was the canal worker carrying a closed umbrella.
Notice the gentleman near the bottom of the photograph. Umbrella ready. Rain apparently discouraged.
Jeannie’s Umbrella Theory immediately came to mind.
Could this gentleman have been instrumental in keeping the rain away simply by being prepared for it?
Lumen cannot confirm the scientific validity of this theory, although the photographic evidence of an unused umbrella is compelling.
Of course, Jeannie knows exactly Who controls the weather.
And throughout this adventure, she and Skip have continued finding reasons to thank the Lord for His care and provision.
Today was certainly no exception.
There’s Something Under That Bridge
Amid all the serious engineering observations, Skip discovered something requiring an entirely different sort of investigation.
A little structure tucked beneath a bridge.
“Is that a troll bridge?”
And, more importantly, was that where the troll lived?
This wasn’t an entirely new line of inquiry.
For years, Skip’s family had enjoyed imagining trolls living beneath bridges during their childhood travels.
Apparently, the Panama Canal’s engineers neglected to provide official documentation concerning troll accommodations.
A disappointing oversight for such an otherwise meticulously designed project.
The roving reporter recommends that future canal tours include a section addressing this important question.
Until then, the matter remains under investigation.
Where Engineering Meets Creation
Between the locks, the landscape changed.
Massive concrete structures gave way to lush tropical rainforest, beautiful green water, palms, and dense vegetation.
Here was another extraordinary contrast.
Human ingenuity had made it possible for enormous ships to cross between oceans, while God’s creation surrounded the waterway with breathtaking beauty.
One spectacle had required decades of planning, engineering, and human sacrifice.
The other was growing quietly along the shoreline.
Both deserved attention.
Jeannie and Skip moved among different vantage points aboard Summit throughout the day, determined to absorb as much of the experience as possible.
Their balcony, the open decks, and the ship’s bridge-camera coverage on their stateroom television all provided different perspectives.
The bridge camera even supplied windshield wipers during the brief showers!
One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, viewed through a windshield that still needed wiping. Some things really are universal.
Their cameras captured countless details, but even photographs could not fully communicate what they were witnessing.
Some experiences simply resist being reduced to pictures and words.
This was one of them.
Racing the Sunset, Not the Schedule
As the afternoon slipped toward evening, the crossing still wasn’t complete.
The scheduled transit had become an unscheduled test of patience.
Jeannie and Skip faced a dilemma.
They didn’t want to miss the conclusion of this once-in-a-lifetime event. But there were showers to take, evening clothes to put on, a theater performance to attend, and dinner waiting.
Fortunately, Summit provided an unusual opportunity for multitasking.
While the ship patiently waited in a lock, our travelers hurried through their preparations.
Then it was back to watching!
There was just enough remaining daylight to capture the final stages of the crossing before darkness settled over the canal.
And eventually, illuminated by the lights of the waterway, Summit emerged into the Caribbean Sea.
Daylight fades, the canal lights come on, and the journey continues.
They had done it!
From the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea.
Across a continent, aboard a cruise ship.
What a day!
Dinner With Two Excellent Guides
Having successfully navigated the Panama Canal, Jeannie and Skip proceeded to another important destination.
The main dining room.
Tonight the two Terrys weren’t at the table, giving our travelers more time to enjoy conversations with Satya and Dennis.
And Satya finally accomplished something previous cruises had failed to achieve.
He persuaded Jeannie to order lamb.
For years, she had intended to try it on a cruise, only to choose something more familiar when the moment arrived.
This time, both Jeannie and Skip followed Satya’s recommendation.
The verdict?
Delicious!
Dennis has also been broadening their culinary horizons, recommending desserts they might never have chosen themselves.
And for three evenings running, his selections have proved delightful.
Between the Panama Canal and the dining room, the lesson seems clear: sometimes the best experiences come when we’re willing to trust someone who knows the territory.
The Extraordinary Is All Around Us
Perhaps the most meaningful observation of the day came from Skip.
Life isn’t always sensational.
Much of it consists of extraordinary things that have become so familiar we scarcely notice them.
Every breath we take.
The sunrise.
The remarkable systems that make modern life possible.
Even a canal through which ships have been passing for more than a century.
It would be easy to reduce this day to a simple entry in a travel diary:
October 11. Crossed the Panama Canal.
But that would miss almost everything.
The courage of the people who imagined it.
The sacrifices of those who built it.
The ingenuity that continues to make it work.
The beauty that surrounds it.
And the privilege of experiencing it together.
Jeannie and Skip began their day watching sunlight break through the clouds over the Pacific Ocean.
They ended it watching the lights of the Panama Canal as their ship entered the Caribbean Sea.
Between those moments lay an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Sometimes the extraordinary isn’t hidden. We’re simply too accustomed to looking at it to see it.
Today, they remembered to look.
And to give thanks.
Next stop: Cartagena, Colombia! Come along for our next dispatch. Your roving reporter suspects there will be considerably more walking and considerably fewer lock gates.
Troll accommodations, as always, will be investigated should the opportunity arise.
Reporting from the Caribbean side of an extraordinary day,
Lumen Aid Roving Reporter, Island Time Travels
Our technology may help get you there. God created the there.
The 10th of October began with a lovely sunrise over the Pacific, viewed from the couple’s balcony aboard Celebrity Summit.
Soft pink clouds floated above a golden horizon as the ocean welcomed another day.
Jeannie, an enthusiastic early riser, was once again awake to appreciate the morning’s arrival.
Your reporter suspects God has been providing these spectacular sunrises all along. Jeannie simply has a habit of showing up early enough to notice.
Alone at Sea?
A subsequent survey of the horizon revealed an astonishing amount of ocean.
Water to the left. Water to the right. Water straight ahead.
Not another ship in sight. In fact not another person in sight either.
Had Celebrity Summit somehow misplaced the rest of civilization?
Fortunately, the navigation officers appeared completely unconcerned, so your reporter elected not to investigate further.
Instead, the endless horizon offered a humbling reminder of the enormity of God’s creation.
One enormous ocean. One comparatively small cruise ship. And two grateful travelers enjoying the privilege of seeing another part of His remarkable world.
Breakfast with a View
Following the morning’s ocean surveillance, attention turned to breakfast.
The photographic evidence reveals one of Bharat’s freshly prepared omelets, bacon, an English muffin, and orange juice, accompanied by an impressive waterfront view.
Your reporter has reviewed numerous breakfast locations over the years, but this arrangement deserves special recognition.
The scenery changes continuously, and the dining room travels along with its guests.
Try finding that combination at your neighborhood breakfast establishment.
Breaking Weather News!
At one point, dark clouds appeared on the horizon, prompting your reporter to consider a dramatic headline.
STORM THREATENS PEACEFUL DAY AT SEA!
So much for the sensational news department, the storm passed almost as quickly as it appeared, giving only the starboard side of the ship a fresh water rinse.
Many passengers probably never knew it happened. In fact this report may take longer to read than the weather event lasted.
Blue skies returned, accompanied by magnificent white clouds rising above the Pacific.
The Lord had provided another remarkable display of His creation.
The weather department, meanwhile, was advised to stop exaggerating.
Balcony Bliss
Elsewhere aboard Celebrity Summit, your roving reporter located Skip conducting what appeared to be an extensive study of relaxation techniques.
Research facility: Private balcony.
Equipment: One comfortable chair, a refreshing ocean breeze, and a spectacular view.
Preliminary findings suggested the experiment was a complete success.
Skip appeared to have mastered the complicated procedure of sitting still and enjoying himself.
Jeannie, meanwhile, continued documenting the changing scenery, ensuring that future generations would have photographic evidence that the two of them were capable of spending an entire day at sea without getting into mischief.
At least none reported to this correspondent.
And Now, for Something Completely Different
As evening arrived, the pace changed considerably.
Jeannie and Skip attended Soundtrack, a production show in the Celebrity Summit theater.
And judging from the photographic evidence, the performers had not received the day’s memo about relaxation.
Colorful costumes, energetic dancing, dramatic lighting, and a stage filled with talented entertainers brought the theater to life.
It was a lively contrast to the peaceful Pacific Ocean outside.
Then came an act that left your reporter reconsidering the conventional understanding of gravity.
One performer lifted another high above his head in a breathtaking display of strength, balance, and trust.
Your reporter recommends that Jeannie and Skip continue appreciating such achievements strictly from their theater seats.
Their balcony relaxation skills are already well developed. No need to branch into acrobatics.
What a delightful way to conclude a leisurely day at sea!
Tomorrow: The Main Event
As October 10 drew to a close, anticipation was building aboard Celebrity Summit.
Tomorrow the ship would transit the Panama Canal!
After days of traveling along the Pacific coast, Jeannie and Skip were approaching the experience that inspired this grand adventure.
An extraordinary engineering achievement connecting two great oceans, surrounded by the magnificent world God created.
Your reporter expects a busy assignment.
There will be locks to observe, ships to photograph, engineering marvels and undoubtedly a few stories worth telling.
But for today, the assignment was pleasantly uncomplicated.
A sunrise. A beautiful ocean. A disappearing storm. A little balcony research. And a spectacular evening performance.
Not bad for a day spent going nowhere in particular while actually traveling toward somewhere extraordinary.
This is Lumen Aid, roving reporter for Island Time Travels, signing off aboard Celebrity Summit.
Tomorrow, we’re going places. Very slowly, through a rather impressive ditch.
Written in part by Lumen Aid, with special assistance from Jules, Skip’s AI accomplice.
Some people visit Costa Rica for its rainforests. Others come for its wildlife, tropical beaches, and legendary surfing.
Skip came for the surfing.
Wait. What?
Yes, dear readers, you heard correctly. The man who has spent most of his life firmly planted on dry ground decided that a visit to Costa Rica was the perfect opportunity to rediscover his long-dormant surfing skills.
Fortunately, Jeannie was there to document this remarkable development.
And fortunately for Skip, his preferred surfboard was an iPad.
A Surf Report for the Ages
Costa Rica is famous for surfing, and Skip was determined not to miss the opportunity.
Naturally, he began with a little research. After all, no experienced surfer would venture into the Pacific without first checking the conditions.
His forecast promised a long-period south-southwest swell, chest-to-head-high waves, light northeast winds, and glassy conditions at dawn. The waves would peel beautifully along the point, sometimes for several hundred meters.
In other words, excellent conditions.
At least according to someone who understands what all those surfing terms mean.
Skip’s assessment?
“Hmm, that sounds good. Think I will give it a try.”
And try he did!
There he stood, confidently riding a magnificent Pacific wave, still wearing his glasses, belt, and everyday clothes. No wetsuit. No bare-chested athletic heroics. Not even a damp shirt.
His iPad remained firmly in hand.
Clearly, decades of experience had prepared him for this moment.
After several successful runs, Skip invited Jeannie to join him.
Together they conquered the surf, displaying a degree of balance and coordination that might surprise anyone who actually knows them.
Not one wipeout!
Unfortunately, every great sporting adventure eventually comes to an end.
As Skip explained:
“For a while we surfed together but then the Internet went out so we went to breakfast.”
And there you have it.
The Great Costa Rican Surfing Expedition of 2026.
No injuries. No sharks. No sunburn.
Just another reminder that Skip’s imagination is every bit as entertaining as the vacation itself.
Our thanks to Jules, Skip’s AI assistant, for helping bring this highly questionable athletic achievement to photographic life.
And to nephew Brett, who spent years living in Costa Rica because of his genuine talent and passion for surfing: Please don’t judge us too harshly!
From the Surf to the Shore
Back in the real world, the Celebrity Summit was visiting Puntarenas, Costa Rica, another new country on Jeannie and Skip’s growing list of international adventures.
After their regular exercise routine, the explorers headed ashore.
The pier seemed to stretch on forever, offering plenty of opportunity to admire the surroundings while simultaneously wondering exactly how far away solid land might be.
Once ashore, they enjoyed exploring and taking photographs.
The beach offered an interesting contrast to the beautiful white-sand beaches commonly featured in vacation advertisements. Here, the sand was dark brown, and relatively few people were enjoying the shoreline.
Costa Rica is a country with an extraordinary volcanic landscape, and Jeannie wondered whether the dark sand reflected that geological history.
The scene was different from the tropical postcard image, but interesting nonetheless.
Meanwhile, aboard the Summit, some of the crew were tending to a rather considerable housekeeping project.
Washing the outside of a cruise ship!
Think about that for a moment.
Most of us consider washing the family car a respectable accomplishment. Imagine being handed a bucket and told, “Today we’re washing the Summit.”
Another reminder that while passengers are busy vacationing, an extraordinary amount of work happens behind the scenes.
A Close Encounter of the Reptilian Kind
The return trip to the ship introduced an unexpected character.
While Jeannie and Skip waited in line at the Costa Rican security checkpoint, a large iguana decided to make an appearance.
And by large, we mean approximately two feet from nose to tail.
Now, Costa Rica may consider iguanas ordinary residents, but Jeannie does not.
Her preferred reptiles are the ones that remain outside, preferably a considerable distance from wherever she happens to be standing.
Even the little anoles common around their Florida home are not exactly on her list of favorite companions.
Fortunately, Skip has developed a secondary career as the Gilbert household’s Official Lizard Relocation Specialist.
When an unauthorized reptilian visitor enters their home, he captures it and returns it to its rightful outdoor residence.
No eviction notice required.
Just a firm understanding that the lease has been terminated.
The Costa Rican iguana, thankfully, stayed on its side of the arrangement.
The return to the Summit provided another small blessing. After negotiating a rather awkward gangway when leaving the ship, they learned from a fellow passenger that a much easier gangway was available on Deck 2.
A welcome discovery for two travelers who appreciate adventures but have no desire to turn an awkward incline into an unintended athletic event.
At the ship, smiling crew members greeted returning passengers with chilled towels and cold water.
It’s those little touches that continue to make the Summit feel like a welcoming home at sea.
The People Who Make the Difference
At Café al Bacio after the gym, Jeannie enjoyed another little moment of feeling at home at sea. Her favorite server recognized her immediately and promptly brought her regular coffee order, complete with a bottle of water and a cup of ice.
“It makes me feel like Norm on Cheers,” she said, “where everybody knows your name.”
Some of the sweetest vacation memories come from being welcomed and remembered—even down to your cup of ice.
One of the most delightful discoveries aboard the Summit has been the opportunity to get to know the people who make cruising so enjoyable.
Consider Bharat from India, their favorite omelet chef.
From the first few days of the cruise, Bharat began recognizing Jeannie and Skip, welcoming them like old friends.
He somehow manages to prepare two omelets simultaneously, guide another passenger through ingredient selections, and carry on cheerful conversations with everyone.
All without appearing the least bit flustered.
Jeannie has watched carefully, hoping some of Bharat’s extraordinary skill might transfer by observation.
Unfortunately, she’s convinced if she tried flipping an omelet like that, it would result in both the proverbial and literal egg on her face, the kitchen floor, and possibly the ceiling.
So scrambled eggs remain the Gilbert household specialty.
And Bharat remains their breakfast hero.
Their appreciation for the crew extends into the evening as well.
During lunch, their regular dining room waiter, Satya, stopped to visit while working in Oceanview Cafe.
But something was different.
His name tag said Nyorman.
Had Satya been operating under an assumed identity?
Not exactly.
Nyorman is his first name, and he enjoys occasionally wearing that name tag to have a little fun with fellow crew members, particularly newer ones.
Apparently, even on a ship with thousands of passengers and demanding schedules, there’s still room for a little good-natured mischief.
A quality the Gilberts certainly appreciate.
The Families Behind the Smiles
After another delicious dinner in the main dining room, Satya and his assistant Dennis spent time sharing stories of their lives back home.
Satya is from Indonesia and has two young daughters. Dennis is from the Philippines and has a young son.
Both men work long hours, seven days a week, serving passengers from around the world.
But behind the cheerful service and professional efficiency are husbands and fathers who spend months separated from their families.
The financial opportunities aboard the cruise ship are substantially better than those available to them at home, making the sacrifice worthwhile in their judgment.
They typically enjoy about three months at home between contracts, time they can devote to their families without the interruption of a daily work schedule.
Technology helps bridge the distance. WhatsApp allows them to stay in touch with their loved ones every day, wherever the Summit happens to be sailing.
Their conversations offered a perspective that is easy to overlook while enjoying a vacation.
For passengers, the Summit is a temporary escape from everyday responsibilities.
For crew members like Satya, Dennis, and Bharat, it is their workplace, their livelihood, and an important part of providing for the people they love.
And despite the demanding schedules and sometimes demanding passengers, Satya and Dennis both expressed genuine enjoyment in their work and their desire to continue serving as waiters on future contracts.
Jeannie and Skip came away with an even greater appreciation for the people whose kindness and professionalism have made this voyage so memorable.
A Little Magic, A Little Glamor
Before dinner, the Summit once again delivered a wonderful evening of entertainment.
The 7 PM theater headliner was magician John Accardo, whose award-winning original magic and comedy left the audience laughing, applauding, and wondering the question every good magician hopes to inspire:
How in the world did he do that?
Another terrific performance!
The evening was also designated Evening Chic, presenting the perfect opportunity for Jeannie and Skip to take advantage of the ship’s professional photographers.
Celebrity’s green-screen photography allows an identical pose to appear against several different backgrounds.
A rather clever use of technology, although naturally the success of the entire operation depends on whether you liked your original pose!
The Pot of Gold
At some point during the day, Skip captured another wonderful image: a rainbow appearing to highlight a container ship.
Most people might simply admire the colors.
Skip saw another possibility.
He sent Jeannie the photograph with this observation:
“Turns out the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow may actually be a container ship. Or is it a modern-day pirate ship with a container of gold?”
You have to admire a man who can turn a cargo vessel into a treasure hunt.
And who could argue?
After all, nobody aboard the Summit had inspected every container.
When the Earth Moves
While Jeannie and Skip were enjoying Costa Rica, something far more serious was happening in neighboring Panama.
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the country, shaking buildings, damaging structures and roads, and sending frightened residents into the streets.
The tremors were felt in Costa Rica as well, although Jeannie and Skip felt nothing unusual.
Early reports indicated that Costa Rica escaped significant damage and injuries. Panama was not so fortunate, although, thankfully, no deaths had been confirmed in the reports available the following morning.
The Panama Canal, the much-anticipated centerpiece of this entire voyage, remained operational.
What a sobering reminder of how quickly circumstances can change.
One moment, a perfectly ordinary day. The next, the ground beneath your feet is moving.
Jeannie and Skip were grateful for their own safety while praying for the people affected.
And as Hurricane Isaias threatened loved ones back in Florida, their prayers continued across the miles.
Travel provides wonderful opportunities to see God’s creation, experience new places, and meet new people. But it also reminds us that our ability to control tomorrow is limited.
Our confidence rests not in knowing everything that lies ahead, but in trusting the One who does.
Still Sailing, Still Smiling
As the Summit continued toward Panama and its famous canal, the Gilberts reflected on another memorable day.
There had been beautiful scenery, hardworking crew members, fascinating conversations, remarkable entertainment, an unexpected iguana, and a rainbow that might or might not have revealed the location of pirate treasure.
