First Port Costa Rica-Day 5-January 9

 First Port Costa Rica

Cruise World Day#5--Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

Here is how the day unfolded:

·                 Up at 6 before 7am room service because I could not miss the first sail in.

·                 Coffee upstairs.

·                 7:50am cereal upstairs

·                 9am meeting guest services.

·               After negotiating rates with a local tour company, I relished a lovely day touring beautiful the island and visiting a banana plantation. Manuel was our friendly happy driver who grew up in Limon and whose entire family lives here.  He had one 9-month contract on a celebrity cruise ship in the Mediterranean at least 15 years ago. He missed his family too much to stay on. He told us colorful stories about his native land and honked and waved at friends throughout the day. 

·                 Back in town, I attempted to use Wi-Fi in a busy local café. There were too many of us, so no luck!

 

Later, we heard the first cruise fatality happened right outside the ship, on the pier. A man in his 70s collapsed and died right there on the pier. Paramedics arrived and made numerous vain attempt to revive him. It was the talk of the ship tonight, naturally. 

I was a bit appalled by how soon the inquiries and jokes began about who could stay in his room since it was all paid for etc.

 SECOND PERFORMANCE:

The Finkel family, a family of entertainers performed in the big theater tonight. The brothers are a clever xylophonist and pianist who have performed all over the world. There was a surprise appearance and performance by their dad, 93-year-old Fyvus Finkel. He used to do the vaudeville circuit with his standup schtick and he played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway.  They were terrific! Here is the dad's bio:

 

http://www.biography.com/people/fyvush-finkel-21299793#!