Annapolis, Maryland

Friday, May 7, 11:10 am

A final note before we close out the Panama Canal Cruise portion of our travel blog:

We obviously had a wonderful time. We've seen some marvelous sights, experienced new and different cultures, met interesting and very friendly people, and at all times been pampered by the staff and crew of the Ryndam.

And a word about Charley: we are keeping him quiet and he is sleeping most of the time. The Prednisone and antibiotics may be working. His temperature has returned to normal, he's eating all of his special diet, and he's showing an occasional spark of interest (like raising his head and following our grandkids' pick-up soccer game in the backyard last evening). But his gums are still white, indicating a low red cell count, and he still has that glassy, distressed look in his eyes. We've talked to our vet in Vermont and she says she's seen dogs come back from this, so we are hopeful. But he is still one sick puppy.

The staff of the Ryndam sang us a song and bid us farewell on our last day aboard. The thin man in the white shirt in the center is Captain Vincent Smit, Master of the Ryndam.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

This is the "cape" in Cabo San Lucas, the end of the Baja Peninsula. Note the famous arch in the center of the picture. The tide was in, so it is not as noticeable.

Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Karen in the shade of the Hotel California. We had a very pleasant lunch on the shaded patio behind the hotel.

Todos Santos (All Saints) is a small seaside village about 50 miles north of Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California Peninsula. It's a beach town, art colony, and hangout for Americans.