10 14 2010 At sea, following the invisable Mexican coast

Another at sea day. The temperature was 78-86F/26-30C, sunny and less humid.

Costa Rica  was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502 when he landed in  Puerto Limon on the Atlantic shore.  It means the "rich coast". The Spanish explorers had heard rumors of gold and vast riches but those dream did not materialize. It was ruled by Spain from 1530 to 1821 when it became part of the Central American Federation, which it left in 1838 to become fully independent. It is now a model of democracy and political stability. Puntarenas used to be the main port for coffee export. The population is now 4.5 million.

Lecture about Puntarenas (on the west coast of Costa Rica) and Costa Rica wildlife by Ray Rychnovsky:

$1=570 colons
The temperature is mostly in the 90's.
There is no army.
We would dock at the pier in Puntarenas.

Cashew nuts are poisonous if not heated first. A mother gives her daughter a cashew tree.

A sloth stays in the same tree his whole life. He sleeps upside down and moves very slowly when he is awake. We did see some on our tour to the bird sanctuary in Costa Rica.

Lecture about the deep sea:

71% of the planet consists of salt water.
The Dark Zone is the area 1000 meters below the surface and there is no light there at all. Only animals live there.
Every 10 m (33 feet)= 1 atmosphere pressure.

Different theories why the continents are where they are: There is no mechanism for continental drift to occur. However, there is fossil evidence that suggest that they were connected and there are similar rock formations. Herzen and Tharp used sonar to map the ocean floor which is not flat but has mountains and canyons.

Harry Hess had the theory of Plate Tectonics - There seems to be a pattern of volcano locations; earth quakes occur in particular locations, etc. - Circle of Fire. Iceland is on the Mid-Atlantic plate with a rift of 2 cm separation/year.

Chemosynthesis: Bacteria can oxidize hydrogen sulfide to produce carbohydrates which requires no light like photosynthesis. This may be one of the oldest life forms on earth.


Time for Afternoon Tea.

There was an announcement from the Captain that we were getting close to the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico, where strong winds (T-Pecker winds) caused by higher pressure in the mountains and lower pressure at sea would cause a fetch - a wind that blows in a constant direction generating big waves - with possible sudden gale force winds. So the captain announced the he would follow closer to the coast to decrease the fetch. The winds were expected to be 45 miles per hour at 2-3 PM for 10 hours. Jalil and I sat outside reading and looking at the ocean which had white foam at the top of the waves (gass ?) and there was an occasional drop of rain on us. My glasses and hair were covered with salt. The temperature dropped so that I was chilly in my blouse which had been too hot in the morning.

Dinner in the dining room - a most delicious pork belly - too full for dessert!!! That never happens!

Tina Turner on the outside screen, then a show. Nice music in the Wheelhouse bar - only 2-3 couples dancing . They danced so well that Jalil and I were too intimidated to join them. Had GI discomfort during the night - maybe too much pork!









dark zone