This is where we started out on....
Our Panama Cruise
      First we had to take a train from Simi Valley, which is around 20 minutes away from home. It was 4 hours to San Diego.  The train station was about a block from where The Ryndam docked the next morning. We stayed at a local Holiday Inn within walking distance, though we took a cab.  Then walked around town a little that evening searching for a nice place to eat - not lucky there. The next morning boarded the ship in time time for a lunch - a real meal, and a tour of the ship before it took off late in the afternoon
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SIMI Simi Valley is about 20 minutes from our home in Thousand Oaks, California, and a friend drove us to this "station" to pick up the train that went through Los Angeles, then down to San Diego, not far from our hotel.  
   This was a four hour train ride through some very nice California territory.
   We  spent the night within sight of where the Ryndam would be docked the next morning. We walked to this nice impressive mall.
 Boarding     Boarding the Ryndam was, like most such events, a matter of waiting in line; but finally we were given the necessary papers and directions and eagerly entered the ship.  
    And searched for our stateroom.
    Touring the ship for the first time involved checking out our room and eating a much desired lunch.  Then more touring; and finally the required life boat drill where we had to wear life jackets.  Then it was "Goodbye" to San Diego.

PANAMA INDEX