Day 9: sea day

Another day of hanging out.  I spent a lot of time on the helideck watching the boobies soar and try to catch fish.  It was very windy but sunny.

Today’s Food Highlight:  Roast Beef Sandwich; in the room and in the Solarium; always yummy!

 

Day 8: sea day

I woke up early this morning feeling not so great.  I went outside for some fresh air and the weather sure did not help.

The rainy weather means it is time to nap.  But at some point you just have to make yourself get out of the room and enjoy the fresh air.  I went to my favorite spot and had an ice tea watching it rain . . .

. . . and then a rainbow appeared!

Today’s Food Highlight:  Lemon Tart . . . I won’t say how many I ate!

Day 7: Panama Canal

Today is the highlight of the cruise.  I am so excited and can’t wait even though it will be a very long day.  Did you know it will take our ship over 8 hours to make full passage from the Caribbean Sea (part of the Atlantic Ocean) to the Pacific Ocean?  I went to bed super early so I could be on deck early to hopefully have a decent place to stand and view . . . I wasn’t early enough for all the old people.  We are approaching the Agua Clara locks (left; where I was yesterday), but we are using the original canal locks (right).

I finally ended up at the front of the ship on deck 12 for the first lock.  It was crazy packed on all levels front and back of the ship . . .I mean it should be because who isn’t outside watching this since it is the highlight of the cruise?  There are two lecturers on the ship that are giving live information about our passage which is fun. 

Fun Facts:

• Opened in 1914
• August 15, 1914, was the first sail
• Took 10 years to build
• The canal is 50 miles long.

Okay so I am going to sound silly but I had no idea it would take all day to get from the starting point to the ending point.  I thought it was just one lock and that was that, but it is way more complicated than that.  Apparently, I did not recall that fact from my education.

GATUN LOCKS

• Raised about 85 feet over 3 chambers
• Each chamber raised the ship 28 feet in about 15 minutes
• 8 locomotive mules used to guide ship

It was a scramble to find open viewpoints from deck 12 and 13 both front and back and down to 5.  It’s funny how territorial people get with their spots.  I mean I get it but it’s funny how people would ask to just snap a photo and people would tell them no.  I did have one very short lady ask if she could get in front of me for a “quick photo” and then she proceeded to stay there for 15 minutes.  I did not say anything because she was so short that I could still get a good view over her head.  After we completed the three cambers at the first lock it was cruising across GATUN LAKE for a few hours before the next set of locks.

I took a late breakfast break and power nap before the next set.  The narrowest part of the Panama Canal is called CULEBRA CUT. It's a roughly 13.7 kilometers (8.5 mile) stretch excavated through rock and limestone.

It’s very narrow and boats must go single file one at a time.

PEDRO MIGUEL LOCKS 

The ship is now being lowered 31 feet.  A rowboat comes out to connect the cables to the locomotives.  I missed seeing this but apparently they have tried more advance options but this works the best! 

So how close are we?  I am standing on deck 5 and could reach out and touch the side of the wall . . . so very close!  The white is the railing of the ship.

 

Fun fact:  In1928 Richard Halliburton swam the length of the Panama Canal.  His journey took him 10 days to swim the entire 48-mile length of the canal.  Oh, and he paid a toll of 36 cents for his passage, the lowest toll in the canal's history.  It was a short one mile to the last set of locks.  By this point, not many people are out watching which is nice.  It is super-hot and humid, but I am here for the show!

MIRAFLORES LOCKS

I finally was able to see the rowboat as it approached the ship to connect the cables to the locomotives. They have found this in the most efficient way even after 100 years.

These are the locomotives that attach to the ship on each side and guide it through each lock and chamber.  I think there were 3 or 4 on each side every time.

Once again the ship is being lowered.  There are two chambers and we will go down 27 feet each time. 

And now we are back to sea level and Panama is in our rear view.

It took about 8 hours to make the entire journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Day 6: Colon, Panama

We have arrived in Panama!  Today is a land tour before the big event tomorrow.  It is a very long excursion day since we are docked in Colon and the tour is in Panama City which means a lot of time on a bus!  Our guide gave a lot of interesting history of Panama which the only thing I remember is that Panama has their own coin currency but they use U.S. dollar bills for the bill currency . . . it was part of the agreement when the Panama Canal was established.  I am a good listener but not a good retainer of information. 

First Stop:  Agua Clara locks

The Agua Clara locks are considered the “new” Panama Canal expansion that was completed in 2016.  They allow for those massive cargo ships to pass with thousands of  containers; honestly if might be hundreds, I don't know.  We arrived just as a cargo ship was starting the passage.  They had a nice viewing platform to watch the passage.

You can see how the water is higher in the left chamber to the right chamber with the ship.

As I was standing there, I noticed several people with A&M shirts and caps so I went and chatted with them.  I swear you always find Aggies in the wild . . . these were not just any Aggies but they were in town for Aggie Muster . . . I did know who they were as they had highly recognizable names.  Aggie Muster is one of the most touching Aggie traditions at Texas A&M University.  The ships just sat waiting.

Next ship up . . .

It was back on the bus for the long drive to Panama City.  They did give us a small snack box which was simple but good.

As we arrived in Panama City we did the notorious panoramic tour out the bus window that was a boring drive around different neighborhoods.  

Next Stop:  Casco Antiguo (Old Quarters)

We finally got off the bus to walk around the Casco Antiguo area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  I felt bad for our guide as she tried to manage our way too large group of less than cooperative people.  At one point I looked back and saw a couple checking out a restaurant menu at an outdoor patio area as the guide was giving historical information.  She kept her cool, but I could tell she was frustrated.  If you were not near her you did not hear any part of the tour which was disappointing.

Iglesia San Joe (St Jose Church)

Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus) ruins

Cathedral Square

The drive back was long but the bus window views were nice with a lot of green and almost jungle like dense trees and plants  I was happy to be back at the ship because I was starving!  So a quick walk directly to the buffet and my favorite table on deck 11!

Day 5: Cartagena, Columbia

I am going out on my own today with a local guide, Dora the Explorer and her team Diego (driver) and Emma (guide).  I found her online, and she had fabulous reviews.  I am actually joining a group that she had but we are only 3 people total so that will be nice!  I usually stick with cruise ship tours because if your tour is late; they will wait, but today I am taking a chance.  Some fun facts from Dora as we drove to our first stop:

• Discovered by Spaniards in 1533
• Slave port in colonial days
• Weather is consistent at mid 80° with 90% humidity

At 7:30am when I got off ship the weather was 86° with 90% humidity.

First Stop:  Convento de la Popa (La Popa Monastery)

Beautiful chapel and monastery with great views of the city from the highest point in Cartagena.

Our ship is on the left; seems so small.

Next Stop:  Castle San Felipe de Barajas

Spanish colonial fortress built in 1536 one of oldest and most important in the Americas.  I was happy it was just a snap a photo stop and not hike to the top stop.  

Then:  City Wall and Dungeons

The city was walled with 11km to protect the city.  It was named a UNESCO site in 1984.  Now the walls and dungeons are filled with handcraft shops of local crafts and crap.  I did have my first Colombian coffee.  It was coffee.

 

Next Stop:  walk around old town 

The vendors were everywhere . . . it was a bit annoying but they left you alone when you told them no thanks.

Final Stop:  Church of San Pedro Claver

Church is dedicated to Saint Peter Claver who dedicated his life to serving slaves in Cartagena in the 17^th century.  He advocated for their humane treatment and baptized over 300,000 slaves.

   

Quick Stop:  Getsemani

We took a quick walk around the area which is a vibrant neighborhood full of restaurants and very artsy colorful streets.  It was a bit dead during the day but they said it is hopping after dark . . . not sure I would go there at that time!

It was back to the port with plenty of time to enjoy the Port Oasis Eco Park.  It is sanctuary for animals before some are released back to their natural habitat after rehabilitation.  It is at the cruise port and has over 700 animals of 74 species.  It was pretty cool to walk around and see all the critters.  I was amazed at how close you could get to them.  Of course crazy people were trying to pet them.  I did notice a first aide station so apparently dumb tourist people have been injured and needed treatment.