Panama Canal

Yesterday was our passage thru the Panama Canal. The Canal runs thru the country of Panama, connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is approximately 48 miles long and was completed in 1914 by the US government for a cost of $387 million! The US maintained it until the Canal Treaty signed the land back to Panama in 1999. (The background info is for any kids who might be reading...they can learn something!)

We were up by 6, just in time to see us go into the first lock. It wasn't totally light yet, so lights were still on. We transited thru the first 3 locks, the Gatun Locks, along side another cruise ship. We then had a few hr cruise thru Gatun Lake, then the Culebra Cut before reaching the next set of locks.

When we first enter the Canal area, I emailed my step-son from my first marriage, Victor, to see if he could watch the ship go thru from some vantage point so we could see each other -- first time in 27 years! Can't believe it's been that long since I left Panama. He told me he would call later in the day and let me know where he would be. We then lost signal until we almost reached the next locks, which seemed strange. There were towers everywhere, but no signal to our BlackBerrys.

Close to the Pedro Miguel Locks, Victor called and said he was there beside a large white truck. Unfortunately we were already past that area by the time I found him. I called him when we hit the last locks, the Mira Flores. He was going to be on a dock just after the Bridge of the Americas (the pic I will upload when possible!). Then he changed his mind and was on shore just past the locks. We could see him way off in the distance. Too bad he couldn't have been at the visitor center or somewhere that the ship passed closer. At least we got to see him and talk to him via telephone. That made the Canal transit extra special.

When we weren't looking for Victor, we were all over the ship, trying to find the best vantage point at any given time. We were on the move from 6 a.m. until dinner, at 5:45. Pretty fun day. It was amazing to see how large Panama City is now. When I lived there, there were maybe 2 or 3 high rise buildings. Now there are many, changing the skyline a lot.

Today is scenic cruising along the coast of Costa Rica. We've seen a few dolphins jumping our wake along side the ship. Other than that, it's beautiful blue water and jungle. A very lazy day after running around yesterday. We see Costa Rica tomorrow.

---