Going through the Canal

The whole purpose of going on this cruise was to actually go through the Panama Canal. And the only way to do that is to be on a ship. I have to admit that I really knew very little about the canal. So I brought along David McCulloughs book, Path Between the Seas. A wealth of information in a fairly thick book. I finished it just before Panama and Cam finished it by the time we were home. I would highly recommend that anybody who is ever going to go through the canal, read this book first.
A brief synopsis: The French were the first to try and build the canal. They practically bankrupted the entire country trying to do it. They wanted to do a sea to sea path. 22,000 people died in Panama, a lot of them Frenchmen, mostly from yellow fever and malaria. Their intentions were good but they knew nothing about the diseases, flooding and other problems associated with trying to dig through a jungle. After they gave up, the Americans under Teddy Roosevelt bought it all from the French for $40 M. Then they spent lots of time cleaning up and eradicating the mosquitos, building the Gatun Dam and doing the lock system. One of the biggest problems was the Culebra Pass where they had problems with and still are trying to keep the land from sliding down into the canal. There are lots of websites and books that you can go to to find out more

It takes a full day to go through the canal. We entered from the Panama City side. We had gotten up way early to watch the sun rise.  The sun appeared to be rising in the west where we had just seen it set the night before. But that's because of the way the ship turned and the way the isthmus of Panama twists. I was surprised with how developed and big Panama City is. We waited our time and turn to enter the first lock. This ship only goes through the canal once a year, so even the crew were excited and out on deck watching and taking pictures.

skyline of Panama City

sunrise from the west???

Inside the canal, looking to the right, we were able to see the LDS Panama Temple. It was up there shining in the morning sun. Neat!!!

Panama LDS Temple

As you are going along there are green hills on both sides. We then came to the Bridge of the Americas and went under it. It was pretty impressive.

Bridge of the Americas

The water starts to get narrower sending the ship to the locks themselves. A tug boat comes out to greet you. Men get the ropes from our ship to the cement island. There are locomotives that help pull and push the ship through. It was fascinating to watch the entire process from just about any place on our ship. There are 3 locks that you go through to go up. Each one takes about a half an hour to go through. You watch the huge metal gates swing open and shut and the water levels rise. The whole place doesn't look that fabulous on the surface. It  is 100 years old. And most people have seen a lock system.You have to know some of the history, realize that several hundred feet of the locks are underwater and realize that the men who built it did so in 1914 without all of the heavy equipment that we have today. And the sacrifice and loss of life to do it.They are building some new locks....did I mention that last time?

going up

The best part for me was when we were in the middle of the canal and got to float through the beautifully raw, undeveloped land inside. No hotels, no people, no other ships, no telephone towers, just jungle and water and an occasional bird. It was misty and a bit rainy and almost surreal. The Gatun Dam was once the largest dam in its time. 

Gatun Lake and Gatun Dam

Then you come to the last 3 locks that go down to let you out on the other side.

It seemed like you understand and see better how they all worked watching us go through the other side and down and out.

going down to Colon

It was dusk and we were done and finally left the canal. It was a great day. Probably not something we will ever do again.

The next morning we were in Cartagena, Colombia. The people there are very friendly, very dark skinned and seem very happy. Not very many ships stop here. We went on a bus to an old fort where we walked up to the top and could see all over the city.  

We then went into an older part of town that had a beautiful little park, some lovely old plazas and building. There was a fancy church (of course) and we saw some flora & fauna. Makes me remember that we do live in a desert and that there are green jungles with critters in them all over.

One last day at sea and then we were on the island of Grand Cayman. I took all of my pictures on a water camera that I haven't had developed yet. So I am going to finish off the trip with that last day on Grand Cayman when I get my pictures back. It was a gorgeous day with warm beautifully blue water where we fed the sting rays and went snorkeling. I would highly recommend to anybody do both of those things while on Grand Cayman. Of all the places/islands/towns that we stopped and went ashore in, Grand Cayman is the one place that I would go back to again.

I promise one day here soon, I will finish this trip!!!!!!