Thursday, October 3, 2013

Puntarenas and Panama Canal

After a lovely day in Costa Rica we are now smack in the middle of the Panama Canal. We took private taxi to the rain forest and took the arial tram into the jungle canopy. It was fabulous and so was our guide who just oozed such love for his country and his vocation. After the tram we went on a hike through the jungle where he lectured us on all the flora and fauna of the rainforest. When we returned to Puntarenas, the port, my husband actually bought me a necklace and earrings. Granted, it wwas at the flea market, but it is pretty. We actually need another suitcase for all the crap he is buying.

Now we are in Gatun Lake after having gone through the first set of locks, on the Pacific side, the Miraflores Locks, and the Pedro Miguel Locks and now fifty miles of Gatun Lake to the Caribbean side and the Gatun Locks and out. The entire trip has been narrated by an expert so we know exactly what is happening at all times. There are also three pilots onboard at all times. It is quite an operation which takes approximately ten hours. Even though this is my third canal crossing I still find it fascinating and learn something new each time I transit. This time we were live on the canal webcam.


Now I have to get ready for the Senior Officer's Cocktail Party. We had a gourmet barbeque on deck for lunch. I think I am getting sick of gourmet food!

No comments: