Good morning dear readers! We were up early again well before 7 drinking coffee and watching a southern Caribbean sunrise. We gathered in the Coral Theater and eagerly jumped on a bus at 9am headed for the Panama Canal Ferry excursion. Our bus took us overland from Colon (we stopped half way at a gas and toilet stop that had a child’s bathroom with tiny toilets!!!!; We ladies used it as of course there was a long ladies line… The tiny toilets were almost on the floor. VERY cute) to Gamboa which is half way between the northern (Atlantic entrance to the Canal) and the Southern (Pacific entrance), so we entered the Canal half way.) When you enter on the Atlantic side you are actually going to travel from north to south and exit at Panama City. Entering the Canal at the half way point, We traversed 3 locks: Pedro Miguel, Miraflores, and Cocoli with another ferry tucked into the locks to close we could touch her and her boat bumper, and we touched the walls of the Canal lock also! Tucked into the locks behind us was a GIANT fat grain ship! Next to us in a sister lock was a huge liquid gas carrier. She has to go into the locks alone as she cannot be bumped… Although Chuck helpfully suggested if she bumps the side and blows, she’s taking us and the Canal with her. Nice, thanks Chuck!!! We were able to watch the big liquid gas ship go down and leave the locks ahead of us as the giant behemoth grain ship was v e r y slow entering the locks behind us. Both giant ships were guided on both sides by locomotives that keep them centered in the locks (called mules.) When we are headed to the Pacific from Atlantic we go up to the center (Gatun Lake) and then down to the Pacific. So we sat in the locks and the water went out and we went down in each lock. See my tee shirt which I will probably wear to tatters.On the ferry ride we had Panamanian beer for $3 dollars a bottle and a buffet lunch. Nice but it was HOT!!!!! The USA built the Canal in 10 years and it took 7 years to cut through the mountain at Centenary Bridge! and now the bridge is too low for large tall ships. So it lasted since 1915! Thanks to Teddy Roosevelt! It seemed to us we shouldn’t have given up the Canal even with the deals we cut. US has first priority and takes the Canal back in case of war… We pledged to protect the Canal and must defend Panama in case of war. But seeing the shape Colon is in… We probably were right to give it up. I’m not sure we would or could have have cleaned out the slums that Colon is…. So best to try to support Panama to do it. Panama City is a huge high-rise filled rich city (Panama is making a huge profit off the Canal), but the port at Colon is a slum. Very sad. An amazing day. We were very late getting back to the ship, but she actually sat at anchor most of the night anyway waiting for the great big day of crossing (March 2). Finally… Another movie recommendation. Poolside movie was Alan Shepherd’s story… I’ve forgotten the name of it. He lost a tiny daughter to brain cancer but continued single mindedly to land on the moon and he did by sheer nature of his intelligence and great courage and flying ability!!! …. God bless you and keep you safe this weekend of festivity before Ash Wednesday and Lent.
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