Panama Canal
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Today we arrived for our transit through the Panama Canal. We have an appointed time of 7:30 am. By 7 am, passengers were already out on the main part of the open bow to see ( or was it to get the famous Panama Canal muffins?) the canal. It is really underwhelming. There is no huge sign that says “Welcome to the Panama Canal”. You could easily go by it and never know you missed it. This photo is off of our balcony on the back of the ship looking east.
The canal is an engineering marvel. Ships are raised up to the man made Gatun Lake. The ships transverse the lake and then are lowered back down to the ocean. It doesn’t matter which side the ship comes from, Atlantic or Pacific. The process is the same.
The canal begins just beyond the Puente Atlantico bridge. Notice every passenger has a muffin.
This photo shows the entrance to the first lock. Three locks up, three locks down. Estimated transit time through the canal is 10 hours. Look carefully and notice the container ship on the right being raised in the first lock and another ship on the left being lowered. This is the entrance to the world famous Panama Canal from the Atlantic side. I think the Big Ball of Twine in Kansas at least has a sign.
This video shows the ship to the left of us move through the lock. The ships are very close to each side of the lock.
This photo shows the lock closed in front of the ship. The pressure of the water seals the two doors tight.
Interesting and hot day. Group trivia was a new low. City with the oldest city park? Which Apollo mission sent back the first photos of space? Usually the folks that know these heard that answer from another trivia game. It is not so common knowledge.
We exited the final three locks during dinner. The other side of the canal is just as underwhelming. The view of Panama is incredible. We sat in the harbor area of Panama all night. This was a spot we loaded up on bunker fuel to continue our cruise.
For dinner I had something the chef created. Dan’s dirty burger. Beef patty on each bun, melted cheese on top of that, one side had chopped unions, the other side had a fried egg. I tried to make one sandwich out of it but it was too unstable. Yes, finished it all. Delicious! another 10! The burger was so good I only gave the dessert an 8!…