PANAMA CANAL

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Up bright and early this morning 5.30a.m. to see our entrance into the Panama Canal, this is one amazing engineering feat, into our first lock at 6.30a.m, the Gatun Locks. It was an all day job with us descending into the Pacific Ocean at around 4.30p.m. We went through three sets of locks of a total of 27m up into Gatun Lake ,first then onto Gamboa and passing under the Sentenial bridge, then Pedro Miguel Locks then sailing through the canal to the Miraflores locks where we were descended down 9mt and then another 17m. Lots of construction along the way as they are making another set of locks that are bigger so that they can take super ships. Our ship had only 2ft either side as we passed through the locks, it looked a lot closer that that. A very busy day, lazing on the sun lounge and jumping up and down to take pics and see what was going on. i remember learning about the Panama Canal at school and to think it has been built for over 100 years is amazing - the new project is 8 months behind because they can't get the cement right???!!! Figure that. Apparently it has rained heavily for the last three days in the Panama but today only a few spits of rain - we were very lucky - but still hot and humid with a nice breeze. Had great view of the city of Panama, bad memories for us from last year when we were bumped off our flight to Cuba and had to wait in the airport for 8 hours. We exited into the Pacific Ocean and under the Americas Bridge about 4.30p.m. - whilst having a nice cold beer!

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Photos

ONE OF THE LOCKS
Looks small but huge!

PACIFIC OCEAN
Exiting under the Americas Bridge

OPENING OF LOCK GATES
Huge piece of hollow steel

40 SHIPS A DAY THROUGH PANAMA
MOSTLY CONTAINER SHIPS

OBSERVATION DECKS ON EXIT
These people had been waiting for hours to see the cruise ship!

LOCAL HABITAT
Gator sunning himself!

PASSING THROUGH PANAMA
Carved through mountains

Comments

[kaz]

hi
morning john and glor wow you have seen so much love the blog weather starting to warm up im off to buy vicki birthday preasant we will go to qbn next sat have birth drink any excuse !keep enjoying i text lara last week not heard from her must be busy or has she changed her no not to worry carnt wait to see yous xxxx

[lee]

panama
Thanks for that one.....thats the bit I would love the most...... looks fabulous.... Cold and wet' ish in melbourne. Golden Harvest last night...missed you xxxxx