Panama & The Panama Canal
Over the past two days we went to/from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean 3 times.
On Tuesday (12/26) we sailed through the Panama Canal Passing through the Gatun Locks (from the Atlantic Ocean/Carribean Sea to Gatun Lake), the Pedro Miguel Locks (from Gatun Lake to Miraflores Lake) and finally the Miraflores Locks (from Miraflores Lake to Pacific Ocean). It took all day but it was incredible. The weather was a mix of cloudy skies and rain, but it was still spectacular. We had a wonderful day watching the lock process and enjoying the scenery in the lakes —from the sun deck, from our balcony and from the pool. We are incredibly blessed.
On Wednesday we crossed from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back again via land on a bus. We visited the Agua Clara visitor center and learned about both the original locks and the expansion locks from a guide and a short movie. We stood alongside the locks - behind the gates - and watched as a huge cruise ship (Princess Empire) passed through the middle part of the lock. We then proceeded back towards the Pacific side (stopping at a golf resort for lunch first) and visited the Miraflores Locks visitor center. We watched a 3D movie on Panama and the Locks, then proceeded out to watch as 3 sailboats, side by side, with a huge container ship right behind them pass through the lock together. Ad this time they opened the gates for us and let us walk out onto the concrete platform to watch - we were about 10 feet away from the edge of the lock! We did feel guilty about all the other spectactors behind the fence but apparently we paid “extra” in our excursion fare for the experience.
It was a fabulous day. We were supposed to depart Panama City at 6 PM but as of 8 AM the morning of 12/28, we are still docked due to a delayed “diving operation.” The rumors are the hull is being cleaned to avoid any potential issues with being denied access to New Zealand and Australia do to Atlantic Ocean “contraband” saline that attached to our hull. Eventually we will move on, and if we miss Costa Rica or Cabo San Lucas as a result, so be it. This is still the trip of a lifetime.
