Panama City, PanamaThursday, January 9, 2014
``Did you have a good time goingthrough the Panama Canal today, ` the entertainer asked.
A few people in the audience responded
dryly. They didn't sound convincing at all; making me feel like I
was in Zombie land. They also didn't even clapp hard enough which
was very easy even for older people. Which reminded me, one
comedian said, ``The longer the day of the cruise, the older the
passengers.``
Anyway, today was our second time to
cross the Panama canal in just about ten days
. This was the reverse
which was transiting from the Atlantic side to the Pacific side.
(north to south) I didn't get up to see the whole dramatic entrance
to the Gatun Lock but we were awakened by the narration of the
transit, on the loud speakers. From our cabin location which is very
closed to the bow, we could hear every word on the microphone
including the annoying hum when she did not turn off her microphone!
I had a 9:00 am watercolour class and
after I finished that and a quick breakfast, I managed to look
outside and get some photographs. I noticed one place in
particular was surrounded by high chain link fence with razor wire
.
There were sentries too, and it made me wonder how it could be a
place for the pilots, or any workers. I took several shots and moved
around to obtain excellent views of the surrounding jungle. Some
twenty or so souls were at the bow taking pictures and gawking all
around at the view. A few frigate birds were circling around above
us. Crews were busy offering and serving refreshments, such as
lemonade, iced water and wet towelettes.
At 12:25 pm we were at the Gamboa locks
and then right after that the Pedro Miguel Locks by approximately1:35 pm. There were several freighters around us waiting for their
queue to go through the canal
. Not very far away, we could see the
M.S. Zaandam with the passengers on tender boats for their day tours.
Alongside us on the starboard (right) side was a smaller passenger
ship Amedea. We could talk to some of the passengers who are on their
balcony. We could smell their blue cheese on crackers and they
could also possibly smell our sweat.
When I met Bert after lunch he asked
me, `Did you know that Noriega is now imprisoned here,`` he asked.
`No, but I noticed a place that looked
like it might be a prison because it had sentries and razor wire all
around.
I thought that the canal was only a maritime shortcut to
save time and cost in transporting all kinds of goods. I didn't know
they had prison cells too!` I replied.
``Noriega, the notorious former
Panamanian dictator was imprisoned here after the French released him
following his jail term served there. His time served in France,
followed 23 years incarcerated in the USA.
The tour boat you see, used to be owned
by the Mafia boss Al Capone, `` commented Patricia Holmes, our Panama
Canal Narrator. She didn't explain why Al Capone would choose a tour
boat in the Panama Canal.
Through out our day transiting the
canal, we had the live commentary which could be heard all over the Ship. Panamanian dishes were featured for lunch with matching Seco Colada and Chichita Panama drinks. The Terrace Grill was decorated and made us felt like we were in Central America. There was
a fruit stand with crews serving fresh cut papaya, star fruit, pineapple and watermelon. Another stand served fresh chilled coconut. There was a Panamanian market where people could buy t-shirts and souvenir items. Lunch of course was geared toward
Panamanian and Central American dishes.
Before 3:00 pm,
we entered the
Miraflores locks and just then, we had our first experience of
pouring rain on this cruise. To some, it was a welcome treat after
the oppressing heat of the day. I stood near the ships railing
listening to the pelting of rain on the wooden railings. Others
took to it badly when they couldn't take photographs. Then I heard
the unmistakable shriek of a woman who had slipped on the steel, deck
because of her slippery, rhinestone decorated, flip flops.
From our port (left) side, we could see
the new gate locks that had been delivered from Italy. We also
noticed the dry excavation and dredging for the construction of the
two new locks
. The newer one will be longer and wider than the
current one, and it will allow the passage of mega ships with larger
dimensions. It will be 427 meters long, and 55 meters wide, which
is the size of four football fields.
At the moment, the canal is supported
by a workforce of 10,000 men and women. It has an annual transit of
14,000 vessels but once the expansion project starts to operate, it
will double the waterway capacity.
We must have been at the La Fontaine
dining room having our tea when we got out of the last lock. We were
again at the La Fontaine dining room for our early dinner when we
glimpsed a beautiful sunset in Panama. By this time, we were on our
way to the southern hemisphere, and we can`t wait to get there.
Overall, with rain or sun shine,
transiting the Panama Canal was an experience to remember!!
No comments:
Post a Comment