Today we transited the Panama Canal. We are now in the
Pacific Ocean, at anchor near the entrance to the canal from the west. This was
our third time visiting the Panama Canal. We transited the canal once before
and we entered the canal but then turned around and went out the same way we
came in once before.
We had to get up early to witness the first set of locks.
Fortunately, the number of people on board this ship for whom this was their
first transit of the canal was probably less than fifty percent so that made it
easier to find a good viewing point in one of the public areas.
Second set of locks
The weather was hot and steamy though as it always seems to
be in Panama. We pretty quickly retreated to have breakfast in the air
conditioning. After breakfast, we found a good new spot to needlepoint. It was
in the Explorations Café which is the coffee shop/game room/computer
area/library of the ship. We found two Eames chairs with ottomans right by the
window and we planted ourselves there for the morning. It was a fairly public
spot so there was definitely more “And what are you working on?” for my taste
but R was in his element.
After lunch we did the usual – I worked out, R watched a
movie and then we met up and went to a lecture on the history of banquets and
banqueting at three pm. The woman who has been giving these food history lectures
is getting off the ship tomorrow so I will be curious to see what/who replaces
her. Later we sat outside on our veranda and needlepointed but eventually it
started to rain so we went in and got ready for dinner.
At dinner tonight everyone was given a Panama hat and
Russell and I had a beautiful spot for watching the setting of the sun over the
Pacific. It wasn’t the most spectacular sunset ever as there were thick clouds
obscuring our view of the actual setting sun but I still enjoyed the sun’s pink
reflection off the gray-blue clouds. We finished the day with a visit to the
GLBT group up in the “Crow’s Nest” but decided to skip this evening’s entertainment
-- a harpsichordist.
How did Russell let that other guy get the 2nd Eames chair?? Explorations Cafe would be my choice for doing needlepoint. More activity. You do have your lovely Rittenhouse postcards at the ready don't you?
ReplyDeleteHad been looking forward to your photos of the Panama Canal. Always wanted to go through it. Met a man one time who was sailing from the Virgin Island to New Zealand in a sailing yacht that he planned to work as a charter there. He had spent days with maps and drawings figuring out how he would tie his little boat to a larger ship in order to go through the locks.