• Jay Russell
  • Jay Russell

National Lloyds to Panama

Et kort men fint eventyr av Jay Les mer
  • Reisens start
    9. juni 2016

    Departure Day

    9. juni 2016, Forente stater ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Mary and I look forward to each National Lloyds trip. This one with no exception. However when we booked our flights we were scheduled to leave at 7:30 a.m. which is not the best time but because we get to go through Miami instead of direct this was the time scheduled.

    A week prior to departure we received an email stating there was a change to our depart out of DFW. After review of the change we were shocked to see our new departure time was 5:00 a.m. Which means, well you get the picture.

    We will have time to sleep on the plane and take a short nap after we arrive.
    Les mer

  • Arrive in Panama

    9. juni 2016, Panama ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    5 hours after leaving the house we arrive in Panama.
    The flight was most uneventful. Flying over the city you see upwards of thirty ships waiting their turn to enter the canal.

    After clearing emigration and a 30 minute bus ride we arrived at Trump Ocean Club a 70 story hotel the tallest hotel in Panama City.

    Get to the room at 1:30-tish, 12
    Les mer

  • The Panama Canal

    10. juni 2016, Panama ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Woke up at 4:45 am to catch a bus to the Pacific side of the canal. Boarded a wooden ship and waited an hour and half to join a cargo ship and a catamaran to begin our half canal trip.

    Very interesting and humid trip. Three locks to climb 85 feet to enter one of the narrowest portions of the canal. The Gaillard Cut, also known as the Culebra Cut.

    Our trip ended at Gambo where we boarded the bus for a 45 minute ride back to the hotel.

    My recommendation, if you are ever in Panama touring the canal is a must.
    Les mer

  • Dinner at Tantalo's

    10. juni 2016, Panama ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Dinner was at Tantalo's. In the old part of Panama City where the streets are narrow and the feel is cozy. Tantalo's is a very nice restaurant with a rooftop bar were we ended the evening.

    The group we were with ordered a little of everything. We all shared and got our fill. Even desert was good.

    A most when your here.
    Les mer

  • City Tour

    12. juni 2016, Panama ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today we visited the historical Panama City. This is also known as the second city. We visited three cathedrals and two convents and walked through the old part of Panama City where the wealth lived in the 1700 and the 1800's.

    Most of this part of town looks and feels like other Central American city's with narrow streets and shops on most every corner.

    The architecture is a combination of Spanish Colonial, French, Italian and every so often Modern. The government requires the exterior of building to remain in the style of it's originally construction. Hopefully this will preserve the look and feel of this part of town.
    Les mer

  • Sunday Evening

    12. juni 2016, Panama ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    On Friday when we were informed of where dinner would be we thought that will be nice. What we weren't prepared for was how wonderful it would be.

    We had dinner at the Miraflores Locks where we saw a short movie about the Panama Canal and had the museum to ourselves. Dinner was on the top (4th) floor of the observation tower which overlooks the locks. Although traffic continues to flow through the canal very few get to see two way traffic at night. This was a treat!

    After dinner we returned to the hotel finished packing for a 4:00 am wake up.
    Les mer

  • What a Day (Part 1)

    13. juni 2016, Panama ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    After enjoying a few days with the National Lloyds people it was time to go home. We all have had a travel experience that was either strange, complicated, or long and adds to the adventure of the trip. Well here is what happened to us on our return trip.

    An early morning (4:00 am) start to leave the hotel by 5:15 for a 8:00 departure. From Panama City to DFW by air approximately 4 hours and some change. Should put in around 12:45 pm and home around 2:30 pm.

    Arrived at the airport and two trips through TSA and we are at our gate. Load the airplane and after two computer restarts (A319) the flight crew informed us that it will be at least an hour to fix the problem so they had us exit the aircraft.

    Shortly after being advised of our new gate we find out that our departure time is now 10:00 am. Mary continues to work her email and all is good. At 10:15 am we go back through a security check and are placed in a waiting area with 8 seats to wait for boarding. Shortly thereafter we find out that we will board around 12:00-12:15.

    We are now beginning to wonder if they want us to leave Panama. They informed us that we will board at 1:15 pm and depart at 2:00 pm. We board at 1:30 pm and waited for maintenance to bring the log book so we can depart. Around 2:00 pm we are airborne.
    Les mer

  • What a Day! (Part 2)

    13. juni 2016, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    About an hour before landing the pilot tells us we have been delayed in the air a little due to weather at DFW and should be on the ground about 7:10 pm.

    After landing we think we are going straight to the gate but wait that wouldn't fit with the rest of the flight. We land and taxi to a holding area on the south side if the airport to wait for the gate we have been assigned to open. At 7:30 pm we proceed to the gate. After we get there we have to wait another 10 minutes for them to perp the gate for us. Wait we have to clear customs.

    I had read that you can speed up the process if you use Mobile Passport so I did. We hit the Mobile Passport line and its non-stop to baggage claim where we wait for the flights from Cancun and Cozumel to to collect their bags. Mind you they landed after us. 45 minutes later we have our bags and are now in line for Customs and Border control. This takes another 30 minutes. We are finally able to now wait for the terminal link to take us to terminal C where we parked. We load the bags in the truck and head for the house with the mind set we'd be home by 10:00-10:15. Except there was an accident and a detour on our way home.
    Les mer

  • Reisens slutt
    14. juni 2016