Corregimiento Santa Clara, Panama Travel Journals & Blogs

World Cruise: Paul and Donna
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- Dec 30, 2023, 11:58am
- ⛅ 88 °F
- Altitude: 85 ft
- Panama Provincia de Colón Isla Darién 9.112842, -79.7746669°6’46” N 79°46’29” W
Day 8
Day 8: Lunch on the Panama Canal
December 30, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F
So, what is lunch like on a cruise ship while traveling through the Panama Canal?

We arrived at “The Restaurant”. Which is its actual name on deck 2 a bit early. Which gave use time to do 4 laps around deck 2 for a total of 1 mile.

They paired my Rueben sandwich with a Bottega - Pinot Grigio Venezia which was lovely, Donna had a nice burger (no bun or cheese) - Paul had Salad and Donna had the Lentil soup - the Mixed Berry Sorbet was a refreshing wash of elegance across our palette and the Blueberry Mouse Cake was so light I am positive it doesn’t have any calories.

We met Mike & Carol, as well as, Madeline & Jay at the tables next to us. Which honestly is a huge part of the cruise experience - it isn’t just about the amazing places we visit - it is about the amazing people we are meeting.

There is a pool my old boss/manager is running - the stakes are pretty high $$$$$$$$$ How much weight will Paul gain (I started out at 252 pounds when I boarded the ship) by the time he arrives in England on May 10th.

So, in my on defense of gaining too much weight Donna and I are trying to take the stairs as often as we can. You can see some pics at deck 1 and then the stairs and finally making it up to our floor on deck 8.

The scenery was lovely as we passed through the canal. An interesting factoid is they keep the land well groomed almost like a putting green to help keep the mosquitos away along the canal.

There is an old and new canal our ship the Viking Neptune is 105 feet wide we squeezed into the old canal at 107 feet wide. When the canal was built the width was determined by the width of the largest warship in the USA.

As a child in 7th or 8th grade we all took history & geography class and learned about the Panama Canal — but it as so far away — but to cruise smoothly through it - and kiss my lovely wife Donna along the canal route is beyond my imagination.

We are now approaching the looks on the other side of the lake - it is raining now - the ship is parked.as we go in and out of each lock the process of the water going up and down is beyond belief.

#myvikingjourney #vikingneptune #Panama #panamaCanalRead more
So awesome! I gained 8 lbs on a 7 day cruise!🥴 [Bob V]
12/30/23Reply
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Traveler World cruise
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- Dec 30, 2023
- Altitude: 26 m
- Panama Provincia de Colón Colón District Gamboa Brooklyn Island 9.118631, -79.7223169°7’7” N 79°43’20” W
Day 9
Through the Panama Canal
December 30, 2023 in Panama
Everyone knows about the Panama Canal, an engineering marvel built by the Americans after the French failed. The French underestimated the cost, couldn't control yellow fever and hepatitis and insisted on a sea level canal. The deeper they dug into the clay and sand the more the sides slid down as it rained.
The Americans designed locks that lift ships 85 feet above sea level (and of course lower them) completing the project in 1914. Between 2008 and 2016 the original set of locks was supplemented with a second larger set to accommodate the huge container ships. We passed through the original set as our ship is smaller. We saw an area of jungle where the French Canal attempt is located and the prison that held Manual Noriega. During the passage we had narration re the canal. For those interested in birds (like me), an on board naturalist discussed the birds we saw.

In the evening was a presentation on the machinations that led to the Americans building the canal in Panama. Many in Congress wanted to build it in Nicaragua but moneyed interests favored Panama which was then part of Columbia. Unfortunately Columbia dithered on an agreement with the US. No problem we just created the new country of Panama.

I have a special interest in the Canal. My father and uncle worked to keep it open and functioning during WW II.Read more
Martha Sleutel Love the descriptions! I also remember our mother reminiscing about their time in Panama. I don't recall any details (maybe there weren't any), but just the general positive happy memories of her being there with our father. And loving the food (especially papayas), plants and flowers..
1/3/24Reply
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Traveler Panama Latin America Avant
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- Jun 12, 2022, 3:12pm
- 🌧 81 °F
- Altitude: 26 m
- Panama Provincia de Colón Colón District Gamboa Cocodrilo Island 9.118567, -79.7374049°7’7” N 79°44’15” W
Day 9
Panama Canal, Gatun Lake and Monkey Isla
June 12, 2022 in Panama ⋅ 🌧 81 °F
We road a boat out into the Panama Canal, near the narrow part, Culebra Cut. Awesome to be on the Panama Canal. Then we were looking for monkeys!
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The Ships Photographer Contract 2 - Aurora
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- Apr 7, 2017
- 🌬 32 °C
- Altitude: 28 m
- Panama Provincia de Colón Colón District Gamboa Río Caraba 9.10799, -79.7240529°6’29” N 79°43’27” W
Day 70
Panama Canal, Panama
April 7, 2017 in Panama ⋅ 🌬 32 °C
I don't have any photos to include for the Panama Canal because I started work at 6:45am, worked for 2 hours and then ended up in medical being put into isolation for being sick. Where I was stuck for almost 30 hours. We had basically just got to the first lock when I decided I couldn't stay out on decks any longer and went down to my cabin. It was not a fun day. I did however watch us go through part of the locks on the tiny little TV in the isolation room.Read more
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