The Panama Canal and Fuerte Amador
The 50-mile journey through the Panama Canal began at 4:45 a.m. and continued for most of the day. The trek from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean took us through a series of three sets of locks. The first are the Gatun locks, consisting of a triple flight from the Caribbean Sea to Gatun Lake. We then we went through a single flight at Pedro Miguel, and a two-step flight at Miraflores. Our ship was raised from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake as it proceeded through the locks. We then sailed the channel through the Continental Divide, accompanied by a pilot boat.
Before going through the last two sets of locks, we passed under the Centennial Bridge, striking in its architectural design and inaugurated in 2004 to relieve some of the traffic on the Bridge of the Americas, built in 1964. The latter is a trans America bridge with a road over it that begins in Panama City and goes all the way to Canada. The only way to get to South America after Panama City is by plane. The Pan American Highway stops in Panama and starts again in Colombia. You can read the interesting story of one couple's journey in Las Americas, on our blogroll. This is the account of friends, Sharon and Jack's journey from the tip of North America to the bottom of South America.... in the company of their cat, Amadeus, and dog, Ewok, both 15 years old. What an adventure! But I digress...
The Panama Canal is truly an engineering wonder that has had a tremendous impact on shipping, saving time and money. It provides an alternate to the dangerous route via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn. A ship traveling from NYC to San Francisco via the Panama Canal travels 6,000 miles in comparison to 14,000 miles going the route around Cape Horn. Now we can scratch crossing the Panama Canal off our bucket list! It's an amazing experience we will want to repeat some day.
At approximately 4:00p.m., we anchored off of Fuerte Amador (Fort Amador), adjacent to Panama City. We were surprised by the Panama City skyline, striking in its array of condominium skyscrapers, some 84 stories high. We booked an excursion through Princess to see Panama City by night. It pays to book tours online early as I did... space was very limited and we heard of many disappointed passengers unable to go on either of the two excursions offered. Disembarkation was not the unpleasant experience I anticipated. We spent very little time waiting in line... to disembark, to board our tender, or to get on the tour bus. It was well-organized and we were on shore by 4:45 p.m.
We disembarked early enough to see some of Panama City by day and night. What we were able to see was worth it: Casco Viejo, the colonial Panama city (a World Heritage site), the business district, the Museo Antropológico, and Paseo Las Bóvedas where the Christmas festivities were being initiated with numerous displays, nativity scenes, the lighting of an enormous tree, and fireworks. Our tour guide was good: a British expatriate named Julian who was very knowledgeable about his new country.
Getting ready to enter the Gatun locks, our pilot boat pulls back and the mules get ready.
The mules are now attached to the ship.
The view from the stern (rear of ship) at Miralflores locks.
Looking back at Centennial Bridge.
We are almost to the Pacific... passing under the Bridge of the Americas.
The Panama City skyline from our balcony.
The Altar de Oro (golden altar) at the Iglesia de San Jose has a unique history. It was one of our stops in the Historic District.
The Kuna Indians create beautiful tapestries called molas, which are seen here at the artesan market.
~Lisa
Before going through the last two sets of locks, we passed under the Centennial Bridge, striking in its architectural design and inaugurated in 2004 to relieve some of the traffic on the Bridge of the Americas, built in 1964. The latter is a trans America bridge with a road over it that begins in Panama City and goes all the way to Canada. The only way to get to South America after Panama City is by plane. The Pan American Highway stops in Panama and starts again in Colombia. You can read the interesting story of one couple's journey in Las Americas, on our blogroll. This is the account of friends, Sharon and Jack's journey from the tip of North America to the bottom of South America.... in the company of their cat, Amadeus, and dog, Ewok, both 15 years old. What an adventure! But I digress...
The Panama Canal is truly an engineering wonder that has had a tremendous impact on shipping, saving time and money. It provides an alternate to the dangerous route via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn. A ship traveling from NYC to San Francisco via the Panama Canal travels 6,000 miles in comparison to 14,000 miles going the route around Cape Horn. Now we can scratch crossing the Panama Canal off our bucket list! It's an amazing experience we will want to repeat some day.
At approximately 4:00p.m., we anchored off of Fuerte Amador (Fort Amador), adjacent to Panama City. We were surprised by the Panama City skyline, striking in its array of condominium skyscrapers, some 84 stories high. We booked an excursion through Princess to see Panama City by night. It pays to book tours online early as I did... space was very limited and we heard of many disappointed passengers unable to go on either of the two excursions offered. Disembarkation was not the unpleasant experience I anticipated. We spent very little time waiting in line... to disembark, to board our tender, or to get on the tour bus. It was well-organized and we were on shore by 4:45 p.m.
We disembarked early enough to see some of Panama City by day and night. What we were able to see was worth it: Casco Viejo, the colonial Panama city (a World Heritage site), the business district, the Museo Antropológico, and Paseo Las Bóvedas where the Christmas festivities were being initiated with numerous displays, nativity scenes, the lighting of an enormous tree, and fireworks. Our tour guide was good: a British expatriate named Julian who was very knowledgeable about his new country.
Getting ready to enter the Gatun locks, our pilot boat pulls back and the mules get ready.
The mules are now attached to the ship.
The view from the stern (rear of ship) at Miralflores locks.
Looking back at Centennial Bridge.
The Panama City skyline from our balcony.
The Altar de Oro (golden altar) at the Iglesia de San Jose has a unique history. It was one of our stops in the Historic District.
The Kuna Indians create beautiful tapestries called molas, which are seen here at the artesan market.
~Lisa
Posted by Sage Travelers at December 15, 2009 
Categories: Cruises,World Heritage Site,Central America
Tags: Panama Canal
Categories: Cruises,World Heritage Site,Central America
Tags: Panama Canal
Lisa
Thanks so much for your posts. I am thoroughly enjoying them and your pictures and a bit jealous too. Have a great rest of your trip.
Cathe
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