Wednesday 25th January
Panama Canal Transit
The Panama Canal is 51 miles long and connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Work on the Canal started in 1880 and was completed in 1914. Many deaths from yellow fever caused delays from the outset. It is certainly a magnificent feat of engineering.
We started our transit about 7.30am and first passed through Gatun Lock into Gatun Lake. It really is fascinating to watch even though we have been through it a couple of times previously. (Enjoyably so when our friends joined us for lunch during the transit a couple of years ago). We then carried on through Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks before reaching the Pacific Ocean about 4.30 pm. It was scorchingly hot but we're very lucky to have a wrap around balcony at the back so had good views.
As it is also Burn's Night we started our dinner with haggis, neeps & tatties! We watched the address to the haggis in the ballroom and a little bit of Scottish dancing before going to the theatre to watch a Frank Sinatra tribute.
A long but enjoyable day.
Saw I program the other night and the Panama Canal is one of the busiest places for ships going through, keeps panama prosperous. You can keep the haggis did Terry try it? X
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