Through the Panama Canal

March 27, 2013

After another day at sea, we arrived at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, at Panama City.  The picture below shows sunrise over the Pacific as we entered the canal.  This is not a misprint--to travel from the Pacific to the Caribbean through the canal, you actually travel east to west.  (I am entitled to 10% of your bar bet winnings from that fact.)

Sunrise over the Pacific

The canal goes east to west from the Pacific to the Caribbean Sea

We passed Panama City at the Pacific entrance to the canal.  At this point I could only get long distance shots, but we would return to Panama City the next day on a shore excursion.

Panama City--impressive even at a distance

A rare site--Brenda up at dawn!

At the entrance to the canal in Panama City is what looks like a pile of junk, but is actually the Museum of Biodiversity (not yet open), designed by Frank Gehry.  Unfortunately, the ship doesn't get very close, so my shot is a bit blurry.  I've added another picture of the other side of the museum, that I stole off the internet, to give you a better view.

Museum of Biodiversity--my shot

Museum of Biodiversity--stolen shot

After passing Panama City, we passed under the Bridge of the Americas, which was until recently, the only bridge connecting the two sides of the canal.

Passing under the Bridge of the Americas

Rear-view mirror (so to speak) view of the Bridge of the Americas

Next we passed the first of several spots where we could see the expansion of the canal to fit bigger ships.  The expansion involves building a second set of wider locks.  They claim that the expansion will be finished in 2015, but that's not gonna happen.

Construction on the expanded locks

Next came the first set of locks, the Miraflores Locks.  Each set of locks has two channels.  When we arrived, both channels were being used by ships going from the Pacific to the Caribbean.  Ships are pulled through the locks by rail engines.

Entering the Miraflores Locks

Viewing stands on the shore at the Miraflores Locks

View ahead as we pass through the locks

There is very little room to pass through the locks--about 2 feet on either side of the ship.

The white part is the boat, and the concrete part is the side of the lock

At this point, the ship is being raised as it goes through the locks.  The ship goes into the lock and the lock doors close.  Water is added to the lock to raise the level until it is even with the next lock, and the doors open.  The process is repeated for two more sets of locks at Miraflores.

In the first lock, waiting for water to be added (view from rear of ship)

One of the locomotives pulling the ship

In the second lock, looking back at the first (filled) lock.

After filling and opening the second lock.

Entering the second set of locks, the Pedro Miguel Locks

Looking past the Pedro Miguel Locks to the Centennial Bridge

Entering the Pedro Miguel Locks

Construction on a new set of locks near the Pedro Miguel Locks

Passing under the Centennial Bridge

Next was Gatun Lake, a large man-made lake made when the Chagres River was flooded during the construction of the canal.  The lake is part of the canal.

Gatun Lake

 After crossing Gatun Lake, we came to the Gatun Locks.  Gatun Lake is the highest point in the canal, so the Gatun Locks lower boats heading to the Caribbean/Atlantic.  The gates on all of the locks (not just Gatun) are made of steel and hollow.  They are filled with water when the lock is filled, and emptied when the lock empties.  

Gates on the Gatun Locks

Entering the Gatun Locks

Going through the Gatun Locks

After passing through the Gatun Locks, we went a few more miles before arriving at Colon, the main Panama port on the Caribbean/Atlantic side.  If you can't say anything nice about a city, don't say anything.  So I won't say anything about Colon.

Next: Panama City and the Canal Zone

Manta, Ecuador

March 25, 2013

After two days at sea after Lima, we arrived in Manta, Ecuador, The Tuna Capital of The World.  We were immediately greeted by tuna, as we docked.

Unloading a tuna boat at the port in Manta

We booked a tour of Manta and surrounding areas with several other folks from our CruiseCritic group, and headed out.  Our first stop was a boat yard where tuna (and other) boats were being built and refurbished.  Not exactly the Newport News Shipyards, but quaint, nevertheless.

Manta Boat Yard

Next to the boatyard was the fish market, which was emptying out when we got there at about 10:00 AM.  Some serious hunks of tuna.

Manta Fish Market

From there, we drove through Manta to see the sights, such as they were.  The highlight was the Tuna Monument in the center of town, which consisted of a Tuna suspended over a can, complete with UPC code.

Central Manta

The Great Tuna of Manta

After we had calmed down from the excitement of central Manta, we headed about 30 miles out of town to the Pacoche Rain Forest.

On the outskirts of Manta

Fruit delivery near the rain forest

 At the rain forest we went on a 45-minute hike.  Despite the fact that we were very close to the equator (as one is wont to be when in Ecuador), it was not oppressively hot.  It was, however, more than humid enough to make up for the heat.

Fruit of unknown variety in the rain forest.

Bird of Paradise (I think) in the rain forest

Intrepid hikers in the rain forest

Another unidentified fruit--this one grows at the bottom of the trunk

Negotiating a bridge in the forest

Fortunately, our hike was one way, all downhill, and we were met by our van at the end of our trek.  We saw a few birds, and what we think might have been a monkey.  The sweat to animal-sighting ratio was very high.

We then drove back to Manta for lunch.

Housing on the outskirts of Manta

 

The wealthy part of Manta

 

Another shot of the Great Tuna of Manta

After lunch, we headed to Montecristi, about 12 miles of Manta.  Montecristi reportedly has some good examples of colonial architecture, and is the Panama Hat Capital of the world.  Yes, I said Panama Hat--it turns out that Panama hats are really from Ecuador, and only got their name because Teddy Roosevelt wore one when he visited the Panama Canal.

Heading out of Manta

Lots of political signs in Montecristi and Manta

Although Montecristi alleges to have a lot of colonial architecture, we didn't see any of it on the route we took to the hat factory and museum.  In fact, the Hostal Metropolitana, below, pretty much represents the town.  

Where the elite meet in Montecristi

More non-colonial architecture in Montecristi

Eventually we arrived at the museum and hat factory, which is on a hill overlooking Montecristi.  The museum appears to be dedicated to a resident of Montecristi who became president of Ecuador in the early 1900's.  It's a pretty impressive museum for someone I never heard of.  

Entrance to the museum

Inside the museum

View of Montecristi from the hill

Next to the museum were several hat shops and an exhibition of women making Panama hats.   Yes, I bought a hat.

Making a Panama Hat

World's Largest Panama Hat, in front of the hat shops

 We then returned to Manta, and to the ship, getting another glimpse of Montecristi on the way.

Another view of Montecristi

Downtown Manta

A view of Manta from the sea

Next: Through the Panama Canal