Limon City

From the port in Colon, Panama, we took a bus up the hill to Limon City. We had a boat ride on Gatun Lake which is where the fresh water for the Canal comes from. We were looking for birds and sloths. We didn't see any sloths but we did see 3 species of toucans. I didn't get a good look at them. The keel billed toucan has a song that sounds like "Rick. Rick. Rick."

Looks like a pineapple but our guide said it wasn't edible. This guide has a master's degree in agricultural business. He offers consulting services to coffee growers.

A bird nest hanging off a tree.

Osprey

A gray breasted martin. Another guy and I saw this bird and showed it to the guide.

We visited the Panama Canal visitor center. I watched a film and walked around for 20 minutes. I hoped to see monkeys but no luck today.

A bridge across the Panama canal in the distance.

 

Cruising Between Continents

The Norwegian Joy is a large ship. This ship is so large we had to wait until low tide to fit under the bridge in Panama City. I heard from another traveler that crowds of people waited on the 17th deck to watch the bridge above. He said everyone cheered that they didn't scrape the bridge. The time we went under the bridge was 1:30 a.m.

We waited until the sun was up to start our journey through the Panama Canal.

We went through the new canal; not the old one. The new canal wastes 80% less fresh water than the old canal. Ships use their own power through the locks. Tugboats keep them from touching the sides.

I watched as we docked in Panama City. Two ambulances were parked there. After about an hour I saw a young woman (possibly a nurse?) leave with two suitcases and two bags. The ambulance crew rolled the gurney inside. I saw an elderly man on the gurney leaving with his female companion at his side. I was talked to another guy watching from the 8th deck. He said he cruises often and sees this all the time. He has even seen body bags leave the ship. Yikes! Although dying will on vacation would be a good way to go.

In the free little library in the ship's library, I found another book in English about the building of the Panama Canal. This one is 4 inches thick and it's going to take me a long time to finish it.