There is much to be said for relaxing on a cruise ship in the tropics during an English winter. Last night, a barbecue on Deck 9 aft, by the pool was followed by dancing under the stars. I had enjoyed (more than I would expect) what turned out to be a kind of chair-lift ( referred to as trams) through the tree tops to an observation tower atop a steep hill.
I did write about the difficulties going ashore yesterday. We guessed that the problem was the country’s reluctance to entertain two ship-loads of passengers while Coronavirus paranoia is prevalent. My trip to the Aerial Tram ran almost four hours late. However, we did see and do everything we would have done had we left at 09.45 and not around 1pm.
Today was the “big one,” crossing from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. I was awakened by bright sunlight penetrating my thick curtains a little after 06.30hrs. Panama City was much in evidence as I peeked out onto my balcony. This meant that I had missed little. I was up and dressed with great alacrity and have seen plenty today, much of which felt unfamiliar despite having been through the Panama Canal in the same direction, as recently as last summer. I was reminded of the lovely green vegetation, and steep sided rainforest shrouded hillocks between the different locks as we negotiated the Panama Canal. We went up one of these hills yesterday. I took fewer photographs and videos than on my first trip through last year. We exited the Panama Canal almost, if not exactly on time and now the seas are reminding us who is in charge as my stateroom takes on the stability of a Japanese earthquake. It became very hot in the afternoon, but a substantial breeze kept things bearable.
The voyage is far from over; there are 16 days before I am driving home to North Derbyshire. We call at Cartagena in Colombia tomorrow, our last port in South America, which I look forward to being shown around. We then venture to Willemstad, Curacao, Fort Lauderdale and six days later, the Azores. Hopefully we can bring this lovely weather back to the U.K. for the start of a long hot summer.
Thanks for reading, David. 20.03 hrs, 11/3/20
David's Cruise 