The Panama Canal Transit

This was our fourth trip through the Panama Canal. Twice in fall of 2012 where we fully documented the history of the canal and how it works, so click the link, 2012 Panama Canal, for those details. We also made the transit during our 2015 world cruise, so this page covers what was different. Now the new, bigger locks are finally in operation, so that's what was new this time around.

The Amsterdam was in line, ready to go through at 5am. We were up early to watch our progress.

 
On our way to the first lock, we went under this unfinished bridge.

 
On our left at the first set of locks were the new big locks and with all the lighting, they operate through the night.

Off to our right was the so called "French Cut" where the original failed canal path was begun.

Another cruise ship was ahead of us...

And a gray military ship was behind us.

 
There are navigational aides such as lighthouses. Once we reached the big Gatun Lake, a huge container ship passed going the other way. The Captain said that it was 300 feet longer than the Amsterdam and it carried 11,000 containers.

 
Panamanian merchants boarded the ship at the beginning of the transit and stayed all day—It's an 8-hour transit. This woman was in full regalia to help with the marketing.

 
The flags were at half mast because of Martyrs Day—people who lost their lives during their struggle for independence. The yellow-blooming trees were beautiful.

A view of the new locks, which have a more efficient design, so less water is used. The whole system still works because of all the rain in the rainforest filling up Gatun and Miraflores Lakes. Each of the new locks is 1400 by 180 feet, and they don't use the electric mules. The ships that pass through them pay a much higher fee for their transit.

A ship in the new locks.

 
The Panamanian commentator works in the Crow's Nest where chairs were set up so people didn't have to go out in the hot sun to see what was happening. Dean and I were all over the ship and put on quite a few miles during the day.

A tourist boat and a private sailboat were tied together in a lock.

Some white-blooming trees.

The last lock drops us down to the Pacific Ocean level. This is one place where it's evident how much water is used in the process.

The Panama City skyline looms over the jungle.

Boats on the shoreline serve as housing for some people.

We sailed around this spit of land with the Frank Gehry-designed Bio-museum and we joined 2 or 3 other ships at anchor off Fuerte Amador (Fort Amador).

A water-based gas station.

Fuerte Amador

The tenders ran to shore from 7pm to 1am after we anchored with the other ships, but we opted to see the entertainment that night. So we were off early the next day and this lens-shaped cloud over the mountain caught our eye from the shore.

 
We caught a public bus to the transit center. We had a nice conversation with these 3 guys on the way.

 
Our goal was Panama Viejo (Old Panama). At first, we were somewhat confused when the bus driver told us that this large seaside park was the correct stop. What we didn't realize was that this was the closest bus stop because no buses run in the old section.

On the way to Panama Viejo, there was a fish market. Picturesque fishing boats were lined up along the dock.

 
Some dealing in the parking lot outside the market.

 
More action on the far side of the dock...

 
We met this guy at the entrance to the fish market. He had greens to sell to the fish merchants. Corvina had been the fish on our menu the night before.

 
The crabs were huge. Fish filleting.

 
This merchant gave Dean a tutorial on the fish and other critters using both the English and Spanish words.

 
We liked the fishy gates and gratework around the market. Outside of the market itself, pelicans hung out waiting for an easy meal.

 
Outside the "official" market was a more interesting informal market.

We'd never seen or noticed fish guts for sale at a market. We guessed that people might use them for fishy stews or something.

 
This guy stacked several large fish onto the basket attached to a scale.

 
As we walked away we noticed this sign that says Japan had paid to build the market building. Also, we noted that instead just a fish market, which would be Mercado de Pescados, it was a seafood market—Mariscos. Okay, now we were on our way to "Old Town" or as indicated by this sign, "Panama Viejo." But wait, see the trucks behind Dean???

 
Another market for pretty much everything except fish: Chicken, beef, pork, juices, vegetables, greens, grains, and fruits. At the front of this market and eleswhere women were selling lottery tickets.

Some merchants were still setting up.

 
Tree trunk cutting blocks were well used.