Panama and the Panama Canal

Though the binoculars at the Mexican coastline after leaving Cabo San Lucas.



The sunset on my birthday. We were at sea for the big day, so aside from cake there wasn't much celebration.



Panama! (Also through binoculars)



Panama city as we pulled in.



And waited in line with the other boats to dock in the morning.





Where we docked for the night.



We had the afternoon and evening off in Panama so I went for a walk. A wall of rain came my way and I ended up taking refuge here for an hour or so while it rained furiously.




That night we had a big night out dancing in the city until the sun came up. The next afternoon we left the dock and waited our turn to go through the Panama Canal! This is the Bridge of the Americas.



A Panamanian pilot boat unloads their line handlers and pilot to maneuver us through the canal.



It was dark by the time we actually went through.



The boats are tied to these little trains that essentially pull the boats through the canal.



The first of several locks.



The Miraflores Lock.



And after being devoured by mosquitoes despite gallons of bug repellent, I went inside to make homemade cinnamon buns for the crew. It took roughly eight hours to complete the canal from one end to the other, and exhausted from the big night out before, I didn't make it to see the whole thing. Oh well. Next time, right? ;)