On the 15th of September we boarded the Holland America ship Zaamdam at Canada Place in the Vancouver Harbour. For some time we had been thinking of taking this cruise through the Panama Canal. Today we set sail south for our first look at the engineering feat that joins the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Our home for the next 18 days the mv Zaandam (Picture taken in Cabo San Lucas)
Pulling away from the dock, our only disappointment being the mist and light rain.
Looking West to Coal Harbour with the float plane base in the foreground and Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, the Vancouver Rowing Club (our club and marina for years) and Stanley Park in the back ground.
Located at the stern of the ship, our favourite pool as the weather gets warmer.
Canada Place, a beautiful terminal to be leaving from.
Vancouver's 'Seabus' provides handy transportation from the North Shore to Downtown Vancouver.
The sliding roof over the Lido Pool will be opened as the weather warms up.
Lions Gate Bridge crossing at First Narrows. 18 years ago on the 1 Oct. was the last time that we sailed under the bridge on Ardmachree as we left on our cruise to New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Just outside the Lions Gate Bridge is the West Vancouver shore line and a popular salmon fishing area at the mouth of the Capilano River.
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Astoria Oregon
Our first port of call after leaving Vancouver.
We were up early and out on deck to help the ship tie up next to the marina.
We are starting to explore the ship, the indoor/outdoor pool on the Lido deck has a sliding roof and can accommodate a comfortable swim in most weather conditions.
The ships center piece is an organ that stands 3 decks high and actually plays 3 times per day. While playing, many of the instruments are in motion. Very interesting.
While walking ashore for a town visit we spot Derek's ketch, Walhachin moored in the marina. What a surprise to find her there.
The walk around town was a good chance to stretch our legs and find a couple of bottles of wine. On re boarding the ship a passenger may bring 1 bottle of wine with them.
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San Diego
Our ship is in town for the day and we head ashore with Mary and George. The first stop is Star Bucks to check our emails. Just outside the Star Bucks is the Amtrak train station and San Diego's rapid rail system. The 4 of us decide to explore the city by taking a day pass heading north on the rapid rail. Lunch time finds us in the northern suburbs and time for a quick meal and the mandatory wine rations. A separate rail line gets us back in time for boarding.
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Cabo san Lucas Mexico
After leaving San Diego we have 1 day at sea before reaching Cabo san Lucas our first port of call in Mexico. This is the only port on our cruise where we will take a tender ashore rather than the ship tying up to a dock.
The town has grown considerably since we were last here 18 years ago. We've headed ashore with Mardie and Bill friends of Ann and Ron. The heat has arrived and we feel we are now getting closer to the tropics.
A good walk around town and lunch by the marina.
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Hautulco Mexico
On walking ashore we find a guide/taxi driver that is willing to show us around the tourist area and take us on a trip into the local town. His English is good and we have a good trip.
Downtown, the rain will soon be letting up.
A visit to the local co-op with sampling of a local version of tequila. He was very generous with his samples including dried grasshoppers.
Down the street, we stop into another co-op, this one is weaving with very traditional looms. These people are working very hard.
Weaving to a carpet making shop where the whole family is involved in the process.
Back at the beach and close to our ship we have a delicious lunch followed by a swim and or sleep on the beach. The skies have cleared and we are sure we are now in the 'tropics'.
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Puerto Chiapas Mexico
This port is the most southerly one in Mexico, a working port but it has a very attractive greeting with custom buildings, flags out, and bands playing on the docks.
Very hot with high humidity, standing down wind of the fountain provides some relief in the mist.
Traditional local transportation.
Looking north as we leave the port past the well constructed breakwater.
Looking south the beach stretches to the horizon.
Just outside the port our pilot leaves us.
Mary and George are very patient teaching us several card games by the pool on the Lido Deck at the stern of the ship.
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Puerto Caldera Costa Rica
We have a day at sea sailing from Puerto Chiapas to Puerto Caldera.
Puerto Caldera is a busy port with activity going on all day.
Interesting to see the number of new wind turbines lined up on the dock.
The crew has been busy today preparing a huge BBQ on the aft deck. Dinner was served as we left the dock and the party lights were soon on.
Note the ice sculpture melting quickly in the warm evening air.
Halcats, the resident band is playing as we steam south towards the Panama Canal.
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Panama Canal
We got up very early this morning at about 5:30 AM as we were already passing ships anchored outside the entrance to the canal. The first few photos were taken just as the sun was rising.
Early dawn as we enter the Bay of Panama on the Pacific Ocean. The skyline of Panama City reveals to our surprise the large number of high rise buildings. Panama City has become a very important financial center.
The Bridge of the Americas carries road traffic from North to South America.
A number of very large container ships cannot pass through the existing Panama Canal. In this case they unload their containers on one side, then the containers are moved by rail to the port at the other end of the canal where they are reloaded onto another ship. Turn around time is 4 hours.
New locks are being built to parallel the existing locks and should be operational by 2015.
Approaching the Miraflores Locks.
Note the row boat in the photo. It is still used to bring the initial, trace, lines to the ship.
The engines that keep the ship centered in the canal move in to take up our lines. Their tracks parallel the canal.
Approaching the first locks we spot several crocodiles swimming close to our ship. The ships crew have set up tables with food and beverages available while we are all out on deck.
We are following a container ship in the parallel canal, interesting to watch the water flow as it moves forward.
Steep incline for the engines from one lock to another.
A family of monkeys playing along the canal fence.
The next set of locks before the Culebra Cut is the Pedro Miguel Locks.
A new highway bridge has been built crossing the canal.
There is a constant need to keep dredging the cut.
Cruising sailboats heading from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Note the number of fenders that each yacht has.
A huge crane that was a 'war prize' in WW 2 seized from Germany. It is now only used for heavy duty maintenance work.
After traveling through the 'man made' Gatun Lake we are entering the Gatun Locks, a set of 3 locks.
Exiting the canal the city of Colon and her large container port are in view.
The small boat marina on the Caribbean side of the canal.
It took us approximately 10 hours to transit the canal. The length is 44 nautical miles, and the canal runs almost north to south.
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Cartagena Columbia
We had decided early in the cruise to take a tour when we arrived in Caragena.
The old city, walled, and a U.N World Heritage site.
The Bishop was a major supporter for the African slaves.
The buildings in the old city are well maintained with very narrow streets.
The street vendors were always after us with Panama hats and tee shirts for sale.
Break dancers 'just arrived' to entertain us.
The Museum of the Inquisition send shivers up our spines.
The 'Rack' must have been very popular at the time to find the truth!
Guilty.......perhaps you could choose the gallows or the guillotine.
'Tin' people in one of the squares.
Fresh fruit on a hot day.
He went into battle, and won, with one eye, one arm and one leg.
The fortress of Cartagena.
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Every night our bed was turned back, and chocolates left. Also a different animal was there to greet us. Tonight it was a monkey, but other nights we had a stingray, elephant, rabbit or what ever.
George is celebrating his 86th birthday and the chef has presented him with a wheel of Stilton cheese.
We arrived at 7:00 AM on the 3 Oct in Fort Lauderdale. Total Distance of 5706 nautical miles in 18 days. It has been a wonderful adventure.
