Cartagena, Columbia and the Panama Canal transit

 

 

Thursday, January 23, 2025

We awake to choppy seas and rolling waves.  Not severely so, but enough to make squeaky noises around our stateroom.  Sue, surprisingly, has not been affected.  We wonder if it is because of the magnetic bracelet that I gifted her last year.  Whatever the reason, we are grateful.

We breakfast at the buffet, which I suspect will be the norm.  Mainly because the same things are there and readily available.  

It is a fine day, a little breezy off the Port Bow under partly sunny skies.  I decide to put on my swim suit and visit the pool areas.  I spend time in the hot tub while Sue finishes her Scavenger Hunt.  

Back in the cabin , we watch a video on Cartagena, which is our next port.  We have scheduled a shore excursion, a 3-hour Fun Bus adventure.  

The rest of the day was fairly routine, I won't bore you with the details.

Friday, January 24

I set my phone alarm to 6:30AM last night so we would have plenty of time to get around, eat and leave the ship for our 8:30 boarding time for our Fun Bus to "Old Town".

The alarm goes off and we awake feeling refreshed.  We dress and notice that the ship is still cruising at 19 knots which we thought was a little strange since we are supposed be tied up by 7AM.  Opening the curtains, it is still pitch dark!  I check the time on computer, and it is 1:47 AM!  The TV time confirmed it, but my phone says it is 6:47.  We have experienced this time shift on the computer and found out that if it is set on auto correct for time zone, it reverts back to UK time.  We believe this is related to being hooked up to the ship's WiFi and internet through Starlink.  This may be what happened with my phone.  We undress and go back to bed!  

I sleep fitfully and finally get up, again, around 5:30.  Sue does as well, and we take our time getting around.  I make myself some instant coffee with the provided electric hot water pot.  The Artisan's' Foodhall doesn't open until 6AM and then only for Continental until 7AM.  Sue has caught a head cold and is constantly blowing her nose.  At least she is not seasick.

Docked at Cartegena, Columbia

We disembark around 8AM and see that there are three Fun Busses parked among the shuttles.  We board one called "La Vagabunda" and wait as they are all filled to pretty much the max. 

Our Fun Buses await us

They are all playing music way too loud and we convince him to turn it down some.  Unfortunately, I did not get a close-up picture of the bus from the side.  They are brightly colored and decorated to the max.  They remind me of the Jeepneys of Subic Bay in the Philippines when we went there for R&R.  The other ship you see in the picture is Norwegian Joy.

La Vagabunda's cab

Our "Guide, Carlos" cranks up the music and the bass almost blows me off the seat.  I cover my ears as he is up front screaming into the microphone demanding us to clap and wave our arms to the music.  Good Lord, I signed up for three hours of this torture!  I use a tissue from Sue's Kleenex pack and plug my ears.  Now it is almost tolerable.  Sue soon does the same.

 The link below is a short video as we left the dock.  Not sure if it will work when published but I couldn't figure out how to incorporate it here.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNnBKXaPmce4vybcZgOUGpy7LdskJQlYkifpGcj

 

Marina on the way to "Old Town"

As we make our way from the pier on our way downtown, we pass a marina with a view of the more modern area of Cartagena.  Winding our way through narrow streets as our guide continues to encourage singing and swaying to the loud music.  I expected a little more dissertation on the historical aspects of the area and obvious fort-like structures we go past,

but I got on the wrong bus for that. When we get into the residential areas it reminds me a lot of south Texas,

where you see pretty run down areas and right beside it a very nice home with fencing and landscaping.  The business area, as well the homes that are very colorful and painted brightly with many colors and trim. 

Many homes have fencing and walls topped with concertina wire or even broken glass to discourage entrance.  

 

 After about 45 minutes, the bus stops at a flea market type area as says we have 10-15 minutes get off the bus and do some shopping.  Sue gets off but I stay aboard enjoying the quiet.  We leave and the music starts again as we make our way through more narrow streets and along a very nice looking park that is well manicured and quite expansive.  Before long we stop at a strip mall area where Carlos tells us we have an hour here.  He leads us to his favorite shop where I am sure he gets a cut of whatever is spent. 

Sue at a shop entrance

Sue is looking for fabric items that her daughter asks us to get from each of the countries we visit.  I am in the market for a straw hat.  I also need a beer to calm my nerves!  I find a shop selling cold drinks and select what looks like a local brew.

Cold beer, new hat, coffee beans

It tastes wonderful!  I also find a a hat that I like for $12.  I wanted to buy one of those famous Panama Hats that are actually made in Ecuador from the plaited leaves of the Carludovica palmata plant.  I found one that I liked but when she told be it cost $80, I was a bit speechless.  She noticed and said special for me, she would let me have for $70.  I paid for the $12 one that fit just fine.  I will keep looking and see if I can find a better deal.  They may well be worth it, but not today.

 

 

 

 We board the bus for our extended ride back to the Queen Anne.  This is where things get interesting!  Carlos' buddy starts by passing out cold beers to whomever wants one.  There is a sign in the front of the compartment that says in Spanish, no alcohol allowed.  That obviously doesn't apply today.  Before long, he passes around a bottle of what turns out to be pretty darn good rum! 

People are mixing it with Coke, that had been passed around earlier, mixing with water or drinking it straight, or with ice from the bucket that has been provided for each row of seats.  The music never stops mind you and before long things start to get out of hand.  Carlos encourages us to stand and dance, the younger woman in front of me gets up on the seat and does a pole dance.

  The rum doesn't stop coming and even Sue imbibes a little.  All of a sudden I don't mind the music so much as I partake in the Macarena and YMCA song.

 

 https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPXHkv9Gq12bJPo_ovSp6HcgoyOe44zDW2j8yBX

Party Bus Video

 

The link above is a short video of Fun Bus after the addition of rum.  I couldn't load it directly and not sure if posting a link will work.

 

It takes about another 45 minutes to get back to the pier and by this time, we are all feeling the effects. 

The pier area has an Aviary which we walk through and I take a few pictures of the birds and some of the cute little monkeys that are scurrying around all over the place looking for treats. 

There is also a Geocache located here and we try to find it.  It is somewhere in the bushes around this sign.
  We look, along with a British gentleman, for about 15-20 minutes but alas, we have no joy.  Disappointing because this was our only chance to get credit for finding one in Columbia.

 

 Back aboard, we relax in our stateroom, recovering from our memorable visit to Columbia, albeit, not a very educational one.  We decide to dine at the buffet this evening, not wanting to get dressed up for the Britannia. 

 

Sue turned in early as her cold and the Cartagena experience has left her wore out.  I listen to the broadcast of the Iowa vs Penn State game on my phone's The Varsity App.as well as watch it streaming on the Direct TV app on my computer.  This allows me to listen to the Iowa announcers and I can sync up the commentary to the video.  It is fairly close game with Iowa leading most of the way.  The last ten minutes are exciting as Penn State ties it up and we end up winning by one point.

Saturday, January 25th

 

 

We get up around 6:30 because we don't want to miss anything on the transit through the canal.  One of the first things we see, other than a rusted out old container ship that probably ran aground decades ago, is the "Puente Atlantico" or Atlantic Bridge.  It was completed in 2019.

the Atlantic Bridge

  It is one of three bridges crossing the canal, the other two being the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge, both on the Pacific side of the canal.

From Wikipedia:

"The Panama Canal is a waterway (a canal) in the country of Panama in Central America, that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Because of the way Panama twists, the entrance to the Pacific Ocean is farther east than the entrance to the Atlantic Ocean. This is the opposite of what one would expect.

The Panama Canal is 77 km (48 miles) long and cuts across the Isthmus of Panama. At each end it uses three pairs of locks for lifting and lowering ships on different water levels. This saves ships 15,000 km (10,000 miles) compared to going around South America. Each year, about 14,000 ships come through the canal. By 2002, around 800,000 ships came through.

The old locks are 110 ft (33.53 m) wide by 1,050 ft (320 m) long and 41.2 feet (12.6 m) deep, with a usable length of 1,000 ft (305 m). The biggest ships that can go through the Panama Canal are called Panamax.

New locks opened in 2016 to allow ships more than twice as big, called New Panamax. They are 55 m (180 ft) wide by 427 m (1,400 ft) long, and 18.3 m (60.0 ft) deep. New channels connect to the new locks.

Ferdinand de Lesseps tried building a Panama Canal in 1880, but could not finish it. The project was started again in 1904 by the United States, under the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, who spent ten years and 375 million dollars building it. The Panama Canal was finally finished in 1914, at the cost of approximately 25,000 lives. Most deaths were from disease, and before United States construction of the canal began. The US government owned and operated the canal until 1999 when the Panamanian government started controlling it."

 We will transit the New Panamax series of canals.  At the Gatun Locks, the first set of three chambers will lift us up 85 feet to the level of Gatun Lake, then make our way across the lake to the beginning of the actual canal to our next set of locks.

Entering channel to the New Panamax locks

  We will bypass the Pedro Miguel Locks which are used for smaller ships and take the larger canal down to our next set of locks that will lower us down 85 feet to the Pacific level.  Before that however, we will pass under the Centennial Bridge.  This marks the location of the Continental Divide.  Rivers on this side will flow toward the Atlantic and on the other side make their way to the Pacific. 

In some of my pictures, you may have noticed red buoys.  Since our cabin is on the starboard side of the ship, this means we are going "upstream" and will always keep the red buoys to our right.

Inside the first of the 3 chambers

  On the port side, they will be all green, This take me back to my Navy days and the slogan "Red Right Returning", which means when you are returning to port or wherever, always keep the red buoys on your right.  This will keep you in the channel and away from hazards.

This shows the basins that are the source of fresh water filling and emptying the locks

 

We pass a dredge on the Pacific side of the bridge.  I assume this is a constant job keeping the canal deep enough.  This might also be a good time to mention that all the water used in the lock systems is fresh water.  Why not sea water you ask.  I'm told it is because of the corrosive nature of the salt water that makes it impractical.  That is why during the drought of 2023, the traffic was limited because of lack of fresh water. 

As we approach the Cocoli Locks, there is already a container ship going through.  We will be right behind it as I see our lock gate is opening up. 

This set of three locks will lower us the required 85 feet to meet the level of the Pacific which means each one will lower us approximately 30 feet.   The basins alongside take on the water as it is let out, gravity fed, no pumps required.  This process will take 10-12 minutes per lock once inside the closed lock.  The Bridge of the Americas is visible in the distance.  This marks our exit from the canal.  

As we pass under the bridge, I can't help but notice that the buoys off the starboard side are now green.  Why?  Because we of course, are on the other side of the Continental Divide and now the flow is toward the Pacific, and we are going downstream.

 It took approximately eight hours from start to finish and each of the two sets of locks took about two hours to traverse.  It cost the Queen Anne, $415,000 for the privilege of using the canal.  For comparison, it cost a 65 foot yacht about $1,800.  Cost is based on weight and length.

 

Norwegian Liner waiting to enter locks

Terraced hillside to prevent erosion

Centennial Bridge, close to area of 

the

Continental Divide

Bridge of the Americas, our exit from the Panama Canal

View looking aft from the 12th deck. The fresh water basins on the left are the source of water for emptying and filling the individual chambers. No pumps are needed, all gravity fed.

We enjoy the rest of the evening dining on a table for eight, including a single woman from Australia, a single woman from the UK, and single man from Philadelphia and a couple from London.  The Australian woman dominates the conversation as the single woman from the UK changes her seat to sit beside the single Philadelphian.  All is well as we cruise the Pacific in calm seas.

 

Our next Port of Call is Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala on Tuesday the 28th. I probably won't post again until after our shore excursion.  I'm not getting much response from people, so I am not sure how many are actually reading my posts. Please give me a "Like" or something to know that I should continue this because it is quite an effort and I need to know that Sue's and my friends are following or I'm not going to continue the effort.