Cruising Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

The last stop on our cruise was Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.  It was Good Friday so most businesses were closed for the weekend. 

 

Entrance to a city park.

 

Air plants grow on trees.

 

They're difficult to see but there are two owls looking down at us.

 

The sloth was much easier to see.

Leaving the Panama Canal

We reached the locks on the Pacific Ocean side of the canal.

 

 

The container ship on the left is the MSC Anisha R from Monrovia.  We followed her into the canal that same morning.

 

 

We shared locks with this sight-seeing yacht and the Leto, which can just be seen coming into view around the bend in the background.

 

Entering the locks.

 

Mule drivers were friendly.

Entering the first chamber.

 

 

 

We waited for the Leto at every lock because she was so slow.

 

Bob touching the side of the Panama Canal.

 

Fuzzy touching the side of the Panama Canal.

 

 

Going down slowly.

 

 

The doors opening to allow us into Lake Miraflores, another man-made lake.

 

At the other end of the lake is the last set of locks.

 

Here comes the Leto finally.

 

Going down again.

 

Doors opening.

 

Entering the last chamber.

 

 

 

Going down for the last time.

 

Doors opening.

 

Toward the Pacific Ocean.

 

Entering the Pacific Ocean!

Entering the Panama Canal

On March 22, we cruised the Panama Canal.

 

We approached the northern locks from the Caribbean Sea at about 6:30am.  We were allowed to enter about 7am.

 

 

We got the western lock while the Monrovia container ship, MSC Anisha R, took the eastern lock. Ships are allowed into the canal in the morning and out in the afternoon.

 

Approaching the first gate.

 

Entering the first chamber.

 

One of the "mules" that held the Zuiderdam in place.  Our ship moved through the locks under her own steam but the mules are there to guide her, because she had only 2' clearance on either side.  The Zuiderdam is in the Panamax class of ships, which means she is the largest type ship that can use the canal.

 

We arrive at the second gate.

 

They flood the chamber with water and we rise!

 

 

Into the second chamber.

 

 

At the gate at the end of our chamber.

 

 

Going up!

 

Entering the third chamber.

 

The last gate before Lake Gatun.

 

Almost full.  Note the railings across the gate are lowered.

 

Into Lake Gatun.

 

Look how far we haven't come in 1 1/2 hours!  It cost the Zuiderdam about $380,000 to use the canal. 

Cruising Willemstad, Curacao

The day after we visited Aruba, we visited Willemstad, Curacao March 22.  We didn't take a shore excursion so we just walked around town. 

 

 

 

 

This city has much more of a European, i.e. Dutch, flair than Aruba.

 

 

The pontoon bridge behind the Zuiderdam swung out to allow the ship  to enter. 

 

Now it swings back closed.

 

Took pictures of my Fuzzy!

 

 

A cast-iron, 18th Century cannon recovered in 1995.

 

 

Streets are narrow like they are in Amsterdam.

 

The Zuiderdam is ready to leave so the bridge has to open.

 

We literally backed out of river into the Caribbean Sea.