10.27.2017 update from Panama and Costa Rica

Wednesday afternoon we won trivia again.  The prizes were Princess wine stoppers, much better than the little backpacks we won the previous day.  We have a collection of wine stoppers, so will add one to our display.

On Thursday our ship was the first large cruise ship to go through the new locks. Therefore, Princess Cruises had no experience with this transit.   It has been used by cargo ships since June 2016.  The cost for our use of the locks was $472,000 plus some fees.  The money must be paid via a wire transfer 48 hours in advance.  There is a $25,000 booking fee made a year before the transit.   Going through the Panama Canal saves ships 8,000 miles rather than going around the cape.   The new locks were something that John wanted to see.  We have been through the old canal twice and were familiar with it and how it works.  The old canal has many unique features that are missing on the new one.  The trains on each corner that pulled the ship through are missing on the new canal.  There is a tug in front and a tug in back and they control the ship but the ship's own propulsion powers us through each of the three locks.  The old gates are divided to swing to the sides to open.  On the new canal they slide sideways to open.  There are two at each end of each lock and are wide enough for busses to cross over.  They are very efficient.  Gatun Lake is 85 feet above sea level.  We went into the lake at the top of the locks, dropped anchor, and offloaded passengers that wanted to go on excursions.  Then the ship returned through the new locks but went to a freight terminal in Colon where there is not a cruise terminal.

 

We had decided to not take a ship's tour, that watching the canal transit from our balcony was enough. But, we changed our minds and booked one.  We got off the ship in Lake Gatun while the ship was anchored and went  ashore on the ship's tender boats.   We then had a short 20 minute bus ride to a realyl nice hotel where we caught  a catamaran ride and a visit to a native village.  The native tribe is called Embera and have lived here for thousands of years.  They make and sell some interesting things.  Lots of woven items and carved items.  They charge a dollar for every day it took to make the item.  They say.  We bought a 4" woven coaster that cost $10.  It is hard to imagine that it took 10 days to make!  But it will make a great Christmas ornament to add to our tree.  They live in huts on their property and paint their bodies with a black paint in very elaborate patterns.  It looks like they are tattooed.  They paint the babies from head to toe when they are born to prevent mosquito bites.  The paint wears off in eight days.

Panama has no paper money of their own.  They do have coins of their own and use US currency.   It was a busy day for us and we were hot and tired by the time we got back on the ship.

On Friday we were in Limon, Costa Rica.  We decided to sleep in and take it easy with no ship excursion for us.  We did play trivia with Beverly and Richard and won two more Princess wine stoppers.  We walked in to town and visited the Limon Cathedral which we liked very much.  Then it was back to the port where there was a large craft market which we went through, then back to the ship for a relaxing afternoon.

In a separate entry, we will post some of our favorite photos from yesterday.

Colleen and John