| The Panama Canal - What time to visit? | | | | outside table with an excellent view of the huge lock. |
| A visit to Panama is incomplete without a trip to the | | | | The lunch itself could be taken as a la carte or an |
| incomparable Canal. It was completed in 1910 by the | | | | extensive buffet. We opted for the buffet and started |
| USA following on from a failed attempt by the French | | | | with the salad, then devoured the main coast thinking |
| who lost 22,000 men to malaria during the construction. | | | | that we would eat dessert after the ship has passed |
| In my opinion the most enjoyable way to visit the canal | | | | through the lock. |
| is by having lunch at the wonderful Miraflores lock. We | | | | The excitement started to build at 4:45 as we |
| were told by a Panama Canal Pilot that the ships pass | | | | prepared the camera and started looking in both |
| through the canal from Pacific to Atlantic in the | | | | directions (maybe there was a late running canal from |
| mornings, from Atlantic to Pacific in the afternoons and | | | | the morning schedule?) but there was not a ship in |
| in both directions in the night (I never did find out why). | | | | sight. Our Spanish is not very good and we did not |
| The job of the Pilot is very interesting. (Although after | | | | want to look stupid in front of the tourists and locals |
| 20 years in the same job our friend had lost a bit of | | | | and made the executive decision to take deserts and |
| enthusiasm. The Pilots board the ship and 'take total | | | | order more wine at 15:30. |
| control' while it is traversing the Canal. They do not | | | | 16:00 came and passed, a few people who must have |
| actually touch the ship's controls but the captain has to | | | | seen the ships pass through the canal before left for |
| perform every command they make to ensure that | | | | the day. |
| there are no accidents. | | | | At 16:30 there was some movement on the Atlantic |
| The Canal is 50 miles (80 kilometers) long and it takes | | | | side but a long way away - was this the promised |
| 8 hours from end to end. | | | | ship? As the minutes crept by the cargo ship came |
| The Miraflores locks are near to Panama City and are | | | | fully into view moving at walking pace. 30 minutes later |
| the last (of two) locks on the Pacific side of the | | | | it reached the lock and was attached to 6 railway tugs |
| country. There is an impressive museum and viewing | | | | (3 on each side) that would guide the vessel into place |
| centre that details the history of the Panama Canal | | | | and keep it still while the water emptied from the lock |
| and the restaurant on the second floor. | | | | to the level of the water in the next compartment. |
| Upon arrival we were told that entry to the visitors | | | | The whole process of moving through the locks takes |
| centre is free if lunch was taken in the restaurant. We | | | | about 30 minutes per ship and just like London buses |
| were told that the next ship would arrive (or so we | | | | two more ships arrived soon afterwards to complete |
| thought) at 15:00 in 1 hours time and we picked an | | | | a very memorable afternoon. |