Jim and I just about make it to the bus in time for it’s an 8 am departure to the shopping mall just outside Colon. It’s an interesting ride. The marina was once the site of a US military base and there are still all the barracks, administrative buildings and even an airstrip, all behind barbed wire fencing. There’s even a gate although this is now manned by marina staff rather by someone with a machine gun.
The next part of the journey is actually through jungle. It creeps on all sides and is amazing that this is so close to all the concrete and technology of the canal operations. After about 10 minutes we arrive at the point where we can cross the canal, but are held up by a red light as a huge cruise ship, Cunard’s Queen Victoria, is being pushed up into the first of the Gatun Locks. I can’t believe we will be doing this on in a few days.
Photo: Waiting for the Queen Victoria to cross
We cross the canal on a one-way road. The lock gates are HUGE. Having lived next to a canal twice and seeing the size of normal lock gates these monsters come as quite a shock. When you realise that each time one of these locks empties, approximately 197 million litres is displaced, you get an idea of the size of the operation. (Guess who’s been reading the information leaflet.)
We arrive at the shopping mall but the only shop which is open is the supermarket so Jim and I spend a long time choosing our purchases as we have time to waste. When we have finished there is still half an hour until our bus leaves so Jim goes shopping for a new razor, coming back empty handed, then I go off looking for a new bikini. I don’t come back empty handed although given the size of the bikini I bought, I sort of do. It is very, VERY small. Green, black and silver, it goes with the new flip flops I bought to go with it. Total bill? $16. Even if none of it fits, it’s a bargain!!!
When we arrive back, I spend ages trying to get on the internet. Mike eventually sorts me out for long enough for me to get my e-mails and use Skype for a while. I race back to the boat to eat some lunch (at 3pm) then it’s back to deal with Customs and Immigration. Unusually they want every crew member to be present.
In the evening we go out with the crew of Brown Eyed Girl and have a great evening in the restaurant at the marina. Our food is good, even though we do have to wait over two hours for it!
Sounds like the Panama mentality on timing between ordering and receiving food is just like the Caribbean!!
ReplyDeleteWe need a pic of the new bikini and flip flops...
Still want to make it to the South Pacific if at all possible.
Amy