April 10, 2013 Panama Canal Cruise; Day 6 Panama Canal and Panama City

Brett and I woke up at 6 a.m. because the day had finally arrived, we were going to go through the Panama Canal.  The Island Princess began to go through the Isthmus of Panama at 6:15 a.m. and then we began to go through the first set of locks at 6:45 a.m.

Barely awake

The Isthmus of Panama

The canal

The doors of the Gatun Lock

Watching the Oil Tanker next to us enter the other lane

water coming into the canal

The gates releasing into Gatun Lake

The little cars that help pull the ships

Gatun Lake

Here are some interesting facts about the Panama Canal... 

1. It takes about 8-10 hours for each ship to get through from one ocean to the other. 

2. A ship has to be in the water for 48 hours before able to go through the canal.

3. There are three sets of locks.  The Gatun Locks, the Pedro Miguel Locks, and the Miraflores Locks.

4. Each ship takes 52 million gallons of water to go through the entire canal.

5. It costs money for ships to go through the canal.  This is how the country of Panama makes their money.  Each ship varies on what type of ship it is and also the size.  The Island Princess cost $360,000.  The most expensive is the Norwegian Pearl at $440,000.

6. A third lane is currently being built which should be complete for the centennial next year.

The Island Princess on Gatun Lake

We took a tender to shore and went on our excursion to Panama City.  It's 50 miles from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean so we took a 70 minutes bus ride to the Pacific side.

We reached the Pacific Ocean

The skyline of Panama City

We then had a chance to see Old Panama City.  I loved the architecture with the European influence.  Panama City and Panama in general is such a clean and beautiful city and country.  I would go back and stay a week if I could.  

That's our guide Sweet GoGo

The last part of our excursion was to see the final set of locks, the Miraflores Locks.  We were able to go the observation deck and actually see the same oil tanker from earlier, go through about 8 hours later.

The same oil tanker

Observation deck

Since our ship only did a partial transit, we were taken back to the Caribbean side to the city of Colon. Brett and I loved Panama and thought the Panama Canal was such a neat experience.  The history and the mechanics of the canal was so interesting that it really would be every engineers dream to see it.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to see it.  I even have a certificate to prove it!

April 9, 2013 Panama Canal Cruise; Day 5 Cartagena, Columbia

Our next port was Cartagena, Columbia.  Brett and I were both excited because we could now say that we have been to the continent of South America.  3 down and 4 to go!  I am sure most of you probably think we are crazy to go to Cartagena, but it actually wasn't that bad.  Cartagena has definitely cleaned up and we felt safe the entire time.  In fact, it was a beautiful city.  Now, I will say this, it was so humid  the day we were there because we were so close to the equator.  I believe it was 85 degrees F with 100% humidity.  At one point I was worried about all the older people because I didn't want any of them to die from heat exhaustion.  Luckily, no one died, but it was still really hot!

Brett and I chose an excursion that took us to San Castillo Felipe de Barajas (fortress), the Palace of Inquisition, and Old Town Cartagena.  We really enjoyed the excursion and learning about the history of Cartagena.

The Fortress

We didn't mean to match...

Old Town Cartagena

Too cute!

The Palace of Inquisition was definitely filled with history.  Back in the 1600's until who knows when, the Colombians would bring people who were considered "witches" and "warlocks" here to be investigated, tried, and tortured.

Some of my favorite questions!

2 of the 20 different torture devices

This device would be put on the woman's chest and then they would rip out her boob.  

Ouch...

More of old town Cartagena

The Cartagena cathedral which was built in the 1600's

Inside the cathedral

That was a real skeleton in there which I thought was cool!

The last place we went to in Cartagena was a jewelry mart for Emeralds.  In case you didn't know, 95% of Emeralds in the world come from Columbia.  Obviously when I heard this, I had to get myself an Emerald, plus it is my birth stone.  After careful shopping, Brett and I found this beauty.

I am glad I have a husband who speaks Spanish because we saved 40% after bartering with jeweler.  I am a very happy wife! :)