Gatun Locks Panama Canal, Disney Magic Cruise

It’s almost 6pm and we are in the Gatun locks …waiting. We’ve been watching the APL container ship in the lock next to us move ahead. Very cool to see the water level change. I have a photo of the closed gate showing the lower level in front and higher level above.

My goodness. We’ve been going through the Canal now for nearly 12 hours. I’m glad our dinner seating isn’t until 8:30pm. We should be able to see our way to the open ocean by then. I think we’re in Animator’s Palate tonight. Once again — my sign for a great vacation – I can’t remember what day it is exactly or the time or where I’m supposed to be.

The rain let up for a bit, but started in again. It is getting dark outside, but I can still see some blue sky up ahead.

Earlier Aaron and I dashed down to deck 4 to take a peek out the port side. Nothing much to see, at least not compared to our primo view on starboard. The narrator did say when we get back to sea level that we would be able to see the French canal on the port side heading into the jungle. Of course, it will be pretty dark by then; maybe we won’t see much. (The French made the first attempt at building a canal long, long ago.)

Tomorrow we dock in Cartagena. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to get off the ship, but did finally book a city tour & shopping excursion for us. After a so-so experience in Acapulco, I’m looking forward to this tour. Two items to shop for: emeralds and coffee. Hmmm, sounds like a great combo to me!

The container ship is heading out of the final lock. We should be doing the same shortly. It’s been like a game of cat and mouse in this last lock. I’m sure the Captain will zip past the APL as soon as we are clear.

I want to say a quick thank-you to Deb Wills. We have been online emailing each other and chatting over SKYPE all day. It’s been great fun sharing! And, thank you for posting all of my notes and pictures. (Deb’s Note: It was an awesome day Lori – thanks so much. Also, I am way behind posting Lori’s photos….but I’ll do my best to get them up later today.)

Dinner tonight was in Animator’s Palate; a new, special menu “West Meets East”. I think it was good; we had a bottle of chardonnay that has made me completely loopy. Back to red wine tomorrow. I do remember having lobster. Delicious. Did not even need dipping butter.

Did I mention that I created a monster with the name-movies-with-single-word-titles? Michael and Aaron are so competitive; neither will give up! Tonight, however, Aaron started something new and far less competitive. He is asking trivia-like questions about different countries. Much more civilized. Which country has a ratio of 21 moose to 1 human? Canada! Where was the hamburger first created? Germany! Which country’s name does not follow typical English spelling rules? Qatar (not Qu, just Q).

Lori