Through the Panama

By the time we reached Florida (interstate from Memphis) we hit 'travel overload', so decided to bunk down for an extra night at Fort Lauderdale instead of adding more miles by revisiting our favourite Key West. As it turned out our spare day saw us dodging regular tropical downpours, so it was a  good decision to keep out of the traffic chaos. Instead we lingered around the Fort Lauderdale coastline. This area is so low-lying that a combination of king tides and wind put parking lots, fixed piers and coastal walkways under water. Apparently coastal erosion is a problem, requiring regular imports of sand to prevent beaches disappearing!

Fort Lauderdale was where we jumped on the ship 'Veendam' for our cruise through the Panama Canal. It was refreshing to set sail and open our balcony door to the Caribbean Sea. Cruising for us is a means of seeing iconic areas of the world rather than getting caught up in the onboard trappings. While others dressed to kill and made polite conversation over gala dinners, we had poolside meals and sat in the spa on the rear deck watching the sky light up with distant electrical storms. We liked the cruising philosophy though!!

 Our first stop ashore was Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. Holland America actually owns the island therefore controls all onshore facilities. It was a beautiful little patch of paradise. We claimed a couple of deck chairs under a casuarina tree and relaxed and swam for most of the day. The  alternative was to rent a beachfront cabana for $300-$600. They were cute, but couldn't see the value in splashing out for a solid roof and an armchair.

After the Bahamas we cut through the gap between Cuba and Haiti on the way to Cartagena in Columbia. Generally the seas were so calm it felt like the ship was at dock. Cartagena is reputed to be a hot destination, both in temperature and crime. The heat definitely crawled all over us (understandable seeing Columbia straddles the equator and the wet season was still lingering). On the crime front a large police presence would have made any dodgy opportunist think twice. The old city was our focal point. Just loved the colourful buildings and were entertained by the tactics used by street hawkers to etch their living.

Without a doubt, going through the Panama Canal was the highlight of the cruise. I nudged Doug out of bed at silly o'clock even though we weren't due to reach the entrance at Cristobal until sunrise. There were about 20 ships waiting in the bay, but cruise ships seemed to have priority over cargo. To think that amazing maritime shortcut started with one man and a plan back in 1912. It is hard to imagine empty dining rooms on a cruise ship, but almost everyone was on deck to watch the 'mules' guide us through the first three locks.

Usually it is stinking hot through the captured environment of the Panama, but we had a cloud cover that prevented us from receiving a baking. Waiters were always on hand providing chilled facecloths and we were constantly reminded to slap on the deet to guard against Zeka. Thick lush jungle bordered the lock system and Gatus Lake. Unfortunately lots of shipping delays meant we saw only the lights of  Balboa on our way out into the Pacific Ocean.

A dream fulfilled!