Panama Canal, Colombia, and Aruba 2018

Approaching the Panama Canal from the Pacific Ocean	Hazy Skyline of Panama City, Panama	Frank Gehry's Origami-like Biomuseo in Panama City, Panama	The Bridge of the Americas (1959-62) spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal	The clearance under the Bridge of Americas is 201 feet at high tide
Island Princess passing under the Bridge of the Americas	Docks near the entrance of the Panama Canal	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Panama City Temple	New Panama Canal Locks on the Left and Old Locks on the Right	The 'Third Set of Locks Project' opened on 26 June 2016
Control Tower for new Cocoli Lock on the Panama Canal	Land between New Lock and Old Locks on Panama Canal	Arriving at First Set of Locks (Miraflores) on the Pacific Side of the Panama Canal	Green Arrow indicates Lock which Ship is approved to enter	On the Front of Deck 10 of the Isand Princess
A Row Boat brings a Set of Lines to connect to the Ship	Cables from the Ship are attached to Locomotives (called Mules) on both sides of the Dock	The Island Princess has 2.1 feet clearance on Each Side in Miraflores Locks	Cargo Ship transiting the Panama Canal at the same time as the Island Princess	Island Princess moving into the First Lock at Miraflores
Island Princess Videotographer (Kiki) documenting Transit of the Panama Canal	Ships use their own Propulsion -- Mules just position the Ship within the Lock	In the First Lock at Miraflores	Entering the Second Lock at Miraflores	'Mule' attached to the back of the Island Princess
Lock Gates closing on Second Lock at Miraflores	Island Princess lifted in the First Lock at Miraflores	Ship's Photo-Video Team crossing over Lock Gate at Miraflores	Inside the Second Lock at Miraflores	Mimosas on the Balcony in Miraflores Lock
The "Third Set of Locks" Project doubled the capacity of the Panama Canal	The new Lock Chambers are 1,401 ft long, 180 ft wide, and 60 ft deep	Pelicans off the Port Bow	Both Miraflores Locks (old) on the left and Cocoli Locks (new) on the right feed into Miraflores Lake	Centennial Bridge (2004) carries traffic on the Pan-American Higway across Culebra Cut in the Panama Canal
Centennial Bridge was built to supplement the overcrowded Bridge of the Americas	Going under Centennial Bridge on Our Balcony	Range markers along the narrow channel of the Culebra Cut	Navigation Buoys between Culebra Cut and Gatun Lake	Entering Gatun Lake
Gatun Lake covers an area of 166 square miles	The Gatun Dam is a large earthen dam across the Chagres River in Panama	Hydro-electric power from Gatun Dam provides Power to operate the locks and equipment in the Panama Canal	Agua Clara (Clear Water) Visitors Center overlooks Gatun Locks	Connecting cables to 'Mules' at Gatun Locks
The Triple-flight Gatun Locks lowers the Island Princess to the level of the Atlantic Ocean	'Mule' guiding the Island Princess at Gatun Locks	A tight fit for the Island Princess at Gatun Locks	Ship in parallel lock at Gatun Locks	Ship in parallel lock at Gatun Locks after being lowered to level of the Atlantic Ocean
Ship leaving Gatun Locks	Using Row Boats to take Lines to Ships has withstood the Test of Time	Attaching Cables to the Next Ship to enter Gatun Locks	Next Ship to enter Gatun Locks	Ship's Photography Staff still working
Leaving Gatun Locks	Main Office at Gatun Locks	Really Big Ship in New Agua Clara Locks adjacent to Gatun Locks	Big Ship leaving the New Agua Clara Locks	Island Princess Flags
Next two Ships in Gatun Locks	Cars crossing in front of Ships in Gatun Locks	Ferries moves Cars & People across the Panama Canal at Gatun Locks	On the Aft of Island Princess with Agua Clara and Gatun Locks in the background	Agua Clara Locks (left), Gatun Locks (middle), & Canal started by the French (far right)
Original Panama Canal started by the French in 1881	Sailing under uncompleted Atlantic Bridge across the Panama Canal	The Atlantic Bridge is 2 years past expected completion date	Colon, Panama is the entrance to the Atlantic Ocean from the Panama Canal	Completed Transit of Panama Canal from Pacific to Atlantic Oceans
Certificate of Panama Canal Transit	Cartagena, Colombia, was known as Cartagena de Indias in Colonial Times	Tourist Area at the End of the Pier in Cartagena, Colombia	Flamingos in Cartagena, Colombia	Peacock in Cartagena, Colombia
Marmoset in Cartagena, Colombia	Marmoset in Cartagena, Colombia	Black marks on Island Princess from hitting the Sides of the Locks in the Panama Canal	Old Boats in the Inner Harbor of Cartagena, Colombia	New Boats in the Inner Harbor of Cartagena, Colombia
Bocagrande is the most expensive neighborhood in Cartagena, Columbia	Colombian Navy Ships docked in front of Bocagrande Plaza in Cartagena	Modern Cartagena, Colombia	Ship docked in the Old City, Cartagena, Colombia	Pegasus Wharf in Old City, Cartagena, Colombia
Bird on Pegasus Wharf in the Old City of Cartagena, Colombia	The Old City of Cartagena, Colombia is surrounded by 7 Miles of Stone Walls (completed 1796)	Main Gate (Puerta del Reloj) into the Old City of Cartagena, Colombia	Pedro de Heredia founded Cartagena, Colombia in 1533	Plaza de la Conches in Cartagena, Colombia
Plaza de la Conches in Cartagena, Colombia	Hard Rock Cafe in the Old City of Cartagena, Colombia	Saint Peter Claver Church in Old City of Cartagena, Colombia	San Pedro Claver, a Spanish Jesuit Priest devoted his life and work to the African slaves of Cartagena	Avant-garde Scultpure made by Edgardo Carmona from Scrap Metal
Avant-garde Scultpure by Edgardo Carmona in San Pedro Claver Plaza	Another Edgardo Carmona Statue in San Pedro Claver Plaza	Cathedral of Cartagena is an Episcopal Church dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria	Narrow Streets in Old City Cartagena, Colombia	Sidewalk in Cartagena showing all Miss Colombias (contestants in Miss Universe) since 1934
Sidewalk in Cartagena with Miss Colombia Winners	Bolivar Square in Cartagena, Colombia	Simon Bolivar Statue in Cartagena, Colombia	Street Performers in Cartagena, Colombia	Inquisition Palace (1770) was the seat of the Holy Office of Inquisition in Cartagena, Colombia
Window in Inquisition Palace where Heretics were denounced and escorted inside to meet their fate	Cold Coconuts for sale in Cartagena, Colombia	Plaza de Santa Domingo in Cartagena, Colombia was once a Market for Slave Trading	"Fat Lady" Sculpture by Fernando in Plaza de Santa Domingo in Cartagena, Colombia	Locals think rubbing one of the "Fat Lady" Sculpture's "Charms" brings Good Luck
Karen, Bill, and Susan at Hard Rock Cartagena	Bill and Susan at Hard Rock Cartagena	Bill and Bill found a Local Beer in the Old City of Cartagena	Landscaping outside the Old City Walls of Cartagena	Welcome Back to Our Tour Boat
Band on Our Tour Boat	The Old City of Cartagena from the Bay of Cartagena	Karen and Bill starting the 'Rumba' Cruise on the Bay of Cartagena	Getting the Party started in the Bay of Cartagena	Castillo San Felipe de Barajas dominates approaches to Cartagena by Land and by Sea
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (Cartagena) was built in 1536 and expanded in 1657	La Candlearia Convent (1606) sits on La Popa Hill overlooking Cartagena, Colombia	Music, Dancing, and Rum Punch before Lunch	Susan, Bill, and Rum Punch on the Bay of Cartagena	Gotta be YMCA
Castillo Grande Lighthouse (1973) in Cartagena, Colombia	Submarne in the Bay of Cartagena	Party is still going on	Passing Statue of the Madonna and Child in the Bay of Cartagena	Arriving back at the Port of Cartagena, Colombia
Docked in Aruba	On the Street in Aruba	Pink Iguana & Happy Tourist (drinks) at Iguana Joe's	Back on Our Balcony in Aruba	Leaving Aruba
Semi-submersible Drillship carrying an Oil Platform in the Southern Caribbean Sea