Just crossed an item off my bucket-list, transiting the Panama Canal and checking out a sliver South America. Started ominously with the all day trip to L.A. via Chicago. Excited about our tour of Hollywood and do the walk of the stars, couldn’t find some of my hero stars like Roy Rodgers and a couple of guys I had met on fishing trips, Earnest Borgnine and Lee Marvin. Lots of other people were looking for their stars. The real excitement was watching the coach driver maneuver through traffic and then get hit by a dope-head who could hardly stand up. We were traveling with a wonderful group from our local bank travel club. Our ship was the “Norwegian Pearl”, one of the best ever. First stop in Cabo brought back fond memories of past fishing trips back when it had dirt roads and few people. Sandra asked me not to go fishing, she didn’t think my ticker could stand an hour fight with a 200 pound marlin. We had a delightful panga boat ride out to the arch. Still mad at Mexico for holding our Marine Sgt Andrew Tahmooressi in jail, so we saved our money to spend in Costa Rica and Columbia. Transiting the Panama Canal was a real experience and technological marvel. Completed 100 years ago and they are currently working on expanding and improving as we past through. The toll for our ship was about $600,000.00 and it saved about 6000 miles of travel from L. A. to Miami. They still call the electric trains that guide the ships through the Canal “Mules”, holdover from early days when cargo was moved across the isthmus using animals. When I asked a Panamanian fellow about the electric mules, he explained them most succinctly. “Da goot mules, da no eat, da no poop, da goot mules”. One thing that came to mind was how today it would take 100 years just to get the permits, do the environmental studies, meet OSHA mandates, complete labor negotiations, and that’s before we move the first shovel of dirt. Each night we returned to our room there were new animals on our bed. By the end of the cruise we had a regular zoo in our room. Loved the elephant, but told the cabin steward no donkeys allowed. The ship restaurants were incredible, items like duck, lamb, and sea food were impossible to ignore. There was a group from India and every day at lunch there was a good selection of Indian cuisine. The only dish they didn’t have that was standard fare in Seattle was curried goat. Even ran into an old acquaintance of 30 years from Edmonds, he sold us our property in Woodway 29 years ago. His brother lived next door to us and he, his brothers and dad were always wonderful political supporters. Thank you to our Twin Lakes Bank and fearless tour leader, Judy. Thankful for a wonderful trip, our new friends, and new experiences. Now the hard work begins, trying to shed the pounds that seemed to chase me down during the cruise.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 17:00:11 +0000
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