The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Saint Augustine

Wow! This was a bucket list day for sure. The Panama Canal! What a phenomenal piece of engineering! Yet so simple in its fundamental design.

The Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, joined via a series of locks and lakes that lifts massive ships 85 feet, and then brings them down again.

There will be more, especially in terms of detail, when we return home. But, for now, these few impressions and photographs.

Rebekah and I got up early so we could be on deck when our vessel went under the impressive Bridge of the Americas.

I of course spent three hours running from deck to deck, camera in hand, a little giddy with excitement to be there.

It turned out to be a beautiful day, full with sunshine.

Our one disappointment was Panama’s current social unrest, a situation that caused the tourism bureau to cancel shore excursions, including ours to explore Panama City.

Regardless, this was a great day, and we are so glad to be here.

One More Note:

Rebekah and I attended a seminar/documentary about the canal, narrated by our activities director. They used the ship’s state of the art auditorium that includes giant semicircular video walls and phenomenal sound.

In it, they told the whole story, including the parts about forced labor, tens of thousands of deaths, political manipulations and more.

It’s the way history should be told, history that we can – or at least should – all learn from.

Tomorrow’s stop is in Costa Rica; stay tuned, Rebekah and I have big plans! – DEREK