We walked to the large outdoor market on the beach at Puntarenas - lots of neat stuff to buy. --- Some went to the swimming beach right next to the pier and got a good view of our ship. --- The next day (at sea) some of us went on the Spitit's Kitchen Tour --- where we saw how and where meals for the 2000 passengers and 1000 crew are prepared. --- Early the next morning we passed under the Bridge of the Americas and entered the Panama Canal. --- The first of the 4 sets of locks was about 10 miles upstream. There a little rowboat (tradition) passed the cables --- to attach our ship to the Mules (engines) that pulled us through the locks. --- We then traveled about 20 miles, through the man-made canal to another set of locks, --- to lake Genua(?) at the top, where lots of ships were waiting for their turn to pass through the locks. --- We did the final two (going back down to sea level) sets of locks and then entered the Caribbean. --- We then cruised further South to Columbia where we got a real Columbian (looking) tour guide. --- Cartagena Columbia was really different - narrow streets and really good deals in the shops. --- Here, the street merchants would follow you right into the bus, hawking their goods. --- After we left Columbia, we had days at sea, celebrated shipboard Halloween, --- sunned, swam, ate good food (the Gala Midnight Buffet above), --- and all put in $10 for our group gamble. We also and had our group picture - and got home. --- .... Click BACK on your browser to return to the Previous Picture Page