A momentous and exciting day as we passed from the Pacific to the Caribbean by way of the Panama Canal, one of the greatest feats of engineering in the world. An interesting place. It is actually where Columbus landed in 1502 and the only place on the American continent he ever visited. He was convinced there was a navigable way through the continent and this belief and desire remained for 400 years. There were various attempts to build a canal here mostly ...

Another very hot day, well into the 30s. Steaming south and south east in Panama towards our rendezvous with the canal at 0630 tomorrow morning. Very excited for that. It will take about 10 hours to make the transit which consists of some lakes, a long canal and quite a few locks. Some of the stretches will just have about 2 feet spare on either side of the ship so a bit of a tight fit. I wouldn't like to be up on the bridge for that!!!! Still it is ...