Today has been spent in Panama, Central America. I got up early to get out and have a look at the canal. We got into the canal around 7 am, just as I got up on deck. We went through three different sets of locks (Sluser),and went up a total of 20 meters above sea level.

Now, I have been through locks before, in Norway, but these locks were a lot bigger! It is amazing to think how much time you save going through this canal instead of going all around South America, for those who are actually going to the other side, the Pacific ocean. We only went trough the 3 locks at Gatun, there are 3 more on the Pacific side. In the middle there is an artificial lake, Lake Gatun. We anchored up there for some hours, before we went back through the same locks, and onto a Panamanian city called Colòn.

We only had 3 hours in Colòn, but that was enough. As probably most Central American cities, it wasn't too safe to walk around. There were designated areas for the tourists, which basically included touristy souvenir shops and duty-free. I did not dare to go outside of the fenced tourist area, there was even a sign that said no guns allowed in there! Yikes! I am way too scared to go to Central America, and definitely never alone!

I am getting some sort of a jetlag again. We are changing the clocks every day now, as we go through Central America. Should go to bed soon, as we are going on a tour in Costa Rica tomorrow, and have to get up nice and early!