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The Kitchen Table

Panama Canal here we come

15 years ago

Ship leaves tomorrow from San Diego headed for Mexico, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica and Columbia. We'll be cruising on the Celebrity Infinity and docking in Fort Lauderdale early Sunday morning, April 24th with a late night flight back to the West coast that evening.

Got all my shots (four) ... anti-malaria pills (which I've opted not to take unless there's an advisory) and lots of change for the kids at each port.

My camera, the one that has taken every photo I've ever posted here, is eight years old. I hope it makes it through another trip. I'll be heartbroken if it breaks. I have a back-up but still ...

Back to packing.

Jodi-

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Comments (23)

nanny98
15 years ago
Have a wonderful, wonderful trip and come back safely and full of more great photo's. We will be thinking of you!
jannie
15 years ago
Can't wait to see your photos. Have a wonderful trip!
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Good Morning everyone., thanks for replying. gneegirl, it wasn't spring where I was, the temps were 85 to 96 and the highest humidity I remember was 91. I doubt I would have gone if I had known the temps there. I'm glad I didn't know, it was a wonderful trip. I will post more pictures when I get them edited. I hang my favorite travel photos so I can see them everyday and remember where I've been. I put the pins on my world map yesterday, I thought I had gone to 6 new countries, but it was 8.
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If you love shopping, don't miss Macy's at Herald Square, Bloomies, Tiffany's, Lord & Taylor. Natural Museum of History, MOMA, Guggenheim - all great places to visit. - great upscale boutiques (nice to window shop and dream) are nearby. I agree with getting to SoHo and don't forget Tribeca (triangle before Canal Street) - very artsy and trendy. Chinatown and Little Italy are a must. If it's not a clear day don't go up the Empire State building. The Statue of Liberty is just as nice to see from the water, instead of wasting time going there, I would take the Staten Island Ferry across and back - it is FREE. Takes about 25 minutes one way. Don't forget St. Patricks Cathedral across from Rockefeller Center and near Saks Fifth Ave. If you are trying to go to see a popular play, try to get tickets now. You can still get 1/2 price tickets at Time Square, but you have to have time to spare and wait on line. If you are interested in geneology go to Ellis Island. You may need to stay there a month to do all of this, HAVE FUN, June is a nice time of year to visit NYC.
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as a tourist in FL i would not stay, 50-60 mph winds to us are nothing but you might not think so... just be forewarned tourists always get swept aside in hurricanes/tropical storms in getting help, they always feel forgotten because businesses & residents come first in getting help. i live in orlando and believe me there were no happy tourists in 2004 aug-oct w/ 3 hurricanes, they complained loudly but it's off season for a reason. i'm in seminole co and have racked up just under 35" of rain since tues, 15" of that just since midnight last night. flooding is everywhere, wide spread power outages, lots of tree damage thou nothing like a hurricane. after 4 days of fay i'd say it might be better to leave ahead of time or risk being w/o power and stuck because of flooding. the only death in the central fl area was a tourist. they were in the water after a zillion warnings not to, waist deep only, the wife was swept out in a rip current. ~ liz
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Although the passage through the Panama Canal is a 24 hour operation, there were lots of lights along where the mule worked and several lights. This is the neatest looking one.It can take awhile for the water levels to get to where they should be and workers cannot just stand around. This goes down under the locks and comes up on the other side. That has to be a lot of steps. Oops! Wow, several ships banged into this enough that some work was necessary and it still looked distressed!The gate behind us is closing and our mule has some slack lines. There must have been a bit of a communication problem for we banged into this side shortly after the gate closed.
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marie_ndcal
15 years ago
Have a great time and enjoy the trip. As to a camera==you might find out how much they cost on board or at the different places you stop, in case of an emergency, if you have a phone/Ipod etc.
alisande
15 years ago
Sounds wonderful, Jodi--have a fantastic time!!
vala55
15 years ago
I know you will have a great time, been there done that, great fun. there are actually two locks that you pass through unless you turn around and go back to where you came from. We were headed to Acapulco from San Juan and we went through the first which we expected and we were watching from the deck. The second we were in a lounge area and we saw a rock wall outside our window. Boy was it a tight squeeze. I was on the Island Princess and the locals called her the Princess Max because it was the largest ship that could go through.

When I went to the rain forest we were to be there 2 weeks so we had 14 pills and we had to start the meds Saturday a week before we left home and one every week until they were gone. It was called Larimar or something like that. I was told they have something new now, that's probably what you will be taking. I didn't take any on the Panama trip.
nicole__
15 years ago
I've never been to any of the countries you mentioned.....soooooooooooooo....this is ALL on you to see it all....take pictures of it all and report back. I'm counting on you!!! :0) Have fun and how exciting!!!!
susanjf_gw
15 years ago
enjoy! (as i sit here under a blanket, lol..)
lynn_d
15 years ago
Have a grand time, Jodi!!
User
15 years ago
You're going to love it. My parents have cruised through the Panama twice. Can't wait to see your pictures!
Jasdip
15 years ago
The daily thread is going to me amazing when you come back from your holiday Jodi!!

That is a very different trip......I hope you and your hunk of a hubby have the time of your life! LOL
lydia1959
15 years ago
Sounds like an awesome trip! Have fun!
ruthieg__tx
15 years ago
Friends just made that trip and had a wonderful time. Enjoy your trip.
User
15 years ago
Have a wonderful time Jodi!
patti43
15 years ago
Bon voyage, Jodi. Have a wonderful, relaxing time and drink something with an umbrella in it for me :-)
minnie_tx
15 years ago
Looking forward to great reports !!
Marcia Thornley
15 years ago
Looking forward to your pictures and report!
trixietx
15 years ago
Have fun! We really enjoyed our Panana Canal cruise, yes it is a tight fit going through the locks.

I think Costa Rica was our most favorite port, absolutely beautiful.
petaloid
15 years ago
What a wonderful journey you will have!

I can't wait to hear all about it and see your photos -- take care!
kim_okla
15 years ago
Have a wonderful time and a safe trip.
moonie_57 (8 NC)
15 years ago
Jodi - I grew up in Panama, on the Atlantic side. We came back when I was 18 and to this day I still miss the place. As you are exiting the Gatun Locks, up on the hill is a lighthouse. We lived in the house sitting in front of that lighthouse... if either are still there, I would love it if you could take a picture.
Jodi_SoCal
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks everyone! Three more hours and we board a train to San Diego where the ship is docked. We'll be attending a Captain's party before we set sail at 5pm PST.

Cheers, Jodi-
Jodi_SoCal
Original Author
15 years ago
Moonie, sorry, I didn't see your post before posting mine. I will try to remember to look for, and take a picture of the house and lighthouse. How cool would that be? Send me an email through my GW profile in five days to remind me.
sjerin
15 years ago
Have a terrific time!

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