Cartagena -Last port of call

Cartagena in Colombia was already a busy sea port 500 years ago; a stop over point for Spanish galeons loaded with gold and other booty from the Americas; It came as a shock in the very early hours of today to see the present skyline of Cartagena.

Oil refining and other less salubrious business has generated significant wealth in this area. The present population is over 1,24 million.

A view from the grounds of  convent from the mid 1500 hundreds gives some idea of the present extent of the one time small but important port town

The interior of the convent, now more museum than religious center, still has its old character.

Unfortunately MJ was detained outside the convent for a short time as a suspected "drogista". A donation to the convent soon had her released.

One of the old industries of the city. thanks to still productive mines. is the working of emeralds, needless to say many street vendors have great looking emeralds at barging prices. It helps to know that an emerald ALWAYS has internal flaws and that the darker the stone the more valuable it is. Remember your milage may vary.

The center of the old city  has been declared a World heritage Site by UNESCO, which ensures that great care in restoration is taken and modern construction is not allowed. Just bear in mind this is Central America where there is a firm belief in the idea that rules are meant to be bent as needed.

The main cathedral square  still has a pleasant and quite air.

It currently has a public art exhibition of steel sculptures reflecting the trades of the city.

Close to the church is the statue of St Peter Claver a Jesuit sanctified 200 years ago for his work saving the lives of slaves.

After a whirlwind tour by taxi of this interesting city we returned to our ship that was preparing for departure again.

Tomorrow we will be at sea and the next day too passing by Jamaica and squeezing between Haiti and Cuba before picking up the pilot for Miami.at 4.30 am on the 12th.

Canal Transit Part II

 At the entrance to the canal is the Bridge of the Americas, the first bridge to be built across the canal in 1913, it joins North America to South America; Every ship that has transited the canal has passed under this bridge.

Now matter what you have read about the canal the massiveness of the gates and the change in water levels still come as a surprise

The "lift" at each lock basin varies between 31 feet at the Miraflores Locks to 27 at the Gatun Locks. Each lock consist of two or three basins so the actual hight that the ship is lifted or lowered is 2 or three time this figure..

The water levels and gates are controlled form three story white building with red tiled roof. Each building contains a physical model of the lock the replicates the water levels as the basins fill and empty. Technology from 1913 still doing a sterling job.

Notice the mule sandwiched between the control building and the ships side and once again the minute gap between the ship and the basin wall.

Below you can see the "Island Princess" exiting the final basin of the Gatun or northern most locks under its own power. The "mules" or locomotives that guide the ship through the basins can also be seen on the left.

Along side of every lock group  construction work is underway to build a new parallel series of locks that  will accommodate ships significantly larger than the 1000+ foot monsters that transit today. It is planned for opening in 2014.

From initial contact with the canal area until the discharge of the pilots atkes about 12 hours. The ship is limited to between 7 and knots (6 3/4 - 9 1/4 mph) to reduce bank erosion.

At the end of its transit just a few minutes before our ship the Island Princess exits the lock system and heads for the high seas.

The transit was a fascinating experience no ammout of reading or research can prepare one for this working monument to the ingenuity and skill of man.