Passage through Panama

The most striking thing about Panama was the air. Heavy, thick, hot as a sauna and even more oppressive. The place would feel forboding if it wasn't so stunning to look at. Lush green hills, often shrouded in mist, and behind them mountains that were no more than shadows to look at.

It makes me want to go to South America even more than I already did, just for the atmosphere. I absolutely love it here.

It took us about six hours to pass through the whole canal yesterday. Our ship paid a toll of $225,000, if you can believe it!

Last set of locks before the Pacific!
My very dorky day shift uniform

Village alongside the canal

Panama City is pristine from a distance

Moody evenings

Last night my roommate Selina and I went for dinner at the best restaurant on the ship, The Normandie. We had a fantastic, three hour meal. And they prepared a lot of it table-side.

They gave us each an 'amuse bouche', a little tiny bite of delicious appetizer (ours was salmon and spinach and basil). I ate goat cheese souffle (fantastic), then lamb wrapped in a puff pastry (oh yum!) and veggies, we had a whole cheese course with five kinds of cheese with fruit and bread, and for dessert I had a chef's sampler of six desserts (double yum!!!) There was a mango souffle, a passionfruit gelatin, a little creme brulee, a chocolate tart and an English style sponge cake. Then we had little homemade chocolate candies and truffles, as well as champagne, wine and coffee!

SO THERE, take that, those of you who said I don't sound like myself because I haven't raved about food yet. haha :)