On the Brilliance in April of 04.........they ran on a couple of the TV channels the PBS special The Path Between the Seas and it ran it the day of going into the cannal........I also have this book........but it is much more difficult to read than Anne Vipond's book.........you really have to love the canal, engineering and the history of it to read the Path Between the Seas.............all 800 page of it.
Call me crazy, but I loved it -- all 800 pages. But you are right, Jim. It's not an easy book to read. I am a political freak. I love politics of all kinds, biblical, world politics, and even the nutty politics of the USA. The politics of the constsruction of the Canal are quite fascinating. That's why I enjoyed the train ride so much. The tour director brings one up to date (the book ends with its completion) on the politics of the Canal.
I loved the Panama Canal. We did it in 2003 with Princess from Pacific to Atlantic. I wanted to do it for the reason it was built, from one coast to another. Did in Feb and it was hot and humid there (loved that) and we had no rain! Did a tour in Costa Rica and a boat on a river right near many crocks, neat to see them and also many different birds.
We went from LA to Ft Lauderdale with more stops on the Pacific side, only Aruba and Jaimica in the Caribbean plus the port at end of canal Cristobal. I am not crazy about Mexico but enjoyed seeing it, once! Did some general tours of the areas at each port just to get a "taste". No tour at Huatulco as we were supposed to stop at Cartahenga (sp?)Columbia but was cancelled at last minute and replaced by Huatulco. At Huatulco 2 of us got a taxi to a nearby beach that was recommended. Very strong currents there so only got wet to knees. Had to walk back as no taxies never came, nice walk though. Really loved the sea days.
I think the trip you are looking at to So America looks very good. Don't know why we didn't do that, maybe it wasn't available then or we just didn't see it. I wouldn't mind doing that someday.
To sum it up, I just enjoyed it for the experience of going through something that was a dream for so long and then built so long ago. I also just love being on a ship!!!!
Knew I liked you.......I'm a political nut too........ was a political science major with a history minor.......that gets you to be a cruise board moderator some day I loved the book as well.......but know the average person wouldn't.........for the typical cruiser the Anne Vipond book is better.......
Knew I liked you.......I'm a political nut too........ was a political science major with a history minor.....
Jim, I didn't know you were a history nut. Me too! I'm really surprised you aren't traveling to Europe...it's such a treasure chest of historical sites!
I know George.....but the political world climate right now has kept us pretty close to home..........but you are right..........we need to get over to Europe
Read this thread - found it very interesting. I just received the Ann Vipond book "Alaska by Cruise Ship" - if all her books are similar, I may look into the Panama Canal edition...very fast read with many tips.
I have Anne's book on Alaska I ordered from Barnes and Noble 6 months ago when I thought we might actually go to Alaska.......then the cold weather thing hit me...... We need to ask each other Thursday what cruise books we have for an exchange at breakfast.........
We just did the Southbound Alaska in September, it was awesome, but our favorite so far was our R/T out of Barcelona. Can't wait to do our PC this October! Just got my "Panama Canal by Cruise Ship" and couldn't put it down last night.
First thanks Jim for the recommendation of Panama Canal by Cruise Ship by Anne Vipond, We will buy two copies this week, one as a gift to friends of ours who will be joining us for their first cruise.
We have the summit coming up in January for the full trip FLL to LAX. Jim, I have a couple of specific questions!
Here is Number one:
When the itinerary states that we will be “crossing the canal from 6 am till ....does that mean we should be in “position?” at 6:00 am as to not miss anything?
Secondly we have an Aft cabin.. how important is it we experience the canal face front?
Thanks for any and all opinions.. On a related topic.. I am hearing that Huatulco, Mexico is the now place to invest in retirement property .. it is being build as the next Acapulco…I don’t know how true.. but that’s the rumbling I am hearing.
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was a political science major with a history minor.......that gets you to be a cruise board moderator some day
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