Barro Colorado Island & The Panama Canal
The last day of a voyage holds for us a distinct quality of peaceful familiarity. Having spent the week steeped in this wondrous landscape rich with life; our senses have allowed us to absorb its magical qualities. We feel certain that this tropical land will forever be a part of us.
At our first glance toward today’s anticipated excursion to Barro Colorado Island - BCI, we feast our eyes on a richly colored backdrop, in vivid shades of green, splashed with the brilliant lemon yellow blossoms of the Guayacan tree. These blooms make their outward show for only a brief period of time before dropping to the ground, sprinkling the path with their radiance. Many of us explore this wondrous island by foot, others by Zodiac.
Those of us that chose to hike are immediately transformed by this lush plentiful jungle. Our guides educate us on the many different species of flora and fauna, while our senses feast on their abundance. The monkey ladder vines reach for the sun forming a ribbon like structure, while the liana vines weave their way across the forest’s canopy, connecting many trees along their path.
Overhead we watch with fascination as a Howler monkey feasts on the fruits of the forest. Sunlight filters through the dense tree tops at every singular opportunity. The air is warm and rich with moisture allowing our skin to be damp and dewy. The breeze cools us as we watch the forest dance in its presence, all the while noticing the varied scents of the forest, ranging from a rich earthy sent to a slightly floral, changing yet into a starchy thick scent that we compared to that of a potatoes’. For our listening pleasure, the forest provides a symphony, predominantly with the buzz of the cycada accompanied by the song of the tinamou, the call of the keel billed toucan and the beat of the paled-billed woodpecker. We depart this forest feeling completely satiated by its richness.
The afternoon is spent back on board the Sea Voyager sharing our morning’s experiences over a wonderfully prepared lunch and anticipating our transit through the Gatun Locks on the Panama Canal. Upon our appointed entry, we are enthralled with the operations. This amazingly engineered structure evokes a sense of nostalgia and admiration for the many men that dedicated much of their lives and for the many of whom lost their lives in the process. The sun begins to set as we exit the lock, and begin our farewell dinner.
The last day of a voyage holds for us a distinct quality of peaceful familiarity. Having spent the week steeped in this wondrous landscape rich with life; our senses have allowed us to absorb its magical qualities. We feel certain that this tropical land will forever be a part of us.
At our first glance toward today’s anticipated excursion to Barro Colorado Island - BCI, we feast our eyes on a richly colored backdrop, in vivid shades of green, splashed with the brilliant lemon yellow blossoms of the Guayacan tree. These blooms make their outward show for only a brief period of time before dropping to the ground, sprinkling the path with their radiance. Many of us explore this wondrous island by foot, others by Zodiac.
Those of us that chose to hike are immediately transformed by this lush plentiful jungle. Our guides educate us on the many different species of flora and fauna, while our senses feast on their abundance. The monkey ladder vines reach for the sun forming a ribbon like structure, while the liana vines weave their way across the forest’s canopy, connecting many trees along their path.
Overhead we watch with fascination as a Howler monkey feasts on the fruits of the forest. Sunlight filters through the dense tree tops at every singular opportunity. The air is warm and rich with moisture allowing our skin to be damp and dewy. The breeze cools us as we watch the forest dance in its presence, all the while noticing the varied scents of the forest, ranging from a rich earthy sent to a slightly floral, changing yet into a starchy thick scent that we compared to that of a potatoes’. For our listening pleasure, the forest provides a symphony, predominantly with the buzz of the cycada accompanied by the song of the tinamou, the call of the keel billed toucan and the beat of the paled-billed woodpecker. We depart this forest feeling completely satiated by its richness.
The afternoon is spent back on board the Sea Voyager sharing our morning’s experiences over a wonderfully prepared lunch and anticipating our transit through the Gatun Locks on the Panama Canal. Upon our appointed entry, we are enthralled with the operations. This amazingly engineered structure evokes a sense of nostalgia and admiration for the many men that dedicated much of their lives and for the many of whom lost their lives in the process. The sun begins to set as we exit the lock, and begin our farewell dinner.
