panama canal

today i went back to the gym… hooray for me!  yes, i put it off a few days, but it’s like having a free health club out here, so i don’t really have an excuse not to go… angie is the trainer here and i sailed awhile back with her – crew gets half off of spa/gym services, so i am going to do a few sessions with her as a gift to myself in lieu of a lot of tacky souvenirs…

we began going into the first lock of the panama canal at about 7:30 am, and then we hung around in gatun lake for awhile as some guests took excursions… we then turned around and went back out… next cruise is when i will be adventuring and when i will have a new camera from ft. lauderdale, so i won’t wax too poetic about the places just yet – next week! 

the cruiseship marketing team came and hung out in the piano bar last night – that was nice!  also had visits from my canadian good time sisters, the twa 70’s stewardesses, and of course, the bears!!! i love them… not to mention the many, many, many other lovely folks on this trip – i don’t have any hecklers or cranky people anywhere!  this bar, unlike the last ship i was on, also has the bar stools right around the piano bar, so people can sit right there… 

tonight was the official round of “american pie” stump the band game, and it went for an hour… we wrapped up about 1am, and i hung out with a couple of the bears after for a chat… everything’s going well here!  can’t wait to get a camera tho and do some tours next round!