Panama Canal Adventure.

At 5:00 a.m. I climbed down a rope ladder from the moving ship to a waiting tugboat, which took me and a videographer ashore. We met a government driver who took us to meet the ship at the various locks, and then through to the other side of Panama, where we took another tug to meet up with the ship in the Atlantic.
Definitely a neat experience. Shown here is Panama City before dawn.

Entering the first lock at Miraflores.

Passing through the canal is a major event for cruise passengers.

A worker clocks out for the day.

Entering the second set of locks at Pedro Miguel.

Torrential downpours keep the water replenished. 50 million gallons are used each time a ship goes through the locks.

Canal workers wait between rain showers.

Long way down. The ship is lowered 16m here.

After clearing the final lock, she sails through the Gatun Lake and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Approaching the ship via tug taxi.

My pals in Ship Security lower the ladder for my reluctant return on board.

Corinto, Nicaragua

After stopping in various Central American ports, I finally took my camera out in Nicaragua, to snap a few pics. Corinto is a tiny port town with a major prostitution industry. The people are poor but seem fairly happy. We paid a visit to the local photographer, Rigoberto, who was thrilled to receive us in his minimal studio. Definitely the highlight of the trip ashore.

Corinto's official photo studio.

Owain, my Welsh roommate, shows Rigoberto and his assistant some images on his fancy camera.

Passing the torch.

Corinto's critical mass chapter.

Riding in style.

Hanging meat on the clothesline?

Umbrella. Ella.

Carpooling is big here in Corinto.

The ms Zuiderdam towers over this small port town.

Margerie Glacier @Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay National Park. It's hard to tell from the photos, but this glacier is 180 feet high, and 400 feet deep. It is massive. This is my favorite day of the Alaska cruise. The glacier dwarfs our gigantic ship as we creep by. Standing on deck you get the feeling of being on another planet. A beautiful icy planet.

purty.

Calving is the natural separation of ice from the edge of a glacier. Massive chunks slide off and into the water creating a thunderous rumble that sends water splashing high up into the air.

ice and fog.

The woods in Alaska are mystical. Miles of trails weave through fragrant pines and around the steep rocky mountains. Streams and lakes abound, as well as an array of other-wordly ferns, mosses and mushrooms.

Hiking heaven.

I found this waterfall at the top of a mountain trail just above the old Skagway cemetary. Skagway was the hub of gold rush activity back in the days.

Alas, Alaska.

For the past three and 1/2 weeks I have been gainfully employed as a cruise ship photographer on the ms Zuiderdam, sailing out of Vancouver, B.C. Between grueling shifts of borderline humiliating work, I've managed to snap a couple of quick shots of the amazingly beautiful Alaskan scenery. Limited internet access and the hectic pace of ship life have kept my personal endeavors to an extreme minimum, which why it's taken so long to post anything. Next week we start our repositioning cruise down the west coast and through the Panama Canal, Caribbean bound. I plan to update this page whenever possible. Cheers.

humback attack.

a fluke.

blowhole action.

stellar sea lions.

ice bergz.

time for reflection.

old lighthouse, juneau.