This is the story of my life so far: 67 years and counting.
Prequel: A Brief History of my Family in France
The story starts here
Previous episode: Part 32
After the repairs to the Victor Schoelcher in Salina Cruz, we joined the Jeanne d'Arc and went to the port of Balboa near Panama City.
Panama City
We moored in the port of Balboa.
At this time, the Panama Canal was still part of the Panama Canal Zone managed by the United States, and Balboa was a town in the Canal Zone and not part of Panama City, the capital of Panama. After October 1st 1979, Balboa became a district of Panama City.
Panama City Today
source
We stayed only two days in Balboa/Panama City.
The only memory I have is that we went to a "night club", la Gruta Azul (the Blue Grotto). I am not going to describe into details what we saw there!
Panama Canal
We took the Panama Canal on March 5th 1971.
A Ship in the Panama Canal
source
Of course, we went through the famous Miraflores locks with their "mules".
A Mule in one of the Miraflores Locks
source
And we passed under the Bridge of the Americas.
Bridge of the Americas
source
New Orleans
Then, we went North-North-West, passed between Cancun (Mexico) and Cuba, and arrived in New Orleans (In French: La Nouvelle-Orléans), where we spent a week.
Of course, we visited the French Quarter. In particular, we went to Preservation Hall, that has been established ten years before, to listen to some traditional jazz.
Preservation Hall
source
As you can see on the picture above, you could request some tunes, but asking for When the Saints Go Marching In (The Saints) was the most expensive request. This was already the case in 1971.
We left New Orleans on March 16th to go to French territory: Fort de France, in Martinique.
Continue to Part 34
If you like this story, please consider following me @vcelier
Summary
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7
Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 Part 11 - Part 12 - Part 13 - Part 14
Part 15 - Part 16 - Part 17 - Part 18 - Part 19 - Part 20 - Part 21
Part 22 - Part 23 - Part 24 - Part 25 - Part 26 - Part 27 - Part 28
Part 29 - Part 30 - Part 31 - Part 32
Reminds me of the film Quai de brumes where there is a small honky tonk called Panama. The owner likes to think back to the time where he was there, and no one is allowed to say it is foggy in Le Havre. He insist that it is hot and sunny.
Maybe you don't allow people to say that it snows in Canada.
It rarely snows in Vancouver, much less than in New York.
Seems I have a bit too stereotype view of Canada.
ur life is fantastic and u ejnoy ur many years of life...also panama is a beautiful city for some things...god bless u in ur next life @vcelier sir
and a nice and smallstory of ur life which tell u us u went some wonderfull places i also appriciate u forever @vecelier...may god give u happines in ur next life
Panama is definitely on my travel bucket list. Steem On brother!
What else is on your bucket list?
Alaska
Belize
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Scotland
Ireland
Ukraine
Hawaii
Germany
Japan
And Panama!
Fascinating and beautiful imagery.
Thank you.
Fantastic journey my friend and i will be happy to read more of your content, i also followed you thanks again
You are welcome.
Ah that's cool, my son lives in New Orleans, been there 3 times, nice people, great food , peace
Whoaaaa!!! Really awesome place, you look great and I upvote your post and followed you just take look at my latest post on poetry hope you like it.^_^😘
Upvoted and also resteemed :]
Why was it most expensive request? Cos they were tired of playing it all day around? :D
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Oh wow , you were in New Orleans in 71? I wish I could have been there. As you probably know, I lived there in the 2000's. What an amazing place eh? Here is an old painting of mine that you might like. remember the Jackson Square Cathedral? Sorry it's a bad photo. it's all I have of this old one...
thx for this amazing biography. very interesting :)
This was very cool, WHENS PART 2 OUT!