Panama Canal, Views from a Cruise Ship

The Liberian oil tanker Socrates enters the Panama Canal, empty of cargo.

The Panama Canal was completed by the United States in 1914.  The French worked on the canal for 13 years, but gave up after they incurred 22,000 deaths and the construction firm went bankrupt.  Completed by the USA in 10 years, it is considered one of the seven engineering marvels of the world.
Continue reading

Museum of Communism & Wealthy Gypsies

Memorial Museum for Communism Victims

Memorial Museum for Communism Victims

 

The luck of the draw.  Many, if not most, reading this blog were simply fortunate to have been born in the USA, had access to good education, good medical treatment and above all, a democracy.  Not so for those living in Romania during much of my lifetime.
Continue reading