The Panama Canal

Passage through the Panama Canal was, as advertised, a Bucket List item. The visual experience is enhanced by the history and technology behind the canal. There is a lot of material about The Canal available for review. Here is a visual trip, with, of course, comments.

Starting out at just after sunlight with the actual entry into the Canal at about 7 am, ending a bit after 4 pm.

Early morning with ships waiting to go through the canal. The heaviest traffic is East to West, and the canal runs 24/7.

Bridge of the Americas

Looking at the entrance to one of the two sets of locks (we are headed to the other one)

Entering a lock

The first of several lighthouses

A ship entering the other side of the lock… not a lot of room to spare

Looking back at the lock as we go in

Two of the electric tugs. They do not pull ships through, they guide them. Ships use their own power.

1/2 way into a lock. Look at the age of the concrete.

Temporary neighbors.

Ship leaving the lock

From on deck…

Entering a lock. Very narrow! Some ships are built to fit in the locks.

Another lighthouse. It is black because white blocks signals. I don’t know what kind of signals… that is what The Guy told us.

The philosophical question is, “Who is looking at whom?”

Entering a lock

Exiting the lock with another ship coming in and a cruiseship waiting in the wings.

Last of the lighthouses. This one appears to be covered in graffiti

Scenic. An amazing factoid; the <huge> lake between the sets of locks is manmade. The manpower, and loss of life, to make it back in the day were staggering