This morning we had an early start as the ship entered the Panama Canal from the Atlantic Ocean at the Santa Clara (new locks).
All of these pictures are from the rear of the ship (reverse the images to see what it would be like to exit from the opposite direction).
Arrow guiding us into the locks.
Entering the first set of locks.
The first set of gates is closing behind us.
With the gate closed, the lock now fills with water.
The ship has entered the next lock and the second set of gates is closing behind us.
With the gate closed, the lock now fills with water.
The ship has entered the next lock and the third set of gates is closing behind us.
With the gate closed, the lock now fills with water.
The ship is now moving into Gatun Lake
Once we were in Gatun Lake, we took a tender to shore and boarded a bus to the ruins of Panama Viejo, or "Old Panama.
Ruins at Panama Viejo
from there, we went to Casco Antiguo (the old colonial city).
Walking around Casco Antiguo, (the old colonial city).
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús in Casco Antiguo, (the old colonial city).
Palace of Panama (Palacio Municipal Demetrio H. Brid). This building houses the Museum of History of Panama, which we visited.
Exhibit in the Museum of History of Panama
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary the Ancient
Folk musicians/dancers in Plaza Mayor
View of new buildings in Panama City and the Pacific Ocean
While we were gone, the ship turned around and exited the same way it entered. We met the ship in Colon when our excursion ended.
Driving through Colon on the way back to the port.
At Colon, we had to walk through a big mall (didn't buy anything) to return to the ship.
