A mid-day flight brought us to Panama and the end of the journey. For those of you that may never have visited Panama City, I want to say that it is one of truly great places in the world. My reasoning follows that the basic “wants” in any destination are all to be had in this modern, yet, historical and vital city. In Panama City, you have an ocean and sea; mountains and beaches; engineering feats; modern skyscrapers; nearly 500-year old buildings; rainforests; great restaurants; and countless other things compacted within a small accessible area. It is relatively cheap and easy to get around. Sure, it is gritty and rundown in parts, but this is improving daily, as the infrastructure is improving with the influx capital. There is very little to not like about the Panama City area and it is only going to get better with the new locks opening up more international attention and trade. In that regard, upon arrival, we headed straight to the Miraflores locks for the “show”. I have been to the Canal before and find it to be one of the greatest sites in the world. It is over one hundred years old and has raised and lowered of 1-million vessels in its rich history. Watching a large cruise ship or cargo ship being raised and lower is a marvel. It is all done with gravity and simple engineering on a grand scale. It is so simple, yet, complex. I think more broadly about this canal and consider how it has shaped the world we live in today. The canal has redistributed wealth around the world which has allowed a higher quality of life for billions of people. It has impacted on societies, cultures, and values in every corner of the world. It is more than a mere passageway, but rather a bridge across the world. Anyhow, to watch the ships going through the canal is a slow process and spectacle because the they only have a few feet of clearance on either side. It is thought provoking looking at these giants slowly going down or up before you eyes. I just love the experience and, so did/does, the hundreds of people who pour in each day. I took a series of photos of the ship being lowered. I hope that a quick scroll will help to get the idea.
From Arizona to Panama Canal 