We met our wonderful guide Roberto

We arrive at the Gatun Locks

Watching HUGE ships go through the locks is an amazing experience.

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As you will see, Panama must be a wonderful place to work as everyone is SO happy.

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One of the train engines that keeps the ships steady as they go through the canal.

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Kathleen and Bob prepare to cross a lock gate to the control building.

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Kathleen and Bob crossing a Gatun Lock gate on the Panama Canal.

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The gates were way too slippery for Bill, Sandra and Carol in the rain.

I love this view that less than one in a million people who visit the Canal get to see.

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Paul & Gail cross the gate.

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Followed by Carole, Danny and Roberto. Leading the way is Roberto's "brother."

The guys who run the Gatun Locks.

Inside the control room

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This is the way they used to open the gates on the locks. All mechanical.

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Now it's all digital.

Carole and Gail get to open the gates on the Gatun Locks. WOW!

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Carol, Bill and Sandra taking pics of us on the outdoor walkway of the control room.

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The gates were open so we stayed in the center, in the control room.

We were so VERY close to the ships, I could take pics of the people on board.

My favorite picture of the day.

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Our crew in the Control Room. An amazing experience.

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The whole gang back together canal-side.

Roberto and his "brother" Luis, our amazing guides.

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These are the gates for the NEW locks in the new section of the canal.

Bob gives you an idea of how big they are.

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Mike shoots up through the gate.

The entrance to the Gatun Locks and the current canal is right next to the new one.

On our way to the new canal visitor center we ran into a troop of monkeys.

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The new canal. The gates you saw will go in these slots.

Make sure to check out the panorama of the new canal dig here.

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