Sunday in Pictures

Today in pictures:

One of the rapidly disappearing "Diablos Rojos" - "Red Devil" buses

Decano (Dean) Nicolas and me at the Panama Canal

Elba shows us how big the chain links used to pull the ships
through the canal used to be when they still used chain

It's an occupational hazard for folks like me (and Elba)
Whenever you see a confusing error message or a
bad design, you feel you HAVE to document it

A simulation of the Canal control room

Nicolas was about here on the day the Canal started its expansion
He has a bit of rock from those first explosions

A large ship transiting the Canal

As the water level has fallen, the ship has settled deeper
into the lock.  There are 2 "Mules" - train engines
that pull the ship ahead at the bow.  The one had 3 on each side,
two on front and one on the back, which probably accounted for
part of the $150K transit fee

The railroad tracks right next to the ship in the lock are for
the mules.  They go remarkably fast considering what
they are towing.

Susan at the Canal

The Maersk Bintan from Singapore exits the locks

Elba in her hat - it's a Panamanian hat but it's not a Panama hat
(those are made in Ecuador - don't ask me why)

Next into the locks - the Canal runs 24x7x365

El Decano Nicolas

Nicolas and me

Nicolas and Elba

Coming into Panama City

Over a door in Casco Viejo (Old Panama)

A fanciful creature to keep your flat safe

Casco Viejo - newly painted

And a bit more "real"

Nicolas and Elba

And here I THOUGHT I was in Panama...

Lovely residence in Casco Viejo

The New Panama City across the water

Church

I couldn't pass up this lovely grill work

La Iglesia San Felipe Neri
Where I lit a "candle" for Kevin Brooks (who has Pancreatic cancer) and his wife,
Laura Packer, and another for the Computer Engineering Department
at UTP

Guess who?

I wish I could remember which Plaza this is (anyone?) but it
has lovely crafts and other delights

 It has been an amazing day with so many wonderful parts!  These photos are a bit of a window into it, but they don't tell the whole story because they leave out the wonderful conversations, laughs, new things learned (did you know that the Centennial of the Panama Canal will be on August 14?  I'm tempted to return for it!) plus the exercise of walking.  It was a lovely day.

And I'm exhausted, so please forgive me for not posting more.  "A picture's worth..." and all that.  (More photos tomorrow)