Panama Canal Video
This one is thanks to Poppy. :) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9040875966564826702

Boy, those ships really FLY through there. No sign of Battie... :cry:

:D I felt like those captains of the ships had too much coffee :roll: lol... Ok, someone explain the canal to me....I know it's the way for ships to get from the east to the west.... but what's with the up/down stuff.... I thought they just sailed (with guidance) through the canal!

Debbie, the French tried to build a canal with no locks, but they found the cuttings would need to be too deep and had to give up. The Americans took over and put locks in to get over the mountains. Have a look at this link http://www.pancanal.com/eng/general/howitworks/index.html

Very interesting Stephen..... Thanks for the link........ I always thought it was a man made level area for the ships to go through...But it's not.. Therefore the going through where the ship is lifted and hence the coming back through where the ship is lowered... Very cool.......Next year I'll get to see it first hand.....

Wish that all these pictures had been taken from the same place and had been the same size, BUT, it is something, anyway

Minerva transiting the Canal http://www.swanhellenic.com/panamacanal.asp

Debbie I will give you a report as soon as we get back. I think we are at 79 days till sailing.