Although the objective of our trip was birding and natural history, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit the Panama Canal. We visited Miraflores Lock, just north of Panama City, where there is a visitor center explaining the history and construction of the canal, as well as an observation platform. Ships enter the canal here from the Pacific. We were fortunate to have good weather and to be able to see three different types of ships pass through the locks: container, cruise and auto transport. The first ship was photographed from our hotel balcony in the morning (photo 5). Later in the morning we saw the same ship passing through the far lock beyond the cruise ship (photos 6 -12). The ships pass through the locks under their own power, but guided by the towing locomotives (mules). The Gatun Lock is the last of three locks before ships enter the Atlantic/Caribbean. The Bridge of the Americas and the Centenial Bridge link the two sides of the canal.