Fri, Nov 30:  NCL Jade Cruise Ship:  Woke up at 6:00 this morning and looked out and we were in the canal zone already.  Started moving slowly to the canal with two escorts.  We were told it costs a cruise ship about $500,000 to transit the canal.  The most expensive was a French ship which paid over one million.  A guy swam the canal back in 1936 and it cost him 83 cents.  They probably don’t let you do that any more.  It was very interesting going through the canal in this huge ship, but I remember going through the locks with my father on our cabin cruiser back in the day.  Lake Gatun is quite beautiful.  It reminds me of pictures I’ve seen of Vietnam.  And we are surrounded by beautiful, lush jungle.  I saw a couple of parrots flying by.  It is very hot in the sun too.  I donned my bathing suit and sat out on our deck for a while, but the hot sun drove me back in.  There are a lot of people up on deck with nasty looking sun burns.  About 1:00 we retransited the canal, heading for Colon.  We’ll get out and walk around a bit if it’s not too hot.  Have reservations at a Japanese steak house for dinner tonight.  Last night we had room service which was pretty good.  I’m sure it’s in the 90s out there right now.  Tomorrow we’ll be in Costa Rica. 

Our ship just coming into the lock.  Look how close!

They have these little trains that take the ship's ropes and snug them up and then follow the ship through the canal.  They're on the port and starboard sides.

We're up a level and about to go into another chamber.  That other thing opening up in the background is a bridge going over the canal for car traffic.  Cars and trucks are backed up forever.  They're building a beautiful, new bridge which will replace this.

The new, beautiful, very high bridge still under construction.

Another cruise ship is right behind us.

Lake Gatun