I have had some positive comments about the pictures I've posted in the past.  If you want to review them, scroll down to the bottom of this page and click March, July, and December of 2000.  Also, its a lot of fun to follow the various links from CZBrats.  There are numerous photos, both archival and recent, to get homesick over.

They are starting to dismantle some of the old wooden housing at Gatun.  This is in preparation for clearing a path for the proposed third locks. 

Speaking of Gatun, there is some dockage there for cruise ships at the old Yacht Club.  I've gotten some disappointing feedback though.  There are gifts or souvenirs for sale.  However, the quantity and quality are reported to be limited.  For example, I was told that there was only one Kuna woman selling San Blas goods.  She had a monopoly situation and could charge whatever she wanted.  I expect to be visiting there while on a cruise next month and have some first hand info when I get back.  In the meantime, if you are planning to visit Panama soon, the best shopping is still on the Pacific Side.  Two places that impressed me the last time I was there were the old police station at Panama Vieja and the former gym behind the old YMCA in Balboa.  In both cases there were numerous competing vendors.  One of the more fascinating art forms for me was carving done from Cagua (I'm not sure I spelled that right) nuts.  These are nicknamed "vegetable ivory."  When the outer shell is pealed off, the inside is a hard white substance. 

The Kansas Southern is well along in building an entirely new and modernized Panama Railroad.  The basic purpose is moving freight between the new container ports in Colon and Balboa.  However there is some demand for passnger service.  In fact consideration is being given to having glass dome type cars for tourists.  I remember the old railroad as one of the most picturesque one hour rides imaginable.  So I hope this works out.