Dozens of spectators gawk from an observation deck as a bulk freighter carrying a variety ofgrains from the United States to China inches its way closer. Forty-ton locomotives known asmules latch onto the massive vessel with cables and guide it inside the Miraflores locks,employing a mechanical precision that keeps it from banging into the concrete walls despite thetight fit.
The ship's crossing through the Panama Canal is nearly complete as the 700-ton steel doorsswing shut. While most of their bulk is hidden underneath the water, they're as tall as an eight-story building and the same ones that have been doing the job for over a century.
As a major Latin American hub of finance, commerce and transportation, the Panamaniancapital is a growing destination for business travelers. For anyone looking to duck out of aconvention center for a few hours, fill a gap between meetings or even if you've just got a longlayover at the airport, a visit to Panama City's No 1 attraction and its newly expanded locksmakes for the perfect side excursion.