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January 5, 2017 -- We woke early yesterday planning to work out at the awesome Trump Tower gym. When Con tried to pull his runners on, he realized he'd packed a pair of mine. We swapped gym clothes for street clothes and took the Trump hourly shuttle to the Multiplaza Mall. By the end of the day, Con had acquired four shirts, two pair of shorts, and a pair of running shoes, also a brand-new smart phone.
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January 6 -- Panama Canal starting with a 6:30 am sunrise
Back to the Multiplaza we were able to finalize the data/phone plan on our new cell phone and made our first Uber ride to the Panama Canal. Using the Uber App, which is a map with so much more, you name your destination, an Uber driver responds with a price (less than a taxi), and once you accept, you follow the driver on the map as he approaches. No money exchanges hands; it's automatically put onto your credit card -- no tipping. Arriving at Miraflores, we purchased entrance for US$15 each to learn about the Panama Canal and of course view the ships going through the locks. The huge container vessel behind the orange LNG tanker quite possibly paid $1,000,000 to transit through the new lock. |
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January 7 -- Signed up for School Today
I can take an Uber for US$4 from the Trump Tower to Casco Antigua Spanish School in the old district of Panama where I'm taking intensive Spanish immersion classes. After years Spanish language study, I'm going to get it to come out of my mouth in proper conversations.
January 8 -- Brunch at the Trump Tower
We starved ourselves all morning only to gorge ourselves at the Trump Tower Brunch, likely the most expensive brunch we'll ever have. It was okay, not great (for me) because it was heavy with shellfish dishes (instant death for me). But Con enjoyed every morsel. In the dessert category, I well made up for what I couldn't eat in shellfish. Tomorrow's gym workout we'll have to put in double the effort.
I can take an Uber for US$4 from the Trump Tower to Casco Antigua Spanish School in the old district of Panama where I'm taking intensive Spanish immersion classes. After years Spanish language study, I'm going to get it to come out of my mouth in proper conversations.
January 8 -- Brunch at the Trump Tower
We starved ourselves all morning only to gorge ourselves at the Trump Tower Brunch, likely the most expensive brunch we'll ever have. It was okay, not great (for me) because it was heavy with shellfish dishes (instant death for me). But Con enjoyed every morsel. In the dessert category, I well made up for what I couldn't eat in shellfish. Tomorrow's gym workout we'll have to put in double the effort.
January 15 -- I enjoyed a FABULOUS first week in school. Rising at 5:45, I eat, study, shower, study, and then call the Uber to take me to the old city "Casco Veijo" for an 8 am start. It's 100 percent Spanish language and if I don't know a certain word, the instructor (Wen, pictured below to my right) will use other Spanish words to describe it. Con uses the time Touring, and shopping for the fabulous meals he makes for my return.
Saturday, we went to the Albrook Mall (day after pay day) and were totally surprised by the long line ups to get into the bank and to use the bank machines. The second floor (banking floor of the mall) was swarming with armed guards, and police. Cheques are still a popular method of payment here. Before entering the bank near our condo, a stern-faced armed guard passed a wand over Con to make sure he didn't have weapons.
Geert and Loes were to arrive today, but sadly, Loes' mom was not well and they had to cancel their trip. We wish her well.
Saturday, we went to the Albrook Mall (day after pay day) and were totally surprised by the long line ups to get into the bank and to use the bank machines. The second floor (banking floor of the mall) was swarming with armed guards, and police. Cheques are still a popular method of payment here. Before entering the bank near our condo, a stern-faced armed guard passed a wand over Con to make sure he didn't have weapons.
Geert and Loes were to arrive today, but sadly, Loes' mom was not well and they had to cancel their trip. We wish her well.
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SALSA DANCING!
Casco School invited us to join them for salsa lessons which Con participated in, only because he loves me. He was good for a guy with four feet. Dancing until we were sweaty, we later enjoyed a cold glass of wine after with friends Mary Claire and Chloe, students from the Spanish language school, pictured dancing beside us. Sunday, we made our way to the Mercado de Mariscos (Shellfish) an incredible location where locals and tourists go to buy fresh fish of all sizes, and enormous lobsters and shrimps. It's located at the entrance of the old town "Casco Veijo". Walking from there along the Cinta Costera, a gorgeous park area, actually 74 acres of reclaimed land along the shoreline that connects the old city to the new high rises, winding through parks (tennis, volleyball, soccer courts), boxing ring, bike rentals, venders... to the Multi Central Mall, about five kilometers. Exhausted, we took an Uber the rest of the way back to our condo. |
January 17 -- Pictured below is the oldest cafe in Panama City, built in 1875 called the Coca Cola Cafe. Che Guevara actually ate there. From there, we walked the liveliest street in Panama City where you can find the best (most affordable buys) and a more authentic side to Panama City.
The Kuna women pictured are the indigenous people of Panama and Columbia. Most of the Kuna people live on the San Blas islands on the Caribbean side of Panama. It's hard to see in the photo, but the women wear a million or so sewn beads on their legs like socks, and arms like sleeves. When they marry, the man moves in with the woman and takes on her last name. From our balcony, we can see small dots in the ocean near the shore, those dots are Kona men fishing in their hand-made canoes.
The Kuna women pictured are the indigenous people of Panama and Columbia. Most of the Kuna people live on the San Blas islands on the Caribbean side of Panama. It's hard to see in the photo, but the women wear a million or so sewn beads on their legs like socks, and arms like sleeves. When they marry, the man moves in with the woman and takes on her last name. From our balcony, we can see small dots in the ocean near the shore, those dots are Kona men fishing in their hand-made canoes.
January 20 -- For US$20 each, (paid in advance and is applied to food and drinks) we entered the Trump Tower Sky Lounge. Seemingly sitting on a cloud, we were perched on high chairs at a round table overlooking Panama City. The swimming pool appears to run off the building 66 floor to the ground below. The ocean view in the far distance is the route into the Panama Canal from the Pacific heading toward the Caribbean. The lights left, just in front is the road that runs around the old city "Casco Viejo" which is cocooned in the middle. A fabulous place to spend your day.
To the right below, are pictures in Casco Viejo, when we walked Avenida Centro, from the historic Coca Cola Cafe through the most authentic Panamanian district in Panama City.
To the right below, are pictures in Casco Viejo, when we walked Avenida Centro, from the historic Coca Cola Cafe through the most authentic Panamanian district in Panama City.
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January 21 -- Local Tapas Restaurant/Bar
Last night, at the recommendation of one of the bar pool staff we ventured out to a small local salsa bar/restaurant, arriving at 8:30 pm. The place was lively, filled with locals both inside and outside on the veranda. We ordered a few tapas and a jug of sangria and settled into our small table taking in the atmosphere. At 10 pm, a six-piece band arrived and nearly knocked the roof off with the volume. People began salsa dancing around the tables just about wherever they could find space. The noise was too painful for our ears, so we took our exit and ordered an Uber. Nearly at our condo, the Uber and a taxi collided. Nobody was hurt, however, that ended our journey home. We smiled sympathetically to the driver and walked the rest of the way. Later the Uber driver refunded our ride and sent a series of apology texts.
Last night, at the recommendation of one of the bar pool staff we ventured out to a small local salsa bar/restaurant, arriving at 8:30 pm. The place was lively, filled with locals both inside and outside on the veranda. We ordered a few tapas and a jug of sangria and settled into our small table taking in the atmosphere. At 10 pm, a six-piece band arrived and nearly knocked the roof off with the volume. People began salsa dancing around the tables just about wherever they could find space. The noise was too painful for our ears, so we took our exit and ordered an Uber. Nearly at our condo, the Uber and a taxi collided. Nobody was hurt, however, that ended our journey home. We smiled sympathetically to the driver and walked the rest of the way. Later the Uber driver refunded our ride and sent a series of apology texts.
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January 27 -- Albertine arrives from The Netherlands
The three of us woke early for our 7 am departure for the Gatun Lake excursion which actually was 45-minutes late due to an accident backing up traffic. This was our first day outside Panama City; an eye opener with respect to the traffic! Monday to Friday it's bumper to bumper for two-hours during rush-hour as people make their way into the city. Luckily, we were making our way out, following the highway along the Panama Canal. Panama's wildlife is the most diverse of all the countries in Central America. Eight kilometers on either side of the Panama Canal (excluding Panama City on the Pacific and Colon on the Caribbean side) used to be USA territory from 1903 - 1979. Panamanians proudly reclaimed their land in 1979 and have a quiet celebration every year to mark it. The best part of the celebration is that the traffic on the roads eases up! Anyone born in that small strip of land around the canal became American citizens, like Senator John McCain. There is a large American base near Colon which is still guarded, but is quickly turning into a ghosts town with vegetation taking over the houses and roads. We drove through on our way to the marina nearby. The sixteen kilometres of protected land includes the water reserves of (Gatun Lake) which feeds the locks allowing the ships to continue through from one ocean to another. Last year's drought was the first time large ships couldn't transit until the rains filled the reserves back up. Our boat trip lasted about 90 minutes as we passed ships, tucking into small tree-covered bays just big enough for our 12-person boat, and where friendly monkeys climb aboard. They gently opened our hands to take the grapes the guide brought and passed around. A little further along the lake, a different monkey breed, much more timid, gingerly climbed onto our bow to collect small pieces of bananas offered. Because these monkeys are living on the islands within the man-made lake, the grapes and bananas are important additions to their diet. We watched a variety of birds, no crocodiles. Once back on land, we walked through the jungle where our guide pointed out various monkeys, a sloth, and other land creatures, birds and butterflies. We climbed up a tall structure to view the area above the tree canopy and had lunch under the hummingbird feeders. Extraordinary birds! We passed the prison where Manuel Noreiga has been imprisoned since 1989. Camera crews lined the entrance waiting for his temporary release under house / hospital arrest while he underwent an operation. Noreiga had worked closely with the CIA for years providing intelligence, weapons and other military equipment destined for US-backed insurgencies as well, he was a major cocaine trafficker, something the CIA knew about for years, but in 1989 the American's staged an invasion in Panama to dispose of the dictator. |
January 28-29 – A Two-Day Weekend Car Rental
Packing water we left early driving the highway following the canal to the Atlantic (Caribbean side of the island). Traffic wasn’t too bad, but driving isn’t for the weak of heart. There are enormous potholes everywhere all without warnings. Once off the highway random speed bumps have been built, again without warning. Our first stop was the Gatun Locks.
About the Panama Canal: The idea of a canal began in the 16th Century when the Spaniards conceived the idea of joining the two oceans but the building didn’t begin until 1880 when the French had firm plans. That failed when the mosquitoes killed off the workers with Yellow Fever, Malaria, and Dengue Fever diseases. In 1904, Panama negotiated an agreement with the USA to finish the construction which was completed in 1914. In 1999 Panama took over the full operation of the canal. It’s operated by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous government entity. The canal operates on gravity using the water from Gatun Lake having it pour into the locks through side culverts. In 2007, they began expansion the canal to allow the mega-ships to transit.
Packing water we left early driving the highway following the canal to the Atlantic (Caribbean side of the island). Traffic wasn’t too bad, but driving isn’t for the weak of heart. There are enormous potholes everywhere all without warnings. Once off the highway random speed bumps have been built, again without warning. Our first stop was the Gatun Locks.
About the Panama Canal: The idea of a canal began in the 16th Century when the Spaniards conceived the idea of joining the two oceans but the building didn’t begin until 1880 when the French had firm plans. That failed when the mosquitoes killed off the workers with Yellow Fever, Malaria, and Dengue Fever diseases. In 1904, Panama negotiated an agreement with the USA to finish the construction which was completed in 1914. In 1999 Panama took over the full operation of the canal. It’s operated by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous government entity. The canal operates on gravity using the water from Gatun Lake having it pour into the locks through side culverts. In 2007, they began expansion the canal to allow the mega-ships to transit.
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Without proper maps, we managed to find our way through the jungle (by car) to the ferry to cross the isthmus to visit Fuerte de San Lorenzo. In the background of the photos above, you can see the enormous bridge under construction which will allow cars to drive across to the Caribbean side of the isthmus. There's not much on the other side, except jungle, an abandoned USA military housing neighbourhood, the ruins of the fort, and a marina. The road to get there is mostly potholes. The ferry crossing was free. One of the ferry operators asked me politely pointing to Con if, "that man was Jack Nicholson." I turned to look at Con, at that moment realizing that Jack just had a huge compliment. The fort was built at the intersection of the Chagres River and the Atlantic, once the main Atlantic port on the isthmus, now an abandoned village. Christopher Columbus claim the discovery of the Chagres River during his forth and final voyage in 1502. Gold was plundered from Peru, using the Chagres for most of the route to the fort and over to Spain, so the fort was often attacked by pirates. In 1670, Henry Morgan attacked the fort and Panama City claiming it for England.
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By afternoon, we crossed by ferry again, to visit Portobelo on the Caribbean side of Panama, skipping the town of Colon since reports say it's not a particularly safe city. Portobelo was established by the Spanish in the 16th century because of the deep natural harbour used to export silver. Both Portobelo and Fort San Lorenzo were strong fortifications on the Caribbean side of Panama. The natural harbour was looking a lot like a boat grave yard.
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January 30 -- To Las Perlas Island
At 7:30 am, we were on the ferry heading to Contadora, one of the group of 200 Las Perlas islands about 30 miles from Panama City. Contadora was where the Spanish conquistadors stopped to take inventory of the gold and silver they would eventually sail to Spain. It's also the island where the Shah of Iran exiled briefly. Some might know the islands from the various television shows called "Survivor" produced for USA, Israel, South Africa, Bulgaria, and Ukrainian television. As well a number of other television shows have been filmed there. For us, it was a lazy day on the beach.
At 7:30 am, we were on the ferry heading to Contadora, one of the group of 200 Las Perlas islands about 30 miles from Panama City. Contadora was where the Spanish conquistadors stopped to take inventory of the gold and silver they would eventually sail to Spain. It's also the island where the Shah of Iran exiled briefly. Some might know the islands from the various television shows called "Survivor" produced for USA, Israel, South Africa, Bulgaria, and Ukrainian television. As well a number of other television shows have been filmed there. For us, it was a lazy day on the beach.
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February 4 -- For US$15 per month, we have lots of cell phone time and data having topped up today, marking our second month in Panama.
February 6 -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY CON!
Celebrating our Sunday in Panama City, we visited the Punta Culebra Nature Centre, a non-profit open-air nature experience. A $6.38 Uber ride deposited us onto 1.5 hectares of natural Panamanian beauty for an entrance fee of $5 each. We walked the tree canopied path toward the main area of the centre and almost immediately Con spotted a two-toed sloth tucked under the cactus plant that had wrapped itself around one of the hundreds of enormous canopy trees. The forested area is a refuge for racoons, iguanas, birds of all sizes, and armadillos. The area is situated like a big pimple on the causeway, with the Pacific Ocean surrounding the land on three sides. One section has a mangrove forest and as the tide ebbed, plenty of sea creatures could be seen on the sand. In WWI left-over bunkers, we viewed turtles, sharks, colourful fish, and frogs, sadly kept in aquariums for all to view.
February 6 -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY CON!
Celebrating our Sunday in Panama City, we visited the Punta Culebra Nature Centre, a non-profit open-air nature experience. A $6.38 Uber ride deposited us onto 1.5 hectares of natural Panamanian beauty for an entrance fee of $5 each. We walked the tree canopied path toward the main area of the centre and almost immediately Con spotted a two-toed sloth tucked under the cactus plant that had wrapped itself around one of the hundreds of enormous canopy trees. The forested area is a refuge for racoons, iguanas, birds of all sizes, and armadillos. The area is situated like a big pimple on the causeway, with the Pacific Ocean surrounding the land on three sides. One section has a mangrove forest and as the tide ebbed, plenty of sea creatures could be seen on the sand. In WWI left-over bunkers, we viewed turtles, sharks, colourful fish, and frogs, sadly kept in aquariums for all to view.
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February 11 -- Spanish School and a Trip to Colon
I'm back in Casco Antigua Spanish Language School having completed my second of three intensive weeks of Spanish classes. Friday, Con ventured out by Uber, bus, and subway, for a day in Colon on the Caribbean side of Panama. Colon is known as Panama's second city, a sea-side beat-up port city. Meanwhile, Ann, a woman I'm car-pooling with from the Trump Tower to Casco Veijo each day, left by Uber but didn't get very far. About a quarter of the way there, we were locked in a traffic jam. The town and area was blocked by picketers so we had to turn back. Their message to the president was that Panama NEEDS better infrastructure, and it does. The road systems are ready to implode with too many high rises and too little roadway systems. By midday, the blockade was over and I made it in to a shortened school day.
I'm back in Casco Antigua Spanish Language School having completed my second of three intensive weeks of Spanish classes. Friday, Con ventured out by Uber, bus, and subway, for a day in Colon on the Caribbean side of Panama. Colon is known as Panama's second city, a sea-side beat-up port city. Meanwhile, Ann, a woman I'm car-pooling with from the Trump Tower to Casco Veijo each day, left by Uber but didn't get very far. About a quarter of the way there, we were locked in a traffic jam. The town and area was blocked by picketers so we had to turn back. Their message to the president was that Panama NEEDS better infrastructure, and it does. The road systems are ready to implode with too many high rises and too little roadway systems. By midday, the blockade was over and I made it in to a shortened school day.
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Above, Con brought flowers home for Valentine's Day and had made yet ANOTHER delicious meal for when I returned home from Spanish School. Right, the rain moved across the water toward us, leaving a light warm sprinkling and this unique vertical rainbow.
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February 18 -- Above is the barber shop Con has been boasting about to whomever will listen that it's the place to go for a haircut. It set him back $3 yesterday.
Today marks my third week of intensive Spanish language instruction now giving me the confidence to carry conversations in Spanish. I bought one more week which I'll take in a few weeks. Con joined me to the old town (the pueblo within Panama City) today bumming around until I was finished school, and then together we shopped where the locals buy their goods returning home with three small pineapples for $1, a bag of plantains, (like bananas) also for $1 and a bag of giant red grapes.
Today marks my third week of intensive Spanish language instruction now giving me the confidence to carry conversations in Spanish. I bought one more week which I'll take in a few weeks. Con joined me to the old town (the pueblo within Panama City) today bumming around until I was finished school, and then together we shopped where the locals buy their goods returning home with three small pineapples for $1, a bag of plantains, (like bananas) also for $1 and a bag of giant red grapes.
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While relaxing on the patio, 51 floors above earth, I felt the tremor, in fact possibly two or three of them, one right after the other and then heard the sound of people screaming from the pool below. I sprang off the couch and tried to get inside, but the door was locked. Con who had been enjoying a peaceful siesta jumped up having felt the bed move and hearing me knock on the glass. Turns out, the tremor shook the door latch from the kitchen sliding door down, locking me outside. Good thing Con was home! There's no damage that we're aware of, except for the elevator button panel which had been shaken off the wall.
Reports on the Internet state, "Taller is safer." In other words, stay in your building away from falling cabinets, since those are easier to dodge than falling building parts. |
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Our daughter Bridget arrived with family (Kris, Torri, and Nolan) for eight days of fun in the sun. We visited Gatun Lake and spotted three different kinds of monkeys, two of the three species visited our boat to enjoy the grapes and bananas offered. One female had just given birth two weeks ago and the baby was attached to her back as she visited us aboard our small boat. Torri had hoped to "hold" a monkey, but these guys are wild and touching them is not a good idea. The guide said to let them come to you. The capuchin monkey walked right over Torrie and then sat in her lap!
Most of our family time has been spent at the Trump Tower swimming pools letting our Saskatchewan family soak up all the Vitamin D the sun could offer. |
This iguana is enormous and hangs out at the Smithsonian Institute, a protected area on one of the islands connected by the Amador Causeway.
We celebrated Torri's 17th birthday Saturday with an Italian meal (Torri's favourite) and had to chuckle at how the waiter was so precise with our order but somewhere between our table and the kitchen they got every single dish wrong. Nevertheless, every meals were delicious and they presented us with a Nutella cake for Torri's birthday. We took an Uber to Carnival after dinner and barely got in because we didn't have our passports. We offered our driver's licence identification, which was accepted, but Brit was told that she would not get in tomorrow if she tried again without her passport. They had to confiscate the pen from my purse, as I guess it can substitute as a weapon. Since it was only 8 pm and DAY 1 at the carnival, we didn't see any of the floats or potential queens. Crowning the queen is a big carnival event.
We celebrated Torri's 17th birthday Saturday with an Italian meal (Torri's favourite) and had to chuckle at how the waiter was so precise with our order but somewhere between our table and the kitchen they got every single dish wrong. Nevertheless, every meals were delicious and they presented us with a Nutella cake for Torri's birthday. We took an Uber to Carnival after dinner and barely got in because we didn't have our passports. We offered our driver's licence identification, which was accepted, but Brit was told that she would not get in tomorrow if she tried again without her passport. They had to confiscate the pen from my purse, as I guess it can substitute as a weapon. Since it was only 8 pm and DAY 1 at the carnival, we didn't see any of the floats or potential queens. Crowning the queen is a big carnival event.
March 5 -- Panama Veijo
Con and I set off early to Panama Veijo, once the earliest European settlement on the Pacific Ocean and once the capital of Panama. It was a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of Panama City and only a few minutes by Uber. It was hot and the birds were singing their hearts out. The settlement pictured above is what remains from the city founded by the Spanish in 1519 housing 100 people at the time, growing to 10,000 including convents, chapels, a hospital and cathedral. From here Peruvian gold and silver was hauled over land to ships on the Caribbean side and sailed to Spain. The very rich lived in houses made of stone (pictured above) and others had houses made of wood, which no longer remain. Pirates attacked the city many times, an earthquake in 1620, and fire in 1644, but it was the attack in 1671 by the Welsh pirate Henry Morgan that the city fell. He marched from the Caribbean coast across the jungle with 1,400 men and burned it down. After the attack, the Panamanians rebuilt a new city in what is now known as Casco Veijo a few kilometers west.
Con and I set off early to Panama Veijo, once the earliest European settlement on the Pacific Ocean and once the capital of Panama. It was a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of Panama City and only a few minutes by Uber. It was hot and the birds were singing their hearts out. The settlement pictured above is what remains from the city founded by the Spanish in 1519 housing 100 people at the time, growing to 10,000 including convents, chapels, a hospital and cathedral. From here Peruvian gold and silver was hauled over land to ships on the Caribbean side and sailed to Spain. The very rich lived in houses made of stone (pictured above) and others had houses made of wood, which no longer remain. Pirates attacked the city many times, an earthquake in 1620, and fire in 1644, but it was the attack in 1671 by the Welsh pirate Henry Morgan that the city fell. He marched from the Caribbean coast across the jungle with 1,400 men and burned it down. After the attack, the Panamanians rebuilt a new city in what is now known as Casco Veijo a few kilometers west.
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Much of Panama Veijo (pictured above), a 16th century Spanish settlement destroyed in 1671 and Casco Veijo (settled following the destruction of Panama Veijo in 1673) are UNESCO sites. Both are fascinating to visit as the new Panama City (where the high-rise boom began about 20 years ago) has grown up in between the two sites. Before the era of high rises in Panama City, 40 percent of Panamanians lived on $2 per day. When a major Colombian drug lord was arrested in 2007, USA government official said they discovered drug money had been laundered through Panama City real estate. Within ten years, 11,000 luxury apartment high rises had been built. The head of the Anti-Corruption Front said around a fifth of all real estate projects (by 2007) had been bought using drug trade cash.
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March 11 -- Hike up Ancon Hill -- Today we hiked up Ancon Hill, the highest point in Panama, a 654-foot hill overlooking Panama City. The hill and surrounding area was used to administrate the Panama Canal by the USA and was under the jurisdiction of the USA until it was returned to Panama in 1977. Today, the area is a reserve, a jungle in the centre of the city. In one of the rotating pictures above left, you can see the Bridge of the Americas, which crossed the Pacific Ocean at the entrance to the Panama Canal. The bridge is a key part of the Pan-American Highway, a network of roads that measures 30,000 kilometres. It's the longest road system in the world, from Alaska to Chile, except for a 160 kilometre stretch connecting Panama to Columbia. That area is not open to stop the drug movement from Columbia.
While sharing a look-out post at the top of the hill overlooking the Panama Canal with a family of five (some of them pictured left) we met a delightful Ecuadorian family. The woman in the white pants and I chatted in Spanish for about five minutes. I was thrilled to practice my Spanish especially realizing that I could actually understand her. I feel as if the world has opened up much wider for me now that I can converse in Spanish! Con and I agreed, that if everyone was as friendly as this nice family, the world could be a more beautiful place. The entire family hugged us good-bye, and we promised to keep in touch by email. They wanted us to promise to come and visit them in Ecuador and we both sincerely believed them.
Once at the bottom of the hill, Con and I called an Uber and headed to the Multi Plaza Mall to pick up a few things, later taking the Trump Shuttle back to our condo.
Once at the bottom of the hill, Con and I called an Uber and headed to the Multi Plaza Mall to pick up a few things, later taking the Trump Shuttle back to our condo.
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March 12 -- A Tropical Rainfall
We walked to the Super 99 for groceries, exiting the store to witness an intense tropical rainfall. Within minutes, the roads had absorbed all the water they could take and in places puddles were deep enough to drown car tires. We waited under a canopy for the Trump Tower shuttle for a ride home, because just one second in the downfall would have drenched us and all our groceries. We enjoyed the rain under the shelter of our balcony 51 stories high listening to a few enormous thunder booms. When the sun returned, we watched maybe a half million (hard to really know) pelicans fly low toward the north. Believing the rain signaled their migration, we woke in the morning to swarms of them just below us flying low over the ocean. Maybe they are young pelicans.
We walked to the Super 99 for groceries, exiting the store to witness an intense tropical rainfall. Within minutes, the roads had absorbed all the water they could take and in places puddles were deep enough to drown car tires. We waited under a canopy for the Trump Tower shuttle for a ride home, because just one second in the downfall would have drenched us and all our groceries. We enjoyed the rain under the shelter of our balcony 51 stories high listening to a few enormous thunder booms. When the sun returned, we watched maybe a half million (hard to really know) pelicans fly low toward the north. Believing the rain signaled their migration, we woke in the morning to swarms of them just below us flying low over the ocean. Maybe they are young pelicans.
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March 18, 2017 -- A Couple of Days at All Inclusives Outside Panama City. For $4 each, we purchased bus passes and climbed aboard a 20-person local bus to take us two hours from Panama City. The driver defied gravity taking sharp turns and remaining upright. We passed the bus that left before us, stopped in the middle of the PanAmerican Highway involved in a crash. The hotels are gorgeous. We paddled around in a two-person kayak yesterday afternoon at slack tide. The sea is a little murky, not like the turquoise waters of Greece. The weather is a constant, about 32 each day. You never have to wonder if you should bring a sweater -- you don't need it. Our two days of resort living is the stuff of dream vacations, removing us completely from the traffic and construction of Panama City.
Enhanced breasts on local women is common. Con and I HAD to take a second look when a woman emerged from the pool wearing two inch-wide crochet strips down the centre of each small-watermelon-sized breasts and between her butt cheeks. She leaned slowly into the lounge chair beside Con to collect her towel daring us to talk about her. Con and I began chattering nonsense words to each other hoping to avoid a curfuffle because the way she stared at us scared the bee-Jesus out of us. |
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March 21 -- Courtney, Mike, and Hailey arrived last night and 30 minutes later, Hailey and Opa were swimming under the stars. The travellers had been sleep deprived, having spend the night in the Children's Hospital when Hailey woke at midnight in pain, likely her body working its way through a nasty flu. They finally left the hospital at 4:30 am, grabbed their suitcases and hailed a taxi arriving for their Calgary early-morning departure. Twelve hours later (four hour layover in Houston) the three eager vacationers began their holiday.
March 22 – Action Packed Days
Hailey’s first step out of bed is into the leg of her bathing suit followed by a quick breakfast and then a trip down to the swimming pools. By noon, we’re having our biggest meal of the day and head out to one Panamanian adventure after another. Day One: a trip to Casco Veijo, the 500+ year-old town and a visit to my Spanish language school. Its existence is now just days or hours old, as it is due to be demolished. It was once an orphanage run by the flying nuns (the ones with the curled up hats) and now acts as a community centre and Spanish school. The staff and instructors were eager to meet my family and invited us to the patio for a fabulous view of the old city, Amador, and a fabulous view of the starting point for the big ships to enter the Panama Canal.
Courtney, Mike and I had dinner on the 66th floor of the Trump Tower with a birds-eye view of the city while Con and Hailey enjoyed more time at the pool. Half-way through our evening, the power went off over half the city, including the bar and hotel. The generators kicked in at the hotel, but the rest of the city flickered between black-out and weak generators illuminating light.
Con picked up a flu bug, maybe the tail-end of Hailey’s bug and stayed home while we headed out to Cubrio Park to look for sloths, iguanas, frogs, birds, turtles, starfish, and sharks. They all live in the wild (except the poisonous frogs and sharks, as they’re kept within enclosures.)
Hailey’s first step out of bed is into the leg of her bathing suit followed by a quick breakfast and then a trip down to the swimming pools. By noon, we’re having our biggest meal of the day and head out to one Panamanian adventure after another. Day One: a trip to Casco Veijo, the 500+ year-old town and a visit to my Spanish language school. Its existence is now just days or hours old, as it is due to be demolished. It was once an orphanage run by the flying nuns (the ones with the curled up hats) and now acts as a community centre and Spanish school. The staff and instructors were eager to meet my family and invited us to the patio for a fabulous view of the old city, Amador, and a fabulous view of the starting point for the big ships to enter the Panama Canal.
Courtney, Mike and I had dinner on the 66th floor of the Trump Tower with a birds-eye view of the city while Con and Hailey enjoyed more time at the pool. Half-way through our evening, the power went off over half the city, including the bar and hotel. The generators kicked in at the hotel, but the rest of the city flickered between black-out and weak generators illuminating light.
Con picked up a flu bug, maybe the tail-end of Hailey’s bug and stayed home while we headed out to Cubrio Park to look for sloths, iguanas, frogs, birds, turtles, starfish, and sharks. They all live in the wild (except the poisonous frogs and sharks, as they’re kept within enclosures.)
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March 23 – To the beach
We packed light, made our way to the Gran Terminal de Albrook, and boarded a bus (US$3 each) for a location two hours away, along the PanAmerican Highway near Santa Clara, where we were deposited on the highway, crossed it, and began our 30-minute hike under 33 degree weather to our hotel on the Pacific Ocean. The pools are awesome and Hailey quickly made friends with a seven-year-old girl, Lilly, from Vancouver and they were inseparable thereafter. We participated in just about all the activities offered, from sweaty beach volleyball, darts, to pool-side salsa dancing (the latter was only done by Mike). Our final day arrived and we hiked back up the hill, caught the small bus to Panama City. Con carried on by city bus to the condo and we shopped at the Albrook Mall, the largest mall in Latin America. Once back at the Trump Tower, exhausted and hot, we piled into the elevator only to be stuck between the 6th and 7th floor. We were finally rescued and had to climb up and out onto the 7th floor.
We packed light, made our way to the Gran Terminal de Albrook, and boarded a bus (US$3 each) for a location two hours away, along the PanAmerican Highway near Santa Clara, where we were deposited on the highway, crossed it, and began our 30-minute hike under 33 degree weather to our hotel on the Pacific Ocean. The pools are awesome and Hailey quickly made friends with a seven-year-old girl, Lilly, from Vancouver and they were inseparable thereafter. We participated in just about all the activities offered, from sweaty beach volleyball, darts, to pool-side salsa dancing (the latter was only done by Mike). Our final day arrived and we hiked back up the hill, caught the small bus to Panama City. Con carried on by city bus to the condo and we shopped at the Albrook Mall, the largest mall in Latin America. Once back at the Trump Tower, exhausted and hot, we piled into the elevator only to be stuck between the 6th and 7th floor. We were finally rescued and had to climb up and out onto the 7th floor.
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