Panama Calling....

Isla Boca Brava, Panama

It's dark in my little abode; I'm settled in with the sound of the waves crashing below me, the whir of the fan above me, and the bright light of this computer screen attracting the increasing population of various bugs that call this island home. I've been in Panama for five days, which isn't that long, but it seems like weeks ago that I left behind my responsibilities at home. Sleeping and waking up when I want, reading when I want, eating what I want, and daydreaming if I want, are luxuries I normally do not allow myself. Yet here I am, doing what I want when I want. The only bit of home I consider is how I will need to immediately get back to the gym on a regular schedule. Eating fresh jumbo prawns grilled in garlic butter, with rice, every night, washed down by a Boca Colada (my 'umbrella' drink), surely isn't part of my healthy diet plan. And I relish each bite, each sip, knowing that in a week and a half, it'll be back to yogurt, chai, and salad, and driving a five-year-old to school and back while constantly seeking silence by turning up the car stereo louder and louder.

Many friends have asked me why I chose to go to Panama. My only real answer is that it's closer than Asia. Often my journeys have taken me to India and the subcontinent, or to Southeast Asia or the South Pacific islands, though I've been to other parts of the world as well. I thought I'd be returning to Vietnam soon, but I also thought how nice it would be to get away over winter break, when it's cold and rainy in Oregon and the kids have time off from school so I don't have to worry about their schedules, and Vietnam was too far to go for just two weeks. Panama is only one layover and seven hours flying time from home, and it's warm and sunny (or it's supposed to be warm and sunny!). With less than two weeks till the start of winter break, I made my decision and purchased a ticket. Then the researching and planning began. Having only one of my two weeks planned, I arrived on Christmas day in Panama City, on what was a hot and muggy day, which soon turned into a windy and rainy evening. Spanish words and an attempt at sentences came out of my mouth, albeit in present tense only. I was quietly rejoicing in what was the beginning of my two weeks of 'freedom.' Nothing could dampen my spirit, not even the rain, which eventually did come pouring down.

                                Panama City from the plane as we landed

My stay in Panama City was pre-planned and I had a driver waiting for me at the airport. Fernando took me to the Casa Las Americas guest house, which is located in a very nice residential area called Bethania. The owner, Ron, is originally from the USA, and he and his assistant, Emily, Panamanian but raised in the USA, really do go out of their way to make sure everything is in place for what their guests need. Later that night, another driver, Mario, came by to take me to find a restaurant for dinner. Since it was Christmas, just about everything in Panama City was closed. I was so looking forward to seafood, but, alas, I ended up eating Mideastern food at a restaurant called 'Beirut.' It was pretty good, and the prices were no different than at home.

This was not exactly how I visualized my first meal in Panama. It was fun, though, as I walked a short way from the restaurant after dinner, exploring another neighborhood. Mario came to get me as planned at 6:30. just in time to rescue me from an American guy from Pittsburgh, who came at me out of nowhere, greeting me with "Hey, I know you're American. How are you?" You'd think he hadn't seen an American for years, but it turns out he'd been in Panama City for less than a week for work and was not terribly happy being there. All I wanted was to get away from him, and bless Mario for showing up when he did.

Sunday morning was the day to do whatever it was that I wanted to do, since I was scheduled to leave Panama City on Monday. Breakfast prepared by Ron included juice, fruit, yogurt, and French Toast. I chatted with two young women from Holland and a newly arrived couple from Calgary; the young couple and I shared Mario's taxi to Casco Viejo (also known as Casco Antigua, the old city), where we parted ways. Walking up and down the cobblestone streets, I spent almost two hours exploring parks, the views of the waterway, and stepping in and out of a few of the eight Catholic churches within a few blocks of each other.

                         Panama City Recycles: check out this Xmas tree!

                  The cobblestone streets of Casco Viejo (aka Casco Antigua)

A visit to the museum which included an excellent exhibit of the making of the Panama Canal concluded my time in this area (with only one tiny misdeed on my part....sitting on a bench to read the Spanish explanations of the display; one of the guards told me it is not for sitting, that it's 150 years old and therefore only for display purposes...I didn't question why they put it in the middle of this huge display on the 2nd floor all but inviting visitors to sit down on it).

Mario met up with me again and drove me about twenty minutes to the Panama Canal. I did not expect this to be so impressive. And I was impressed...it is simply amazing. I recall learning about it in school and seeing photographs of it in books, but I couldn't have cared at all. Seeing it up close, though, is completely different. A huge ship from China, with crates stacked up tall and filling the width of the ship, was squeezing through the entrance to the canal from the Pacific side, with eight to ten hours of sailing till it reaches the Atlantic. There seemed to be, literally, just inches between the canal walls and the ship. And as the ship inched its way down the canal, I couldn't help but think of all the junk, the 'Made in China' junk, that is destined for homes across the USA, including mine probably. Once that ship made its way out, the next ship was escorted in at the other end. I was in awe of the whole process.

From China, with love....see just how narrow this entrance to the canal is

 I think the new plastic kitchen appliance I want is in the red crate, third one down

                               Just inches between the ship and the wall

                   Getting ready to head to the Atlantic...sai jin (bye) to Hanjin
 

                                  It's out and heading north to the Atlantic

                  And the next one comes in; they raise and lower the water level.

With the magnitude of the Panama Canal and its importance impressed upon me, it was time for me to take an afternoon siesta. Having a two-hour nap back at the guest house gave me energy to go to the Causeway and try some seafood, jumbo prawns of course. Mario dropped me off and as I entered a restaurant recommended to me, I literally bumped into the young couple from Calgary whom I had last seen at 10am in another part of the city. We dined together, exchanging stories and emails.

Sunday evening was fast approaching Sunday late night and I had to get to sleep since Mario was picking me up at 6am to take me to the huge city bus station. I was catching the bus to David, about an eight-hour or so drive west of Panama City.

The mini-adventure will continue...later.....