Panama City - day 9 - Panama la Viejo

This morning we decided to go see Panama la Vieja ruins. This city was founded nearly 500 years ago in 1519. This was the original Panama City and was the first Spanish city on the pacific coast of the Americas. Then that rum guzzling pirate Henry Morgan laid waste to the city in 1671, so all that stands left today are stone ruins.

But before we go much further, let me back you up to the few moments before we headed out the door. We usually gander at the maps to make a plan of where we are planning to go. Today we needed 2 or 3 plans, as the route we had selected was a one-way street headed in the opposite direction. This caused us to make a detour which then put us into some uncharted territory. Thank goodness for Google Maps on the iPad and the GPS. Finally, we found the Panama de Vieja ruins, and had a nice time walking around the grounds.

What a day.

Then we headed off to Casco Viejo. This is the area where the survivors of Panama de Vieja moved to after their city was destroyed. Casco Viejo is an adventure all in itself. Narrow streets, hundreds of people walking around, and thousands of vehicles trying to navigate the streets. After finding a local restaurant and having a couple of cervazas and a snack of shrimp with cilantro sauce, we browsed the local artistas booths and bought a few more trinkets.

We tried to find a marina that was supposed to have a ferry leaving from it over to the Isla Perlas. This marina was supposed to be near the Trump tower, which we eventually found, but no marina. So we left and went to another gigantic mall on Av Balboa that had a Hard Rock Cafe in it. After devouring a $17 hamburger, we eventually called it a day, and blended in with the other 43 million vehicles in the streets of Panama and went back to the apartment.

Panama City - day 8 - Miraflores Locks

Today we went to the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal. We had been once before last year, but arrived late in the afternoon and did not get to see the whole museum. Today we were able to take our time and see the whole gambit. Lots of little facts that we missed the last time. We were able to watch two tankers go from the Atlantic side to the Caribbean side (which is the direction in the mornings) and then we watched as 4 sailboats and a tour boat went the other direction (which is the direction allowed in the afternoon). We were also able to see the enormous expansion that is being done on the canal which is expected to complete in 2014.

Later this afternoon we drove down to the Amador causeway that juts out from the city. The weather was beautiful, with a nice cool breeze blowing. We stopped for some 'Pan con ajo' and a few Panama cervazas along the marina, and dreamed of winning the lottery so we could live aboard one of the million dollar yachts docked there. With the Panama City skyline in the background, it was a beautiful ending to a long day.

We are starting to get used to the traffic here downtown. How do you spell Krazy? Try

P A N A M A N I A C. . . OMG! I love it.

When we got back to the apartment, we discovered that our in-room safe had been installed, so we could safely lock up valuables whilst gone during the day. Also we got our laundry back that we had dropped off this morning, 2 bags full, and the total cost was $6. Not bad.

We also stopped by a tour operator to get info on getting a boat ride over to Isla Perlas, the Pearl Islands. This is just under a 2 hour boat ride that we are looking forward to. Maybe we can get signed up for a Survivor adventure?

Panama City - day 7 - Leaving Bocas del Toro

Bocas had a heck-ofa storm last night. Flights that were scheduled to leave yesterday back to Panama City were cancelled till this morning. Soooo, that meant all the flights this morning were going to be delayed as well. Well, we didn't know that, so we arose at 5:30 this morning to get to the Bocas airport for a 7:30am flight that didn't leave till 11am. At least Air Panama did what they had to do to get everyone out on an orderly fashion.

Arriving into Panama City we rented our Hertz for the next 2 weeks. After plugging in my Zumo GPS, we charted a course for Panama Center Apartments. There is a "lot" of construction going on in this city, and mix that with an over abundance of cars and busses, traffic can be very frustrating. So after many mis-turns and " oops that's a one-way" , we finally reached our destination and checked in. This apartment has a kitchen, living area, and bedroom. A lot more spacious than the B&B's we had been staying at. We plan to stay here for the next two weeks and just take days trips out and around the city to explore.

It has been a long day, and with no pics to share, I'll say good-night till tomorrow.

Bocas del Toro - day 6

We woke this morning after a night of rain that never stopped. It poured all night, but by morning, it had all cleared out. We even saw the sun for the first time since we have been here. So after another delicious breakfast at Lula's, we headed off to the downtown area to find a water taxi.

We took a short ride on a water taxi to Isla Carenero. We asked to be dropped off at Bibi's, one of the restaurant/bars on the island. While there we found some real nice little thatched huts for rent at decent prices. Well, maybe next time we come to this island paradise.

We walked back around the island along the beach, and saw many lots, some with structures on them, for sale. Hmmmmm, I thought. Then Jan slapped me and got me on my way back to reality.

We soon found another water taxi on the other side to take us back to Isla Colon, where Bocas del Toro is. There we ate a small lunch at one of the waterfront hotels/restaurants.

After some shopping we returned back to Lula's and relaxed. And once again, the rain came fast and hard. Off and on for the rest of the afternoon. We sliced open the mango and pineapple, and had a tasty treat for the afternoon. We also pretty much killed what we had left of the rum since we couldn't take it with us.

We met some very nice couples from all over and one single lady from Japan here at Lula's. One couple was from Paris, France, another from Denmark. Others here were from the states. We enjoyed discussing the days activities and tours with them in the evening while sitting out on the balcony.

Tomorrow we leave. I think we would've liked to stay another week since there is so much to see and do.

Mango or Orange?

When Jan and I were in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago, we thought we would stop by a food vendor on the street and try a Mango. I very politely asked the lady if these were mangos on her cart, but since she knew very little English, she waved to a man sitting nearby. I asked him if these were mangos, and he laughed and said "no, oranges". To be fair, these fruits were green, not orange like I am used to. As we left I could see him laughing politely at the gringos.

Now that we are in Panama, we stopped at a mercado and bought a pineapple, and a mango. Of course I had to ask, "where are your mangos por favor?" I felt that this way I wouldn't look so green in the gills.............

Later today we are going to slice this deliciously fresh fruit up and have a treat. Being sunday most all establishments are closed, so these may be our meals for today.

Bocas del Toro - day 5

This morning was a lot nicer morning than the day before. After a fruit bowl and plate of pancakes , we packed up and headed downtown to try and find a quad to rent for the day. After learning how to operate one of those darn things, we headed off down Main Street in search of the beach. What a blast this was. Even tho we rode double, it was a lot of fun navigating this ATV thru the turns. Of course Jan may have a different opinion since she was riding on the back.

It wasn't long before the paved road turned into sand. As we rode along the beach, we stopped many times to watch the waves and soak in the scenery. Soon we saw the surfers waiting for the next big wave.

Of course, it started to sprinkle on us, and we got plenty of mud and wet sand sprayed all over us. After a while we turned around and headed back to a turnoff that headed off to Boca del Drago. Boca del Drago is on the other side of the island, and was about a 45 minute ride thru the hills in the rain. But all in all, it was a great ride. We saw a lot of wildlife, such as cows, chickens, and ducks. I was hoping for monkeys and sloths, but oh well.

Soon we reached Boca del Drago, which is nothing more than a beach side small town with a couple of restaurants, (of which one was not open), but beautiful beaches. We had some papas fritas and cold cervazas, then headed back to Bocas del Toro.

After returning the rental, we went back to the B&B to clean up. Our clothes were wet and muddy, but this one one experience we will certainly remember.

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant on Main Street, and the food was delicious, as usual. Most all the restaurants are on the water front, and this one was no different. As we ate we watched the storm brewing off the coast. Luckily it blew around us, and we got back to the B&B dry.

Bocas del Toro - day 4

Way too much rum last night, but we got out of bed anyway this morning hoping to have a fun day on a catamaran. As we walked to the downtown area, we got soaked from the slow steady rain. Once we got to the boat, others that had signed up the day before backed out, and left. So there was Jan, me, and the boat captain waiting the rain out to see if it would clear out. Then another couple showed up, and we all agreed that a bad day out on a catamaran is still better then a good day at work, so off we went.

It was a little chilly and a lot wet, but since we signed up for snorkeling, we figured we were going to get wet anyway...... The captain headed the boat out towards one of the outlying islands and eventually we were at Dolphin Bay. It only took a few minutes before we saw the dolphins coming up for air then diving back down. After that we went snorkeling along a reef right by a mangrove outcropping. Very colorful, with starfish everywhere. Also sea urchins, and lots of colorful coral.

All in all it was a very nice relaxing trip. The captain was from Germany, and he was very informative about the areas we visited.

Dolphins in Dolphin Bay

Afterwards we returned back to the B&B to clean up and find a spot for dinner. Tonight we are relaxing in the hammock, listening to the rain, and drinking coke with nothing in it. Tomorrow we hope to rent a four-wheeler and find some beaches.