Waiting for the water to lower so we can pass through the lock.
The Dude, in charge.
Dredging barge, constantly clearing debris from the canal bottom to keep it deep.
Flag of Panama and the continental divide.
Cruise ship accompanied by tugboats.
Karen and Dad enjoying the tour.
Dad and Karen came to visit in February. They have not traveled much, and not at all really to a Spanish-speaking country. I assured them that one of the reasons I chose Panama is because of the relative ease of getting around. I took the 7-hour bus to Panama City and met them at their hotel on the Calzada de Amador (Amador Causeway). We went out for a nice dinner including yummy ceviche. The next day, we went on the canal tour. We got on a bus that took us inland where we boarded the boat. From there, we went through two locks including the Miraflores. I'll spare the details of the history, etc., but it was pretty cool seeing all of these enormous ships passing through tight corridors and to think about how much expense was/is involved in the shipping of goods around the world. Once you've been through one lock, you might as well have been through a hundred. It is a fairly uneventful and simple engineering feat, but impressive for the first time.
More Pics:
Click to blow this one up, it is of all the loaded ships waiting their turn to pass through the canal. Depending on traffic, ships can wait a week or more before their turn to pass.
View from boat of the Amador Causeway with PC in the background.
Another of the same.
Packed ship heading off into the Pacific after its go through the canal.
Ship being unloaded by cranes.
After the tour, our guide from the hotel picked us up at the beginning point. Giselle (or "Gazelle" as Dad liked to call her) drove us around the city pointing out interesting sites. Jessica needed horse shoes, so we found the store and picked some up. We arrived back at the hotel and I hit the gym and went running. After a nice dinner and long walk down the causeway, the 'rents went to sleep and I found a cool little bar next to the hotel where I watched my new favorite Baseball team (Chiriqui) kick the crap out of Herrera.
The following morning, we packed up to head to Boquete and discovered the room safe was not responding to our code. After a couple of hours, someone finally came with an electronic device to open it. Giselle took us to the bus station and we boarded the 7-hour bus to Boquete. At one of the stops, a young man boarded the bus selling ice cream cones for 25 cents each. Dad and Karen both bought one and gave him $1. It took a long time to convince the young man that the remaining 50 cents was a tip which has led to many conversations about when to tip and when not to tip...tipping is not the norm here for many things, unless in more expensive restaurants or with (good) tour guides.
We arrived in David and picked up the rental car. I picked up my car from the mechanic and we made it to the hotel in Boquete.
The next week, we visited Boca Brava hotel and saw monkeys, went swimming, birdwatching, hiking, coffee tour on the farm I live on, eating/drinking, and visited with Jessica's family which went well. There was an indigenous protest going on in town which was peaceful (the indigenous were protesting the sale of mining rights located on their reservation land to foreign governments).
Howler Monkey.
Dad and Karen headed back to David, and flew back to PC and continued their tour for a couple more days. They commented that they had no idea I spoke Spanish, but it was clear that I was fluent...that feels good, but is a little less than true, at least to me. I am really glad they had a chance to see my life here and I think it solidified the idea that I am not just vacationing, I am really making a life here.
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