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Panama City
This was taken from the viewpoint in the Metropolitan Nature Park. Well, the last days are here...we are busy arranging travel back to Seattle and on to LaConner...and seeing the sights in Panama City...
The Canal was amazing....! We arrived around noon as a tanker was heading northwest (or to the Atlantic...directions are confusing here since Panama mostly runs east-west and the canal north-south) through the locks. Two small sailboats then came through in to opposite direction. And then they announced there would be no more boats til 3:30 pm! We visited the exhibits (two days of Canal info is a lot!), ate lunch overlooking the locks and then got to see four really big cargo ships come through. We found out that the biggest ships can only transit during daylight, and that boats from the Pacific cross in the am. Thus sometimes there is time with no boats in the locks. Still seems odd, with all the boats waiting, but who am I to say?
We also spent time on the pedestrian shopping street here...I replaced my umbrella for $2, and got a top for $1.....we met a man who walked around with us for a bit, and told us his wife had been killed in the US invasion...he
Locks
The building in the background was built in 1913. had lots of facts about the conditions in Panama and finally left us for a $1.00 tip...We were the only gringos on the entire length of this pedestrian shopping street!
Next, we went the Causeway, built with the rubble excavated for the canal. We visited a Smithsonian marine center there, and had a young guide who was amazing...knew birds by their calls, knew about the operations of the Canal, and gave technical info about marine life in English!
On our final day, I went to city park that has lots of wildlife and saw white faced monkeys, turtles, and many birds. The trail goes up to a mirador where you can see the locks and Panama City.
So, what was best about this trip?
The people: they were wonderfully friendly everywhere; they helped us out, enjoyed our feeble attempts at conversation in Spanish, and loved to show us their countries..
And our fellow travellers from all over the world..so many interesting people!
The biodiversity: so many plants and animals; so much natural beauty...
What I won't miss:
The noise: horns blasting, music playing loudly in buses, stores, on the street
The
Miraflores Locks
A tanker coming through poverty, especially the poor children: it has been hard to see this every day, everywhere. I have chosen three ways to help if you're interested in contributing:
1. International aid that will work against malnutrition in children. Many Central American countries are now working on this themselves, so there will be more of push in this area now.
2. Direct support of three schools: one on Caye Caulker, one on Lago Izabal (where we were shipwrecked), and one in the Bocas del Toro islands.
3. Funding for the Safe Passage, the project in the dump in Guat. City.
The next and probably last blog will be from my classroom. Thanks to all of you for reading these entries and sending your comments and messages.
Adios, Lynn
PS . The photos are now on...and our trip ended well: we made our connection to LA in Miami (we were on standby) and then got seats in first class to Seattle from LA! Thank you Karl!!!
Cindy and Walter picked us up at the airport and we stayed overnight with them in Kenmore. They lent us their truck the next day, and we drove up to LaConner. Betty
Locks
Two bigger boats coming the other way remembered us but for now prefers to stay at Tom and Diane's where she knows she can find food and warmth and good company...we hope that some day soon she'll come home...!
I've cleaned up a good part of the garden, and we've gotten the trailer liveable....it's been rainy and cold, but it feels really good! If it clears, we'll go kayaking....ahhh..the Northwest...
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sabia
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pictures?
...would love to see the pictures to go with this blog entry...mayhap that'll be remedied? am glad you'll be back soon!