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Panama Travel Blogs

Background: With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.

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By Armageddon Hammock
October 20th 2009

Drago Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro » Isla Colon

marina

10/17 4 days of down time. Last night Tim, Patty, Algo, and I boated over to the marina for a meal and some makeshift music. For the videos, go to http://video.yahoo.com/mypage?s=6613427&public=1 Today, Tim and I went to Bocas Del Drago. Nice area. For some nice videos of live starfish go to http://video.yahoo.com/mypage?s=6613427&public=1 [View Full Entry]

By Armageddon Hammock
October 16th 2009

Bring on the Rain - I Have a Roof Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro

casa

Day 7 of actual construction and I have a roof. It still needs to be painted. Unfortunately, I missed roofing day, as I was enjoying an interesting day traveling to another town getting more cash. I thought the bus ride over the mountains was thrilling. That was a warm-up for the bus to Changuinola and the bank. And, theres nothing more thrilling than walking through a foreign, marginal, shanty town to the bus station, with thousands in cash on your person. Being stared at, machetes gleaming in the hot sun. OK, Did I say walking? I was running. As I requested [View Full Entry]

By emilyandtasha
October 14th 2009

Day 10 Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro » Isla Colon

woke up today to non-rainy weather...a good day for another boat trip we felt!! Did a trip with another tour company today, the captain was much nicer and had a lovely Caribbean accent. First stop was Dolphin Bay; you cant swim here as there are hundreds of jellyfish (which you could see!) For a while we saw nothing, then other boats in the area all headed towards an area and we caught a glimpse of a fin!! We could have seen 2, we could have seen 20, they all look the same and we only saw 2 at a time!! (we [View Full Entry]

By Armageddon Hammock
October 13th 2009

Trekkiing Basti w/Tim and Patty and Day 5 of Construction Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro

day 5

I met a cool couple at my Hotel, and they wanted me to show them around some, as well as see my shack. We hiked through the jungle and saw my site, Javier's spread, 2 beaches, and some of The Red Frog Beach Project - the marina. [View Full Entry]

By Armageddon Hammock
October 11th 2009

Ensalada Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro

sal

So, it was a down day and I was craving a salad. They're not big on salads at the cheap, local eateries. I went to the produce stand and got lettuce, pepper, tomato, onion, cucumber, carrot and took em back to my room. It was then I realized that I am not in a hostel with a kitchen anymore. All I had was a butter knife. Try peeling and cutting the aformentioned veggies (which were washed in the bathroom sink) with a butter knife, and then cutting out a bowl from a water jug with the same knife. A little mayo [View Full Entry]

By Armageddon Hammock
October 9th 2009

Almirante Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro

automatic pilot

OK, nobody's checking out the videos at Yahoo videos>>>>>> copy and paste this >>>>>>>> http://video.yahoo.com/mypage?s=6613427&public=1 They're pretty cool. They're just like pictures, except they moooove. Ooooo! And they have sound. Aaahhhhh! Dozens of new ones, over 80 in all.... Today, Wanchow and I went to Almirante (where they takes those new-fangled credit cards) and bought roofing, nails, and other sundries. Now, I wait for my sister in Chicago to come to the rescue by wiring some money, as the lack of credit card usage [View Full Entry]

By Raya CAN
October 9th 2009

Panama City - day 3 Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panamá » Panama City

Casco Viejo

Today we switched guest houses as we have arranged a boat trip for tomorrow in which we will be picked up from Mamallena's Hostel at 5am. We will be taking a sailboat from Panama City to the San Blas Islands where we will spend a few days and ultimately end up in Cartagenia, Columbia. It is quite an expensive trip so hopefully it will be worth it (it has been highly recommended by several travelers we have spoken to). So for the next 5 days or so we will be sailing, snorkelling and exploring the islands. I hope I don't get [View Full Entry]

By Raya CAN
October 8th 2009

Panama City, Panama Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panamá » Panama City

We arrived in Panama City last night around 5:30 after a very long bus ride. Fortunately, the bus itself was good, comfortable, clean and the people were friendly. (Recommendation: Tica Bus). Crossing the border from Costa Rica into Panama was a frustrating experience that took 5 hours. First we arrived at 5am - 1 hour before the offices openned. Then the computer system stopped working and the officials refused to do things by hand despite having the ability to do so. Lineups were long and the local people did not care to wait in line like the majority of us tourists [View Full Entry]

By Raya CAN
October 8th 2009

Panama City - day 2 Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panamá » Panama City

Panama Canal

Today we took a cab to the Panama Canal. Unfortunately our timing was off and we waited for over an hour with no signs of any boats passing through. Finally, a couple of very large boats approached so we were able to get pictures but had to leave before we actually saw one pass through the locks. We also made the mistake of cheaping out and only buying tickets for the observation deck for $5 instead of the $8 general admission which meant missing out on the 3-story museum and the theater. So if you ever take a trip to the [View Full Entry]

By Armageddon Hammock
October 5th 2009

Day 2 - Concrete Foundation Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro

2nd day - concrete pylons

Day 2 - Wanchow had quite a crew today. My labor is through the roof (not really. Most of these poor unskilled guys make $15 a day). Making concrete the old-fashioned way. You can build a foundation with a plumb-bob, string, L-square, wheelbarrow, shovels, trowel, wood, rocks, sand, cement, and sweat. Some of the 70 lb. bags were carried by men up a steep slope, then down into slippery jungle, then back up same slippery jungle - about a half mile. Price -$1 per bag. 105 bags. I carried 2 three pound shovels up this route, partially on all fours as [View Full Entry]

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