This is the day!! Breakfast at 6, on the bus at 6:30, on the boat at 6:45! We were to have our luggage outside our door by 11:30 the night before to be picked up by the bellboy and loaded on the bus to be driven to Colon, where we'll exit the boat. Luckily, we left the knapsack to pick up after breakfast and noticed that our luggage (and that of other travelers on the same hall) had not been picked up! Took the bus out to Flamenco Island and saw the sunrise over the Pacific. What, Susan, you have that wrong! No, the bay curved around so that the point we were on was actually facing East. Boarded the Islamorada, a 100 year old boat that used to belong to Al Capone! From url=http://www.canada.com/travel/Gangster+Capone+running+yacht+ferrying+tourists+Panama/9360023/story.htmlhttp://www.canada.com/travel/Gangster+Capone+running+yacht+ferrying+tourists+Panama/9360023/story.html... read more

Day 2--first full day here--After watching a cruise ship, the Coral Princess, float by, started with breakfast at the hotel and an orientation meeting where we met our guides, updated the schedule, and learned the ground rules. Basically, no one in Panama pays attention to time but we are to be on time for the buses. This morning we went to Panama la Vieja, the original part of panama city, the section destroyed by Morgan when he sacked the city (more later). First, a trip through the Panama , Canal Museum, then a short time to wander, then a walking tour of the old city and some plazas, ending at the French Plaza and a bus trip to lunch. We were divided into 3 groups today because the old city cannot accomodate a big bus. Notes ... read more

So, for those not in the loop--We're going on a Road Scholar trip to the Panama Canal March 25-30 (https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/9901/grit-and-glory-exposing-the-panama-canal) for details. Mike's got a camera and Panama Bird book; we've decided on clothes, etc. to take--Susan still needs to get a hat. Think we'll make it with one suitcase (it is only 5 days, after all!). We leave March 24, spending the night before at Dulles. Good news--our flights are close enough to the Road Scholar-provided ones that we'll be able to ride to and from the airport and hotels in Panama City with the group and won't have to arrange our own transport. The dollar is the reigning currency in Panama and we've tested our ATM cards to be sure they work and we know the PIN! Still need to call them and warn ... read more

Well, as we feared last night, Susan had to bow out of today's riding tour. After some thought, Mike decided to stay back too. Since the Polish deli for lunch was scheduled for today, we wanted to meet the group there. Richard provided us the name (Pyza) address (118 Nassau Ave, Brooklyn 11222) and location (on Nassau between Manhattan and McGuiness) so we could get there. It was already raining and in the '60s... After breakfast, we bought a couple tickets to the Downtown Hop On Hop Off bus, to see Times Square, the Empire State Building (a little closer), the 911 memorial. We did that online and got a confirmation code. We successfully rode the Subway from just outside of the hotel down a couple stops to the bus departure area. We found the right ... read more

Started with an early breakfast, glad to see that the weather was different from yesterday which was about 93 degrees and poured at the end of the day.Left the hotel and walked to the bike shop, about 10 blocks, got organized, broken into 2 groups. Our group leader was Johanns, orginally from Austria and our sweep (followed at the back to pick up the pieces) Chris, originally from the Finger lakes area of NY, came here to college and never left. Began riding 'in traffic' which was quite harrowing especially at first. Only a couple blocks to Central Park which was better because there were few cars but fast bikes, pedicabs, pedestrians, etc. Stopped frequently for Johanns to give us some background and history. First hour or so, it seemed we walked more than rode. There ... read more