Panama Day 11 - back to Panama City

Tuesday October 9 day 11

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Official itinerary:

Disembark the Discovery this morning and set off for San Lorenzo National Park. You’ll take a nature walk to view its diverse flora and fauna, picturesque coastline, and enjoy opportunities to spot several hundred bird species. Later this morning, your discoveries continue with a visit to the Panama Canal Administration Building, inaugurated exactly one month before the canal itself.

After lunch on your own, your afternoon is free to enjoy at leisure.

This evening, check into your hotel before gathering with your fellow travelers to reminisce in a local restaurant over dinner.

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Suitcase out in front of the cabin at ..?.. (can't remember). They were brought by the little motorboats to the bus. 

Breakfast. Some last picture taking. 

Somebody asked about this pile of boats. Some quite new. The answer: confiscated during illegal activities (drug smuggling). 

We were invited (because we were really eager to see it) into the galley. These two had worked miracles. The meals were equally nice for the eyes and tongue/tummy. The walk-in fridge/freezer could make you jealous. Mine is always too small. 

Somebody must have asked for it because a recipe was ready for smart phone picture taking. Bake at 160 Celsius (320 F) for 1 hour. 

Must have been 9 am when we walked from the ship to the bus. Daniel was there with our big bus again. 

We drove some country lanes through the jungle to Fort Lorenzo. Very interesting. I have to let the picture speak though. I enjoyed seeing it. The silence and view were lovely. This is where the Chagres flows into the ocean. 

The big tree is suffering. They try saving it by cutting all the vines. Hope it helps. 

A big dark cloud is coming but we get into the bus dry. At a point I thought that might be questionable. 

We drive the country road back and make a potty stop at the ranger house. That was something else. As Octavio had warned us before ... might be not what we are used to. 

Country roads again. We even cross the Chagres River. 

Somehow we end up at the locks again and drive past the dam of the Chagres which created the Gatun Lake. Keeping the water level of the lake just right for the looks is very important. Sometimes they can make some electricity and sometimes they even have to do a spill. 

We can’t drive over the new lock gates with the big bus as we had done with the little bus yesterday. We have to take the ferry since the bridge here is not finished yet. 

We did not have to wait long to get onto the ferry but we did until it was full behind us. The last one on was a concrete truck. Really. But there was lots to observe. And finally that big dark cloud had opened. 

When we drove off and along we often made big loud sprays to the sides. 

Finally we reached Panama City just before 1pm and stopped at Fort Clayton close to the Holiday Inn were we had stayed because there was a little mall with a food court. Lunch was on our own. James and I got ensalada de la casa (house salad). We ordered, paid and took a number to a table. We were joined later by Terry and Frank from our group but it took a long time for our food to come. It was tasty though. 

Next stop: the Canal Administration building. It looked as if we were doing just a drive-by and I was happy. I think I have information-overload now. Parking seemed a problem here but Daniel just dropped us off. I must say it was nice seeing though. 

VIDEO!     (0:58)

And don’t forget Theodor Roosevelt’s bust.

None of us, not even Octavio, could explain this drawing though. 

The big bus dropped us off at the edge of the old town and we walked to the Central Hotel again. The suitcases appeared like a miracle. 

Soon James and I were walking the town because we were looking for the much talked about chocolates store. Chocolate grown and made here without preservatives etc etc. We bought just a little but because we found it quite expensive. A bite for $2 ?

But then at the corner was another store which we liked. They also had pure chocolate but in bars and not so fancy. James decided we should share a piece of the pie. Oh my!!! He had to get the German card out again because a cup of coffee with it made it super perfect. And, ha-ha, I had moccaccino. Oh, what an indulgence. Good thing this is the last day. 

We also had a nice chat with the person who had served us. He is actually from Venezuela and that is a sad story. He spoke very good English and a few words in German. People are very friendly here. 

We still had time and walked some more (not enough to offset our indulgence though I am sure). 

Back in the hotel we had time to get ready for the farewell dinner. 7 pm in the lobby. A short walk just around a few blocks. Don’t know what the name of the restaurant was. As many times before Octavio had given us the choices way before and written it down. Our leader is very organized. 

I had a very nice salad and James something like a warm beef salad very nicely seasoned but we don’t know what it was called. 

Marge across from me started a discussion about the painting behind me. I couldn’t quite get my neck to turn that way so I took a photo in selfie mode above my head. The conclusion was that nobody thought it was a masterpiece. 

As main course both of us had selected beef. Nobody had been asked how they wanted theirs cooked. Mine was cooked perfect. James was not so lucky. Mine was more than plenty so I offered half to him which he kept declining. Until out of the blue he suddenly said “yes please” ha-ha. 

And ice cream for dessert which is nice because it’s on the light side. 

Octavio made a little speech. How quickly the time has gone. And then the great big good-bye-ing. It really was a nice group. Very diverse as it always is but everybody tried to be considerate of the others and always on time. 

We sauntered back to the hotel at our own paces. Walking through a colonial town on a warm summer evening without rain but colored lights and some music ... very nice. And then packing! Ugh.  

Alarms set for 4:45 am.