Hello from Panama City. All has been well the past few days. After a 26 day of travel from Bagaces to Panama City (which I survived!) I set foot on new land. I had met some girls from Chicago on the bus and they invited me to hang out with them because they had a friend on the same flight as Ashley. So, we hung out at their hotel and then went to pick up the girls at the airport.
Ashley has a friend in Colorado Springs who's grandparents live in Panama City. Their bodies are aging but their personalities are as spunky and adventurous as when they roamed Latin America with 4 kids in their younger days. Ann Wenzel, a former swim guard/army brat has lived/visited every country in Latin America among others lands and collects indiginous clothing and arts. Her husband owned a tourist company in his younger years and now owns a few businesses that his kids run. He also sets up microfinancing loans for the indiginous people (Kuna) to open their own businesses. They now own a flat on the old air force base. It looks like a resort condo in Florida.
Yesterday, Ashley and I took chicken buses ($25 to anywhere and they are all over the place!) and taxis all over town. First, we biked around the Causeway, a boardwalk that connects 5 islands in the Panama Bay. Then, we stolled around Casco Viejo, an old part of town that has some ruins, cute shopping, and cute restaurants. We walked through the 5 block market in the next district over.
Today, we went to Panama Viejo, the oldest part of town that was completely burnt by Captain Morgan. All that remains are ruins of an old church and other buildings. It was like a photographers playground! Then, we visited some places of worship. Panama has the only Bahai temple in all of Latin America (Chicago has the only other one in America.) Then, we went to see a Hindu temple. We wanted to hit the Buddist temple and the Islamic mosque. The whole day I was battling a cold but I've been taking care of myself.
Ann made us Paella for dinner and we brought home cake for Howard's birthday. Ashley and I are going to find someplace to dance because Panama city supposedely has GREAT night life! Woohoo!
Tomorrow is a Panama Canal tour and rest. On Sunday we leave for our next adventure. Not sure where the wind will take us but we've got some ideas! Mom, just so you know, we are playing it very safe and staying out of trouble. We are very smart sensible girls. Love you all!
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