Hats Off to Panama

HATS OFF TO PANAMA

A country brimming with activitySteve Gillick

www.talkingtravel.ca

A view of the downtown Panama City skyscrapers from the pool at the RIU Plaza Hotel

The F & F Revolution Tower, AKA The Twisty Building, is one block from the RIU Plaza. Great views from the hotel terrace and a great landmark to find your way back home.

Chorro El Macho (The Manly Falls) just north of the town of El Valle.

At Pozos Termales in El Valle, you can apply the light mud or dark mud, depending on your skin type. We tried both!

The rare Panamian Golden Frog in its enclosure at the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center

In Gamboa and Soberania National Park --just outside of Panama City--one of the world's great birding areas.

The single lane iron and wood bridge is the only way to reach the town of Gamboa

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Soberania National Park: lush green tropical vegetation.

Pipeline Road...one of main conduits for for bird and wildlife watching in the park

A view from the top deck of the Canopy Tower in the Discovery Center

Someone spotted a Howler Monkey way off in the distance... out came the zoom lenses and Spotting Scopes.

Hummingbird feeders at the Discovery Center.

Ivan's Bed and Breakfast in Gamboa...a friendly, cozy, good food and only a 15 minutes walk to the Panama Canal

Agoutis are everywhere! Just think of them as small-dog-sized squirrels...they won't bother you.

Ships on the Chagres River--part of the Panama Canal--passing by Gamboa

Moises explained the costumes, musical instruments, dances, crafts and way of life of the Embera

An Embera Woman--one of the 38 adults and 17 children in the village

From the viewing platform at The Miraflores Vistor's Center. Ships are raised or lowered 54 feet as they pass through this section of the Canal

Panama Viejo includes the ruins of the first settlement of Panama--dating from 1519

We walked the one hour from the RIU Plaza to Casco Viejo. Crowded office buildings and condos seem to compete for prime space on the waterfront

Many buildings in Casco Viejo reflect the colonial spanish style.

The survival of the 'flat arch' is said to have reassured the builders of the Canal of the scarcity of seismic activity in the area

You can buy ceviche (raw fish marinated in citrus juices) at the Mercado del Marisco just outside of Casco Viejo. We sampled some for a mid-morning snack--soooo fresh and tasty!

...and then returned for lunch at the restaurant.

The Amador Causeway affords great views of Panama City. It includes a marina, many restaurants, souvenir shops and really good gelato!

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"A Colourful Sandwich" is one description of the Frank Gehry-designed Museum of Biodiversity. Located on The Causeway ...and still under construction at the time.

Seems that tourists are the only ones that buy Panama Hats these days...

Art work celebrating indigenous culture in Panama--can be found in the galleries in Caso Viejo. This piece by YanecaM, the founder of the Movimiento Portobelo, may be found at the Karavan Gallery. www.karavan-gallery.com

Steve GillickTravel Writer, Speaker, Photographer

Steve@talkingtravel.cawww.gillicksworld.ca