We arrived Panama City and went directly to what was meant to be our AirBnb. Suffice it to say that it was incredibly unacceptable so we promptly moved to the hotel right around the corner, used points, and set up for a three day stay to get our feet under us. We all felt especially spoiled by being in a hotel with housekeeping and room service and all the joys that hotel life brings. It didn’t last too long. Scott’s mom was struggling in her recovery after having a terrible fall. The next day, he flew back up to Nashville. The kids and I then spent two days watching the horror of Hurricane Harvey from afar as it hit not only where my dad lives, but then moved on and wrecked so much of Houston. At the same time, Keali fought off (with several prescription medicines) what is the South American version of poison ivy, the litre tree.
It started on her arms but spread to most of her body over a week.
On day three, it looked like everything in Nashville was getting better, so the kids and I moved into a new Airbnb and started exploring Panama City. Our first stop was the Miraflores Lock on the Panama Canal.
The lock after the gate is closed and prior to it being filled with water to lift the ship.
The same lock about 15 minutes later once it has been filled with water.
Watching the huge container ships push through the lock and be lifted on the water was enthralling but also incredibly hot. We had learned that it is possible once or twice a month to actually ride on a ship as it goes the length of the Canal and experience first hand the lifting up on the ship. After watching several ships go through the Miraflores, I’m glad we didn’t spend the money to ride through the canal. The museum onsite was really worth the visit as well.
Simulator for taking the ship through the Canal.
We heard the documentary movie they show is quite good, but the (generally surly) staff at the Canal wasn’t willing to let us in since we showed up within 60 seconds of it starting. Bygones.
Another day we headed down to the old city center (Casco Viejo). The city has renovated almost the entire area but in an old world feel. Sadly, the main cathedral was completely covered by scaffolding, but the rest of the area was immaculate.
Most of the buildings have been renovated to the original style. It was beautiful.
Even the small restaurants and shops had a clean and updated feel to them. The official Panama Canal Museum is located in this area of town. It’s a multistory building with some phenomenal exhibits and information about the canal and its history. Of course the kids were less enthusiastic than I was, so as a result, they had the opportunity to do a research presentation for me when we got back to the AirBnb. I learned just as much from their presentations!
One of many of Caden’s visual aids to better understand the Panama Canal.
On one especially memorably hot day, we decided to make what we thought would be a twenty minute walk to Avenida Balboa. After walking for almost 45 minutes in extreme heat and alongside busy streets with many honking cars, we made it. Of course we were too hot to stay more than a few minutes, but it was a fun-filled few minutes.
The closest water to us was a few blocks away which also conveniently was a diner that sold handmade milkshakes.
There were only a couple of other memorable moments of Panama City. The city itself doens’t really lend itself to being a hugely family friendly place. The streets are busy, the crosswalks are non-existent, and it sneaks up on Vietnamese dangers of crossing streets. Throw in the heat and we were all pretty okay with spending the slightly less body-melting hot mornings outside and hanging out inside during the afternoons.
One such afternoon ended with Keali’s bedroom door getting stuck closed with her in it. She was a little embarrassed to have four or five men working to get her out of the bedroom. Alas she was rescued.
And the trip ended with Scott’s sweet mom dying while he sat next to her in the hospital. The kids and I were booked on a trip to Nashville and left the next morning.
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