March 26 – 27
We had really early morning start, but everything at O’Hare Airport worked normal and fast. We landed in Panama City on time and were at our airbnb in Balboa Ancon by late afternoon. It was one of the best airbnbs we have stayed in: large apartment, clean, well equipped and organized, quiet neighborhood and great hosts (recommended). The house is a typical residential architecture in Panama dating back to the canal construction era. Our very nice hosts took us on a quick car tour of the area and to Albrook to get groceries.
We then took local bus to Amador Causeway, as far as it went and started walking back slowly on a long pier built with rocks excavated during canal construction leading to small islands. City lights across water, silhouette of Ancon Hill, Biomuseo, Bridge of the Americas at the Pacific entrance to Panama Canal. Night Heron, small racoons, large crocodile swimming along the pier patiently looking for something and first sighting of a sloth moving “fast” in treetops. Stopped for dinner at Mi Ranchito Amador: corvina criolla and pulpo a la provenzal. On the bus trip back home we experienced traffic jam for which the city is famous.
The following day was just milling around Casco Viejo. It looks like it has been all restored recently. It is the second Panama City location, as the original was further along the coast where the highrises now stand. We took Uber to Plaza Tomas Herrera. After looking around for a while we visited Mola Museum Рdedicated to reverse appliqu̩ textiles designed and worn by Guna women. Then walked narrow streets and plazas of the old district, visiting some churches and ruins and strolling along the ocean. The day was sunny, quite hot and humid. Very nice and safe city.
After a full circle, we returned to Independence Square in the afternoon and spent a couple of hours learning about history of Panama at Panama Canal Museum, good expositions on engineering, history and politics. From Amador and Casco Viejo we could see the entryway to the canal, but planning a closer look later on (Mirafiores Locks, Gamboa, Gatun Lake). The canal and artificial Gatun Lake which is part of the waterway were open for ships in 1914.
In late afternoon we walked over to Mercado de Mariscos, closed already — to late to visit, but settled in one of several associated establishments, Restaurante Delicia Del Mar, for dinner: ceviche de combinación, cazuela marisco, jugo de maracuyá, Balboa. After dinner we walked a bit further along the coast and seaside parks. Came home by Uber and packed getting ready for morning flight to David.
