Playing Tour Guide

This past Sunday, my former teaching colleague/upstairs housemate from Honduras, came down with a friend to visit Panama! It was so fun to see her again and show her the new place I'm calling home.

Here are some highlights:

 We drove to the top of Ancon Hill and admired the view.

(above: Casco Viejo)

Giant Panama flag atop Ancon Hill; a landmark you can see for miles around the city.

The famous Torrijos-Carter Treaties (1977): basically an agreement that 1) the U.S. had the right to defend the Panama canal from any threats (still applies today), 2) Panama would get control of the canal and Canal Zone again at noon on January 1, 2000.

I remember visiting Panama when there was a huge countdown in front of the Panama Canal administration building, counting down the hours and minutes until Panama would have control over the Canal.

She wrote a poem about Ancon Hill.

 View of the City Skyline (Paitilla); can you spot the F & F tower?

 Traditional Molas made by the people of Kuna Yala.

The vendor explained that the traditional colors are red, orange, black and brown, but the Kuna noticed the different colors of tourist's clothing and in modern molas, they incorporate a variety of other colors.

Geometric molas are older and each symbolize something important to their people (ie: strength, protection), and the ones with animals are made more recently. 

The patterns are meant to be worn as a part of Kuna dress.

Learn more HERE.

 The view of my side of the mountain: "Circle of Death" (a giant round-about circle with taxis and Diablo Rojo buses hurtling through it to get to the Albrook terminal) right below; down the street is the church/school

 George Washington Goethals was the Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal. This monument was built to honor him, and shows water from the three canal locks flowing into each other.

 We visited the Miraflores Locks (complete with visitor center).

 A little bit under construction (as are most projects in Panama-a sign of its good economy)

 And then we watched several ships go through!

We also visited my favorite place in all of Panama City: the Amador Causeway, ate dinner out there under the bohios, watched the sunset and even some Semana Santa fireworks.

Come visit me in Panama and I'll show you these places and more!