Our host at the hostel - Pascal - was really helpful last night giving us a lot of tips for our short stay in Panama City, so when we left the hostel we knew where to go, the right price for the taxi and not least to be a the Miraflores Locks at the right time. The Panama Canal observes a lunch break which in practice means that there are no boats going through the locks between 11 AM and 1 PM.
We got to the visitors centre and it turned out to a very interesting place with a good exhibition showing a lot about the construction and the operations of the Panama Canal. Once done with the exhibition we headed outside to the locks and there were a couple of big ships entering the locks. They speak the passage of most ships at the visitor centre - in Spanish and English so we got a lot of useful information about everything related to a passage including the price and other practicalities.
Our taxi driver had waited for us as we agreed even though we spent a bit longer time at the visitor centre. We told him to wait for one hour but the whole thing with ships going through the locks turned out to take around two hours. As agreed he dropped us off in Casco Viejo - the old town in Panama City. And then he asked for USD 10 extra for "the waiting time" which we of course refused. We ended up paying USD 20 for taxi and waiting time in total which is reasonable.
After walking around for a while we found a place that served good local food, and had - yes - Ceviche and a risotto style fish stew. Both were excellent. We got a table outside the restaurant and luckily a big umbrella covered our table because suddenly it started to pour down. So we sat there and enjoyed the good food, the warm rain and just being in laid back Panama City.
We walked back to the hostel following the board walk on the coast. At the hostel we did a long list of stuff we need for the next days of "camping" on one of the small islands in San Blas. Water and snacks included. There was a big supermarket a couple blocks away and we walked there and bought food for dinner as well as all the necessities for our San Blas trip. Home cooked food for dinner - the first in a long time and then to bed. Pick up at 5 AM tomorrow and before that - packing and unpacking the big back packs so they can stay at the hostel. We only need swim suits and bug spray the next few days - and a few other things.
We got to the visitors centre and it turned out to a very interesting place with a good exhibition showing a lot about the construction and the operations of the Panama Canal. Once done with the exhibition we headed outside to the locks and there were a couple of big ships entering the locks. They speak the passage of most ships at the visitor centre - in Spanish and English so we got a lot of useful information about everything related to a passage including the price and other practicalities.
Our taxi driver had waited for us as we agreed even though we spent a bit longer time at the visitor centre. We told him to wait for one hour but the whole thing with ships going through the locks turned out to take around two hours. As agreed he dropped us off in Casco Viejo - the old town in Panama City. And then he asked for USD 10 extra for "the waiting time" which we of course refused. We ended up paying USD 20 for taxi and waiting time in total which is reasonable.
After walking around for a while we found a place that served good local food, and had - yes - Ceviche and a risotto style fish stew. Both were excellent. We got a table outside the restaurant and luckily a big umbrella covered our table because suddenly it started to pour down. So we sat there and enjoyed the good food, the warm rain and just being in laid back Panama City.
We walked back to the hostel following the board walk on the coast. At the hostel we did a long list of stuff we need for the next days of "camping" on one of the small islands in San Blas. Water and snacks included. There was a big supermarket a couple blocks away and we walked there and bought food for dinner as well as all the necessities for our San Blas trip. Home cooked food for dinner - the first in a long time and then to bed. Pick up at 5 AM tomorrow and before that - packing and unpacking the big back packs so they can stay at the hostel. We only need swim suits and bug spray the next few days - and a few other things.
 |
| Our hostel |
 |
| Miraflores |
 |
| When is that ship coming |
 |
| 2 x $ 150.000 approaching |
 |
| Heading for the Pacific ocean |
 |
| Also room for smaller boats |
 |
| Christmas is almost here |
 |
| Why not? |
 |
| OK, this looks better |
 |
| Lunch and the occasional afternoon shower |
 |
| Casco Viejo sights |
 |
| Panama hat |
 |
| Fish market |
 |
| Home cooked veggie dinner - yum |
Ingen kommentarer:
Send en kommentar