Panama City

The city is very built up and hot. Laura and I were interviewed by the head of an American School here. I'm not sure I would take a job here, because it's in the 90's every day in December. I can imagine June.
A couple of days ago we went on a day trip up to the mountains to a town called el Valle del Anton. It was in the middle of an inactive crater. We saw a waterfall, a zoo that was pretty nice and an ancient pictograph that mapped the surrounding area. After lunch we poked around a little weekly market in town.
Yesterday, we walked around Casco Antiguo, aka old town. We saw lots of street vendors with their stalls and beautiful churches and buildings many that were being restored.

Off to el Valle del Anton

Today, we are off to a market in the mountains, then on to Intercontinental Hotel in Panama City. We are receiving your emails when we have wifi. Here are a few more pics to hold you over. On the boat yesterday, Alden getting a shampoo and yes that's Tilghman reading by the pool.

Jungle Boat

We were sure we were going to meet the Jungle Boat today. Dutifully, we hopped on the Jungle Bus and ground gears down to the marina. We all got life preservers and hopped on. We were all surprised to see it was a regular boat. We headed out onto Lake Gatun past huge container ships, dredging rigs and little islands. Our driver and guide led us to Howler Monkeys, iguanas, sloths, a baby caiman and a snail hawk. It turned out to really cool and being beside those ships was awe inspiring. Here are a few shots. Notice the baby crocodile on the branch and the leaf cutter ants with flowers.

Jungle Bus

All right, we have been enjoying the pool, massages and nice grounds for walking, but then there's the Jungle Bus. We were booked for an Ariel tram upon arrival and that's when we met the Jungle Bus. Tourists carrying binoculars, sunscreen, cameras and survivalist clothing get herded onto the Jungle Bus. We dutifully hopped onto the Jungle Bus and with gears grinding drove about a quarter mile to the Ariel Tram. Ironically, we almost died when the Jungle Bus stalled while cresting a short steep hill right before we disembarked. After the Ariel Tram we rode the Jungle Bus about 200 yards to the aquarium, then 50 feet to the snake house, 200 feet to the orchid gardens and finally up the hill to the hotel. At dinner the other night we saw the Jungle Bus on night time patrol on the little road right by the pool with a huge spotlight sweeping back and forth. I guess they were looking for wildlife, but the pool is right outside the hotel.
Here we are on the infamous Jungle Bus

Mystery Guest cont.

So, we've been seeing that mystery guest all over the place. Here are a few recent shots.

Gamboa

This morning we walked around the grounds. This place is a sprawling colonial hotel with a fairly recent makeover. It was warm already at seven thirty. We saw many leaf cutter ants carrying the leaf equivalent of grand pianos across their paths. It's amazing how they clear these 3 inch wide paths down to bare dirt across the grass to their nests in the trees.
By the way, we had a surprise visitor on the flight from Hacienda del Mar. He keeps popping up in unlikely places. Also, check the gecko we found in our room, the animal crossing sign and Gigi in the butterfly house.

Arrived at Gamboa Resort

We left Hacienda del Mar sadly and traveled with the Virginians (11 from Northern VA) to Panama City. We rode past the Canal to Gamboa Rainforest Resort in a National Park. It has a colonial look to it. All the rooms face lago Gatun adjacent the river and canal. It's a beautiful view. See Laura and the view.
Upon arrival we pulled all our clothes out to air. There was a distinct boys gym locker smell in the room. This place has a gorgeous pool.
We went on an Ariel tram that took us to a cool overlook.