The Panama Deathmarch

Panama Viejo

Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo

We wanted to make sure Mall and Leena received the real history indoctrination about Panama City. Accordingly we began with the Visitor Center museum at Panama Viejo. Off for the walk along the bay and old city to the convent and cathedral. Today the Artesania Handicraft shops were open so we had to spend time in a very hot building (well they did, I sat outside and tried to find a cool breeze).

At the cathedral tower the building guide took a shine to us and walked the building, I think working on his English. To keep him going I started asking all the personal questions and found out he was 29, not married, the average marriage age in Panama, his grades in school, how many times a day he climbs the tower (only 2 or 3 as he has a bad knee) and all sorts of other really important information.

Next we took a cab all the way across town to Casco Viejo and spend another two or three hours exploring the old town. This time the canal museum was open so we check out the building of the canal, but only with Spanish story boards and signs. The building itself is beautiful and it was a pleasant air conditioned hour. We topped off the walk with visiting the French ice cream store for a second time.

Mary Ann did some shopping, but Mall and Leena really haven’t properly stepped up to the shopping plate yet. I don’t know what is going to become of the Panama economy!