Panama City

Panama City highlights

Jan 25th
- Justin took dingy into Flamenco Yacht Club to see port captain and entered us into Panama
- Went in on the dingy to get showers at Flamenco Yacht club, to fill up diesel containers, and to restock beer
- Moved boat to Isla Perico anchorage as all the marinas were charging way too much for our tastes
- Raised Panamanian flag
- Went to Balboa Yacht club for dinner and to find out some information on crossing the Panama Canal
- My brother Gerard messaged me to let me know that Vada had gotten into a fight with a coyote back home in Cape Breton (What!!!!), but has been to the vet and is fine

Happy crew heading to shore to see Panama City for the first time

Raising a courtesy flag while

Jan 26th
- Went to Authority del Canal de Panama and scheduled to have our boat measured the next day
- Justin and Mitch went to Balboa yacht club to find lines, fenders, and an extra line handler
- Nicole and I went to Albrook mall for groceries and a bus pass
- Met up at Balboa yacht club and had chicken wings and beer

Justin at Authority del Canal de Panama

Fenders and lines on board

Nicole, Mitch, Myself, and Justin enjoying wings at Balboa Yacht Club

Jan 27th
- Justin and Mitch stayed on the boat to wait for the inspector
- Nichole and I went to Balboa Yacht Club to do laundry and I posted pictures on facebook
- Justin went to bank after inspection at 2 pm to pay for canal passage but office was closed upon arrival

Boat is inspected and god to go for the canal

Jan 28th
- We all went to the bank first thing in the morning but ACP was closed because it was Saturday,  so could not pay.  We had to wait until Monday
- Walked via slums to Casco Viejo.  Just before exiting the slums, Tourist police warns us not to walk through slums
- Walked around Casco Viejo (Old town centre)
- I got ice cream
- Went to History of Panama Canal Museum
- Walked around Paseo las Bovedas, a sea wall built by Spanish to protect city
- Walked along boardwalk on waterfront

Walking through the "slums"

Justin in Casco Viejo

History of Panama Canal Museum - Saving money by only renting one audio guide

Justin made a friend

View of Panama City

Markets on Paseo las Bovedas

Nicole, Justin, and Mitch exploring Paseo las Bovedas

Monument to commemorate the French contribution to the canal

Two worlds colliding in Casco Viejo, the old and the new

Our top of the line transport back to the boat

Jan 29th
- Nicole and Mitch took bikes and biked around Panama city
- Justin and I walked the causeway by the Panama Canal entrance on the Pacific side and went to the biodiversity museum

Panama!!!!

Biodiversity Museum

Myself and Justin at the Biodiversity Museum

Jan 30th
-Went to bank first thing to pay for canal passage
-Went to Miraflores Locks and watched  a couple of container ships and a few tour boats go through the locks
- We went through the museum at the Miraflores Locks and I bought post cards at the gift store
- Justin called the scheduler and found out we were booked to go through the canal for the 7th

How we got around in Panama

Arriving at Miraflores Locks

Miraflores Locks

Nicole and Mitch at Miraflores Locks

Justin and I at Miraflores Locks

Miraflores Locks

Jan 31st
- We slept in (Yes!!!!)
- We played cards and board games and were thoroughly lazy
- Justin and I cleaned the boat

Just Dreamin at Anchor with Panama City in behind

Feb 1st
- Justin and I went Balboa Yacht club to refill propane bottles and posted blogs and had lunch while waiting
- I napped and did yoga in afternoon
- Mitch and Nicole got me a birthday muffin!!!!!
- Walked around Isla Perico
- Went for birthday drinks and dinner at Mi Ranchitos

Nicole and Mitch surprised me with a birthday chocolate muffin

Justin after tying up our dingy

Birthday drinks!!!

Mitch saved $2 by making his own cocktail

Feb 2nd
- Wrote post cards for Mom, Da, and Mandy, Gerard and Kali, Jessie,  and Vanessa.   Justin wrote post cards for his Mum and Dad, Anthony, Dave and Pat, Dave and Felicity,  and Lindsay.
- Justin practiced guitar
- Tried to visit Panama Viejo but arrived too close to closing
- Justin and I went out for pizza

Justin catching up on some rest

Postcards for family and friends

Feb 3rd
- Went to Panama Viejo (second time is a charm), which are the ruins of the original city which was sacked by pirates

Justin in Panama Viejo

Justin in front of convent in Panama Viejo

Justin in convent in Panama Viejo

Justin in cistern in Panama Viejo

Cathedral in Panama Viejo

Archeological dig in process in Panama Viejo - yes, those are human remains

Myself in the Cathedral in Panama Viejo

Justin and I in the cathedral in Panama Viejo

Feb 4th
- Another beautifully lazy day
- We played cards and games
- I read
- Justin went into town to advertise for line handlers
- Mitch and Nicole arranged ride through canal

Feb 5th
- Mitch and Nicole left to go through the canal
- Justin and I went to Balboa Yacht club to do laundry

Feb 6th
- Moved the boat in preparation for canal passage
- Justin visited the port captain and signed out of the country
- Justin  picked up a few groceries
- Ran the water maker
- I cleaned
- Got our departure time from the schedulers
- Justin contacted the line handlers with times

Finally, it's time for the canal!!!!!