2009.11.16 Crash course of Panama

As we have to wait 4 hours in Panama airport, for our connection to Houston, we decided to try our chance to get out the airport. The lady in passport control, said that Daniel does not need a visa, as she saw my passport she looked at us again and put a stamp on my passport and sent us to buy a tourist visa. So we were out having the chance to see the city and the famous channel of Panama.

Being outside, we took the first opportunity to take taxi, who would drive us for sightseeing. By the way, our driver was really nice, all the way he explained us a small history of channel and also some information about the city. By his iniciative, we had a chance to see the ruins, where the city was found couple of hudreds years ago. There was a celebration of their independence exactly that day, and we got stuck in traffic jam because of parade, exactly after that, when our driver said us, that there is no traffic jam there.

Guess there is no need to describe about the channel. But by driving in the city, I was really surprised that the city is really modern, our driver said that there are 84 banks in the city. It can give us a lot of information about the capital going through this channel. Also it was written that ships should make reservation one year in advance, which is really unbelievable. No doubt in these conditions, the administration of Panama channel can dictate easily their own rules.

So happily having a nice tour of the channel and the city, we went to the airport, looking forward for new opportunities to visit the city again.

Egi
16NOV2009

Finished in the Camp, Waimea Canyon, HI