Day 6: Colon, Panama

We have arrived in Panama!  Today is a land tour before the big event tomorrow.  It is a very long excursion day since we are docked in Colon and the tour is in Panama City which means a lot of time on a bus!  Our guide gave a lot of interesting history of Panama which the only thing I remember is that Panama has their own coin currency but they use U.S. dollar bills for the bill currency . . . it was part of the agreement when the Panama Canal was established.  I am a good listener but not a good retainer of information. 

First Stop:  Agua Clara locks

The Agua Clara locks are considered the “new” Panama Canal expansion that was completed in 2016.  They allow for those massive cargo ships to pass with thousands of  containers; honestly if might be hundreds, I don't know.  We arrived just as a cargo ship was starting the passage.  They had a nice viewing platform to watch the passage.

You can see how the water is higher in the left chamber to the right chamber with the ship.

As I was standing there, I noticed several people with A&M shirts and caps so I went and chatted with them.  I swear you always find Aggies in the wild . . . these were not just any Aggies but they were in town for Aggie Muster . . . I did know who they were as they had highly recognizable names.  Aggie Muster is one of the most touching Aggie traditions at Texas A&M University.  The ships just sat waiting.

Next ship up . . .

It was back on the bus for the long drive to Panama City.  They did give us a small snack box which was simple but good.

As we arrived in Panama City we did the notorious panoramic tour out the bus window that was a boring drive around different neighborhoods.  

Next Stop:  Casco Antiguo (Old Quarters)

We finally got off the bus to walk around the Casco Antiguo area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  I felt bad for our guide as she tried to manage our way too large group of less than cooperative people.  At one point I looked back and saw a couple checking out a restaurant menu at an outdoor patio area as the guide was giving historical information.  She kept her cool, but I could tell she was frustrated.  If you were not near her you did not hear any part of the tour which was disappointing.

Iglesia San Joe (St Jose Church)

Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus) ruins

Cathedral Square

The drive back was long but the bus window views were nice with a lot of green and almost jungle like dense trees and plants  I was happy to be back at the ship because I was starving!  So a quick walk directly to the buffet and my favorite table on deck 11!