| Getting to Panama |
| 14 to 16 February 2007 |
We had arranged to meet our son John and his wife Judy in Panama on 14 February for a
three week joint vacation in that country. They live in Texas; Virginia and I (Eric) live in
New Jersey.
three week joint vacation in that country. They live in Texas; Virginia and I (Eric) live in
New Jersey.
On the day we were scheduled to depart from New Jersey, 14 February, a very heavy snow
and ice storm caused nearly all flights in the northeastern United States to be cancelled,
including ours. I spent hours on the phone trying to get a substitute flight for the following
day or the day after that, but without success. The earliest flight date I could get was 17
February, which was the day for which we had bought tickets for the monthly full-transit of
the Panama Canal, our main purpose for going to Panama. Our daughter Diane became aware
of our plight and took the initiative; with her persistence and persuasive powers she
succeeded to have us flown from New York to Mexico City the evening of 15 February with
a connecting flight arriving in Panama City the morning of 16 February (the day before our
Panama Canal full transit).
and ice storm caused nearly all flights in the northeastern United States to be cancelled,
including ours. I spent hours on the phone trying to get a substitute flight for the following
day or the day after that, but without success. The earliest flight date I could get was 17
February, which was the day for which we had bought tickets for the monthly full-transit of
the Panama Canal, our main purpose for going to Panama. Our daughter Diane became aware
of our plight and took the initiative; with her persistence and persuasive powers she
succeeded to have us flown from New York to Mexico City the evening of 15 February with
a connecting flight arriving in Panama City the morning of 16 February (the day before our
Panama Canal full transit).
Upon arriving at Panama City's Tocumen International Airport we took a taxi (US$27.40) to
the Hotel San Remo, where we had made internet reservations and where John and Judy had
arrived from Texas two days earlier. We were very pleased with the conveniently located
Hotel San Remo, where for US$20 per night we were provided with a clean compact modern
room with a double-bed, A/C, TV, phone, desk & chair, attached hot-water bath with stall
shower and a daily change of sheets and towels. From our rooms 501 and 502 we had good
views of the street below and of the prominent National Lottery Building across the street.
Most other rooms in the hotel tended to face airshafts. We considered US$20 a real
bargain for our nice a room.
the Hotel San Remo, where we had made internet reservations and where John and Judy had
arrived from Texas two days earlier. We were very pleased with the conveniently located
Hotel San Remo, where for US$20 per night we were provided with a clean compact modern
room with a double-bed, A/C, TV, phone, desk & chair, attached hot-water bath with stall
shower and a daily change of sheets and towels. From our rooms 501 and 502 we had good
views of the street below and of the prominent National Lottery Building across the street.
Most other rooms in the hotel tended to face airshafts. We considered US$20 a real
bargain for our nice a room.
With John and Judy we took a taxi (US$2) to the "Casco Antiguo" colonial section of
Panama City, where the four of us enjoyed a good lunch.
After lunch we visited the "Museo del Canal Interoceanico" (Interoceanic Canal Museum).
We found it to be an excellent museum except that all explanations were presented only in
Spanish. Throughout the world we have noted that museums often present information only in
one language when they easily could add signs in other languages to make the museum more
interesting for more visitors,
Panama City, where the four of us enjoyed a good lunch.
After lunch we visited the "Museo del Canal Interoceanico" (Interoceanic Canal Museum).
We found it to be an excellent museum except that all explanations were presented only in
Spanish. Throughout the world we have noted that museums often present information only in
one language when they easily could add signs in other languages to make the museum more
interesting for more visitors,
Click here for the next page, "Panama Canal Coast to Coast Cruise".
Click here to return to the "Panama Trip Menu".
Click here to return to the "Our Travel Journals" Main Menu.
Click here to return to the "Panama Trip Menu".
Click here to return to the "Our Travel Journals" Main Menu.
Panama City, with a population of about a million, is the capital of the country and by far its
largest city. The city extends roughly 10 miles (15 km) along the Pacific coast east of the
Canal, and about a mile (1.6km) or so inland. It is a modern city with dozens of buildings 40
stories or more in height.
largest city. The city extends roughly 10 miles (15 km) along the Pacific coast east of the
Canal, and about a mile (1.6km) or so inland. It is a modern city with dozens of buildings 40
stories or more in height.
The newer eastern part of
Panama City viewed from the
air, photographed by Virginia
during a flight into the city..
Panama City viewed from the
air, photographed by Virginia
during a flight into the city..
The older western part of
Panama City seen from the
air, photographed on a
flight out of the city.
Panama City seen from the
air, photographed on a
flight out of the city.
