A Walk Toward Downtown

Yesterday we took a cab to the Fish Market and then walked along the beautiful oceanfront toward downtown.  There was lots to see.

The fish market is where the fishermen from small boats sell their catch of the day.

Yes, they were still moving.

Someone probably needed a fish head.

Octopus on the left (who did not appear to be still moving)

The tide had gone out since the fishermen had come in.

The view of downtown Panama City from the oceanfront walk.

The walkway was broad and beautifully landscaped.

A little later on, there was also a well-marked bike path.

I had never seen one of these before....very good idea!

There were small parks, fountains and places to excercise and play soccer, basketball and ping pong along the walk.

Our favorite Panama City building the BBA Tower - or as we call it the "Jenga" building

After we walked back, we decided to stop at our favorite restaurant, Tantalo's in Casco Antiguo.  They have a super reasonable lunch menu.  Gene always tries to find a good hot dog in all of the cities we have gone to over the past 4 years.  He found one here.  Beside the hot dog are deep-fried plantains.  They sort of taste like french fries.

We did a bit more walking around the historic Casco Antiguo and then went to the Panama Canal Museum - the gray and white building behind the trees.  It was very well done, especially if you read Spanish.

The doors in the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion.  Construction on this church began in 1688 and took 100 years to complete.

You can't go anywhere in the Panama City vicinity without seeing these buses called "diablos rojos" (red devils).  They provide transportation to the Panamanian people.  They are privately owned and all painted differently - either with buxom women or Jesus.

They often drive with the door open and a young man hanging out yelling things....we try to give them a wide berth when driving

Panama Canal Update:

We find watching the canal fascinating (and we know that not all people think that way).  We wanted to know if there was a way we could find out what boats were going to be passing by.  Of course, we turned to the internet and found the following website - that gives us up-to-the-minute information and webcam pictures of the boats in and near the canal: http://www.seacruisechat.com/.

We especially like to see the larger cruise boats - and there have been more lately.  The Norwegian Star passed through the canal last night - and that was the biggest cruise boat we have seen yet.  The website also gives a calendar of cruise ship passage.  Tuesday we will be looking forward to seeing the Queen Elizabeth pass by on her round-the-world voyage.  

Take care until next time:  Peggy