Finding Our Way

Hello again from Panama!

    After settling in we've been working on getting around.  "Getting around" is a concept that encompasses many things.  
     First of all there is physically getting to places we want or need to be. Our January residence is in a golf course community located about 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) from shopping, restaurants and the general downtown Panama City area.  Our trip into the city involves going over a very large and somewhat antique bridge that spans the waterway leading into the Panama Canal.  So far, with the help of our Garmin GPS and Peggy's superb navigation skills, we've maneuvered successfully through some crazy traffic to one of Central America's biggest malls (Albrook Mall) where you can buy just about anything you could possibly need, to several grocery stores and some tourist type places. 
     Another aspect of getting around is dealing with the language barrier.  (As demonstrated by our spelling Hola! as Ola! in the first posting - thanks to Emily for very politely pointing out our error) Very few of the people we come into contact with speak English (nor should they be expected to) and our lack of ability to speak Spanish creates some challenges.  Despite all that, we've been able to accomplish most of our daily living tasks.  Yesterday we took a drive to a grocery store in a little town nearby and we were probably the only English speaking persons in the entire SuperXtra.
     We have plans to expand our getting around horizons in the near future by taking a taxi from our residence into the city (made somewhat challenging by our inability to speak Spanish and the fact that taxi fares are fluid and negotiable) and we plan to try out Panama City's brand new phase 1 subway system.  Today we found the main bus and subway station and in a clumsy way gained some information about how the fare system works.  We're anxious to see if we can apply our new found "knowledge" and take the subway into the heart of the city.

The bus station is modern and fairly new and sits right between the massive Albrook Mall and the newly opened subway station

This, we believe, is the machine one uses to recharge (put money on) the electronic card that gets you through the turn styles and onto the subway.  We think we know where to get the card that you use to put into this machine.  Everything you need to know is clearly stated, if you read Spanish.

The current city buses are modern models but the bus station also has many of these buses for travel to other places.

Those who know us know we are all about our "steps".  Today we took our walk in the Parque Natural Metropolitano, a very large tropical forest practically touching downtown Panama City.  The highlight for us was spotting a lineated woodpecker just off the trial.

View of Panama City from the high point on the park trail

     Of course it was important to find the golf course.  That was extremely easy as it is visible from our balcony.

In the upper left background is the building where we are renting

Apparently a natural hazard on the course here - luckily he or she wasn't out this day

A not so natural hazard on the course

This picture is something of a trivia contest (no actual prize awarded).  The man on the right is an accomplished sports personality.  Can you identify who he is? (Hints - he has a "ring" and Chicago sports fans might most easily identify him)

Something not usually seen adjacent to a golf course - a military band assembling.  Later in the day we were treated to salsa type music as the band practiced on the neighboring property where the barracks are located.