Visit to the Canal

Trip Start Jul 27, 2008
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Trip End Mar 05, 2009


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Where I stayed
Hostel Anitas
(Panama City hotels)

Flag of Panama  ,
Sunday, August 24, 2008

Decided to take a small tour with student from the Spanish School where I am staying to see some of the sites of the city. We were driven towards the Canal and as it was the weekend the roads were pretty empty. The Canal has a long history  it was started by the French but the company ran out of money and work stopped. There was a plan to restrat the work in Nicaragua but eventually with American help and politics it was restared in Panama.. It takes a ship nearly 24 hours to get through and they are paying upwards of 15000 to get through. There are two channels and three sets of locks. The ships are under the contol of the pilot during its progress and sometimes there is only a foot to spare on each side.

There was an excellent centre with good dislays at Miraflores Lock. It was possible to go onto the roof of the building and get a good view of ships coming to that part of the Canal. It only cost me 2 pounds to get in as I am a senior which is very handy.

On the drive to the Canal we passed through the quarters occupies by the Americans whilst they were there. Very spacious and nice buildings with nice lawns. thery are now occupied by businesses I think. The American exit was during Noreigo´s time when an American was shot and Bush Snr unleashed the might of the US against the country. the withdrawl left a big hole in the Panamian economy but Noreigo was apprended eventually and jailed. There are lots of American here who speak very good Spanish.

The tour was completed by a visit to a restaurant where we were given a show by the local Indians in their traditional costumes. Each petticoat cost 500 pounds and some were wearing 3 of them. I was tempted onto the dance floor and made an exhibition of myself. I was the only one of the foreigners to do so. Unfortunately I do not have the picture.      
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