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            Panama, a Big Ditch and City Photo's

 

 

 

 

 

 

            The page starts with some leftovers from Costa Rica and continues on to Panama.  On the ride into Panama City over the PanAmerican Bridge I was singing "Panama" from Van Halen (with David Lee Roth, not Sammy Hagar - he sucks) as loud as I could.  I was making up my own words and yelling that I was on my way to South America with parts of the song and yelling about the many Central American countries that are way behind me while I was drumming on my gas tank - I may have frightened some of the locals but others were cheering me on!  It was exciting to get that far from Seattle on my cheap motorcycle and the feeling hit me hard as soon as I got on that bridge and I couldn't really contain myself.  It was an epic moment in this journey.  That's all I've got for now.

Click on the image and dig a ditch.

 

Back in Costa Rica, March 3, a picture of the full moon AFTER the eclipse. Boring, I know, but it seemed brighter than usual.

If you ever need to stay in Golfito, CR, this is the only decent place in town, but a bit overpriced.

This is a thing, at the hotel. Golfito is a greasy little port town with a duty free zone.

Panama City, general idea.

I don't get it but it seemed funny.

Lots of banks in Panama City, the banking district is the most affluent part of town.

Another typical downtown Panama City street that could easily be mistaken for parts of Miami.

Cutie.

Happy artisan poser.

Random art.

The previous 3 pictures were taken in the shop at old Panama, where this old bell tower is the center of attention.

More ruins at Panama Viejo, view from the belltower.

Looking at new Panama City from old Panama City.

Another bank.

China Town - the driver said it's a very dangerous section of town at night.

Near China Town.

When the pirates were taking all the gold from Panama City they painted this black and it went undetected.

Old meets not as old.

The only picture of the Bridge of the Americas. When I return I'll get more...

Native dress.

Most of the city busses have some sort of individualized paintings.

It seems like half of them are a superhero, scenery, or another random figure.

And the other half are Jesus and Mary stuff.

San Miguel, the unhappy part of Panama City.

More San Miguel, or San Miguelito.

And again.

Finally, the big ditch. The US took over the project in 1904 when Panama gained its independence from Colombia.

Pacific side on the lower right, Gulf side on the upper left. In 1534 King Charles V of Spain had the area surveyed for a possible canal.

These ships are entering the locks that will lower them 25 meters to the Pacific. 345 years after Spain, in 1879, the French attepmted the dig.

These little tank things guide the ships to the doors. In 1889 the French gave up because they became tired, whiney and bitchy; or generally French.

Underground/water channels release the water from the pool to the right to the canal on the left.

When the two are at the same level the doors are opened and the ships move into the Pacific. In '77 Carter gave it back to Panama, effective 12/31/99.

Just like that. The canal is about 50 miles long, taking an average ship 9 hours to cross from one end to the next.

Off into the Pacific. The whole process is reversed to bring ships from the Pacific into the canal.

Last GPS readings before I traveled from Panama City to Santiago de Chile at around 600 mph.