Sampling Panamanian Transportation (Friday)

Dawn came all too early!  And with it our return to the airport to fly back to Panama City.

 

And so our first installment of travel began.  This time, we stopped at El Porvenir, the capital of Kuna Yala and gateway to the more-visited Western communities.  It actually had what seemed like an airport - unlike the landing strips we had been using in Kuna Yala.  It felt rather jolting somehow. like our Twin Otter plane was unaccustomed to such luxury (if that's what it was... it had an actual radar 

When we arrived, once again, Rogelio picked us up and brought us home where we showered and got ready for the next part of our day.

Itzel McClaren drove down from Colon where she has been living as she prepares her mother's house for sale.  Yasmine has been attending a local school in Colon, so the main time constraint was getting there in time to pick her up.  And we did.  Barely.  

Itzel gave us a bit of a tour of the city, in the rain.  There hasn't been enough of that in Colon - or in many parts of the countryside.  But today, it poured!

We stopped at the grand old Hotel Washington.  It has been restored to its glory and it is quite an impressive place.  It is cool marble inside and as I walked through the portal, I was back in Mysore, India, stepping into the hotel there.  The same gracious welcome.  The same faint odor of a grandeur.

Then we continued our tour.

We explored the campus of the former School of the Americas, which was, according to Wikipedia:

 ... founded in 1946 and from 1961 was assigned the specific goal of teaching "anti-communist counterinsurgency training," a role which it would fulfill for the rest of the Cold War. In this period, it educated several Latin American dictators [Including, ironically, Manuel Noriega who the US invaded Panama to overthrow in 1989], generations of their military and, during the 1980s, included the uses of torture in its curriculum.

The function has since moved to Ft. Benning, Georgia, and the former grounds have been converted to a huge luxury hotel.   (take a peek at:  http://www.melia.com/en/hotels/panama/colon/melia-panama-canal/index.html) 

So you, too, can swim in the pools that dictators swam in.  And, if you wander too far, you may find yourself facing a crocodile.  

We made our way to the Expansion of the Canal.  There, we watched a movie showing how the Expansion project is proceeding, what the new locks will work, and why there's a need for it.  Personally, the current "Panamax" ships - that are almost exactly the width of the locks - are big enough.  I wouldn't want to be abroad one in a storm!  It's hard to imagine that there are even bigger behemoths waiting to cross from one sea to the other.

We had a lovely lunch - not realizing that the whole place was just waiting to close - and then, we scurried to the train station.  The Panama Canal Railway has one train a day - leaving from Panama City at 7:15 am and returning from Colon at 5:15 pm sharp.  After saying goodbye to Itzel and Yasmine, Anna Rachel and I climbed up into the observation car for the ride through the jungle back to Panama City.

We sped through the jungle alongside the Canal.  It was still spitting rain and the sky was cloudy, but it was still a pretty spectacular ride!

Tired but happy, we found a cab and then sped back to the apartment.  To pack.  Because tomorrow, Anna Rachel must leave for home.  It's been a really wonderful time! 

Paradise, pt. 3 (Wednesday and Thursday)

Way before dawn, Anna Rachel and I climbed into Rogelio's car for the ride to Albrook Airport and a two day stay in Paradise, a.k.a., Yandup.  Just as the sun was breaking the night and jumping into the sky, we boarded the trusty Twin Otter and jumped into the sky ourselves.  We had a smooth flight, first landing at a landing strip that was new to me, Akwanusadup where 2 Mormon missionaries boarded the flight, and then on to Playon Chico where we were met by Kuna women and, of course, Blanco of the Yandup staff.

And so we embarked on the final leg of the journey to Paradise in the launch sent from Yandup to collect us and our things.

We settled in immediately.  It was as if all the stresses and strains of modern life - things we aren't even aware of as we go about our day - melted away in the beauty of the place.

We ate breakfast and then set off for the beach.  And it was gorgeous!  Of course.  Anna Rachel went snorkeling and I sat and read after walking around the island a bit to take some photos.  I didn't get far because of the warning that there were lots of sand fleas in the grass, so I was content to read and relax while Anna Rachel had a blast in the water, well-protected by sun screen of course.

When we returned, after lunch, I spent some time doing what I love, beading.

And, as always, I was joined by my Kuna friends who put down their molas to join me in beading.  I love the way this happens.  They come over and soon, they are talking and joking and I mirrored their smiles.  It felt like we were all sisters, enjoying each others company and doing something we all enjoy doing to give to others dear to us.  I love that about beading!

Although the quarter finals of the World Cup were on, several guests insisted on going to the Community.  This was somewhat futile because no one to speak of was on the streets because everyone in the Community was watching the game.  And besides some of us (myself and Blanco included) would have rather watched the game and come to town the next day.

As a result, Blanco walked us through the village pretty quickly, and there wasn't a lot of chance to interact with people - except the kids.  We took the things for the kids with us, and handed them out, but it was too bad that we didn't really have enough - I was thinking that Blanco might use the things (foam airplanes - like the one Anna Rachel is putting together in the photo above)  and plastic flutes) a bit more strategically.  

We rather quickly went back to the boat and motored back across the water to Yandup where everyone was watching.  

Everyone was routing for Argentina - except the Dutch guests of course.  There was much joy when Argentina won!

 Our second day was similar to the first.  In the morning, we went to a beach where Anna Rachel again snorkeled.

Then, in the afternoon, Anna Rachel joined a group who hiked up to the Community's cemetery.  There, she learned that when someone dies, they are buried in a hammock in a large hole, that has a a shelf above the hammock with all of the person's possessions.

After dinner, Claudio joined me for some last minute beading.  He had a headlamp which made it much easier!

And so ended another trip to Paradise.  Hasta la proximal!