Panama

Every now and then, I think it is important to get away. Spending some time away from the busy city can help put my choices into perspective.  I got to spend a few days in Panama city and Contadora Islands in Panama. Although Panama city is a major city and perhaps one of the wealthier of the Central American cities, it was still a place that moved much slower than Los Angeles. 

 

The food is different. I tried my best to take in all that was Panamanian in the three short days that I was there.
That meant that I spent most meals tasting sea bass or other seafood options. Coconut rice, curry, shellfish, wine, Balboa (the local beer). I savored the Panamanian flavors; the fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked, the coconut rice was a perfect sweet complement to the savory fish. Although I enjoyed the several days of being a pescatarian, by the time I was back in Miami for my layover before returning to Los Angeles, I was craving red meat.  I stopped by The Counter in the airport and indulged on a custom burger and fries. 
While in the country capital, we got to visit the old city and the colonial district. We shopped, and tried to stay cool in the heat and humidity.

I was ecstatic to visit the Panama Canal. I walked up to the top balcony and stood on the fourth floor, completely mesmerized by the mechanics of the canal, "sinking" enormous cargo ships low enough to move through the canal and on their path to delivering goods throughout the world. 




The canal doors quickly opened to allow the ship to pass through once it was low enough and the water rose to accommodate the ship. The particular ship I watched go through the canal weighed about 4,000 tons and went through with only 24 inches on either side of the canal to spare. Fascinating.
What I found completely mesmerizing was only two hours by boat away from the mainland: Contadora Las Perlas (it was featured in "Survivor: Pearl Island" several years ago). The resort is right off the shore of the Island and we were greeted by the The Point resort staff with a scoop of pineapple sorbet and someone taking my bag directly to my room. The service was on point. And so was the view from my room.
The group I was with were given the opportunity to relax and enjoy the island after our whale watching and snorkeling excursion. I wish I knew enough about fish and sea life to tell you the names of the blue and iridescent fish, but I don't. I also do not own an underwater camera, yet. 
On Sunday morning, I got a chance to take a dive out to Pacheca and Pachequilla Islands with Guillermo from Coral Dreams. On Saturday, I walked in to his shop and caught him before he took out a group for snorkeling. He told me that he was going out for a dive with a few people in the morning and I asked him to allow me to tag along. 
He did and we sorted out equipment and times later in the evening. After a few questions (okay about 100 rookie questions) Guillermo showed me an article written about him that he has logged in 11,000 dives in 20 years. Wow! I am in good hands.
Morning came around, I showed up at the dive shop and learned that I was diving with a group of men that work in Panama and were spending the weekend "teambuilding" or whatever, whale watching, fishing and diving. Thank the universe that our worlds collided.  
Within minutes, we were on the dive boat with our equipment and heading out to the Island where we would jump in, and experience an underwater abundance of schools of fish, sharks, coral of brilliant colors and the underwater sounds of migrating whales!

A couple of the divers had extensive experience and dives under their belt. Me and France (above on the boat) were the rookies, but our experience together as a group with Guillermo who gave us a tour of both islands, will be a memorable one.
If it wasn't for American Airlines losing my luggage and not getting it back for three days, I would say that my trip to Panama was phenomenal. I would love to visit these islands again and watch the canal open and close over and over again.