Wanderers : 2025

Panama City, the capital of Panama, is a modern city framed by the Pacific Ocean and man-made Panama Canal. Casco Viejo, its cobblestoned historic center, is famed for colonial-era landmarks like the neoclassical Palacio Presidencial and bougainvillea-filled plazas lined with cafes and bars.

What did we do?

We did an all day adventure Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal and Jungle Tour. We were up and out before the sunrise. Our tour guide was John and our driver was Manuel.

Jungle Tour

Safety first

Bats

More bats

Monkeys

Lots of howler monkeys 🐒 🙈
A bird

What is out there?

iguana

Panama Canal we started our Panama Canal tour with a boat ride on Lake Gatun.

Time to visit the locks! First Lock

First lock

There is another ship in
the second lock

This is the same ship we passed on
Gatun Lake

Water level going down

And down

Second Lock

I could have watched the ships coming and going for hours.

It was fun watching them trying to get all
these kids to take a picture

San Lorenzo National Park a Unesco World Heritage Site. We were served a Panamanian lunch and then we toured the fort ruins on our own.

Our lunch view

Panamanian lunch
Chicke, rice, beans, slaw, &
plaintains,

White-nosed coati was
hungry too

The High Battery

A top the bastillion

Cistern

The Parade Ground
The site for core activities
of the castle

It was a long enjoyable day.

We strolled around Casco Viejo (Old Town) which is a Unesco World Heritage Site. John our tour guide told us to keep our feet on the red brick road (where it was safe).

Tomás Herrera


Church Of The Society Of Jesus

Plaza Simón Bolívar


San Francisco de Asis Church

Church of Santa Ana

Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria the Ancient

Saint Aurelio remains
Saint Getulio remains

Museum of Panamanian History a very small museum which shows a brief history of Panama.

Panama Canal Zone Riots
January 1964 (we weren't
even born yet)

U.S. President Jimmy Carter and
General Omar Torrijos
Signing the treaty that would
eventually transfer control of the
Panama Canal

Panama Canal Museum the museum was very interesting 🤔 a lot of reading

Built in 1893
The lighthouse was located
Isle Grande Colon

Colonial Stirrups

Processional Cross
Crafted in Spain 1575

16th Century Lasso Sword
Musket balls and manufacturing
tool

Map published in 1871

Primary use of the glass
bottles was for storing
alcohol

Recordings of different
events during the
building of the railroad

Old containers including
Aunt Jemima

Baby Buggy

1960 Candy Dispenser
Those gumballs must be
hard as a rock!

1940 Tricycle

Right after we started the museum a school group arrived so we tried to keep our distance. It was distracting trying to read the documentation and listen to Spanish in the background. Now add in two women talking the entire time and talking loudly. I don't know how they got anything out of the museum. At the point in the pictures below you had the students and the two women competing to be heard. The women were louder.

They were so obnoxious, still talking!

It was an interesting museum located right in the center of old town.

I made Rob walk to the Panama sign. I was determined to get my picture. When we started out, it started raining so we ducked under a building and waited out the rain.

Once the rain stopped, we started our, what I thought, would be a 15 minute walk. Well 15 minutes in and full on sunshine, no sign but we kept going and lo and behold, it appeared before us.

We visited Marzola for a pre dinner drink. It was a very unique place. The funky chaos drew us in.

Drink & Food Menu

If you rub alchol on your hands you
become immune to several bacteria

Let's call each other

Night time pictures which are rare for us.

Panama City Skyline

My Rose Pose

Plaza Tomás Herrera

Where did we eat?

Aya la Vida Restaurante located on the first floor of our building. The service was amazing from the moment we walked in the door.


Cobia Con Flow Whole cobia fillet marinated in Creole sauce, pickled onion and coconut pineapple sauce

Salad

Seafood Guacho
Japanese rice, coconut 🥥
milk, creole sauce, fried
spiders, octopus 🐙,
Shrimp 🦐, & squid

We enjoyed it so much we went back and celebrated Nick's 27th birthday.

San Blas Lobster
Mac & Cheese
noisette butter, roasted
pumpkin, fresh San Blas
lobster and crispy corn.

Cobia 'Con Flow'

The mac & cheese was so rich and delicious and full of lobster. I barely made a dent in the dish. Our waiter was concerned I didn't like. I was able to save room for dessert.

Mousse De Maracuyá
desconstruido
Deconstructed Passion Fruit
Mousse

I hope you enjoyed your birthday, Nick.

We went to Fonda Lo Que Hay because John our Panama Canal guide recommended. We were not impressed from the moment we walked in the door. So unimpressed, we had a drink and left. Granted we did not have a reservation but the hostess seemed to be bothered by us asking and at the time the place was empty.

Cafe Coca Cola is the oldest cafe in Panama City. They opened in 1875 and they are the only cafe in the world to legally bear the name Coca Cola. Apparently, as told to us by a local Panamanian, Coca Cola approached the owners in the early 1900's because there was a bottling facility in the back of the building. They began bottling Coca Cola in Panama in 1906.

Nazca 21 a peruvian restaurant another recommendation by John our Panama Canal tour guide. The food was delicious and the service was awesome.

Pisco Sour

Lazarus Ceviche

Sea Bass stuffed Prawns

Cau Cau Seafood

Valentines Day we chose La Toscana they had a special menu, fixed price for an appetizer, entree, dessert and a bottle of wine.

Shrimp Skewers

Salad

Rigatoni with Veal

Chocolate Tart

They gave all the ladies
a rose 🌹

Where did we stay? We stayed in an AirBnB an Apartment in Casco Viejo. The apartment was located in the La Cuadra apartment building. The apartment was well furnished and located right on the tip of Casco Viejo (Old Town). Our view was not spectacular but we could see water. Just about as much as we saw in Cancun.