Panama

So…my wife grew up in the Canal Zone from 1964 to 1976…her dad was a canal pilot and later the harbor master. Her childhood friend , who was born in the Canal Zone, decided to bring her mother’s ashes back to Panama to rest with her father that was buried there. Initially, this was supposed to be a “ladies only” trip with all the friends that grew up there…but by the time the trip was formed, several of them had dropped out, leaving only my wife, her friend and her daughter. This is when they asked me to accompany them…after some thought, I agreed to go…but I was going to bring a couple fly rods with me.

 

[Brute]

Casco Viejo

 

[Brute]

Finally at the top

 

[Brute]

The Bridge of the Americas…gateway to the Canal

 

[Brute]

A ship transiting the Canal

 

[Brute]

The first lock from the Pacific side…Mira Flores

 

[Brute]

The white building with the red tiled roof in the center was the administrative building of the Canal where my wife’s father worked from when he was the harbor master

 

[Brute]

The football field behind the high school where my wife’s brother broke his leg as a running back in Balboa…he spent a month in traction at the hospital

 

[Brute]

Union Church, where my wife attended and sang in the choir

 

[Brute]

This guy greeted us as we got back to the bottom of the hill…vultures are not handsome…

 

[Brute]

My wife’s house in Ancon…it used to be white and looked a bit different

 

[Brute]

And just around the corner was the house of my wife’s friend…my wife hadn’t seen her old house in twenty years, and her friend, who was born in the Canal Zone hadn’t seen her house in forty years…it was a bit emotional for both of them

 

[Brute]

The old theatre in Balboa was still there…they used to watch movies here. The Canal Zone was like a military base back then, with a commissary, bowling alley, post office and theatre

 

[Brute]

This building was a school that my wife attended

 

[Brute]

In front of the school was a monument to General George Washington Goethals, US Army and chief engineer of the Panama Canal. The three tiered waterfall represents the three locks of the canal…Gatun, Mire Flores & Pedro Miguel…

 

[Florida Man]

Even if there aren't any fishing photos at some point, this report is still really cool. Feels like I just went on vacation to Panama.

 

[Brute]

Even if there aren't any fishing photos at some point, this report is still really cool. Feels like I just went on vacation to Panama.

Hopefully some fishing pics…

 

[Brute]

Possibly the best ceviche (corvina of course) and clams I’ve ever had…

 

[Brute]

Shaved ice, Panama style…scoop some ice into your bowl, pour the passion fruit juice over it, then drizzle the evaporated milk and powdered milk on top…excellent

 

[Brute]

Low tide…

 

[Brute]

Heading out onto the causeway