Night safari, Gamboa Resort, Panama

After relaxing at the pool, and before dinner, we checked out the "night safari". We rode in the back of an open-air truck. The guide had a giant flashlight, and we were hoping to see monkeys. All we got was a lazy turtle and some huge rodents.

Gamboa Rainforest Resort, Panama

"GSE is not a vacation!" So we needed a vacation from our non-vacation. We spent two nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, courtesy of the nice folks of the Panama Sur Rotary Club. Our rooms were in some of the Historical Villas, built for Panama Canal Company managers many years ago.

Panama Canal

Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal

Molas for sale, Panama

Lunch on Flamingo Islands, Panama

Between touring Panama City and heading off to visit the Canal, we detoured for lunch on the "Islas Flamencos". Amy suggested the Sangria, we all had great salads, and we shared a few bites of a really good steak. The view of Panama City was spectacular from these islands at the end of the causeway.

Good thing we did the city tour on a Sunday. The traffic was unbearable during the week.

"Panama Viejo" (Old Panama City)

Don't confuse "Panama Viejo" with "Casco Viejo". Old Panama is a historic site made up of ruins of the original settlement here. The old city was set on fire by its own citizens to fool the famous pirate, Captain Henry Morgan (yep, the rum guy) when he attacked. It was never rebuilt, and they resettled in what is now called "El Casco Viejo".