| I began to get anxious. Did Mario forget me? I left | | | | awesome place soaked in history and beautiful sights, |
| him only a week before leaving with him only the day | | | | and if you stay outside long enough you get soaked, |
| and time I would return. Would he be at the airport | | | | too. Drenched with the heavy humidity and perhaps |
| to retrieve me?As I focused my gaze through the | | | | even a tear or two in empathy for those you gave |
| window of, what seemed to be a twin-engine and | | | | their lives to build this awesome structure.The |
| very small plane, I became entranced by the | | | | Panama Canal is something that should just not be |
| topography. I flew into Panama City from David and | | | | missed. The museum at Miraflores Lock has an |
| was awestruck as my eyes rested on the Bridge of | | | | outstanding display of facts and photos of those that |
| the Americas. I took a snapshot through the thick | | | | died building the canal, the number of dead being |
| glass and walla; I really captured it. Although I didn't | | | | 20,000. You will learn where the builders originated |
| know it until I arrived home. I was a relic still using a | | | | from (most were from the West Indies), why they |
| thirty-five mm so I had to wait and see. From the air | | | | were there, how they lived, and how they built it. It |
| I could see the Panama Canal and I contemplated. | | | | further describes the types of machinery it took to |
| Should I go see it?Would I have time? My plane back | | | | build the canal, and the cost, along with brilliant |
| to the States would leave at 2:30 p.m. and it was | | | | models of ships, rail cars and a simulation machine |
| nearly 10 a.m. | | | | making it appear as though you are on a ship rising |
| I weighed all the facts. The Canal is one of the | | | | on a water elevator. If you are an entomologist, go |
| Modern Wonders of the World. I was so close, could | | | | just for that display. I have never seen such large |
| I afford to miss it? At a cost twenty dollars and the | | | | bugs in my entire life. The more I saw and heard, the |
| escort hourly fee of twenty?We landed. I didn't see | | | | more my mouth dropped to the floor.The fee for |
| Mario anywhere when I got off, so I found a phone | | | | passage through the Canal is astronomical. The ships I |
| and called. Whew, I was relieved. He was on his way. | | | | saw began on the Pacific side, at the Mira Flores |
| He had not forgotten. The roadway and traffic in the | | | | Locks, traveling on to the Pedro Miguel Locks and |
| city was heavy. I was left with the impression it was | | | | ending at the Gatun Locks in Colon on the Atlantic |
| a day like any other; a fast and furious, beat the | | | | side. The expanse of the Isthmus is a mere 80 KM |
| traffic day in Panama City.As I waited a local Kuna | | | | from ocean to ocean and the canal itself is 51 |
| Indian in her native dress was waiting for a bus. Her | | | | miles.The price paid for passage seemed high to me |
| garb, which was typical of all the Kunas in the crowd, | | | | being from such humble beginnings and frugal |
| included beaded arm sleeves and leggings. Extremely | | | | spending habits. Since Hurricane Katrina, the price that |
| hot colored and patterned cotton material made up | | | | ships pay now is much more, but it would be even |
| the dress that wrapped around similar to a sari. Each | | | | greater if they chose to travel around Cape Horn and |
| Kuna female I saw at Albrook that day wore a red | | | | back to the West Coast of the U.S.I felt like a part |
| patterned headscarf. The appendage pieces were of | | | | of history just being there. The two ships idling from |
| orange-colored beads making everything look hot. | | | | lock to lock, the enormous size of the ships riding a |
| Hot colors and black backgrounds in such humidity! | | | | water elevator is even unbelievable in concept, much |
| I wanted a photo of her, although myths abound | | | | less reality. I had even forgotten myself, not giving |
| about natives fearing their spirit/soul will be stolen if | | | | another thought to when my plane left for the |
| one is taken. No matter what native we might see, | | | | states. The prices were stunning. According to the |
| that is the standard belief about them. I asked the | | | | tour announcer the Israeli ship paid $105,000 and the |
| lady's name.She told me, "It is Beatrice."And I | | | | Norwegian ship paid $190,000 for passage from the |
| repeated, "Beatrice," to be certain I heard her | | | | Pacific to the Atlantic.The ship from Norway was a |
| correctly. That is when I asked what native she was | | | | brilliant orange crossing through the Canal on June 23, |
| and she told me Kuna Indian.I then asked if she | | | | 2004. The container-laden ship carried goods from |
| would mind if I took her photo. Beatrice was willing to | | | | Israel; approximately 4000 metal containers of goods |
| be photographed for a price. | | | | stacked six to eight high. The containers are railroad |
| She said, "One dollar."I paid her the dollar for a photo | | | | cars and pretty frightening to see them all together |
| and five dollars for a piece of her handiwork; which is | | | | and stacked like that.The locks themselves are 305 |
| only the beginning of a kitchen mitt, but it is a colorful | | | | meters long and 33 meters wide. Ships fit with two |
| toucan on black cotton, and I couldn't leave it behind. | | | | feet to spare on either side; fore and aft there is |
| I just couldn't pass up owning a true native piece of | | | | room to go forward under their own power and idle |
| artwork. The Kuna are excellent seamstresses. The | | | | as the water in the next elevator rises. The water |
| Embera tribe is known for their material crafting as | | | | rises twenty-six meters in eight minutes.The |
| well, at least the ones I met in Boquete. | | | | brochures claim the Canal averages nearly $600 million |
| Beatrice was old and very thin, perhaps ninety | | | | billion per year. "$450 million is spent each year for |
| pounds, if that. Her face was a bronze-brown and | | | | the overall operation of the Panama Canal, of which |
| cheeks sunken in because her teeth were missing. | | | | nearly $100 million is committed to maintaining and |
| She was very sure of herself and seemed not only | | | | improving the waterway," a quote from .For history |
| crafty, but also wily.When my driver fetched me my | | | | buffs this is the site to peruse. Even though the |
| plan was to go directly to Tocumen Airport for my | | | | figures for maintenance are also astronomical, a |
| flight back to Denver. But on the way we got | | | | question on my mind was, "What happens to the |
| waylaid. Mario, had to make many detours. A | | | | remaining $50 million? How much of it goes toward |
| demonstration was taking place on the only bridge to | | | | helping the city's poor?"The water that lifts the |
| Tocumen. The presidential election had just taken | | | | elevators is fresh water and completely gravity |
| place and Torrijos, the son of an ex-dictator was | | | | driven from Gatun Lake sitting high in the mountains. |
| elected, while the female presidente Morocoso was | | | | Ships save a lot of time and fuel expense by |
| out on her ear. A traffic jam ensued and we were | | | | traveling the canal. Don't miss this modern wonder.For |
| stuck in mall parking lots often as we tried to find an | | | | a trusting friend and guide I recommend this website; |
| escape route. I decided then I had time to spend at | | | | |
| the Canal. Mario finally maneuvered our way out of | | | | information for Jose Saenz is found here. He is a |
| the shopping mall and we detoured to the Canal. We | | | | Panamanian travel guide and will treat you well, |
| beat the traffic and by-passed the bridge.Mario | | | | insuring your safety. Jose and Mario speak English. To |
| toured me through the now empty military barracks. | | | | reach Jose' call his direct number, 011 507 614-7811, |
| He explained the government would not allow the | | | | or email him at It will feel as though Jose is an old |
| barracks to be used even for temporary housing for | | | | friend, which will make your trip to Panama as easy |
| the city's poor. The city is like a beehive, but in | | | | as walking out your back door to an afternoon |
| contrast, the barracks like a graveyard, barren with | | | | social.Linda Vissat is a Colorado native with a passion |
| no signs of life.June is hot and humid in the City, but | | | | for travel and writing. Born in Denver, brought up in |
| once inside the museum and tour area it is just right. | | | | Wyoming, and a single-parent with two daughters; |
| I wasn't going to do it, but I had a breakdown. Never | | | | one a model and the other an aesthetician. |
| thought I'd be glad I had one of those. It is an | | | | |