Panama is a country many Americans go to for business and retirement. It’s a tropical location with a huge amount of wildlife. This is one of the garden spots on earth.

“Bugs everywhere! And crazy looking things like Sloths.”

It’s definitely Alive.

The harbor is definitely busy. Busy with locals, and busy with cargo ships lined up for their turn through the canal.

Those cargo ships are stretched for miles along the route.

“There’s also garbage in the water along the shipping route. It’s nearly impossible to keep things from blowing into the water.”

The cruise line does an amazing job controlling their garbage. This garbage is from ordinary shipping and locals. You can see it float by on the route. You recognize it as common city garbage.

The view from the harbor makes me think of apartment buildings and local business. It doesn’t stand out as a tropical destination from this viewpoint.

Looking toward the skyline you can see something else. This is only half of it. I can’t get to the front of the ship for a good photo. This type of construction shows a high commerce area. It’s mostly finanical services and shipping of course. There’s a LOT of money in this place. I wonder where the snowbirds live. Where do people retire to here?

Every port is different. I am learning that as we go. This time you can walk off the ship but the port is under construction. You have to wait and take a shuttle bus from the ship to some central meeting place. You take the shuttle through the construction zone.

There’s nothing to walk to so a shore excursion is the only way to see something. I’ll take one into the jungle. That seems appropriate adventure even though I am curious about ex-pats and all the details about living here.

“This could be one of the places we live. Even if only a few months of the year, this might be a place to call home.”

We take a bus along a road that isn’t really built well. The guide talks about the infrastructure like roads. He says it’s part of the charm. It’s part of the laid back lifestyle of the locals.

“I’m sure it isn’t like this amongst those skyscrapers.”

Are you sure?

“No.”

We get to experience something real about Panama, the outskirts of town. There was another shore excursion “How to live like a millionaire in Panama.” or something like that. On that excursion you would be met by a private driver who would show you the places Americans live here, the benefits for finances, and the details of life as an ex-pat. It sounded really good but I am just starting out so it seems premature to be getting on that excursion.

“And it cost $600! Spending like that really is living like a millionaire.”

A million isn’t so much anymore. So I wonder what they are talking about. If it’s the same prices here as in the USA, why come here? What’s the attraction for Americans to come here?

“Sounds like a question for the Internet and not a cruise ship excursioin.”

Time to move along. We are heading into the canal at night. The sun set before we entered the canal so when we get to the first lock the sky is black. The industrial lights from the canal loading docks makes any stargazing impossible.

It’s an industrial experience for sure. We even watch some of it using the ship’s front camera. It’s the best view and it works at night.

These resevoirs flow back into the lower locks to raise the water. The higher locks water is used in the lower locks. It reduces the total water needed for each passage.

“Yawn.”

Tugboats are with us a lot of the time. Seems like a good idea.

“Seems.”

There’s commentary from the onboard guide about the problems of the day for the canal, what it used to be, and plans for the future.

“Yawn. Lets go nap again. It’s too early for this.”

We’re nearing the East side of the canal. But somehow the sun is rising behind us. I don’t question it. This isn’t the only bridge over the canal but they all look the same so it’s hard to tell them apart.

This is the final lock on the East side. The end of the industrial experience.

“Look ma! No Malaria!”

As we squeeze out into the Atlantic, the water changes color and there are exotics around this area where the waters mix.

“A crocodile. He lives here. His name is probably ‘Tito’. Who’s gonna fact check?”

We still have more to go. Already it seems different on the Eastern side. It’s windy and the seas are rougher. Next stop?

“You know this looks so much better in person. You can’t hardley see all the color variations in the sky. It’s a sad facsimile of the real thing. You can’t smell the fresh air, you can’t feel the warm tropical breeze on your skin, it’s just so empty to look at it without the rest of your senses to make it complete.”

Well, is it better than nothing? Is it better to see just a small part or is it better to experience nothing at all?