We put ourselves in tourist mode again. Wednesday was Mother’s Day. Everything except the malls were closed . . . and the cinemas. We saw House of Gucci. Maybe we were starved for the pleasure that can be derived sitting in big, loud theaters with sights and sounds all around, because it was wonderful!!! So normal!! Big screen, beautiful people and comfortable air conditioning Ok, relax, it was not that exciting but it was a pIeasant way to spend the afternoon and I must say, Lady Gaga is not only a great singer, she’s a very talented actress. She literally became Patrizia. The movie was very enjoyable.
Thursday after the holiday, the museums opened once again. We visited the Museo de Canal de Panama. Just when we thought we had learned a lot about the canal, the museo gave us a more in-depth look. It particularly shed light on the not-so flattering political side of the story and the racial disparity that took place in the ranks and wages of the 45,000 workers.
The museum is in a lovely old building that was first built as the three-story luxurious Grand Hotel in about 1874. It was well ahead of its time I suppose. It featured balconies and windows that looked out over the Plaza de Cathedral. Guest rooms had full baths, gas lights and running water.
When Count Lesseps the French developer of the Suez Canal began his plan in 1881 to join the oceans with a canal in Panama, he purchased the hotel to house the company he formed to build the canal. Twenty years later, his company was bankrupt.
The building remained an important one in that treaties enabling Americans to take over construction were signed there, and it was used as offices for the American commission during the canal’s construction. Later it became home of the Post and Telegraph office of Panama.
From 1997 to 2010, a great effort took place to restore and modernize the historic site which by that time had become a neglected structure in the middle of Old Town slums. Today the outside of the building has been restored to look very much like the hotel in 1874, but the interior is ultra-new and well-done. It takes about two hours to go through the museum but photos and English translations of the exhibits made it a beautiful history lesson. A particularly interesting exhibit was an explicit public safety notice warning sailors and canal workers of the health dangers associated with visiting prostitutes. I’ll post a photo. Take note, the same applies today.
On Friday we went to a place I have been dying to visit since we arrived here – Monkey Island. Actually Monkey Island is not just one island, it’s several in the Gatun Lake. And for clarification, the islands are not islands at all but tops of hills that remained visible after the Chagres River was dammed to form the lake. During dry season, the water level of the lake drops about 15 feet allowing some of the islands to become part of mainland again. The lake is a critical part of the Panama Canal process. The islands and surrounding mainland rainforests lining the canal are natural habitats for many animals. We boated out to the islands alongside tanker ships and mega-ships carrying cargo containers, stacked roughly 8 high, 20 from bow to stern and 20 side-by-side port to starboard. And that’s just counting those visible above deck. Huge is not the word. Imagine the volume of cargo!! We learned if the containers are all white they contain food and receive priority in passing through the canal.
Our motor boat pulled close to several islands and the guides whistled for the monkeys. We visited two or three islands before we found any monkeys but in the meantime we caught sight of crocodiles in two separate spots sunning near the water. But when we found monkeys, we found monkeys! First Titi monkeys visited our boat looking for bits of banana. These tiny animals, smaller than kittens gently picked up the bites, ate them and quickly left. So that the animals do not become dependent on being fed, the guides are stingy with the treats. At another island we found howler monkeys – so black, they blended in perfectly with the jungle. Howlers eat leaves and are not tempted to visit a boat. They roared though in protest to the boat’s loud motor. Capuchins, however, welcome the taste of banana. These creatures with their little man-like faces came on board our boat. Instead of taking a bite of banana and eating it on the boat as the Titis did, they passed through the boat like a Sunday morning usher with a collection plate. Exhibiting gentlemanly behavior they passed each of us gathering the bits of banana. Then they scampered to the trees to enjoy their treats in private. Late comers missed the banana bites but came on board to check each passenger just to make sure the food was indeed all gone. No matter how or when, encounters with the incredible glory of nature are exciting. They stir the soul.
On a five-hour excursion it’s easy to make friends with the other guests. We buddied up with Alex, a Polish native who now lives in San Diego. She’s a financial planner and told us our plan is her plan. She will retire early in just four years at the age 52 and will take up a life of fulltime travel. Her plan is in place. She does a fair amount of traveling now. It’s her passion. We had lunch together at the Mercado de Meriscos and on the Cinta de Costera we introduced her to raspado — maracuya flavor, of course. She’s off to Bocas del Toro today to surf with friends this next week.
Bats disguising themselves to look llike a snake 
Croc 
Croc number 2 
Young Howlers 
It’s all just so fun and remarkable, Janie! How interesting . . . all those monkeys, with their quite different antics and habits! Keep on keepin’ on, you two! Love and miss you!
Gail, I’m so glad you liked the monkeys!!! Weren’t they something spectacular!!! And those beautiful creatures live here day and night, day after day doing what they do — just as we spend our days and nights here in this amazing creation. God bless us all.