The forecast for Tuesday showed only a 30% chance of rain – a good day for visiting the park. Wednesday’s rain forecast was 90%. The Metropolitan National Park, the lungs of the city it’s called, is a 573-acre nature preserve in the city of Panama City. It was established in 1985 and has a close relationship with Cleveland Metroparks. Migrating habits of birds that summer and raise babies in Cleveland but winter in Panama are studied by the sister preserves.
We read that the Parque is the world’s only natural rainforest within a city and is home to 227 bird species, 45 mammals, 36 kinds of snakes and 14 kinds of amphibians. It has 5 trails on which wildlife can be seen. It also has lookout points that provide complete vistas of the city and the canal. It’s our kind of place!!
Using the mobile bus app, we made our way to Albrook Station – once again! Seems all lines lead eventually to Albrook. Our acuity we found with the bus system is not nearly as accomplished as we thought. A good bit of time was spent looking for the one bus, the M481 that would deliver us to the park. Meanwhile, the sky was growing darker. We finally found the right bus. It runs only every 30 minutes or so. Only one stop away, the app advised. I mentioned to the driver that we wanted to go the park so he could tell us when we arrived there. I don’t know if I didn’t make myself clear or if he forgot, but we zoomed right through the park. At that moment, the sky opened up to rain like we have not seen in daylight hours since we arrived. Staying on the bus for a little ride seemed to be a good idea. We saw a new side of town. This route is on the west side of the city but meanders all the way north to the airport.
When the rain subsided a bit, we hopped off and started making our way back to our area of town. We got off at the Cinco de Mayo subway station, thinking we might look around a bit. The area is very busy and streets are lined with tiny box-car shops that sell anything and everything – you can even get a haircut in an open-air stall. The afternoon was growing late. The area was crazy-busy and the streets were crazy-dirty. Time to go home! Fire up the mobile bus app –while it is good for presenting a choice of routes to a destination, it’s not 100% clear. Often it says “walk 5 meters” to get to the bus stop but does not say in which direction. We went this way and that. We never found the right stop. Finally we just hopped a bus, any bus to get us outta there. Sometimes, you know, God is just with us. Voila! It delivered us right to our home stop!
We repeated the journey yesterday—even with the high chance for rain. Much better! We found the M481 and boarded with a couple from the UK who were headed to the park as will. What a find! Gary and Jill recently sold their large home in England, its contents and cars, lock, stock and barrel for a life of travel. It seems there are quite a few adventuresome couples out here – we certainly are not the only ones.
As soon as we entered the preserve we completely left the city behind. It was like being deep in the Amazon rain forest. We hiked the park together on really good trails and chatted non-stop. A little younger than us, Gary and Jill swapped stories with us. Amazingly we found we have so many similar ones. Our time quickly passed. We covered all five of the hiking trails and saw turtles, a bunch of coatimundis foraging for grubs, a few monkeys high in the treetops and a family of howler monkeys. The grand papa sounded his long, guttural roar to let us know he knew we were there. Strands of leaf-cutter ants carried leaf bites sometimes more than twice their own size long ways to some unknown nest. Four-inch long centipedes crossed the road here and there and a nice buck deer stood eating just off the path and was not afraid. We probably would have seen much more wildlife had we not been so chatty. But what great fun. And it was a joy to be able to converse freely in English! We have not been able to that – except with just each other, since October 16.
It never rained.
We are meeting Jill and Gary tonight for a farewell dinner before they travel on to their next destination on Monday.
How grand to meet a couple in a similar adventure as your own. I see you guys meeting up again later on in your travels. The park sounds incredible! I’m so glad there were good trails for you guys.
I have to say again, I am in such awe of you guys! I love you!!
Wow! Just wow….the bus system sounds so confusing. Your adventures are off to a great start.
Hi Beverly!
Yes, the local transport system is a bit confusing. Sometimes we think we’ve got it and then the next day we are bumbling around again! Thanks so much for following us! But hey, can you imagine trying to master MARTA?? 🙂