A 15-hour bus ride took me from San Jose in Costa Rica to Panama City in Panama, where the Miraflores Locks (one of the three sets of locks at the Panama Canal) is located at. The Panama Canal is an artificial 48-mile waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. There are locks to raise ships up 85 feet from sea level to the lake, greatly reduced the excavation required for the canal.
France attempted to dig a sea-level canal in 1881 through what was then Colombia’s province of Panama. This project turned out to be too difficult due to the enormous amount of excavation needed. The work eventually stopped due to engineering problems, tropical diseases (malaria and yellow fever), and corruption. Panama declared separation from Colombia in 1903, and within two weeks signed a treaty for the US to build the canal. Realizing the tremendous value of Panama Canal as a strategic point for hemispheric military control, the US quickly took over the project in 1904, re-designed it as a lock-based canal, and opened the canal in 1914. After controlling the Canal Zone for almost a century, the US handed over the canal to Panama in 2000. Since then Panama has recovered full responsibility of the operation and management of the canal.
The Panama Canal is considered one of the most difficult engineering projects ever taken. The shortcut created by the canal greatly reduced the time for ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, enabling them to avoid the lengthy route around the southernmost tip of South America.
The Miraflores Locks, one of the three sets of locks at the Panama Canal.
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This container ship was coming from Shanghai China, traveling to Savannah USA. Prior to arriving at the Miraflores Locks, the ship has spent 20 days in the Pacific Ocean. The ship will spend a day in the Panama Canal, and another 4 days in the Caribbean Sea / Atlantic Ocean before arriving at its final destination of Savannah – The journey takes a total of 25 days.
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If you have ordered a Chinese-made product from eBay / Amazon, chances are that it’s not in there.
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This one was coming from Prince Rupert Canada, traveling to Tyne England. The journey takes a total of 38 days; tugboats assist vessels as they enter and exit the locks. They provide a braking action to assist with the steering and alignment of vessels.
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This one was coming from Mejillones Chile, traveling to Baltimore USA – A 23-day journey.
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The towing locomotives are used for towing, braking, and keeping the ship centered in the chamber, preventing its coming into contact with concrete walls.
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The towing locomotives are used for towing, braking, and keeping the ship centered in the chamber, preventing its coming into contact with concrete walls.
@PanamaCity
The towing locomotives are used for towing, braking, and keeping the ship centered in the chamber, preventing its coming into contact with concrete walls.
@PanamaCity
The towing locomotives are used for towing, braking, and keeping the ship centered in the chamber, preventing its coming into contact with concrete walls.
@PanamaCity
The towing locomotives are used for towing, braking, and keeping the ship centered in the chamber, preventing its coming into contact with concrete walls.
@PanamaCity
The Panama Canal.
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The Panama Canal.
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The Panama Canal.
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The Panama Canal.
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Red snapper, octopus ceviche, and seafood-stuffed plantains at the Fish Market. Fresh and delicious. Owner and staff were originally from Venezuela.
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Panama isn’t an island. But with a high proportion of coastline-to-land, seafood naturally becomes part of the Panamanian cusine. The Fish Market consists of two parts: To the left is the actual market, where you can buy freshly caught fish, lobsters, and shellfish fresh off the fishing boats. But unless you have your own kitchen, chances are that the other part of the market is more useful to you – That’s where the restaurants are. These aren’t fancy joints: They are essentially counters with plastic outdoor seating, with Latin tunes blaring over the speakers.
@PanamaCity
Red snapper, octopus ceviche, and seafood-stuffed plantains at the Fish Market. Fresh and delicious. Owner and staff were originally from Venezuela.
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Panama isn’t an island. But with a high proportion of coastline-to-land, seafood naturally becomes part of the Panamanian cusine. The Fish Market consists of two parts: To the left is the actual market, where you can buy freshly caught fish, lobsters, and shellfish fresh off the fishing boats. But unless you have your own kitchen, chances are that the other part of the market is more useful to you – That’s where the restaurants are. These aren’t fancy joints: They are essentially counters with plastic outdoor seating, with Latin tunes blaring over the speakers.
@PanamaCity
Red snapper, octopus ceviche, and seafood-stuffed plantains at the Fish Market. Fresh and delicious. Owner and staff were originally from Venezuela.
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Panama isn’t an island. But with a high proportion of coastline-to-land, seafood naturally becomes part of the Panamanian cusine. The Fish Market consists of two parts: To the left is the actual market, where you can buy freshly caught fish, lobsters, and shellfish fresh off the fishing boats. But unless you have your own kitchen, chances are that the other part of the market is more useful to you – That’s where the restaurants are. These aren’t fancy joints: They are essentially counters with plastic outdoor seating, with Latin tunes blaring over the speakers.
@PanamaCity
Red snapper, octopus ceviche, and seafood-stuffed plantains at the Fish Market. Fresh and delicious. Owner and staff were originally from Venezuela.
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Panama isn’t an island. But with a high proportion of coastline-to-land, seafood naturally becomes part of the Panamanian cusine. The Fish Market consists of two parts: To the left is the actual market, where you can buy freshly caught fish, lobsters, and shellfish fresh off the fishing boats. But unless you have your own kitchen, chances are that the other part of the market is more useful to you – That’s where the restaurants are. These aren’t fancy joints: They are essentially counters with plastic outdoor seating, with Latin tunes blaring over the speakers.
@PanamaCity
Red snapper, octopus ceviche, and seafood-stuffed plantains at the Fish Market. Fresh and delicious. Owner and staff were originally from Venezuela.
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Panama isn’t an island. But with a high proportion of coastline-to-land, seafood naturally becomes part of the Panamanian cusine. The Fish Market consists of two parts: To the left is the actual market, where you can buy freshly caught fish, lobsters, and shellfish fresh off the fishing boats. But unless you have your own kitchen, chances are that the other part of the market is more useful to you – That’s where the restaurants are. These aren’t fancy joints: They are essentially counters with plastic outdoor seating, with Latin tunes blaring over the speakers.
@PanamaCity
This fish market, built by Japan as a gift to the people of Panama, was once on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations show.
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Fishing and banking. Two very different industries within close proximity.
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Fishing and banking. Two very different industries within close proximity.
@PanamaCity
For millions of years, North America and South America were separated by a wide expanse of water. When the Panama “land bridge” was formed some 3 million years ago, giant animals like hermit ground sloths and Texas glytodonts (not from Texas) started to migrate between the continents through Panama. The remains of many of these extinct species were found in Panama and are being displayed in BioMuseo.
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In case you wonder what this furry thing is, it’s a sloth sleeping on a mango tree. I took a picture of him, spent a couple of hours hiking at the Metropolitan Natural Park, came back, still sleeping.
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Not all sloths are all cute and stuff! This hermit ground sloth had the size of an elephant.
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Not all sloths are all cute and stuff! This hermit ground sloth had the size of an elephant.
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Front foot of a wanderer ground sloth, which had the size of a black bear.
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The giant Texas glyptodont is not from Texas. It is an extinct plant-eater from South America, and later migrated to North America after the Panama land bridge was formed.
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Jumanji had showings in both Spanish and English. Decided to watch it in Spanish just for the heck of it. I was probably the only non-Spanish speaking audience in the theater.
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Have been navigating through the city all week using this card. When all else fails, take Uber / Cabify.
@PanamaCity
Have been navigating through the city all week using this card. When all else fails, take Uber / Cabify.
@PanamaCity
Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the first European (Spanish explorer) to have crossed the isthmus of Panama.
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Metropolitan Natural Park.
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Metropolitan Natural Park.
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Biking at Cinta Costera. It’s a good 10-mile trail so better off with a bike.
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View from the top of Metropolitan Natural Park, where you can see the lineup of skyscrapers including Tower Bank and the Trump Tower.
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View from the top of Metropolitan Natural Park, where you can see the lineup of skyscrapers including Tower Bank and the Trump Tower.
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View from the top of Metropolitan Natural Park, where you can see the lineup of skyscrapers including Tower Bank and the Trump Tower.
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Panama Viejo, the remaining part of the old Panama City.
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Panama Viejo, the remaining part of the old Panama City.
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View of Balboa Port from Ancon Hill.
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View of Balboa Port from Ancon Hill.
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View of Balboa Port from Ancon Hill.
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View of Cinta Costera from Ancon Hill. There is bike lane on the entire route.
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View of Cinta Costera from Ancon Hill. There is bike lane on the entire route.
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There are a few places in the city that offer an infinity pool overlooking the Panama Bay. Like this one at Trump Tower, and another one at Hard Rock Cafe.
@PanamaCity
There are a few places in the city that offer an infinity pool overlooking the Panama Bay. Like this one at Trump Tower, and another one at Hard Rock Cafe.
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