Friday, April 2nd
Enjoying the benefits of business class travel, Lee and Caroline munched on their croissants and elegantly displayed fruit platter served on porcelain tableware while the rest of us were presented with rolled up pancakes and moderately cooked eggs with fruit tossed into a plastic bowl. However, since it was Good Friday, Lee and Caroline graciously declined the French toast and eggs that were also offered. Despite waking up at 3am, we still thoroughly enjoyed the unending diatribes of the freaky lady in the green flowered jumpsuit.
Enjoying the benefits of business class travel, Lee and Caroline munched on their croissants and elegantly displayed fruit platter served on porcelain tableware while the rest of us were presented with rolled up pancakes and moderately cooked eggs with fruit tossed into a plastic bowl. However, since it was Good Friday, Lee and Caroline graciously declined the French toast and eggs that were also offered. Despite waking up at 3am, we still thoroughly enjoyed the unending diatribes of the freaky lady in the green flowered jumpsuit.
We have had far too many encounters and “conversations” with the Policia Nacional. First, Chris and Annie were approached by guards at the airport because they were waiting too long for the Arnold’s, who were having rental car issues. We should have known problems would follow when the badly scratched and dented Arnold mobile wouldn’t start after three turns of the key. The Derzak mobile is a fun, funky, brand new 8 passenger Toyota Fortuner, while the Arnold’s are poking around in a Ford Explorer that looks like it tried to drive through the Darien—scratches covering every inch of the auto. When the engine finally did fire up, the Arnold’s were stopped by the same guard and asked to confirm that the folks in front of them are, in fact, amigos. Ten minutes later (after navigating through some dodgy areas), we were stopped at a toll booth with a shotgun-toting guard who instructed us to back up (yes, reverse) so that we could get into the proper toll lane (since we weren’t displaying the Panama version of the Easy Pass).
Led by the Derzak’s trusty GPS, we made our way to the Mira Flores section of the Panama Canal. We arrived in time to observe the canal process in action—we watched in amazement as a cargo ship and a cruise ship made their way through each lock, on their way to the Pacific. We enjoyed some quick bevvies canal side and then started out for El Valle.
Led by the Derzak’s trusty GPS, we made our way to the Mira Flores section of the Panama Canal. We arrived in time to observe the canal process in action—we watched in amazement as a cargo ship and a cruise ship made their way through each lock, on their way to the Pacific. We enjoyed some quick bevvies canal side and then started out for El Valle.
In need of a pit stop on our twisty drive to El Valle, we pulled into a roadside “restaurant” which really appeared to be nothing more than an extension of someone’s house—a cross between your grandmother’s kitchen and a 1950’s drive-in. After the kids paid a visit to the ant ridden toilet facilities, we purchased a few obligatory refreshments. We were nervous to drink the homemade “lemonade,” which was apparently lemonade mixed with fruit punch and local water : o, (we still had sketchy notions about the water in Panama), so we got it in a “to go” cup and surreptitiously watered the local fauna.
While Chris appears to be enjoying the curvy, hilly terrain in his trendy, spunky Toyota, poor Lee is feeling like he is in a Top Gear nightmare assignment, behind the wheel of a POS instead of a cool sports car. On roads designed for tight steering and grippy brakes, our Ford Explorer steers like a Big Wheel and the brakes are only slightly better than those used by Fred Flintstone.
We arrive at Cabana Potosi intact but hungry. Abby and Claire hop out of the cars, march up to Dennis, the proprietor, and ask, “Do you have any parrots?” Thankfully, Dennis is a former school principal with an appreciation for curious young minds and promptly abandons our business dealings to introduce the kids to his parrot, which is perched in a nearby tree. After a quick photo op with the parrot, we got settled and headed out to grab some dinner. We had just enough time to squeeze in a meal before getting caught in the local Good Friday 5 mile parade. We grabbed a bite at a place recommended by Dennis and his wife and promptly filled our nine bellies for $75 (including tip and beers.)
Cabana Potosi - First Night Stay
Paco the Parrott at Cabana Potosi
Pan-American Highway
