Day 16 ~ Panama City!

"My police record says I went to Panama City, but I don't recall it." ~ Brantley Gilbert

I don't think I'll have much trouble remembering my visit here. Panama City is a robust mix of old and new, a city striving to make something of itself with a few pockets of urban decay in close proximity. The city likes to compare itself to Singapore and Dubai because of its avant garde architecture. And clearly, this is a city that's out to grow into its dreams, but there's more history in Panama City compared to those other modern wonders. 

Here you can see the remains of an old wall which was built to separate the American base and the middle class neighborhood that sprung up around it from the more squalid areas of the city. According to Linzy, our guide, the housing on the old base is still considered premium living quarters. Even a house that needs a complete renovation will sell for $200K. That's American dollars, which is the currency Panama uses. They have dollar coins called Balboas but they use our bills. 

And whatever else the country is about, the canal is at its heart. It brings in huge amounts of revenue and given all the treaties signed to insure the safety and neutrality of the canal, Panama has been able to disband its own army. They know world will not allow canal traffic to be disrupted. It would be too destabilizing for everyone. 

Our tour guide talked a bit about America invading Panama in 1989. She emphasized that many civilians were killed. I don't know that I'd call our action an invasion since 12,000 troops were already stationed here. But Manuel Noriega, the dictator who voided elections in Panama to remain in power, declared war on the US. Shortly after that, a US Marine was killed by Panamanian soldiers. President GHW Bush ordered the apprehension of Manuel Noriega in order to try him for drug trafficking. 23 more US troops were killed in the action and 300 wounded. 450 Panamanian soldiers died and an unknown number of civilians were caught in the crossfire. Sad all around.

In 1989, I was knee-deep in childrearing and the only thing I remember about it was the strange news story about our troops blasting the house where Noriega was holed up with deafeningly loud heavy metal music. At the time, they were trying not to use lethal force, but to my mind, heavy metal music can be considered cruel and unusual punishment.  

Here's the DH's musical montage of pictures from our excursion today!

Our evening entertainment was by Dennis Daye, a talented pianist who sometimes spread himself too thin, trying to play the trumpet and an ocarina as well as an accordion. His next concert will be more classical in nature and I'm looking forward to that one. 

Oh! And for those who like weather reports, Panama was a muggy 95 with matching humidity!

We're starting our voyage to Chile now which will take six sea days! More soon...