Caravan Tour - Panama - January 29

January 29, 2020
Once again, the fabulous five travelers AKA Karen, Kos, Joy, Michele and Al, began our second adventure together...Panama.
We enjoyed Costa Rica so much in 2019 that we decided to do the Panama tour offered by Caravan. But first...a stop in South Beach, our old stomping grounds. Kos and I were delighted to give Joy the nickel tour including a visit to our former community....Harbor by the Sea.

Watching the ships go out from South Pointe Park.

Note the police boat with the machine gun

Kos waiting for the shuttle at 4th and Washington

Joy people watching as we wait for the trolly

Dinner at one of our old favorite places, Chalan on the Beach, a Peruvian Restaurant on Washington and 15th. Excellent

Our former place was on Collins and 4th

Super Bowl Week in South Beach - exciting

lots of excitement on Ocean Drive

Ocean Drive

Old lifeguard stand

January 30, 2020 - Travel Day
Today we met at the airport for our American Airlines flight to Panama City. No problem going through security.....flight on time. Arrived at our first hotel; Courtyard by Marriott Panama Multiplaza Mall in time for a short rest before our welcome briefing and dinner. Tomorrow we’ll have an early start for our first tour day.

Lunch!

Caravan shuttle to hotel

We’ll be spending the entire week in Panama. Almost every day on the water.

January 31, 2020 First Full Tour Day
We left the hotel at a reasonable time for our first full day of touring. This morning we visited the ruins of Panama Viejo (Old Panama), the city founded by the Spanish in 1519 as a gateway for gold from the Inca Empire. Our guide, Carlos, is incredibly knowledgeable and funny too. Our hotel is centrally located in Panama City. There are over 100 skyscrapers and over 150 more currently being built. There are more than 88 banks in Panama City alone. Panama City is a blend of Manhattan, Las Vegas and Miami seasoned with Latin American flavor and style. After the ruins, we went back to our hotel for lunch before heading to the Canal Museum at Miraflores, overlooking the Panama Canal locks. Caravan had a private balcony overlooking the locks which was fabulous since the public balcony was jam packed with tourists. We were offered cold drinks as Carlos explained how the locks operated. To top off the day,, Caravan hosted a private dinner of local cuisine with professional dancers. Al was the star of the show.