Monday, September 7, 2009

Day 3 (part 2):

While we were walking past a large building I could see an orchestra inside, but didn't know if we should be going in, since there were other people sitting outside right by the door. But, when we got a little further away I heard the StarWars theme song playing... we had to go back and see. :)

We went upstairs to view the orchestra from above.
Here's dad looking up at all the balconies.


It was a beautiful building!
This is a view from across the way.


This is the view from ground level and pretty close to the front doors.





We kept walkig and came across an old building. This must have been a very nice place back in the day. I don't remember what it was, but probably someone high up lived here once. :)




This is the view from the other back side of the building.


I loved this view of the skyscapers, because the shoreline would curve in and out. You can see skyscrapers on two different shorelines. Panama is a pretty tall city!




We kept walking along the shoreline, further and further from our hotel area. This is where we stopped and headed more inland to catch a bus.


I love this picture because you can see loads of birds,
the church in the background,
and many homes/buildings all stuck together.



More ruins on our way to catch a bus.




This is a good picture of a typical bus.
Dad said they are retired U.S. school busses.




Here is a view from one of our busses, which was NOT the one above.
You have to be waiting for the busses and jump on.
They don't stop for long and occasionally only slow down.
Jump carefully!








Story time: While on the bus we met a couple of tourists headed to the Panama Canal as well. He was from Spain (I think) and she was from Germany. It was fun to talk to them! They had been traveling for a bit and were about done while we were just starting. They said Panama was their favorite because it was more authentic than the other places they went to (which were many of the Central America countries, I believe). She said some of the others sold their souls to America (which is what everyone calls the US, even though they live in or are visiting South America, I just find that funny).


We walked with them from the bus to the Canal before parting ways.
Here is a picture I took while we were walking.


We made it to the Canal! There is a big building and everyone heads to the 4th floor to watch. I took MANY pictures of the canal, so I picked out the main ones.


Here is a vew of the small building between the two sides of the canal.
You can see the front of the very large cargo ship.




Here is a picture of where the ship is headed. The water in the second one was emptying.



Here's a view of the people watching.




This is looking in the direction the ship came from. It is a very pretty place!


This is looking down at a closer lock so you can see what they are like.




It's entering the second lock!



Close up of the third lock.


The third lock is across the lake from where we were.



There's dad in the middle of everyone trying to watch.
You can get a better picture of how big the ship is.



A tug boat is behing the ship. Look at it compared to ground level.


A sub on the back of the cargo ship.





Now you can compare the cargo ship to ground level.



Here's dad and I watching the ship.



Water level is getting lots higher!



Now look at the tug boat in relation to ground level.




I think it has about hit its peak.



The locks are opening.




Close up of locks opening.



Starting to head out.

There it goes!



Playing around with the camera.


Headed to the lake.



Walking back to the bus stop. I love the train tunnel!




Panama Temple...


After the Canal we got on a bus for a little bit and then had another long walk to the temple and back.

I liked the few pictures I took of the temple, so I am posting them all.


This is my second favorite.





This is my favorite.


This cemetary was right by the temple. Can you see the US flag?





After walking and bus riding, we did some more walking...






After the third one of these... I decided to take a picture. :)


This is where we had some ice cream. It wasn't what I expected, but good.




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