Old Panama

On the morning of the 19th, we hailed a random cab and went to Old Panama.



We shopped for souvenirs for the kids and my MIL.




We took pictures in front of the remains of their old church from Old Panama.



We saw beautiful young ballerinas, who gladly posed for us.



We climbed a tower and looked on to Panama City.



We walked the grounds of Old Panama.








We walked into an old nunnery Convent. (Ari/Lisa: LOL!! I was totally channelling Monty Python with the "nunnery." I had no idea it's a 16th century euphemism for brothel!!)






We walked by their polluted beach towards a museum. Sad fact: Panama City's industrial and commerical/home wastes get flushed into their beach here. No one but the brave (read: crazy) enter the beach here. The smell is unpleasant.






The museum told us of the history of Panama and its moves. Old Panama was destroyed by Pirates. They moved to Casco Viejo, and then eventually moved again to where Panama City is currently located.

A museum security guard hailed us a cab and ensured that the driver would not rip us off by basically telling the driver what he would charge us; $3.00. He took us to a mall where we ate at "Crepes & Waffles," a wonderful place that serves...crepes and waffles and all kinds of fantastic desserts. The wife of a customer manages the place and asked us to stop by for lunch. It was really good.

A mall security guard hailed us a cab and we went back to the hotel, where I prepared for the 1:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. part of my work day.

The morning was great fun.