Sometime last Fall, I saw reasonably priced tickets for Panama. The timing was, as always, Divine. I could manage to fly the whole family for less than four tickets to Hawaii (or even New York). Sorry beloved Hawaii, but you were officially off the table for our winter holiday!
It was further Divine Timing because I had been having the travel itch for sometime and Panama was one of the countries long on the top of my list of countries I wanted to visit. At the time, I couldn't say why, other than a strong desire of seeing sloth in the wild, along with the more tropical climate that suit me. But honestly, it was more of an intuitive pull. Which is how I tend to live my life as rule.
Part of the joy that travel brings me is the preparation. Researching, naturally finding people who have traveled to that same destination and getting their input, researching more, comparing things. I love it all. I spent hours and more hours over the course of two months. The downside to that is I drove Don and the girls crazy! At one point Don asked, "Are we going to hear, 'In Panama...' for the next two months?" and one of the girls said another time, "Panama, Panama, you keep talking about Panama." Well, how could I not?
The more I researched, the more I discovered the breadth and beauty of the land and its people. Deep history with indigenous peoples who have lived there forever and the European colonists who came, hurt, destroyed and settled. Of course there was the Panama Canal and the years, massive expense cost but monetarily and to human life (more than 25,000 French died in the process) to build that massive engineering feat that allow trade and commerce to be forever easier. I have an odd fascination for cargo ship containers and knew I would be like a kid in the candy store seeing enormous freighter ships pass in the canal. More important the earth; the mountain, valleys, jungles and all the inhabitants in the air and in the land called Panama. And of course, the Pacific Ocean on one side and my beloved, home, the Caribbean on the other. Just the thought of seeing her again, taking refuge in her crystal clear waters, soothing my heart, mind and soul was reason enough to travel the 4,378 miles (and that's one way) to the bottom of Central America.
So after not two but three months of preparation, off we were, on a red-eye, direct flight to Panama City, where our first stop would be the Gamboa Resort, built in 1907 just north of the city. It would be a safe, peaceful place in the jungle to settle in from the long journey and where we were most welcomed by Panama.
After traveling all night and getting only a few hours sleep, the girls were remarkably happy and excited. The girls are fantastic travelers. We were so proud of them and when we reached Gamboa, of course they had to explore and try out everything in sight.
When we finally went to sleep the first night, we were full with so many new memories and stories. I often say that an open mind and an open heart bring an open life. Traveling does that; it opens the heart and mind and brings an open life. Our first day in Panama proved that once again.
