Panama

 The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes 'sight-seeing.' ... Daniel J. Boorstin

I choose to be the traveler because the tourist only sees what they want to see and the traveler makes their own adventure. 

Today I started my adventure looking for a place to eat.  I ended up just walking down the street in one direction and found the canal path.  This path is a larger scale but much nicer than the one in the Niagara Region.  

I walked along the path and saw many different things from boats sitting in what appears to be mud and dirt but it turned out that it was water just with mud and dirt on the surface.

 As I kept walking I saw the opened canal and the local people selling drinks and good out if shopping carts.  They do not bug anyone, you just go up and buy what you want.  I brought my own water so I was good.  I also saw some cats which I tried to pet but they would not let me.  I did manage to take a few pictures of them. 

The canal is just like the canal in Niagara, people are out walking and running, riding their bikes and just hanging out.  It is much more beautiful however here in Panama.

 I also saw a Floral Clock.

It was a very hot day today and my hair can tell you that story.  I think I have decided it is going to be a pony tail and hat wearing trip and make up well that was out of the question back in Florida.  

My walk last over three hours and I did manage to get lost which turned out to be a good thing because I found a little shop where I could buy some snacks and more water.  I managed to find my way back to my hotel but decided not to head in.  

Instead I continued to walk and found downtown Panama.  This area was not very nice.  It is run down and you have people selling things on the corner and police everywhere.  There are a lot of people just hanging out and not a lot of tourist in this area.  I was given the what are you doing here look a few times but I just smiled and kept walking.  I found a nice little local restaurant to finally get something to eat.  I surprised the waitress when I was able to order my food in Spanish, ask her questions in Spanish and understand what she was saying to me.  I am a person who will give credit where credit is due so thank you to A Future Shop employee who introduce me to the app duelingo, thank you for that. Well I was eating a few police walked in and everyone stopped talking and the wait staff started getting them water and standing tall.  I felt bad for everyone to be afraid to see a police officer.  Coming Canada where police are their for our protection and we do not have to fear them, it was a weird feeling. 

After lunch I went back to my hotel and had a nap for about an hour.  Getting in so late last night and not getting enough sleep caught up with me, oh and all that walking today.  When I woke up I went for a swim in the pool on the roof.  

The weather was cool, I would compare it to a nice spring night back home.  I decided to go for a walk and found a little restaurant to have dinner.  I also saw more cats which I tried to let but instead got hit my one.  And I do mean hit, it had a full opened paw brought his front leg back and hit me with force.  Once he hit me he turned around to one of this cat friend and hit him in the face.  The police office sitting out side the store just started laughing at me which I also did. I was going to take a picture of these guys but after the abuse I just walked away. 

 I ended my evening with a good gym work out and am now watching a Christmas movie on the only station that is not in Spanish. 

I am calling it an early night as tomorrow I start the backpacking part of my trip.  I am going to see more of Panama while heading towards the Costa Rica border.  I think I will be staying in Panama for two more nights before walking across the Costa Rica border.  I finally have decided where I will enter, I am entering at the Guabito/Sixaola border.  You walk over an old wooden bridge.  Nothing special I just think it will be a nice way to crossing the border.  

I hope everyone has a great Christmas with their family and friends. I was able to talk to mine today which made it easier not being there.  

Jessi 

Here are just a few more pictures of my day.