Terry celebrates 70th transit through Panama Canal in a new and improved Panama!
On January 9, 2008, I sailed through the Panama Canal for the seventieth time! Later that day we anchored off the island of Flamingo within view of the city of Panama. The amount of growth that has taken place over the past year is phenomenal – new hotels, skyscrapers, bank buildings and a residential complex by none other than Donald Trump – a sign things really must be looking up economically for the country! Many US citizens are seeing Panama as the next Costa Rica not only for tourism and environmentally oriented experiences but also for investment and retirement. With an economy still closely tied to the US, where the local currency is used interchangeably with the US dollar, the face of Panama looks much different.
The entire ship was invited to a welcome cocktail hosted at the new Panama Canal Authority Visitor’s Center in Miraflores Locks. Though I have sailed through the Canal many times I have never had the chance to see the new center which opened a few years ago. Initially I was very critical of its location being so close to the first set of locks in Miraflores however precautions were taken to screen everyone entering the facility. The Visitors Center is beautifully designed; in addition to a film there are interpretative displays that take you floor by floor through the importance of the Canal from its historic building to environmental resources and finally the new Third Locks Project. Like the bottom floor, the upper terrace on top is open for viewing of the Canal. Guests were delighted by not only the facility but also the music and sampling of local food provided by the Center’s Executive Chef Hannibal Achiari.
The following day guests were free to explore Panama City. My mission was twofold; to buy a fresh pod of cacao and visit the Ministry of Tourism. The wild goose chase through the city in search of the cacao pod proved fruitless – excuse the pun – however the drive gave me a chance to see areas of the city few tourists would ever see. I was charmed by small neighborhoods green with gardens and flowers; and surprised by the number of upscale shopping malls and US chain restaurants. I could not help but feel the urgency to invest in Panama before it was too late.
The purpose of my meeting with the Ministry was to gain support for my book on the Panama Canal. It its final stages, I want it read and edited by the Panama Canal Authority and the Ministry with the ultimate goal of having an endorsement and forward by the Minister himself – the Honorable Rubén Blades. All that is underway and I am more excited than I can express. Given there are several books out on cruising in Alaska (though none have my unique personal perspective and advantage) there are no such similar books about the Panama Canal. Mine will be the first! I am looking forward to not only providing highlights of the ship’s transit but also sparking interest in future visits to explore travel opportunities within the country.