Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - Colon, Panama

Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - Colon, Panama

About 50 miles northwest of Panama City, Colon is home to the northern gateway of the Panama Canal as well as Afro-Caribbean descendants of those workers who helped build the canal in the early 20th century.  Colon's greatest claim to fame - and the main reason visitors come here - is the Colon Free Zone, a massive shopping showroom where wholesalers retailers and the general public shop.  You'll also find Colon 2000, a cruise ship port with restaurants, a supermarket, and shops selling duty-free merchandise.  Just west of the city, at the mouth of the Charges River, Fort San Lorenzo is a well preserved colonial military structure.  Colon is the second-most populous city in Panama by population.

Today I was scheduled for the Monkey Watch and Canal Nature Cruise touted to be a wealth of sight and sound combined with the thrill of speeding through the Panama Canal next to the mighty ships transiting  this manmade wonder.   I was to see Capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths, howler monkeys, various kinds of toucans and other bird life, caimans, crocodiles, turtles and numerous butterfly species.

When I woke this morning, it was still pouring rain - another tour not taken!!!  

Meanwhile, the scenery from my balcony is breathtaking!  I could see this in the Oakland Estuary!!

  

While sitting out on deck reading two days of Wall Street Journal, received a phone call from son, Stephen.   At home, we've had no power for four days and looks like it can go to six days!  Son is now tasked with emptying my freezer and fridge and throwing out most everything - another UGH!!!

 Just received these two photos from Stephen - all done just in time for garbage pickup on Wednesday.  Thank you, Steve!!
  

Appreciate that I still have a home standing - so many others have lost so much . . .


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