Day 0 - Panama 2022

Day 0 Panama 2022

This morning, we left Hostal Amador Familiar after a very good, fresh breakfast of fruit and eggs that was prepared by our professors. Our driver Rigo picked us up to go to the canal and played some fun music for us as he drove us to other sites.

some students waiting for the van 

we all had a laugh at this sign as we waited for the driver

We headed to the Panama Canal where we learned about the history of the canal and how it works. The museum explained the U.S. role with the canal being built and when Panama received full control over the structure. We got to see two boats going through the canals! We also saw some frigate birds and heard some biology facts about them from our professor, Richard. 

frigate bird

students and our professor, Maya, at the canal 

a boat going through the canal

After the canal, we went to a fish market where we saw how seafood is prepared by the different vendors. Once we had seen the vendors inside, we got to see how some of them prepared the fish through the processing areas in the back.We got lunch at Delicias Del Mar Sur and saw lots of birds circling around the shop outside. 

After the fish market, Rigo picked us up and we headed to Casco Viejo where we walked around the city, and everyone enjoyed talking to the vendors and buying souvenirs. The city had brick streets and ruins throughout, which was a contrast to the newer buildings and city skyscrapers in the background. 

A vendor selling traditional Panamanian art

After the walk around the city we went to Biomuseo which had a lot of information and friendly tour guides to give us all the facts they knew about Panamanian history and evolution. We got to learn a lot about Panama's evolution including the formation of the isthmus, which made us think back to the primary literature we reviewed before Panama. We ended the museum tour and got some coffee from the cafe then headed back to the hostal. After a busy day we ended it with dinner at Richard's favorite restaurant, Napoli, which everyone agreed was very good! One student in particular really enjoyed the restaurant, heard saying, "My lasagna was fire!" Today was so much fun, we all can't wait for what tomorrow brings!

the sign outside of Biomuseo

Some fish and coral in a tank at the museum

- Tessa