April 12, 2015

• Special Visit

  You might just want to skip this if you do not want to see LOTS of photos of our kids!!! I took 596 so there were a lot to sort through! Derrick, Patrick and Lara, Patrick's wonderful girlfriend, arrived Saturday evening!
  

  We got them settled in, had a pancake breakfast on Easter morning, and set out for our church:
  

  Unknown to us, the early service had been cancelled. So we changed our plan and went to another church nearby. It was really fun to worship together that special morning. We had time to go back home before lunch so we took a few photos at our apartment:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  They spotted something:
  

  Loved the color of this bougainvillea!
  

  

  Then we gave out Easter surprises because you are NEVER too old to get a chocolate rabbit from your mother!
  

  Rick had also brought some special things to everyone from Spain:
  

  Then it was time to head out to our favorite place to eat, Mi Ranchito, out on the Causeway:
  

  The shrimp was great!
  

  Derrick and Patrick both chose octopus!
  

  A little friend wanted Derrick to share:
  

  He had a injured leg:
  

  

  We walked around a bit:
  

  

  

  

  Derrick spotted this giant crab:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  I liked the name of this boat:
  

  

  I am fascinated with pelicans:
  

  

  

  

  

  Since there is so little traffic on Sunday, we drove across the Bridge to the Americas:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  Patrick relaxing on our balcony:
  

  That evening we had black bean soup for dinner and played games. ☺

  Monday morning we headed to the Canal:
  

  

  

  

  You can see the very top tip of a ship behind the building:
  

  The tugboats are always fun to watch:
  

  On this day there appeared to be some special guests and we figured it was in preparation for some of the dignitaries coming to the Summit in Panama:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Here comes the tip of the ship:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  We checked out the museum:
  

  

  

  

  Next stop Ancon Hill to see the view:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Got a view of the three different levels of water of the Canal locks:
  

  

  Photo bomber in this one:
  

  Next was Casco Viejo (Spanish for Old Quarter, completed and settled in 1693). We had these views from the parking garage:
  

  

  

  We always enjoy walking around here and seeing the improvements they are making:
  

  

  Some things are still a work in progress!
  

  Great lunch here:
  

  More great views:
  

  

  

  I always find the bougainvillea!
  

  

  Love the buildings:
  

  Especially the balconies:
  

  

  A little shopping at the market:
  

  

  

  

  Relaxing:
  

  

  

  

  I found more pelicans:
  

  

  

  You can see over to the Causeway:
  

  And to the Bridge of the Americas:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  This was a church and a convent:
  

  

  It has always been locked up before but we got to go in:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  More buildings we walked by:
  

  

  Loved this sign in one of the churches:"God wants to speak to you today. But He will not call you on your cell. Turn it off."
  

  When we got home, Lara pointed out we can see Ancon Hill from our apartment. We had never noticed. I zoomed in on it:
  

  Tuesday we headed out to Panama Viejo, the first settlement of Panama City in 1519. Loved all the mangoes on this tree:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Amazing how green some of the trees stay in dry season:
  

  

  

  

  

  Of course we climbed the tower but we did not use these steps!
  

  

  The views are so great:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  Once again they were getting ready to bring some of the Summit dignitaries here:
  

  

  

  This road had been prepared:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  (Later I found this photo from the event at Panama Viejo):
  

  Next we went to the market to introduce everyone to our wonderful artist friend, Tomás:
  

  

  My friend, Carla, also has a booth there:
  

  We drove by Atlapa, the Convention Center where the Summit would be held and found that a helicopter pad had been added!
  

  

  Then we went to one of the malls for lunch at Tacontento:
  

  

  A delicious platter we all shared:
  

  After looking around for a bit, we went back to the apartment and watched some of the helicopters buzzing around:
  

  

  That evening we went here for dinner and a show:
  

  It was our first time to be at the restaurant, Las Tinajas.
  

  

  

  Lara ordered pineapple shrimp:
  

  And I ordered the sampler plate with some typical foods:
  

  Both the guys ordered red snapper for dinner:
  

  All the food was delicious. Derrick can clean a fish!
  

  Then the music began:
  

  And the dancing:
  

  

  

  I loved the ladies in their polleras:
  

  

  

  You can watch a video here:

  And here:

  And one more:

  We had planned our sight seeing in the city for the first part of the week because we knew some roads would be closed during the Summit and we wanted to make sure we could get around. We found out some of the dignitaries would be staying at a place we wanted to get a day pass for so we went ahead and did that on Wednesday. On the way, I enjoyed getting great glimpses of the beautiful yellow trees called guayacanes:
  

  

  

  To get to the resort we crossed this one lane bridge that is also shared with the Panama Canal Railroad:
  

  

  

  A ship was in the Canal:
  

  This is the Charges River that feeds into Gatun Lake for the Canal:
  

  We stopped to check on some fishing possibilities:
  

  

  

  Tried a couple of panoramic shots:
  

  

  This little guy was swimming around:
  

  More guayacanes!
  

  

  These houses are on the way. SO pretty:
  

  Gamboa Resort:
  

  More guayacanes:
  

  

  This is a gorgeous place!!
  

  

  

  Our day pass included using the pool, lunch and all the drinks we wanted. The lunch buffet was pretty and delicious:
  

  

  

  And had a great view:
  

  

  Rick took his computer and worked for quite a while but then he got to relax with me in the lounge chairs while the other three WORE themselves out playing in the pool!
  

  As we were getting to leave, Lara spotted a bunch of parrots flying around a particular tree. I zoomed in:
  

  

  

  

  Our day pass was up at 5:00 so we headed out:
  

  

  

  Everyone got to see a car carrier, one of Patrick's favorites, at the other lock on our way home:
  

  On Thursday we planned to go to El Valle and figured we could get out of the city fine as the dignitaries were coming to town later that day. It was a great plan. Once there we stopped at this overview:
  

  

  Then we got some delicious lunch:
  

  One of my favorite photo spots:
  

  

  Rick and Derrick checked out a few things while Patrick, Lara and I walked to the falls:
  

  This tree is HUGE:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Then we all went to the market:
  

  And we followed that by a stop at Theo's shop, our friend who makes beautiful things out of wood:
  

  

  Loved introducing him to our kids:
  

  This will be the base of a LARGE table:
  

  Mangoes are in season and Theo had a tree!
  

  A look at the shop:
  

  Another pretty spot in town:
  

  We got some coffee and ice cream:
  

  

  A favorite mode of transportation in El Valle:
  

  Pretty views are all around:
  

  

  Friday was quite a fun day for everyone. The other four got up around 4:00 to go fishing. There were many stumps to be dodged in the boat:
  

  

  

  Patrick got a big one!
  

  

  

  

  

  

  Patrick caught another nice one:
  

  So did Derrick:
  

  

  Lara's catch:
  

  

  All in all about 22:
  

  

  One more look:
  

  And yes we did have fish for dinner - delicious! HOWEVER meanwhile back at the apartment...As soon as they left for fishing, I threw some towels in to wash and went for my morning walk. We knew some roads in Clayton were going to be closed and soon I saw police everywhere. One guard stopped me to see what I was doing and I told him I was exercising and was on my way back to my apartment. He was very nice. I noticed part of the park was cordoned off and firetrucks were parked on it. That seemed unusual for the President's visit to the Canal because I thought they would drive him in. Back at the apartment I started cooking and soon heard lots of helicopters overhead. So I grabbed my camera as quickly as I could!
  

  

  

  I still wasn't sure who was in them but I realized it had to be connected with a visit to the Canal so I made some video:

  At that point I realized it was President Obama's helicopter that was landing!! I was so excited. Later this photo came out of him at the Canal:
  

  I am sure he felt very proud to see the great accomplishment of the U.S. I feel it every time I go! So we all had lots to share that evening as we ate dinner and straightened up the place just a bit for two missionaries families to join us that night for brownies and ice cream!

  On our last morning we headed downtown to Trump Towers for the breakfast buffet:
  

  Our three guests actually treated us to this delicious meal! So nice of them!!
  

  

  

  And look who showed up:
  

  Mr. and Mrs. Newt Gringrich!!! Rick had a nice conversation with them! After eating we looked around a bit:
  

  The tiny white dots at the bottom of that view were birds:
  

  

  See who is in the background! ☺
  

  

  

  

  

  

  A face formed of pennies:
  

  

  A doorman made these two for us:
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  A huge bucket of Nutella for sale in one of the hotel shops!!
  

  And that completes my photo tour of the week. If you made it this far, you are either the grandparents or VERY close friends of ours!! I can honestly say we made the most of every moment and made so many GREAT memories. We are very honored that Patrick, Lara and Derrick wanted to spent their hard earned money on a ticket here and spend a week of their vacation time with us!! We loved being able to show them part of this great country and interesting culture, and we have plenty left to do for their next visit. ☺

  • 5:45 pm
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