99) Panama

Colon, Panama

Panama Canal Yacht Club 9° 20.939 N 79°  54.189 W

The agent came by and filled out some paperwork, collected money and left with our passports.  I was very uneasy about the passports.  Apparently, we have a stamp to get in the country but we need a stamp to get out.  This stamp cannot be had at the airport and must be done by going into Colon and, well, they said it was just too damn hard.  The 9/11 things have affected here, also.  He offered as part of his service to take the passports to the Pacific side and get the stamp and return them to us on Monday with the lines and fenders needed for transiting the canal.  Since everyone agreed to give up the passports I did too.  What’s the worse that can happen, right?  He assured us that we would have a Tuesday February 7^th departure, would probably leave the dock at 4 am and pop out the other side around 1-2pm.  We will get a mooring ball at the Balboa Yacht Club and take the 24-hour water taxi to shore.  Since Nancy and I have 730am flights the next morning we wanted to get rooms in town and make it easier.  I am so looking forward to that!

John, Nancy and I walked into town for a distraction and had to be able to say that we’ve been to Colon.  What a shock.  The guys at the gate said take a cab and when we declined they said to be careful.  Once on the main street it was obvious that this place was a little run down.  It appears to be engulfed in poverty.  We walked to the free zone, which is a duty free area of some sort, but all the stores were closed.  It was very weird.  And then, McDonald’s for lunch!  No surprises in the food we had. 

Part of this trek was to make a run to the grocery store so we popped into a large brand new place.  Immediately to the right once inside there was a display of several coolers and John has been thinking about getting one.  The refrigerator is not working well and he is going to try this approach.  There was also a chair like the one on deck on display.  The boat chair is fading, rusting and some of the seams are splitting.  So, while he pondered the large display of coolers and which was the best deal he sat down.  Nancy and I moved in different directions and canvassed the store.  She found staples and I found coffee and rum.  We had been cruising the aisles for quite a while and wondered what was keeping John.  The security guard woke him up and told him he couldn’t sleep there.  

  

 

  

Colon, Panama is on the top of my list of places never to visit again.  It is very unsafe to be on the streets at night and there just aren’t any attractions like museums, etc to want to stay here.  Life at the marina is so removed from the reality of the city.  I am now convinced that the marina is an oasis and I appreciate it.