We Went To Panamá!

Dec 31

And had a blast, despite the eruption of nation-wide protests a couple of weeks before the start of our tour. A wonderful group of vendors and tour operators helped us to experience the city while keeping safety a priority. And we did all the things! We ate fabulous Panamanian cuisine and explored several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We visited Portobelo, on the Caribbean coast, home to Afro-Panamanians descended from both maroons and West Indians who traveled to Panama to help construct its famed canal. And of course, we made sure to visit that awe-inspiring, man-made wonder!

We even found time to relax on a beach. But most importantly, we learned about the people of Panama, from the people of Panama…And we hope they learned a little something about us, too.

Read on to learn more about our trip and make sure to take a listen to our unofficial tour anthem, David Rudder’s “Panama.”

A Taste of Panama

One of the best ways to learn about a culture is through food. And boy did we have our share of it! The tour included breakfast and lunch as part of our food walking tour of the Santa Ana neighborhood that abuts Casco Viejo, the historic center. Also included were two additional lunches, and three dinners (including a welcome and farewell dinner). And there were plenty of opportunities for folks to explore the food scene on their own.

A special shout out to Ana from @foodtrippingpa and @tastekitchen.pa who graced us with several delicious meals including her amazing ceviche and hojaldra (a type of fried dough), and a coconut rice like nothing I have ever tasted. AMAZING!!! She also took us on a wonderful tour of the Santa Ana neighborhood of Panama City, where we learned about more than just food. The way that Ana was able to bring her city to life through stories that connected to food reminded me of why I started My People Tell Stories.

The Sights:
Panama Canal — San Lorenzo National Park

The Panama Canal was definitely a highlight of the trip. We did a full-day tour that began with a boat tour of Gatun Lake, where we experienced an up-close look at the local flora and fauna. Afterwards we headed to the Agua Clara Locks, the most recent addition to the Panama Canal, before heading to the San Lorenzo National Park, where we had simple, but delightfully tasty lunch, and an amazing tour of the fort.

The Sights:
Portobelo — Isla Mamey

Who doesn’t love a good beach day? We sure do! Yeah, but that’s not what we got. Despite having beautiful weather for every other day of our tour, it decided to rain on our beach day. And not just a quick shower, but heavy, downpours! Despite this, the weather cleared up enough for us to enjoy the warm waters surrounding Isla Mamey, with some including it as one of the highlights of the trip.

We also were able to make stops in Portobelo to see the famed Black Christ, as well as a brief stop at Casa de la Cultura Congo to see and purchase some of the beautiful artwork by local artisans that highlight African and Afro-Panamanian culture.