The Canal and Park

We woke up early and had a good breakfast. From there the three of us went to the famous Canal. It was kind of cool, and we saw a few boats go by. All in all its really important, and cool that it was done, but there isn´t much to look at. We saw a little museum about it and a movie. Overall I´m glad to have been there, but it was no big deal.

After that we went to the national park. This was really cool. It was just a rain forest but with a few walking paths. We saw Monkey, sloths, a ton of birds and lizards, and a few animals that we weren´t sure what they were. This was really cool, and was capped off by it raining a little, but because of all the trees we felt nothing, but could hear this rain. It was a really cool experience.

After the forest we went to the hostel where we changed and met up with my Israeli friends. We all headed to Chabad house. We saw Solomon there, and sat through a very long service, but had dinner with about two dozen other Israeli travelers afterwards. It was kind of cool, and the food was really good, but the whole thing took forever, and they made us stay until after we benched.

The three of us then headed to Calle Urague. There we went to a bar called greenhouse, and had some fiance girlie drinks. We then waked around the crowded street, and eventually went into an English pub. In there met a guy who also lived in Bucktown just off armatidge, so he bought me a shot and we chatted a little.

It was a long day, so we just called it a night after this.

Christmas

Mike and Sarah were supposed to arrive at 2, and then be at the hostel by 4ish. So, with the day to kill before that I ventured out to the common area of the hostel, were I met a guy names Solomon, and two Israelis. We all laughed how only the Jews were out on Christmas, and then Solomon and I went to grab some food. He was a really interesting fella, he was hitch-hiking all over central America, and had done much hitch-hiking in the past. We grabbed a bite, and then went back to the hostel where we chatted with the Israelis for several hours.

At around 3 Sarah showed up, and informed me that Mike had missed the flight. so, not knowing what to do Sarah and I ventured out to try to find an Internet cafe that would be open. Unfortunately we found nothing for a while, and were just wondering empty streets. Eventually we found one, and discovered that Mike had gotten on a 4:30fight, and would arrive around midnight. From there Sarah and myself went to dinner, where we met two other people from our hostel. A guy named Aaron, and his Wife who's name I don´t remember, but who was from Japan. We had dinner with them, and since it was the only open place in town Solomon eventually wondered in and joined us. After this we went to the liqueur store, and bought a few six packs, and then went back to the hostel.

At the hostel we played poker and were joined by a French man named Charles. We played for a while, and eventually Mike showed up. We finished the game, and then went to bed.

My first night

I arrived in the evning and instantly met a couple of canadians (Gates and Ben) at my hostel. We began to talk, and they invited me to come out with them. Since I knew no one and had nothing to do, I agreed to join them. We initially went to these other canadian girls hostel way out in the suburbs of Panama. From there Gates, Ben, the two Canadian Girls, a guy from Panama, and a couple from LA, and myself went to Calle Uraguey. We went to a bar there, and began to play pool. We were challenged by a guy who was studing at west point and two prostitutes he was with. At first we didn´t realize the deal with the girls, and just thought they were friendly, but after a while we figured it out after they propositioned us. We had a good time at the bar, and after went to get in a cab and go home. In the cab Gates asked it the driver could hook us uip with some pot. He saids he could an began to drive us to a very shaddy area. Once in the ghetto we paid a crack head to watch guard over our car as the driver went in to this appartemnt to get us some herb. While we waited the crack head we hiered kept yelling at other crack heads as they tried to reach intop the car, or steal the hubcaps off the car. About ten minutes later our driver came out, paid the crack head an additional dollar, and we left. We arrived back at the hostel, and the cab driver got out, and smokled a joint with Gates as Ben and I chatted. After that I went to bed, and my Canadian friends went to the Casino.

It was an eventfull night to say the least.

I Depart Tomorrow

Despite having just been to China a little over 4 months ago, I am departing to spend slightly over a week in Panama tomorrow. Panama, while seeming like a totally random place to travel, is supposedly very beautiful. I am excited to see the rain forest, and to experience a Latin American culture for the first time. I am departing very early in the morning tomorrow, and will be arriving around 7pm in Panama City. I will be joined by my brother Michael, who accompanied me on much of my China trip, and my cousin Sarah, whom I have never traveled with and have spent relatively little time with in my life, the following day (it was cheaper for me to leave when I did). Mike and Sarah both live in New York, and have become quite friendly over the past couple of years. My rough Itinerary is sketched out below, but unlike the China trip, or even the European trip I took a year and a half ago, this one is much less planned out, and I am taking it more on a spur of the moment basis. Regardless I have done some research, and am fairly confident I know where I'm going and what I'm doing each day.

Dec. 24 Seth Arrives in Panama
Dec. 25 Mike and Sarah, Arrive in Panama city
Dec. 26 Panama City-Old Colombian Region
Dec 27. Panama City-Canal
Dec. 28 Day trip into the rain forest
Dec. 29 Depart for David, and spend a little time there or go straight to Boquete
Dec. 30 Hiking Parque Nacional Volcan Baru (or another hiking trail if we deem this to be too much for a day hike)
Dec. 31 Go to a coffee plantation and back to David from where we will fly back to Panama
Jan. 1 Fly home.

This is by far the shortest international trip I've ever been on, so I'm hoping I'm as satisfied with it as I have been with my previous trips.