More Panama with Bernie

One morning we rented bikes and rode along the Amador Causeway. We passed by the Biomuseo, designed by Frank Gehry. It will open sometime this year, I think.

Transportation is quite cheap in Panama. Buses within the city are 25 cents. Taxis should not be more than $5 (we learned to bargain because there are no meters in the cabs). The subway was free, and brand spanking new!

To get to the canal, we were adventurous and took a "red devil" bus. These buses are retired school buses from the U.S. They are owned by the bus drivers, who in turn are paid by the government to run the service. The buses are completely decked out! Eventually they will be discontinued, and replaced with official metro buses. Many Panamanians rely on these buses to get in and out of the city.

The Panama Canal was very impressive. It is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

We saw a bunch of cargo ships go through the Miraflores Locks. Some fun facts:
The locks drain faster than a bath tub.

- On average, 30 to 40 large boats go through the Canal each day.
- The average toll for a cargo ship to pass through the Canal is $300,000 USD.

There are two UNESCO heritage sites in Panama (but collectively recognized as one) - Casco Viejo (where we went twice for dinner and drinks), and  Panama Viejo, the original city.

Panama Viejo today is only ruins. And understandably so since it was originally built in the early 1500s.

We collected some souvenirs throughout the trip. Here's what Bernie brought back to his friends.

Thanks for the great time, Panama! We had a blast!