The new Santa Maria Hotel & Golf Resort is a welcome addition to Panama City’s hotel landscape. Panama City is Central America’s most cosmopolitan capital and a fast-growing vacation destination. If you like luxury hotels with authentic local touches, you’ve struck gold. A Hotel With Indigenous Flair The hotel’s common areas are adorned with bold masks and colorful paintings made by indigenous artists. The 182 uncluttered rooms … [Read more...]
A Remington and a Volvo
At 9, I thought it was crazy. My dad was going to squeeze Mom and all six of us kids into a boxy, top heavy, narrow Volvo station wagon, and we were going to drive for three months from our home in Paraguay to Kansas where my father grew up. This trip had been his dream since coming to Paraguay in 1951 to found and manage a Mennonite leprosy mission. “Is there really a road that goes all the way from Paraguay to the States?” I asked. Dad … [Read more...]
Four Unusual Travel Destinations Adventurer Horace Ashton Loved
Horace Dade Ashton began exploring the world as a teenage cabin boy in the late nineteenth century. His love of the sea and the open ocean led him to explore many parts of the world when travel was difficult. He wrote about his travels, and I’m delighted to present excerpts from them to fellow adventurers. More of Ashton’s adventures appear in The Spirit of Villarosa, debuting June 28, 2016. by Libby J. Atwater, coauthor of The Spirit of … [Read more...]
Cruising Holland America Line, ms Eurodam
One of my early childhood memories is visiting my grandparents as they left for an around the world cruise on a Holland America Line cruise ship - this must have been sometime in the late 1970's or early 1980's. I remember being allowed to board the ship with my family and running through all the hallways and eventually ending up in a room where they told children to go. I remember what felt like thousands of people (probably just hundreds) … [Read more...]
JEOPARDY! Explore the World Sweepstakes
JEOPARDY! And Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Announce the JEOPARDY! Explore the World Sweepstakes NEW YORK, October 21, 2013 --- JEOPARDY! and Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic have announced the upcoming JEOPARDY! Explore the World Sweepstakes set to begin this month as part of JEOPARDY!s season-long celebration of their 30th anniversary season. The Explore the World Sweepstakes will provide 30 extraordinary voyages for … [Read more...]
Are they really *Panama* Hats?
The last time I was in Panama I purchased a Panama Hat - a misleading name considering these hats are made in Ecuador. During the construction of the Panama Canal workers wore these hats. When USA President at the time, Teddy Roosevelt saw one - he wanted to wear it - he was photographed wearing this hat and the name "Panama Hat" soon stuck. In actuality these hats should be called Ecuadorian Hats! After wearing out the 'Panama Hat' I bought … [Read more...]
Panama Canal, Miraflores Locks – February 2013
The first ship passed through the Panama Canal in 1914, the USA transferred ownership to the Panamanians in 1999. Today the canal is being widened to accomodate larger ships on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the canal. The wider locks are set to be completed by 2014, appropriately the century mark after the canal opened. Miraflores locks on the Pacific side is located about 25 minutes outside of Panama City. This viewing platform and … [Read more...]
Moon Panama
Moon Panama by William Friar This detailed guidebook to Panama includes sights, activities, hotels, restaurants and much more. Invariably when one thinks of Panama two words come to mind, "Panama Canal". However there is much more to see and do in this small but rich Central American country. There are several well thought out itineraries available in the beginning of the book which are cataloged by length of stay and various interests. Did … [Read more...]
Bridge of Life
This "bio" museum (Bridge of Life) at the time of our visit was under construction; it is located on the Amador Causeway (made from rocks excavated from the Panama Canal) that connects the island region of Amador to the mainland (about 20-25 minutes from Panama City. We drove past this museum a number of times during our stay here. The museum is the only Frank Gehry designed building in Latin America. It opened in late 2012. At the time of … [Read more...]
Chillin’ in Panama
Arrived in Panama (my last North American country to visit) after a very quick break between the Egypt trip- looks like the main city is booming - cranes and towering skyscrapers (some in progress) are lined up all along the shoreline. We are staying in an upscale International chain hotel but with a twist. There is large color photo that spans the length of the wall of semi nude women. Ummm yea. Panama has their own currency, the Balboa - but … [Read more...]