The Final Leg of the Journey!

Friday 11/2/2012

We are in Panama City!! So far, so good. We are making it. Tonight it is going to feel SO good to be back at our house. Right now we are chilling at the hotel. Everyone is tired and needs a break before we head out for our flight to David.

The rest of the trip went smoothly. Thanks goodness for strong guys with vans who are used to travelers with too much baggage. I usually travel light so I have no experience with this.

Immigration was easy. The guy was friendly and welcoming, and was happy we like his country enough to want to live here. There were luggage carts at baggage claim ($3) which were great. We couldn't have managed without one. Then it was the short line through customs where we had to put the luggage on the x-ray belt but the guy barely paid any attention to any of it.

As we left the airport we were immediately approached by the taxi coordinator who saw right off that we needed a van. Four strong guys loaded our luggage, and one rode along to help unload at the hotel. So what I feared the most, the airport to hotel trip, went off without a hitch! Whew! Thank you strong guys with a van.

We had breakfast at the hotel and spent the rest of the morning just relaxing. Ma has been doing fine but we are all tired, and figured we wouldn't plan anything except the necessary travel today.

Lunch was next door at a little fonda – chicken, rice, beans, plantains, very yummy. Two heaping plates and three drinks $8. The corner fruit stand behind it was selling containers of pineapple for $1 and of course I could not pass that up.

The hotel called us another van to go to the airport. $209 later all our luggage is checked and ready for the flight, and we are chilling in the waiting room until time to get on the plane.

It feels good to be back in the city. The air is warm and balmy, and activity is all around. There are flags everywhere, and red white and blue banners because of the independence day celebrations this weekend. They are going to celebrate their independence from Spain, and later from Columbia, and I think the third day is maybe flag day? I still need to learn a LOT more Spanish! Everyone here is so much more friendly though. No one passes you in the hotel with wishing you good day. Anyone who sees you need help hurries to do so. The hotel maid gave Ma a big hug and wished her a good trip. There just seems to be very much a community spirit here, a sense of togetherness even in this big city. It's really nice.

I expect the next update will be from David after we get settled a bit at home. I am very thankful for the many people who have helped us along the way in so many ways. We are almost there!