DAY #9 - Chinese Breakfast, San Jose, Old Panama

This morning started off great.  I was able to sneek a picture of dad's shoes (crocs - with white socks I might add).  See what I have to put up with? Ha ha

Anyway...we met Franklin and Luchita, and boy are they great!  They took us to a chinese restaurant called Lung Fung for Chinese Breakfast ("dim sum").  I don't really know how to describe whatthey served except that they was like little dumplings filled with chicken, pork, shrimp, etc. Each one had a different flavor, texture, filling, and wrap.  Each type came in a steamed container that were on carts being pushed around from table to table.  As we were leaving the restaurant, we got to rub Buddha's belly and make a wish.

 

 

After breakfast, we took a "panoramic" tour around Panama.  There is so much history in Panama that it is really neat to explore!  While we were  exploring the Panama Ruins, we came across this woman in traditional Panamanian dress called a "Pollera."  Even though she was there by coincidence, she allowed us to take some pictures of her and her beautiful dress.  Luchita explained that the "Pollera" is often worn for traditional celebrations such as her 15th birthday or wedding.  The dress takes about a year and a half to make and costs around $3,000-4,000 because every part of it is handstitched.  She then wears about $20,000 in gold.  The headpiece is called a "Tembleque" because it trembles when she moves.   

 

 

 Not sure if you can really see the background, but she is standing in an old building that was partially destroyed in the 1600's by a pirate named Henry Morgan - yes...Captain Morgan.   This is the original Panama City, and below is the original cathedral.

 

He looted and destroyed the city, only passing by the golden altar at the cathedral because the Panamanians outsmarted him by painting over the gold.  The altar was moved to another church from the old ruins and is now residing in the San Jose church in Old Panama, paint-free.  On both sides of the sanctuary are other altars, one side which is featured below.  We managed to make it to the church just as mass was getting over and right before they locked it for the day.  We really lucked out!  What a truly breathtaking sight!

 

 

We also visited the Causeway de Amador, located at the Pacific Ocean entrance to the Panama Canal.  We drove down the road that links Panama City with other islands, built in 1913 with material extracted from the Culebra Cut during construction of the Panama Canal.  We saw many people walking, riding bicycles, jogging, and skating on the sidewalk.  There were benches where one can sit and enjoy the beautiful view.  You can see the Panama City skyline on one side and ships entering the Canal on another. 

                                   Skyline:

                                    Boats lined up to go through the Canal: (Traffic at the canal is almost as bad as traffic in Panama City! haha)

 

 

If you go all the way to the end of the road, there is a strip with restaurants, yacht marinas, and nightclubs.  In this area, you can also see the Bridge of Americas.  Since it is the rainy season in Panama, it is very cloudy and about ready to rain so seeing the bridge in the background might be hard.

 

Here's a picture of me holding tagua that Franklin took:

And here's a picture of a man carving tagua (also courtesy of Franklin):

 

 

Tomorrow I have physical therapy and my FIRST STEM CELL TREATMENT!  Yea! I can't wait to write tomorrow!!