Panama City, Panama-part 12-The Gamboa aerial tram.
The bus drove us a few hundred meters from the Gamboa Rain Forest Lodge to the base of the aerial tram. There, in groups of two, we climbed into a wire cage for the ride up to the observation tower.
Panama-Gamboa rain forest-cable car
Panama-Gamboa cable car through the canopy
On the top of the observation, were incredible, stunning views of the Chagres River and the Panama Canal.
Panama Gamboa-top of the observatioin tower with the canal in the background
Even though our guide was responsible for a group of 8 people on this part of the tour, he stayed closer to us. I think maybe he liked Stephanie.
I asked the guide a lot of questions. He told me later how much he appreciated tourists that showed real interest in the area. He said, “sometimes, people just shrug off the beautiful views and the flora and fauna”, so when tourists like Stephanie and I drill him with questions, it is his oppportunity to show off his beautiful country. A good lesson here.
We stayed up on the tower for about 30 minutes just taking in the views and shooting photographs.
Soon, we headed back down, where we toured a butterfly exhibit with live butterflies, then a little orchid exhibit.
Panama-gamboa orchid farm
Panama-Gamboa butterfly farm
Later, we toured the snake exhibit which was a little freaky.
Stephanie didn’t want to see the snakes, but I told her it was a once in a lifetime opportunity–I didn’t want her to go home and think, “darn, I wish I would have gone into that snake exhibit in Panama”. She did it.
Our guide told us he had a pet boa that he lived with and it sometimes sleeps in his bed (how do you spell C-R-A-Z-Y?). The guy was enamored with snakes, but told me he was increasingly afraid the boa was going to eat his pet chihuahua. I remembered thinking, “that chihuahua would be the least of my worries if that snake was sleeping in my bed”–which it wouldn’t be!
The entire tour lasted from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. It was very hot up in the Gamboa Forest. We were glad when it ended. We had a pleasant drive back to Panama City. Franklin stopped several times and waited for us to take photos. The entire tour, including the van for the 2 of us to go up to the Gamboa from the city, plus the tours of the forest was $170. I gave him an extra $10 as a tip. Later, I sent his boss an e-mail telling him what a good job I thought Franklin did.
It was a great way to spend a day with my daughter. Very educational. Stephanie had a t-shirt on that day that says it all:
Panama-the back of Stephanies t-shirt says it all-"Not all who wander, are lost"!
Next-Food photos of Panama City, Panama
Steve Barrymore
ssb11@prodigy.net
