Panama Canal - Miraflores
Process of Passage Through the Canal
I have spent extensive time researching the Panama Canal’s history and the future implications of the expansion project that is expected to bring billions more in revenue to Panama. The canal is truly a sight to see and the entire process of a vessel passing through took no more than 30 minutes. It was very difficult to capture the construction of the 3rd canal lane which is about a quarter of a mile away from the 2 current lanes but it is massive. While the country will reap economic benefits from the expansion it was amazing to see the destruction as so much land has been moved and the landscape carved up for the new lane.
Red Frog Beach in Bocas Del Toro
Housing in Bocas - Living like the Locals on the Water
Everything on Bocas Must be Shipped in - Even the Drinking Water
Bocas Del Toro was beautiful and the pictures do not do it Justice. I was able to go out on a private boat and view so much wildlife that it was overwhelming. I was able to snorkel, bird watch, view dolphins and sloths and much more. I was also able to vist Red Frog Beach which has Red Frogs (obviously) caiman alligators, and horrible sand fleas. Bocas Del Toro does not have clean drinking water and is currently in a strange limbo of high end real estate development and 3rd world living conditions. While I was there we had 12 hours without power or water and there multiple bouts of power outages and a lack of water. The local guide Cristobal aka “Boy” took great pride in the flora and fauna of the island and was greatly concerned about the money and development moving in on the islands. Unfortunately it seems that development will prevail as I hiked on some trails near Red Frog Beach and found a huge development of luxury condos being constructed using Western designs and planning. I am sure it will look like the neighborhood fell from the sky rather than cultivated from the ground with the local ecosystem in mind. I am glad I was able to see these islands before they change too much.
Local Homes in Bocas Del Toro