This was the FIRST adventure outside of the USA with just Daddy and Princeton.
On the way down to Panama, we stopped for the night in Mexico City, one of my favorite places on earth. There we discovered a really cool restaurant that had a leafy courtyard where Princeton could run wild.
After a layover in El Salvador, we made it (with Godzilla) to our penthouse in Panama City, Panama.
Again we scored a sweet place on Airbnb for about $85 a night. It was right in the center of town and next to a park with a playground.
A rooftop pool made the 90 degree winter more bearable.
The highlight of the trip was visiting the Panama Canal! Built by the U.S., Panama took control of the Canal in 1999 and now it accounts for about a third of Panama’s economy.
It was incredible watching the ships (and sailboats) pass through the locks.
The Panama Canal runs between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and stretches 50 miles. Over 20,000 people died during the construction, mostly due to Malaria and Yellow Fever.
Partly because of the influence of the Canal, Panama City is the financial center of Central America, and Panama City hosts abundant high-rises right on the Pacific Coast.
This building had to be one of my favorites!
But this vibrant cosmopolitan hub is also right in the middle of a tropical rainforest, so exploring it is only a ten minute Uber ride away.
Hiking in the rain forest is a hot and humid affair, but the beauty of God’s creation didn’t disappoint.
We could glimpse the city through the vegetation.
We also did a bit of exploring of colonial-era ruins.
It was great to have the opportunity to enjoy such a great adventure with my son! Traveling with a high-energy five-year-old can be challenging at times, but it was all worth it!
