We started the day by changing hostals. The yappy dogs were a bit much. And when we ran into a young woman that we had met in Leon, Nicaragua who recommended the Hostel San Roque. We decided to check it out. It was similarly priced and just a few blocks away, with a nicer room, 2 fans, TV, private bath, wifi (that appears to work), and a much nicer common use kitchen. Then it was off to get desayuno and then stroll about the city again. At breakfast we ran into Marcus and Patricia a couple we met in Nicaragua who have been traveling by motorcycle with a sidecar. They recently spent 8 days on a large boat (with their motorcycle) traveling from Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands. They loved it! Although we contemplated a boat journey to make the border crossing from Panama to Colombia we decided against it as we both get seasick. As we listen to their stories we are bummed that we flew - but it is what it is and the romance of it all would be short lived if we were pucking out guts for a week waiting to hit land. In the category of small world we also find out that they had the misfortune of being at the Mamallena (our hostal in Panama City) when the armed robbery happened a few weeks before we had arrived. They lost all their electronics including a very nice camera and their backup harddrive with all their pictures. We are again reminded how lucky we have been so far on this trip and thank our lucky stars and hope they continue to stay with us.
We spend the next few days just strolling the streets within walled city, sipping lattes at one of the Plazas and taking in the sights and sounds of the city.
In the afternoons we head to the outer wall to watch the kids fly kites. It seems that the schools bring the kids here, or maybe its like a field trip. In any event we are mesmerized by their affection for kite flying. Even the security guards lend a helping hand to get a kite up off the ground. While sitting on the wall, a kite crashes near us and John is off to the rescue.
Here are some of the sights of the city.
The Puerta del Roloj (door to the clock) is the main entrance to the walled city. The area behind its entrance, Plaza de los Coches, was once used as a slave market. Now there are old houses above a small marketplace which are behind the monument to the founder of the city, Pedro de Heredia.
Found under one of Las Murallas (the walls) is Las Bovedas which is the site of 23 dungeons built in the 18th Century. They now house artesean shops.
Just outside the city walls is the port bordered by the Muelle de Los Pegasos. The port serves as a launching pad for tourist boats heading to nearby islands as well as providing a port for fishing and cargo boats.
Local dancing in the Plaza.
And a few more classic shots.
And a few more classic shots.
