Day 3 - Miraflores Locks

Posted by Christina

This morning, after a relatively late start, we walked to an administration building here in the City of Knowledge, where Dr. Calvo gave a presentation on the City of Knowledge and USF Health in Panama. The vast range of educational and research activities held here was impressive - it made me realize that though Panama is such a small country, it has major ties to other parts of the globe. For me it was interesting to see the contrast between the Embera's traditional lifestyle and the more modernized side of Panama.

That afternoon we took two buses to the neighboring Miraflores Locks. The food at the restaurant was delicious, leaving our stomachs full and happy (for the most part). From the balcony at the Miraflores Restaurant, we enjoyed a panoramic view of the locks. As we watched the Island Princess pass through, I was astounded at the fact that they were able to steer it through with such precision. Furthmore, the mechanism by which the water levels were lowered and the locks opened was far more impressive to see in person. As the announcer kept up a commentary from a table not too far away, I caught her recounting a recent record-breaker. A Norwegian had recently paid $488,000 to pass through the canal! The numbers involved in this great engineering feat were certainly mind-boggling.

Also mind-boggling (though in a completely different way) was the size of the insects dwelling in Panama's forests. While the large, iridescent butterflies would have been a treat to see, I would not want to find some of those bed bugs or cockroaches crawling around in my bed at night. All horror aside, Panama has a truly awe-inspiring array of flora and fauna with an equally magnificent (as Victoria put it) canal.