Legendary Panama

Visiting the Panama Canal has always been my dream. Before going, it's crucial to check the ship schedule, meaning you need to know when ships will pass through. It's not like ships are passing through 24 hours a day. On the day I went, ships were scheduled to pass after 2 PM. In the morning, I visited the old town, which features typical Spanish colonial architecture. The security used to be average, but now there are police everywhere, so it seems to have improved. At noon, you can walk through Chinatown from the old town to a place similar to a food court to eat seafood. It's reasonably priced. However, it's worth noting that I read online that someone had their phone stolen on this route, so be mindful of your safety. Taking a taxi to the Panama Canal viewing area, I had to wait in a long line to buy tickets. To get a good spot to watch the ships, I arrived early. The ticket office told me there was still some time before the ships would pass, so they suggested I watch a documentary about the Panama Canal in the theater. The documentary was well-made, explaining the history and significance of the canal. After the screening, I rushed to get a good spot. It was over 30 degrees Celsius, and everyone was waiting under the sun. After a long wait, a ship finally arrived. The broadcast introduced the ship in both Spanish and English, including its name (some ships have their own names), type, cargo, origin, destination, shipping company, and country of origin. If the ship is a regular visitor, they also mention how many times it passes through each year. Every time I heard the enthusiastic introduction, I thought about the millions of dollars in toll fees each ship pays, not to mention the high entrance fees paid by tourists daily. If I were them, I would also welcome each ship with such enthusiasm. I love watching ships, and I happily watched for two and a half hours, standing until my legs were sore. The return trip was heavily congested. The driver took a shortcut to avoid traffic, and I got to see the poorer side of this wealthy Central American capital. Knowing the city's security is average, I quickly put away my phone while waiting at red lights in these areas. Before my trip, I heard about specialized tours that take tourists through the Panama Canal by boat, but these tours take a day or even multiple days, so I had to pass. In the evening, back in the old town, I fulfilled another dream of mine: drinking Geisha coffee. Panama's Geisha coffee beans are rarely exported due to their low yield. The coffee had a refreshing taste, perfect for drinking black. The most interesting part was when the restaurant staff heard I was from Hong Kong; several of them came to chat with me. They said they rarely see East Asian tourists, as most visitors come by cruise ship and leave after a quick look, without sitting down for a meal. The chef even came out to talk to me, asking if I was used to the food. Although there are taxi apps here, taxis usually take a long time to arrive, so be sure to plan accordingly.