Nice! Thanks for sharing your experience, Rhiannon!

Hey Bob,
Oh no, this won’t be difficult at all – Amsterdam is IN! No question about it. 😉

Bob

What are your top three, Deia? Since my wife and I are living around the world, 1-3 months in each place, I’m always very interested in other’s favorites. (Right now we are in Cusco, Peru after three months in Cuenca, Ecuador and six months in Pallanza, Italy. We’re very new to this. Next up is Malaga, Spain, followed by Tangier, Morocco.)

Bob

good morning to you Nora!

I crossed the Panama Canal on a huge boat and It took the whole day…. But i heard of a really nice alternative where you only cross the fist lucks, then you navigate a little and are then picked up by a bus that takes you back to the city. There is also an observatory where from the shore, you can watch the boats passing the lucks. Those 2 experiences shall give you some idea… The only thing you would be missing is that amazing oasis in between the 2 lucks where for 3 hours you navigate in the exotic mountains.

For the road along side the Canal to Colon, i did it and unfortunately, you will see nothing of the Canal…. But I’m actually even more concerned by your plan to go all the way to Colon (I even woke me up in the night thinking about it !!). I was there twice… And apart from the shopping mall in the port , that is completely isolated from reality and strictly reserved for tourists docking by boat… Colon is one of the most dangerous city in Latin America… I felt it first hand when innocently i wanted to go see the whole sale Free Zone. I really felt i didn’t fit and I felt so lucky to be with my husband who is quite imposing… We only found out after that even the taxi drivers from Panama do not want to go there !! I’m usually never putting down and city or any people, and not into scarring people, but really this time, i felt i had to tell..

huge hugs
xxx
your CarouLLou

Hey Carou!
I’m near to Panama city, but about 20 minutes outside of it, so I get to see and feel the “jungle effect” of this unbelievably luscious area! The wildlife is one of my resounding observations about Panama – it’s rich, big, vibrant, and anywhere there isn’t development, jungle seems to prevail. It’s amazing!

How did you cross the Canal? Did you do one of those tours that sails through? I drive over (the entrance to) the Canal every time I go into town (Panama City)…and in the next couple of days I’m considering driving alongside the Canal from Panama to Colon. Now that I’m a little more confident to get lost, I think it’s time! 😉

Hugs,
Nora

hola Nora!

Great you intend to return to Amsterdam to live for some time… No doubt you’ll get that amazing feeling when you get on your bicycle… May be you’ll start singing like they do (and like i did! )… And make sure to go the the Monday and Saturday market in Jordan, in my favorites of the world… But Yes.. being 6 months or so every year in Europe, I can’t deny that Amsterdam is indeed in the most expensive… and true, the winter is cold (though not as much Canada ;-)…

As for Panama, i mostly was in Panama city , So I still have to discover their wonderful exotic side with all these treasures of plants and birds… But one thing for which i had an ‘AWE’ moment, is when i crossed the Panama Canal… I was completely taken by this grandiose human accomplishment !

huge hugs,

xxx
your C!

I agree completely, Julie! I felt like I “knew” the place in just a few short days – and returning a few weeks later was like coming home! Amsterdam is an easy place to get a feel for, and to feel comfortable in.

Hi Carou!
Great minds travel alike! Too bad we didn’t meet up in Amsterdam, but then again with only two days I was on a tight schedule! I too, believe Amsterdam will be a place to which I regularly return. I like the idea of living there for a while, but I suspect it isn’t cheap, and I certainly couldn’t hack it in the winter.
And now….yes, I’m in Panama! Where did you visit when you were here?