Panama Canal

Central America-Panama-Panama Canal  I guess could be considered one of the wonders of the world. I would certainly say it is the Worlds greatest shortcut. Spend the morning here on my first day watching a ship going through from the visitor centre. It was most interesting. Also the museum on the lower floor. Certainly worth visiting. 

This was posted in the most disorganised Post office I have ever been in. I got my hotel manager to check the address of the Post office in Panama city as most people did not know where it was ! Before getting into a taxi the hotel manager told me that the Post office said they had no stamps or did the Philatelic office. To be honest I did not believe this. So first off to the Post office which is in a small mall. It was chaotic with people everywhere and staff sitting behind small windows . I guess if I had lined up I would have been there for one hour or more. But I said I was just trying to mail some Postcards. When I showed the postcard they said they had no stamps only stickers . I bought the stickers and the price for postage was .40 . This is not the correct rate as it is way to low, but I did not complain. I asked to see the Post Office Manager and she told me they did not have stamps in the conventional sense but I could go to the Philatelic office to get stamps. Well when I got there they had no stamps of any kind. At least the card made its way home. .... 

Panama City

Central America-Panama-Panama City It was great visiting the old part of Panama City. A surprise gem. Very walkable area and nice just to people watch. What surprised  me the most was the lack of English spoken bearing in mind the Panama Canal which was an area run and owned by the USA for a time. 

Unusual for me , I did not post this card at the Post Office in Panama City. To tell you it was a disaster at one of the worst operated Post Offices in the World I have ever been to . But more on that later. I posted this card in Penonome in the Cocole area of Panama which is on the Pacific side. This Post Office was efficient and they had stamps. No choice but stamps yes.