It's scary just how quickly the years slip by. Since our very first backpacking adventure to Vietnam (12 years ago) we've wondered how many trips we'd be able to take as a family. Hard to believe it's been 6 years since our last one!
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| Vietnam 2011 South America 2014 Belize 2017 Panama 2023 These past 3 years have been a rough ride for everyone on the planet and it was particularly difficult for our family. Since 2020, so many things have shifted and sadly, there were many times we wondered if we would ever have the opportunity to travel again. Maybe it was my Mom's passing or Jeff's life altering foot injury, or perhaps it was my very close call with death - but we were reminded yet again, that there really are no guarantees in life. We've gained a lot of perspective and a deeper appreciation for the time we have on earth. Time to live life while we can, chase our dreams and the memories we want to make as a family. Do you have to travel far to make those memories and really appreciate one another? NO. But if you know me (and Jeff), you know that adventure travel is in our soul, a healthy addiction we'd like to pass on to our kids. With Stella graduating High School this year, Jeff and I celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary, and a big birthday for me, marking these milestones with a trip seemed like a good idea. On some level, we felt like we "earned" this trip and that it was time to get away from all distractions, spend some quality time together as a family and celebrate what we had come through together.  We chose Panama. It was Spring Break after all, so we were drawn to someplace sunny & hot, with varied landscapes (including lots of beaches), lots of sights to see, not a huge country to cover and not too far away... just a couple additional hours of flying beyond Cancun. When we first arrived, we spent almost a week in the capital city. What a modern and vibrant metropolis! A centre of international banking and trade, Panama city has an incredible skyline with some really unique architecture. There was so much to see and do around the city and it was an excellent jumping point for some day trips.   One of our favourite days was spent exploring the old, colonial part of the city called Casco Viejo (nearly 350 yrs old and full of lots of pirate lore). It has been restored to a charming neighbourhood where quaint hotels, restaurants and shops mix with crumbled ruins on cobblestone streets.    Legend states it was hidden from Pirate Captain Henry Morgan's raid While in Panama City, we knew we had to visit one of the world's greatest marvels ... the Panama Canal. It would be like going to Rome and not seeing the Colosseum. We did our homework and arrived early one morning, only to find out the last ship of the morning had already passed through. Ugghh ... not what the website stated. Since we were already there, we pre -purchased our tickets for the afternoon and came back early to watch an incredible IMAX documentary on the building of the canal. After the show, we went up to the viewing platforms to join the crowds of people all clamouring for a great view spot. No ships were in sight yet. A few minutes later, a voice came over the loud speakers, "a ship was entering the locks!!!" The announcer continued to give lively updates on the ship, and between his commentary and the excitement of everyone with their cameras ready, you'd think the Pope was arriving! lol I thought it was pretty interesting to stand witness to the engineering it takes to move ships from one depth to another as they pass through, but to the kids, it was more like watching paint dry. The 'wow' factor was kind of lost on them as we stood there viewing the ship inching its way through the canal at a snail's pace.   On one of our last days in the city, we had the privilege of going on a day trip to an indigenous community. Driving out of the city for a couple of hours, we then loaded into a dugout canoe and motored up the Rio Chagres. For over an hour, we travelled through picturesque jungle. It was nearing the end of the dry season so the water was extremely shallow in spots. There were times we wondered if our boat would make it any further up the river or if we'd be stranded! We pulled up to a beautiful beach and hiked to some waterfalls for a refreshing swim. We headed downstream after this stop (navigating the shallow depths a lot easier WITH the current) to an Embera village. We spent a couple hours with these beautiful, welcoming people who showed us their traditional dances, music, handicrafts and cooked us a delicious lunch. All four of us would say this day is counted as one of the top highlights of our entire trip. It was meaningful and memorable ... a day that we will never forget! This community reminded us that very little is needed to make a happy lifeđź’—          We are headed to the San Blas Islands next. Stay tuned for what might be the craziest travel experience we've ever had!! ... |
