Panama- Halfway Home

Correction to last posting, “Juanita” was, in fact discovered on Ampato Peak not Sabancaya. The eruption of the latter melted the snows on adjacent Ampato allowing the discovery.

To Continue:

  A late flight Sunday arrived in Lima allowing little other than sleep once we arrived back at Hotel Runcu.   An overcast sky, Monday and a temperature of 17C proved quite a contrast to the previous 2 weeks of mostly sunny skies and highs of 12-14C.

 A walk to the central retail area of Miraflores was rewarded with the discovery of half adozen craft markets selling product from all over the country. Some of the items were actually cheaper ( though perhaps of poorer quality) than in the originating towns and areas that we had seen in the previous weeks. Some of the vendors even admitted that the cheaper “100% Alpaca” sweaters were actually derived from the rare Peruvian Wooly Parrot- hence the name “Poly Ester!!”

  Anyway, with the option of either converting our remaining Neuvo Soles back to $US at some loss of conversion, or spending them, we decided on the latter. Some basic haggling with several merchants ensured that there would be little chance of anything moving around in the luggage on the flight home.

 An early awakening (3am) to catch an early flight (7:10am) has provided an excessively long layover in Panama, (10:40am to 5:30pm) with little to do until boarding except doze and be thankful the place is air-conditioned.

 With the current temp at 31C and feeling like 37C due to humidity, this is probably a taste of the weather in Ontario last week. Perfect timing to come home. Maybe?

  With a scheduled landing of 12:10am it will be a little late to head to Scarborough for Chinese food, but I am sure that tomorrow will be another day.

  With another major vacation almost done, I am wondering if it is too early to start planning the next one in earnest!

  Time permitting, a final wrap-up may follow in a day or so,once my body has recovered somewhat from the trip