Three weeks’ worth of stuff packed into two small carry-on bags: hope those zippers will hold!

Three weeks! Such a very long time to be away. So exciting. But so overwhelming at the same time. My list of things to accomplish before 1:15 am was two pages long. So much to do!

And finally, the last few moments at home had come. When I stepped on the porch in the cool night air, it was so silent in our neighborhood, my husband and I whispered so as not to break it. My mind raced again and again through my list….did I forget anything? Was there something else to do? I went in and woke and kissed the kids goodbye, as I had promised, and then there was the crunch of tires on the gravel outside:  my shuttle had arrived. It was time. The adventure of a lifetime had begun. 

Rain spattered the windows as we arrived at the airport.

It was cloudy as we made our final descent. The view out the window was streaming wisps of gray of white, and slowly through the mist I could start to see the ocean below. Ocean, ocean, swells, clouds, and then suddenly, ships! Dozens of them, all lined up, headed in or out of the canal. Dropping lower, I could now make out the heavy swells headed in toward shore. The color of the water changed as we got closer to land, and suddenly, I could tell the water was very shallow, and there were long lines of breakers peeling in toward shore, and it was low tide: hundreds of yards of mudflats reached out toward the ocean. A city rose, all cement and steel and glass, looking very out of place clinging to the muddy banks. Then we were swooping over green tangled growth, water everywhere. 

Outside the airport in Panama City.

It was raining. When I stepped out of the plane into the gangway, the heat was oppressive. I put my hand on the glass to confirm that it was truly that warm outside. The line at Immigration was long and moved very slowly. Customs was even longer. But finally, I made it through. There was a driver waiting to pick me up outside of Customs.

A huge photograph of an ammonite (nautiloid creature) welcomed me as I entered my hotel room.

After checking in to the hotel, phoning home, and taking a shower, the city called to me to explore it with my camera. But the bed called louder with its crisp white sheets. Plunging into it, I rose a few hours later to order a meal, watch a little TV, and return to bed for more. Panama would have to wait. The view from my window would have to suffice. For now, I had to recharge.