August 22, through to the 25th, traveled to Panama City for Public Affairs training and touring of Old Panama and the 100 year old Panama Canal

We were invited by the Public Affairs Director for Panama to come to Panama to participate in the training of Public Affairs Committees in 6 stakes in Panama City.

We traveled by plane to get there and only took 2 hours.  Stayed in a very nice hotel called TRYP.  Excellent accommodations.  We were told that Panama City is the Hong Kong of Central America. Having been to Hong Kong we can agree.  Tall skyscrapers and well landscaped grounds.  It made for an enjoyable day.

Saturday the 23rd we were taken by Luis Vallarino to various historical sights in Panama City plus the 100 year old Panama Canal.  We so enjoyed our visit there.

The Public Affairs training was very well received.  Those that attended were excited to participate and had many good ideas and suggestions.

Six stakes were represented at the training

 Stake Center where we had the training meeting Sunday Morning the 24th

Panama City Temple - closed for maintenance

Us in front of the Temple

 Luis Vallarino and family after the Sunday Trainings

Luis and darling daughter

Picture of me that Luis´s daughter took with my cell phone

Elder B getting a hug from Luis´s daughter

 The Historic Panama Square with museums and original church with 200 year old bells in bell tower

Julio, Me and Luis

 The Palace and statues in the square

Touring around the square

 Palace

Gorgeous building fronts.  Notice that leg coming off the balcony

Clock tower near the square
The following pictures is of an old city that was originally Panama that was burned down.  The city was occupied by 80,000 people. Story is that the city was evacuated and intentionally burned down. Tragic.

The ruins

 Notice the skyscrapers in the background

several hundred year old tree

Touring with Luis and Julio

 Captain Jacqueline Sparrow - she was the instructor for a youth group participating in history at the ruins

 Youth participation in a reenactment of Pirate days

Being shown a Panama Hat - didn´t buy it as it was way overpriced.

Panama Hat that I did not purchase

Luis telling us about the history of this old city

The Pirates

 From off of the observation deck of MiraFlores lock

 MiraFlores lock

 Luis, me and Julio from the observation deck at MiraFlores

 Photograph of a ship going through a lock

I took this picture from the simulator

Photograph of the excavation for the Panama Canal

 MiraFlores lock

Here you see tracks on either side that is used for a small but substantial train like piece of equipment that tethers to the ship and pulls it through the canal 

 Photograph of ship coming through

A simulator photo