“Oh Good Heavens…What is That?”

The Bridge of Life is being built in Amador at the beginning of the Causeway of the Pacific entrance to the Canal. It is called Bridge of Life because its aim is to make one aware that Panama plays a unique role itself as the "Bridge of Life." Panama has more than 30,000 thousand species between animals and plants. Scientists also believe that the formation collected about the Isthmus of Panama is one of the most important geologic events to have happened on Earth in the last 60 million years. It is a tiny space of land which when it rose from the depths of the sea changed climates and landscapes simply by altering how water moved and flowed. The Atlantic became saltier; Europe became warmer through the creating of the Gulf Stream just to mention a few climatic and atmospheric changes. In addition to this the Isthmus created a bridge through which species migrated from North to South and vice versa creating the biodiversity we have in both American continents, in fact it was the bridge of life. It is a building site that could make you turn in your car seat to gaze at the unique shape and design of the building under construction and it is going to be amazing. This building will offer a memorable visual experience even when viewed from afar it will probably raise many questions from uninformed viewers. The roof is made from colored panels resembling handkerchiefs waving in the wind. The actual idea is that they resemble the leaves of trees which overlap and allow sinlight to filter through them.

The museum will have galleries plus the botanical garden. The galleries are: the Biodiversity Gallery, Panamarama, the Bridge Arises, the Great Exchange, the Web of Life, Oceans Divided, Panama is the Museum ~ i.e., creation the world as we know it, the continents, the ice ages, the movement of humans and animals, how the ecosystems interwine, conservation of our planets and more. it will showcase the diversity of the eco-system in this nation that spans two mighty oceans. Other exhibits include interdependent ecological systems, full scale models of extinct animals that once roamed the isthmus. Oceanographers will enjoy displays of aquatic ecosystems of the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean.

Out and about our yard

I can actually walk out and pick some hot peppers, and they are hot. The more we pick the more grow.

We also have a few strange flowering plants. This one is called "shrimp" in Spanish - "camaron." Because of its shape. Can you see it?

Frogs are always everywhere, especially where there is water and when it rains. You can see them as you drive down the road, on the yards, well everywhere. Sometimes in the morning where you least expect you will lift something and you will be greated by a frog. Of course it might be a huge toad but still you need to be careful as they can be poisonous to us humans. There are supposed to be several types of frogs. There is also the red frog, a frog with stripes and the famous golden frog that is facing extinction as it is being currently studied by the Smithsonian. That one is highly poisonous especially to pets. It secretes a jelly-like substance and when licked you have 15 minutes to save your pet. You do that by giving him mustard to make him throw up and honey around his mouth for protection. Weird huh? but it works.



Then there are bugs. This is one I came across about a week ago on my terrace. What struck me was that it was about 4 inches long BUT the top was very silvery looking. Later on I realized the silver was its wings but while they are closed it just looks like a silver streak. Just interesting tid-bits!



There is always something different we learn about each day. There are a multitude of birds that we wish we could take pictures of, bugs and othere types of LARGE animals that prowl in these parts that make each day pretty interesting.

Are you sure it is a bug?

The other day I walked out on the terrace and my eye caught something above the doorway. For a slight instant I was certain it was a twig but then I thought that there was no way it could just be on there sideways. As I took a closer look I realized it was a stick bug. Well it is the biggest one I have ever seen, but then again, everything is always larger here they say. Personally I would say it measured at least 8 inches maybe a bit larger. I add it to my blog because it just amazes me at how big "bugs" are here. I am keeping a lookout on a few others so I can catch them and take photos to post.

Pixbae? What is that?

This is a peach palm fruit tree. A palm that grows 20 meters or taller, frequently stewed in salt water. Can be eaten raw, peeled and dressed with salt and honey, used to make compotes and jellies, also used to make flour and edible oil.

This is not found anywhere, only certain countries have this type of palm. In Panama it is abudant in mountain regions and remote areas. We have a couple of them just down from our lot.

I have not ventured to taste these but my husband has and loves them. They are not as big as you would imagine, rather they are about the size of a lemon. Prior to eating them these were boiled in a lot of salt and water.

Quenepas, mamones or suckers?

Actually, they're in the same family as lychees, which makes sense considering their similarly leathery skin. Beneath this green skin is a large seed coated in a slimy, peach colored flesh, which actually tastes a bit like a lime. (see photo below) The most common way of eating them is to remove the skin and suck the pulp from the seed. Some fruits

are worth climbing trees to enjoy. A fruit from my childhood that is not widely known in the United States but is considered a delicacy in the Caribbean and tropical regions of Central and South America (Colombia, Venezuela) are called mamones, or quenepas in the Caribbean. Mamones grow in clusters on tall upright trees. The flesh is more or less sucked off the seed which is then discarded. The edible portion is sweet but tart enough to pucker the mouth. It is difficult to liken the flavor to another fruit; perhaps it is bit like a combination of lemon and cantaloupe. Suffice it to say that mamones are one of those taste sensations residing in my childhood memories that I treasure most.

As we were driving in the city one day I drove past a young man holding up a clear plastic bag with them in it for sale and I was ready to jump our of my car with excitement! Oh boy, they have those here I have to get some! And I did. Everyday I feel more and more at home. Brings so many memories of my childhood and growing up years, sitting under a tree and instead of eating mangos which I also did, we ate quenepas or mamones!

On a clear day....we can see all the way down to Coronado beaches. Sometimes we can even catch a glimpse of boats ... awesome view. Even if it is pouring rain up here you can always tell what it is doing down at the beach because it can be very sunny down there.

A closer view of the beach taken from the same spot as the one above. From my terrace in Altos del Maria

Facts about the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal has a length of about 80 kilometers between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Built in one of the narrowest areas of the continent; this water route joins North and South America.

The Channel uses a system oflocks that are compartments with entrance and exist gates, which function as water lifts. Through the locks the ships are lifted from sea level (either Atlantic or Pacific) to the level of the Gatun Lake (26 meters above sea level); this way, ships can sail through the channel of the Canal.

Each set of locks bears the name ofthe village where it was built: Gatun, located on the Atlantic side, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores, both in the Pacific.

The water used to raise and lower vessels in each set of locks comes from Gatun lake by gravity, and it's poured into the locks through a system of main culverts that extend below the chambers of the locks from the side walls and the central wall.

Construction for the new locks has already begun, this will allow much larger cargo and cruise ships to travel through the canal that have not been able to do due to their size.