What an amazing visit.   We left the marina in our coach for a tour through the National Park to the Fort of San Lorenzo to hear tales of Henry Morgan as well as seeing howler monkeys, beautiful butterflies, a sloth and boa constrictor.   We then continued on to the Panama Canal where we spent an hour on the viewing platform at the Gatun Visitors Centre where we had a bird's eye view of transiting ships and were given a concise history of the canal.  Next it was on to the train and a trip down the length of the canal to Balbao.   Very worrying to see the level of water in the canal - without serious rain in the next 3 months the canal will have to close for 5 months!   Once back in the coach we were taken to our hotel in Panama City.   What a city of contrasts from the towering skyscrapers, casinos and wide open avenidas of the city to the narrow streets of the Casco Viejo district where so many of the historical buildings were shut for renovation.   We walked miles.   You can read and see more photos on our February page.