January 11, 2016 - Day 7 - Panama City

We took a tender to shore right after breakfast. Our plan was to look for the Hop On Hop Off tour, but instead we joined the line for the free shuttle.

PAINTED ON FRONT OF AMSTERDAM ABOVE BOW DECK

HERE WE ARE

SLOTH IN TREE OUTSIDE TERMINAL

SKYLNE FROM TERMINAL

We did not see a tourist desk or ticket booth for the HoHo, so this seemed like a good option. We learned that the shuttle would take us to a large mall. This was Albrook Mall. It is HUGE! Someone told us this is the largest mall in South America.

The mall is two stories of air conditioned comfort. Unlike our malls it does not have a loop design. It occupies a long piece of real estate that goes on and on. The shuttle stop was at one end. We walked the full length and returned hours later. Although we did not spend a penny, we had a great time window shopping. We skipped the bowling at the center of the upper level. We could not get over the large number of luggage stores.

MALL ENTRANCE

NAIL POLISH AND LIPSTICK KIOSK

At the end farthest from our entry we found a Whyndam hotel with a direct entrance to the mall. It has a lovely lobby with interesting artwork. Very modern.

We really did not mind missing the HoHo bus. When we transited in 2012, we spent 4 days in the hospital after I lost vision in my left eye at the last lock. While waiting clearance to return to the ship, we were taken on a comprehensive city tour by the administrator from the doctors' clinic. See my January, 2012 blog posts. We cannot imagine that the HoHo would have been better than her fine tour.

We returned to Amsterdam satisfied that we had experienced a good day after 5 hours ashore. We did marvel at the expanded skylines. The city has grown up in four years.

We recounted our adventures with Terri and Diane at dinner. Pam and Diana were in the Pinnacle for dinner. We all were satisfied with our taste of Panama. We were once again encouraged to extend our voyage, but the news from Michael at the cruise desk was dismal. We would lose both our airfare home and hotel cost in Singapore. That is over $3,000, and there are no deals or perks for the remaining segment.

We have decided to book the 2017 World Voyage.

Tonight's entertainer presented a marionette show. He was outstanding. If we watched his stage, we could see how he managed the performers. If we watched the large video screens to the sides, he blended into the stage curtains. We could not even tell he was there. The marionettes are so lifelike that you forget they are "dolls". The final act was a Chinese magician. The illusions he performed were unbelievable.

Our deck walk was spent rehashing the wonderful things we just saw onstage. Then we recounted our day, and went to bed. Quite satisfied.