Panama Trip
November 16-28, 2007
As I've done several times in the past (Costa Rica in 1996, Ecuador in 1998, Venezuela in 2000, Ecuador in 2002), I organized a birding trip for a group of local and not-so-local friends who share an interest in birds, and in particular hummingbirds. This year's destination was Panama, centered around the Canopy Tower and the newly opened Canopy Lodge. The owners of these lodges, Raul Arias de Para (and his staff) was responsible for all our arrangements in Panama. The trip included side trips to several other birding locations as well. Participants included Sue, Diana, Stella, and me from Michigan, Jeff and Cheri from Ohio, and Mike from Maryland.
Day 1, Friday November 16, 2007
Day 2, Saturday, November 17, 2007
Day 3, Sunday, November 18, 2007
Day 4, Monday, November 19, 2007
Day 5, Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Day 6, Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Day 7, Thursday, November 22, 2007
Day 8, Friday, November 23, 2007
Day 9, Saturday, November 24, 2007
Day 10, Sunday, November 25, 2007
Day 11, Monday, November 26, 2007
Day 12, Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Day 13, Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Day 1, Friday, November 16, 2007
Our American Airlines flight from Detroit departed on time, with temperatures in the low 40s. Since I hadn't flown since 2002, the lack of free meals was a surprise...$3 bag of chips...$5 turkey sandwich! We (Allen & Diana) arrived a few minutes early and soon met up with Jeff & Cheri who had also arrived early. We spent the next 7 hours of our layover chatting, then went to the gate for our Panama City flight where we met Sue. Our American Airlines flight departed a half hour late and we got to the Riande Airport Hotel around 10:15 p.m. Mike was already checked in, and Stella arrived at 11:45. Birding tomorrow!