I will be in Panama City for 48 hours Jan 16-18th 2003, Please tell me what I can not miss to see!!!!!!!!!<BR> <BR>I know that I can do a half day tour of the Panama canal, or a whole day tour, however I was thinking I would do the half day tour so that I could shop and see Panama City in the afternoon or vice versa. <BR><BR>I also like to purchase 'memoires' (authentic craft or tool indeginous to the country or lifestyle of the locals), as opposed to souvenirs (Cups, Tshirs, etc with the name of the country on them)<BR>Any recommendations of what might be relative for Panama??<BR><BR>I will be at the Bristol hotel, where can I walk to from here that I shoudl not miss - local food, or shows, or craft markets, restaurants, etc??<BR><BR>Thanks in advance for your timely responce and helpful advise!!!<BR><BR>

For authentic craft go to the San Blas Islands and buy some molas...they have become very collectible..They are done by the Kuna Indians...you will see their work all over the place...

Thanks, but what is a molas??<BR><BR>I don't think I have time to get to the islands in my limited time frame, at least that is what I have been told!!

try this site...<BR>http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&amp;l...=Google+Search

Are there any good markets in Panama City where one can purchase Molas?

I would contact Human Rights Watch before I left on my trip to find a contact in Panama where I could hook up and pay for a guided tour of the sights and history American Military Invasion and get first hand sight of where the mass graves were located, the slums the Ameican Miltary burned to the ground and the current situation in Panama.<BR><BR>Here is a link:<BR>http://www.hrw.org/americas/panama.php

I saw this link (www.Panamainfo.com) in another message. Check it out. <BR><BR>I plan on going to Panama the week after you on a 48 hour trip. Enjoy!

Do a google on Panama Deception and read the first three links on U.S. Invasion of Panama just keep clicking the forward button. <BR><BR>It won an Oscar for best documentary. I agree I would inquire for a tour from the Human Rights organization to all scenes of the horrific crimes committed by the Military.<BR>In fact the American takeover of Panama looked like scenes from the movie &quot;Missing&quot; with Jack Lemon where the CIA organized the takeover of Chile. People rounded up and disappeared and mass graves uncovered. Professors, political leaders, journalist detained and shot. Mass graves uncovered later.<BR><BR>

You can see Panama City and the Canal easily in a day. Book a guided tour if you want. I hear they aren't too expensive. Taboga Island is an easy day-trip from Panama City and would give you a good snorkel/swim experience. I wouldn't swim in water off Panama City. Read the Lonly Planet Guide. I recall something about a local craft market in what used to be the Canal Zone near Balboa (about 15 min. from Panama City. I'm sure you could find hand-crafted molas around the shops of Panama City. Molas are a definite must to purchase.

There are two craft markets in the old Canal Zone, any cab driver can take you to them. Molas are gorgeous, but these days most of the affordables are junk. Unless one really &quot;moves&quot; you or seems like it is special, be cautious. I lived in Panama forty years ago and they were ubiquitious, but these days it is much harder to come by a good one. There is a shop right behind the Hilton with some nice ones. The baskets are wonderful and quite unique. There are shops called My Name is Panama which sell fairly nice souvenir clothing. Gran Morrison is a department store with a wide selection of souvenirs.
Don't bother with anything more than a partial transit, if that. A good tour of Miraflores locks is usually enough insight into the construction miracle. Bear in mind, forty eight hours isn't much time!
Have a wonderful time. Panama is a gorgeous country and you will find many people anxious to help you enjoy your visit.