Panama
It seems that thus far on our deployment, the USS De Wert’s ‘home away from home’ has been Panama City, Panama, right up-river from the Panama Canal. We’ve been there three times already, and will probably pause there at least once more during our trip home to pick up fuel. Two of those visits have been actual port visits, where we were able to leave the ship and head into town.
I’ve enjoyed these visits for the most part, though they haven’t been as culture-filled as my visits to other countries have been during the deployment. In fact, a great majority of my time in Panama has been spent in a mall known as the MultiPlaza. It has most everything a waterlogged sailor could want: food, Internet, a phone center, and souvenir shops. And, for those who are so inclined, a casino. I am not so inclined, for various reasons, but my companions were and I therefore spent a bit of time in the casino watching them lose their money.
It’s my hope that my next visit to Panama City will be a more culturally-enlightening experience, and I’ve since encountered some others on the ship who have the same goal. It may not be until our next deployment that I return, but when I do, the mall is the last place I plan on visiting!
On a more positive note, from the pier where we were moored I could look across the Panama Canal and see what I believe to be the Panama City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Seeing the temple in the distance is a little touch of home for me, and brought a tear to my eye.
I do have pictures of Panama and more, which I’ll upload once I get back and have access to a decent Internet connection.