I was stationed at Panama’s 193rd Infantry Brigade while I was in the Army, this was where I met and married my first husband. The fort was located directly across from the Mira Flora Locks and we spent hours watching the ships enter the locks at Mira Flora to start their journey through the Panama Canal. At night we would sit and watch the ships. The light from the ships, waiting to enter the locks, reflected off the dark waters making it a beautiful sight.

 

Before meeting Kenny, I was an avid explorer of the area and would spend my off-duty time riding my bike between Gamboa and Panama City. I even braved taking my bike across the Bridge of the Americas to the other side of the canal. This was the location of the Airforce Base and the best beaches. 

 

Despite being warned of the dangers of poisonous snakes like the fer-de-lance viper Panama’s most deadly snake and the needles of the black pine, I wanted to get a good view of the Gaillard Cut. I took an overgrown trail cut into the jungle by maintenance trucks. Alert for snakes and other wildlife, I carefully made my way towards the lookout. The air was filled with butterflies of all shapes and colors, white, green and yellow but, the blue ones took my breath away. When their wings are closed, these butterflies are brown, but when the open, they are shiny bright blue. Some where so large, it seemed a wonder that they could even navigate the gentle winds, the largest had two wings the size of my hand. 

 

After looking over the edge of the lookout over the narrow cut of the canal, I took a chance in getting off the path. I should have been satisfied seeing the sights of the hillside but something caught my eye. I carefully made my way up to a sunny clearing where I watched in wonder, not believing what I was seeing. A formation, as tight as the Airforce’s Blue Angels, made of strange flower seeking insects flew as a unit changing color in time to some unheard song. Their bodies had a translucent sheen to them and they either reflected light which appeared to make them change color. Either that or their internal organs changed color and shown through their skins. I was trying to get a closer look at them while I was hypnotized by their movements. They flew in precise order and unison. Their bodies were curiously shaped like closed blossoms of snap dragon flowers. I couldn’t study them long before they simply flew off.

 

As strange and wonderful as that sight was, I was in for another even greater sight. This time I had fellow witnesses that can verify that what I saw was real. Kenny’s supervisor invited us to take a small boat out on Lake Gatun. We planned for a day of sightseeing, waterskiing and fishing.

 

We were taking turns skiing and having a great time. Despite the good instruction, I could not manage to get up on the skis. So Kenny, took his turn. He was an excellent skier. All three of us in the boat were watching Kenny when we saw the fins and back of a large sea monster! We motioned for Kenny to quit and we quickly got him back aboard our boat. 

 

Lake Gatun is a man-made lake, not the place for an undiscovered prehistoric monster but, if such a monster could exist, then Lake Gatun would definitely be large enough. We told Kenny what we had witnessed and he agreed that he didn’t want to become dinner. I don’t know what it was, most likely some very large fish. I learned afterwards that Gatun was famous for its fishing, bass, snook and tarpon. Tarpon are known to reach 200 lbs. Lake Gatun is also known to have a few oscars as well.  

 

After that we settled in for some fishing. Fishing Gatun was something like a dream come true. I’m really no expert on fishing, none of us were, but in less then 20 minutes we had more fish than what we could want. We ended up giving away some fish when we got back to the dock. These were no small fish either. We didn’t keep the small ones less than 2 pounds. We only took a few fish, but we passed boats that were so full of fish, they were riding low in the water. 

 

My stay in Panama was certainly the adventure of a lifetime, I would go back if I get the chance. The natural beauty of the jungle and wildlife is breathtaking. With only 50 miles separating the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, you can easily be on both coasts in a day. I’ve snorkeled in crystal clear waters above colorful corals and tropical fish. Whenever I go to the aquarium here in the States, I always comment, I’ve swam with this yellow species and this bright blue one. And to anyone who will believe me, I tell them I also swam with the big one that almost ate my first husband.