MUNGO EATS Latin America

Crazy day today!  Tomorrow we put the van in a shipping container, so we had a bunch of running around to do, while we still had a vehicle.  We tried to find a propane filling place, that was never successful.  We also thought we should get Mungo an official health certificate.  In Canada, this amounts to finding the nearest vet, having them check the dog, then they print out a certificate, while you wait and you are on your way.  In Panama, we found out, it involves finding a vet that is open (we went to three offices before we found one that was open) showing him all the paperwork you have for the dog.  He did not really even look at Mungo, although he did ask me to get him out of the car, but I think that was so that he could show his staff what a Ridgeback looks like.  We did not get a certificate, he said he would print one up in the afternoon, and once  he has it all printed up and stamped, he has to take it to the government vet, so he can stamp it.  The certificate should be ready by tomorrow afternoon, although we may end up picking it up in the morning on Friday, on our way out to the airport.  Either way, we need to stop by the clinic, because he has all our original documents.   

We realized late in the afternoon, that if we wanted to see the locks of the Panama Canal, today was IT.  Tomorrow, we will be busy “stuffing” the van, and Friday we leave this continent.  We knew we would probably get into a lot of trouble from you folks back home, if we did not see the canal, so off we went.  It really is something you ought to see.  The ships are gigantic, and they just barely squeak through the canal.  The canal is 110 feet wide and the Panamax ships (the maximum size ship that will fit) are 106 feet wide.  This means there are two feet of room on either side of these huge vessels.  

Check out the tight squeeze!! 

Sean was pretty amazed by all the ships, gates, etc.  He doesn’t look that excited  in this picture, but trust me, he thought it was cool.  I am glad we found the time to take him.  I really would have been a shame to miss this.  One more picture for good measure.

Wish us luck for tomorrow, I am super stressed already!!!!!