Safari

Day Eight in Panama

Today we went on a dangerous safari through the mall. We visited animals from  Africa, Asia, Australia Antarctica, the ocean, and even prehistoric times! It was fun to just go around the mall taking pictures with the statues. 

-Ali

Public Service Announcement for Spay Panama

Spay Panama is a volunteer-driven organization.  On any given day there are seven or more veterinarians and 10-plus volunteers that handle everything from intaking patients to cleaning instruments to cleaning post-operation wounds.  Volunteers come from around the world but there are also many who live in Panama City.  One of the groups was from Germany and had been there for almost a year.  David, the man in the video, has been volunteering at Spay Panama since 2005.  He was gracious enough to show us the ropes.  He was patient, helpful and friendly, as was everyone else.  We'll be back Spay Panama!

Spay Panama and SLOTH!

Day Seven in Panama

This morning we went back to the Spay Panama clinic for our third and final day. Today at the clinic, there were two kittens that were less than a week old. They were so small and adorable. 

After the clinic, we walked up Ancon Hill. The hill is 200 meters high and has wonderful view of Panama City and the Panama Canal. On our way back down the hill, we saw a sloth! He was just hanging out in a tree right next to the path. We also saw three capybara. They were the size of large squirrels. It was really cool seeing these animals in their natural environment. 

-Ali

Tattoos, tiny kittens, scenic views and a sloth

Our last day in Panama and at the clinic is bittersweet.  We have had a week full of fun and enriching experiences, but we aren't quite ready to leave.  We will miss the Spay Panama dogs and cats.  Droopy the 3-legged dog, Poncho the cranky chihuahua, Chloe the pink dress-wearing chihuahua and a herd of lazy cats and dogs lay  around being petted by volunteers all day, every day.

Today we learned to tattoo the female dog's ears to indicate they had been spayed. It was a little scary the first time because we didn't want to hurt them. We also got to watch teeniest tiny kittens get their first bottles after being rescued.  

Later in the day, we hiked Cerro Ancón and were lucky enough to see capybaras and a mystical sloth.     We could see all the places of interest where we gallivanted this week.  El Casco Viejo, el Puente de las Americas, el Biomuseo and much more was all on display from the top of the hill.

Jimmi Stevens

SLOTH

It’s hard to believe today was our last day in Panama! The trip went by so quickly. Today was our last day at Spay Panama. I’m addition to our regular duties, two tiny tiny kittens, born less than ten days ago, were brought into the clinic. We got to see the Spay Panama staff feed them from a bottle. Their eyes weren’t open yet, and they fit in the palm of the hand with space to spare. They were so cute, and I’m happy they’re being well taken care of!

After that, we hiked to the top of Ancon Hill. This hill overlooks the city, so the views we got at the top were spectacular. Best of all, though, is that we saw a sloth!!!!!! I really wanted to see one, and I’m so happy we did! He was just as cute and slow as I imagined.

Tomorrow is a travel day— we’ll be sleeping in a little bit before heading to the airport to return home. I’m not ready to go back to the “real world” yet! Panama is a vibrant, beautiful, and enchanting country, and I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to come here with three amazing people.  My sincere thanks to Jimmi, Lizzie, and Ali, who were fabulous travel buddies!! I couldn’t have asked for a better team.

Buenas noches!
-Cait

Panama Viejo

Currently taking a break from Duolingo to write this blog— this trip has re-inspired me to learn Spanish! Six painful and fruitless years of French in middle and high school taught me very little French, but somehow the conjugations have been helpful for my Spanish abilities! Ah, the beauty of Romance languages.

Another awesome day in the books. Today was day three at Spay Panama, and it was our lightest work day so far. Not very many animals came in, so we had extra time to devote to the ones who were there— including Otis and his brother!

After Spay Panama, we headed to Panama Viejo, the site of the original Panama City, which was burned to the ground by pirates and then abandoned. I love history, so seeing these ruins and learning about the early settlements of Panama was particularly exciting for me. Doesn’t hurt, of course, that these ruins are so beautiful!

Tomorrow is our last full day in Panama, and I’m not ready for our trip to be over yet! :( We plan to hike to the top of Ancon hill tomorrow afternoon— fingers crossed we see a toucan!!!!

Buenas noches!
-Cait

Spay Panama and Panama Viejo

Day Six in Panama

This morning we went to Spay Panama's clinic to help out for a second day. I was once again stationed at Post Op where I cleaned the wounds and the ears of the animals. I also got to hold the tiny orange kitten again!
After we finished at the clinic, we went to Panama Viejo. Panama Viejo is the ruins of the original city the Spanish built when they came to Panama in 1501. While there, we walked around the site and visited the museum. At the museum, it was interesting to learn about the people who lived at the site before the Spanish arrived; there was even a part about the funeral rites of the original people. We learned about life after the Spanish arrived as well.  We also climbed the old cathedral tower which had an amazing view of the surrounding area.

-Ali

Panama Day 6: Panama Viejo

2/20/20

Today we visited the historical site of Panama Viejo and saw the museum as well. It was cool to see the ruins of the first city on the west coast of the Americas     -Liz

Panama Day 6: Spay Panama Clinic

2/20/20

Raul and the Mites

Wound Cleaning

Today was our second day at the clinic, and not much was different from yesterday. My job was to work post-op once again, so it was not a challenge. Today seemed less busy than yesterday, but even though it was a calmer day, there were still some complications.

One dog named Raul came in with some serious ear mites. At first I noticed a clump of small bugs latched onto her ear, which startled me a bit, I cleaned those out and thought that would be the end of it. Unfortunately, I was wrong. As I went deeper into her ear, I found more and more bugs, some as large as a black bean. I spent a long time trying to dig out as many as I could, but I could tell there were more deeper inside that I could not reach with the given circumstances. I feel so bad that she had to live with all those bugs in her ears for who knows how long. I imagine it must've been extremely uncomfortable and I hope the ointment I put inside helped.

-Liz

Moments Before Vacuum

After Vacuum

Panamá Viejo, the First Panama City

 Panamá Viejo is the site of the original capital city of Panama.  The tower and 

surrounding ruins are mystical and beautiful and the museum is super informative.
Jimmi Stevens