also in this section:
Lots of things to do this January

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Gold Coast Tours

Gatun as tourist destination

by Eric Jackson

On January 4 the Radisson Diamond, a catamaran cruise ship, called at the Gatun Yacht Club for a day of fun in the sun. Passengers had a selection of seven different tours that they could take - the most popular being sightseeing trips to the former Canal Zone, the lower Chagres River, and Fort San Lorenzo, while helicopter rides, sailing around Gatun Lake, visits to old military installations and nature walks were the other organized options.

A lot of folks just hung around for the music, dancing and shopping. While all of the Atlantic side's three cruiser facilities - the Gatun Yacht Club, Colon 2000 and Pier 6 - have their strong points, at the yacht club the breadth and authenticity of the cultural presentations are one of the main features to distinguish it from the other cruiser ports.

Another option that's unavailable at the other two places is the opportunity to swim in the Panama Canal. Generations of Canal Zone kids did exactly that in this same locale, and on days when the cruisers don't come, Panama Canal employees and their families still use the Gatun Yacht Club as their freshwater recreation headquarters.

Panama shows off its true cultural colors to cruise ship passengers who visit the Gatun Yacht Club.

The first launch
approaches, to be greeted by MC Skip Berger and the Hijos de Antillanos.

The Gatun Yacht Club's tipico presentations go well beyond the obligatory polleras and montunos.

When the cacique strikes up the band - Embera musicians have been playing for the tourists since cruise ships started coming to the Gatun Yacht Club two years ago.


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Most tourists who get painted Embera-style don't go for the whole nine yards.

Thomas Exenberger, pilot and general manager of Albrook's Helipan Corporation, takes cruise tourists from the Gatun Yacht Club on short aerial sightseeing trips of Colon and Fort San Lorenzo, or longer flights to other parts of Panama.

Lord Cobra is with us only in memory now, but his band, the Hijos de Antillanos, plays on for the tourists.

These Kunas were one of three indigenous dance troupes who performed at the yacht club this day.


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Molas are one of the few Panamanian cultural expressions that are well known abroad, and mola shirts, purses, and other items sell well.

Coming ashore at the Gatun Yacht Club can be an opportunity to take one of a variety of guided tours, but other visitors just go for a swim, or catch a peacock bass.

It wouldn't be a tipico show without polleras and montunos.

Wounaan basket weaving is an ancient craft, while tagua nut sculpture is a relatively recent art form. Both have world-class practitioners, who provide much of their communities' incomes.




also in this section:
Lots of things to do this January

©2001 The Panama News