we arrived in Panama City and were astonished at the size (1.5 million) and the impressiveness of the skyline and the buildings of the new city.
The living room of our "apartment" at Las Clementinas in Casco Antigua (the old city).











The skyline of the New City from the balcony of the apartment. Note to self.......it is a good idea to check and see if there is an elevator in the building. Good thing we are still in good health! Four floors ain't as easy as it once was.



The exterior of Hotel Las Clementinas. Our room is at the rear of the top floor. A pleasant restaurant on the main floor with a killer "House Martini."

















and right around the corner is the contrasting housing shown in the next photo, but not nearly so extreme as much we saw. Our hotel owners have established a project for training women of the community to work in entry level jobs in hotels and have so far placed 160 people in various locations.






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The fish market on the waterfront is a source of great pride to most of the people here. Each day the fish are brought in and there is a warren of shops selling the catch of the day. In addition you can eat at sidewalk cafes where ceviche is the speciality, or you can go (as we did) upstairs to the restaurant and have fish and/or seafood that is ready prepared or purchased from the ground floor and cooked to order.

These young men were taking the outboard motors off after a day's work, then carrying them up to cars or trucks on the wharf. Then the boats are paddled out (see the photo below) by a person who anchors the boat and then swims to shore.


Some of the "molas" created by local women (or, mostly, the women of San Blas) and then brought to Panama City to sell. They are intricate reverse applique done with nearly invisible hand stitching.











One of the more unusual buildings in Panama's New City

Wrapping up Norway

This has been an altogether lovely experience. Knowing nothing of Norway there has been much to see and learn.
The country, to all observation, appears vital and prosperous......and clean....everywhere clean; the streets, the buses and trams (and they are everywhere!), the "back corners" of places. There seems to be a real commitment to making it a good place to live.
Taxes are very high, but services are very good.
Education is not mandatory at the public or private schools, but Norwegian parents are then responsible for their children achieving the state norms for education. The completion of Grade 13 is considered the equivalent of the first two years of college. University is available - and free - as long as you maintain good grades and are regular in attendance. If there is a failure in either area the "free" tuition becomes a student loan and must be paid off.
Mothers have an automatic 8 months of paid maternity leave (100%) or one year (80%). If a family chooses parents can split the year so either parent may stay home.
We are told unemployment is very low.
Public facilities are incredibly well maintained and convenient.
The people here are THIN. Lots of walking helps, of course.
Weather is a mixed bag. In Bergen it rains on the average of 232 days a year (4 of them while we were there). In Oslo we are told it is more temperate and we have experienced more sun here.
Oddly, since we've been here we've not heard a car horn - even in downtown traffic. There are lots of places that are restricted to cars and pedestrians rule. The crossing areas are without traffic lights in most areas, and Norwegians cross even without looking as it is expected that cars will always stop and wait, no matter how many are crossing.
It is easy to underestimate a place that is rarely in the news, I suppose. I think we have acquired a real respect for at least the sections of the country we have experienced. I'm sure there's other sides to be seen, but everyone we've spoken to - and EVERYONE - speaks American-style English which they begin to learn in 1st grade and study every year (the 2nd foreign language starts in grade 4) - has been most positive, whether immigrant or native.
Today is on to Amsterdam for our transfer to Kenya where, apparently, wi-fi and electricity can be problematic. We shall see.

A 17th century stave church at the Folk Museum, Oslo

One of several street sculptures "warning" of the dangers of indolent or risky behavior. One, of a beaten young woman is particularly graphic.

Bergen Fish Market. Eat it there or take it home.

Edvard Greig's home. Heard a lovely piano concert in the performance hall.

17th century market houses