My Childhood Home Is Extinct
My childhood home doesn't exist anymore, it's extinct. A lost paradise, a beautiful memory of long ago.
I am a Zonian. I grew up in the Canal Zone in Panama. A 10 mile x 50 mile American territory surrounding the Panama Canal.
Why is it extinct? A treaty was signed handing
control of the canal to Panama.
This lens though is not about politics, it's about memories. I'm writing this lens for all you former Zonians to remember and celebrate what a wonderful time we had living in an unforgettable place.
And I'm writing it for all of you who had no idea that such a place even existed.
I hope you enjoy my lens and learn something new and get a sense of a part of American history that is gone forever. As for you Zonians...sit back, relax and relive. Ready?!
How It All Began
Building the US Panama Canal Zone 1904
Building the US Panama Canal Zone 1904
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What Was So Special?
Imagine a clean, safe place where you didn't have to worry where your children were. We walked and rode our bikes everywhere alone. We played on the seawall, in the jungle, swam in Gatun lake (one of the largest man-made lakes in the world) and fought the waves on any one of our beautiful beaches where lifeguards were unheard of.
There was very little crime, pollution was nonexistent and there was only one TV channel so we spent all our time outdoors.
It makes me sad that children today will never be able to imagine what it must have been like to grow up in such an unbelievable, natural environment where kids were truly able to be kids.
We were truly blessed!
Panama Canal Video
Some tourists enjoying what we probably took for granted!
The Panama Canal
A shore tour thru the Mira Flores and Pedro Miguel locks while on the Carnival Liberty
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Great Panama Canal Stuff on Amazon
Red, white, and blue paradise: The American Canal Zone in Panama
As one reviewer put it "an antidote to all the marxist nonsense written about the Canal Zone". A midwest couple's objective, true account of the Zone when they went to teach there in 1964. A must read for anyone interested in learning what this "once upon a time paradise" was really all about.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/11/2008)
The stamps of the Canal Zone,
Amazon Price: (as of 10/11/2008)
How Did We Get There?
We came from all over the United States. Personally, my family came from New Jersey originally and then lived briefly in San Diego. I don't know how everyone else got there but my stepfather saw an ad in the newspaper. Can you believe that? Who knew.People came from all over and worked as estimators (as my stepfather did, estimating the size and cost of damage of ships going through the canal) pilots, mechanics, doctors, nurses, veterinarians, police officers, secretaries, teachers and the list goes on. We even had our own American governor.
Some people flew but most like my family moved down
there traveling from New Orleans on the S.S. Cristobal, one of the couple of ships that brought families down. Traveling on that ship to this new, unknown destination was an adventure in itself for a little kid!
Working and living in the Canal Zone had it's benefits too. We lived in Government housing which we rented for very low rent. All landscaping and house maintenance was taken care of and most families had a maid even though we weren't rich, just regular middle class folk. That's because American minimum wage was much higher than Panamanian wage, hence the Panamanians would make better money working for an American.
(That's me playing on a canal zone softball team
when I was 13.)
Great Panama Canal Zone Stuff on CafePress
There's No Place Like Home......
This Video says it all
Rep of Panama (s/times another country in song is key)
The song is about the wrong country. Yes, I know. BUT it is a song w/in my heart of a sense of home. Watch in the middle and I will tell you. Oh thank the Lord God above, I am going home!
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Give Panama a Try!
You'll Be Glad You Did!
Great Panama Canal Zone Stuff on eBay
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My List of Things I Miss the Most...
or Remember the Best About the Canal Zone
- the rain
the scent of the earth after the rain
no shoes
empanadas
swimming in gatun lake
gatun yacht club
devil's beach
coco solo pool
doing what most kids now can only dream of
rainy season
the train
outings to the "other side"
napoli pizza
the barn
Margarita clubhouse
the roller rink
football games
trips to taboga
the rainforest
the "waterfall"
the causeway
rose apples
avoiding the "stickers"
slow pace
cayuco races
ginups
arroz con pollo
More Great Panama Canal Zone Links to Check Out!
- Dino's Panama Photos - Pictures of Panama and Canal Zone
- Beautiful pictures of Panama and the Canal Zone at different times along with other Panama and Canal Zone related material.
- Panama Canal on the Net, panama canal, canal zone, Canal Zone
- The Lost Paradise is dedicated to covering the past, present and future of Panama and the Panama Canal
- Panama & Canal Zone in Cyberspace
- CZBrats explores the history (past, present and future) of Panama and the Panama Canal along with photos past and present.
And DON'T FORGET to check out the recipes on this site! What's thinking about Panama without remembering the amazing food!! - dick holt
- Awesome site by a man born of a American father and Panamanian mother and got the best of both worlds. Very informative whether you're a Zonian or new to learning about the canal zone. A must to check out!
Hope You Had Fun
Even though I have been back in the United States where I was born for many years, I will be forever grateful that I had the chance to grow up in a place I will never forget. From elementary school through my time at Canal Zone College it was wonderful.
Thanks for sharing in my beautiful memories of this piece of American History that no longer exists, The Canal Zone in Panama.
Please sign my guestbook! Tell me what you think!
Can you add your favorite things to that list? Share with us!
I remember: walking on the drain cover and getting my foot caught only to hear you scream "don't lose my flip flop! Jimmy taking us everywhere especially to Taboga to stay with Suzanne's abuela, Carmen. softball, boating,and so much more with you, Carla, Suzanne,and sometimes Sydney and Sally Steele. the day you and Carla moved in across the street. the day we drove with Suzanne to Devil's and not making dead man's curve and into the swamp we drove...but, in true Zonian spirit we still made it to Devil's beach. our bannana seat bikes in the 4th of July parade and so much more
Posted July 23, 2008
OMG, Dawn-you summed it up perfectly! We did have a great life but @ least we will always have our memories and keep them going with the reunions and keeping in touch with people we've known since elementry school. How many people can say that?!
Posted July 10, 2008
Dawn loved every minute of it verry imformative and beutui
Posted June 24, 2008
I also miss
The beautiful butterflies
The beautiful exotic birds
How about when we had to try to avoid the land crabs on the road after a rainfall, that was fun
Posted June 20, 2008
Dawn that was great! You laid it out perfectly! Avoiding the stickers! Very nice.
Posted June 14, 2008
Hi Dawn, friend of your moms. She recommended this site when I asked what living there was like. I am so glad I visited. What a great experience....maybe there is a book in all that? God Bless...
Posted June 13, 2008
great story Dawn loved it
Posted June 09, 2008
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TopStyleTravel
Great human interest story. Posted May 24, 2008 |
Hi Dawnie, this is really great, you captured our home beautifully!! I am now going to make some ceviche, I am soooo homesick.
Love you!
Posted May 22, 2008
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Amanda_Blue
This is a touching and lovely lens into memory. And for a non-zonian like me it's informative too. Posted May 22, 2008 |
