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Share Your Thoughts About the Panama Canal Zone

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From the lens "Lost Paradise" The Canal Zone in Panama.

  • Chris Cooper Mar 8, 2012 @ 9:21 pm | delete
    Loved it. Went to Balboa High School (Class of '72). We are having our 40th reunion in Orlando this year!
  • Bill Azu Mar 6, 2011 @ 8:17 pm | delete
    Hi Dawn,

    great idea to create this!

    I lived in Panama '69-'73. My father was a diplomat there.
    I attended a Panamenian school for the first year and then Curundu and Balboa. IT was the best of times and I had the best of both worlds. Living in Panama in an affluent neighborhood, I was surrounded by kids from many countries as well as a lot of american families (even military) who lived in Panama. I could never understand how some american troops lived in Panama but I am guessing it was probably because they could not get enough housing in Canal Zone.

    My life was spent in Panama most of the week and at the Balboa skating rink and the Teen Club on Fridays. On Saturdays and Sundays, we went to the beach at Fort Amador. Most of my friends lived in Fort Clayton. Among many were Tonya Thomas (the daughter of one of the main officers at Fort Clayton) Mary O'Connor and her sister Eileen and the first girl I ever made out with, Kim Shapiro. I am sure she would not be mad is she sees her name since we were so young it's even cute now!

    I remember those times as something fantastic! I would like to go to Panama someday. I read about it and it looks amazing now. I don't think I would ever visit my old Canal Zone places. It would make me sad to see them all changed. I think I am not alone in saying this. As much as I think the Panamanians had every right to get it back, I think some things are better kept in our memories.

    We lived at a time when Torrijos was in a constant push and shove with the Americans. To Panamanians he was a hero. To me, he was just one more corrupt third-world dictator. However, I don;t want to make this a political thing.

    Love your site, love the comments. I hope we can bring more people here.
  • Dawn193 Apr 1, 2012 @ 8:05 pm | delete
    Wow Bill that sounds awesome! Interesting insight to how a diplomat's kid might have had the best of both worlds, living in Panama besides the Canal Zone! Yes, I didn't want to make it into a political thing either but I don't think I have ever forgiven Jimmy Carter-ha ha!
  • Dawn193 Jan 23, 2011 @ 1:12 pm | delete
    Dee, you are so right! It was an awesome place to grow up! William how are you?! Yes it's me and actually I haven't been on here in a while and noticed one of my videos on the canal was pulled! oh well, I wlll add more soon. Good luck wth your piece too!
  • Gui Azurdia Mar 6, 2011 @ 8:05 pm | delete
    Gui
  • Ray Simon Jan 22, 2011 @ 4:13 pm | delete
    Great site! I lived briefly on Ft. Davis before moving to Ft. Gulick. I attended Ft. Gulick elementary and Cristobal Jr-Sr High School (1973 -1976). I miss a lot that Panama has to offer...fishing for Peacock bass in Gatun, ginnups, rose apples, roller skating at Margarita skating rink (Atlantic side) and many more. I played football for the Ft. Gulick Raiders. Sooooo many great memories. Go CHS Tigers!
  • yourgoldenfuture Jan 8, 2011 @ 3:58 pm | delete
    i love this very personal impressions you share...love panama for long...
  • John McNatt Aug 12, 2010 @ 5:57 pm | delete
    There was never any place like home, Jimmah Carter. You surely messed up a lot of people prematurely. I had to leave on September 23, 1978. Ended up in Alaska.
  • Charles Michael Crawford Jul 12, 2010 @ 11:08 pm | delete
    Don't forget about all the fun we had at the "CAUSEWAY"! I was there 1969-76 and fortunate to be stationed there and lived on Albrook, AFS from 1980-84. We really did have the best of the best!
  • Gilda Warde Oct 30, 2010 @ 10:34 am | delete
    I remember the causeway too! Graduated from Balboa High in 1974
  • Dee Bredenkamp Jun 5, 2010 @ 7:09 am | delete
    Wow what a wonderful thing to share Home with the rest of the world. I am American by birth and Zonian by the grace of God. Eighteen years of absolute bliss-growing up like you said not having to worry about much. Going to the beach on Christmas day, watching the Love Boat come thru the canal, walking through the jungle and seeing wildlife not just pictures of them. I too dream of going back and taking my kids one day. Almost went with a group that leaves next week but, well not to be but I go in my dreams all the time. Thanks so much for sharing.
  • Baduga Nov 24, 2009 @ 2:18 pm | delete
    Big ol' rainbow-colored mangos and a good handy stick to knock-em down with.
  • William Good Aug 24, 2009 @ 2:09 pm | in reply to Dawn193 | delete
    Hi Dawn, what a surprise.I'm doing a piece on my lost life and was doing some research when i came upon your lens.It was amazing how all my thoughts were exactly as you mentioned (which was in my draft) and i didn't know this was your lens till i saw your picture of you playing softball. So i scrolled back to the top of the page and there you are.Keep up the good work,we cannot let this paradise be lost on our youth.
  • Dawn193 Jun 8, 2009 @ 5:42 pm | delete
    actually Ralph the Canal Zone might be lost to time, but the remains are still there to visit. The years you were there were my high school years! Are you sure we didn't party together? ha ha A lot of us zonians are keeping in touch via facebook and quite a few of the people I grew up with are visiting Panama now and are posting awesome pictures of our old stomping grounds, the houses we lived in, the beaches we went to, etc. So it does live on but in a different way. I haven't been back myself but plan on returning in the next year or so. Think about going back for a visit, you will have a great time and there is even more to do as in resorts, eco places and such. Thanks for the post and glad you liked it. Did you check out my other one about retirement in Panama? Link on bottom of page. Thanks and feel free to share! [in reply to Ralph Bowers Jr.]
  • Gilda Warden Oct 30, 2010 @ 10:35 am | delete
    Hi Dawn...there's a facebook page? What is it?
    Love your page...I graduated from BHS in 1974
  • Ralph Bowers Jr. Jun 8, 2009 @ 2:41 pm | delete
    I loved your piece on Panama. I was in the military 534th MP co. stationed at Ft. Clayton 1975-1977. It was the best, I often dream about my time there and the places I saw and experienced. I have had day dreams of visiting and living there once again, but since President Carter it is really lost to time isn't it?!
  • SaraMu May 3, 2009 @ 5:55 pm | delete
    I'm so happy I found your lens. This is something I knew little about before landing here. I've also added you to my Panama Red Devils lensroll!
  • aunt Dee Mar 9, 2009 @ 5:54 pm | delete
    Gosh....I sense your missing where you grew up and I see why What a beautiful country with everything not being ruined like they are in the states. You got to go back and make more memories.((((Hugs)))
  • dc64 Mar 2, 2009 @ 8:30 pm | delete
    I lived on Fort Clayton while it was closing, and strangely enough, what I miss the most, besides seeing the ships as they slowly make their way through the canal, is a fruit and vegetable stand run by a very nice Chinese family up the road from the base. The best produce in the world!
  • Dawn193 Feb 24, 2009 @ 9:43 pm | delete
    No, Panama_Tour_Guide, I haven't been back in many years but that is my dream. To go back and take my son. Until then I have my wonderful memories and of course reports from all my friends that do get to go back!
  • Panama_Tour_Guide Feb 23, 2009 @ 3:56 am | delete
    I agree with you actually. Awesome area to live, play, or work even. We run a tour there gatunexplorer.com . Small world right?

    My favorite is the kayaking to the "chorro". Do you visit often?
  • Jewelsofawe Feb 21, 2009 @ 10:51 pm | delete
    Not too many can say they lived in the Panama canal. Sounds cool there!
  • CZhorses Dec 12, 2008 @ 11:57 pm | delete
    Oh, the Memories!

    have a website for CZ horsepeople http://www.bulldancers.com/czha/
  • Dec 6, 2008 @ 3:25 pm | delete
    Thank you, Dawn, for your lovely story!
  • volivarez Oct 23, 2008 @ 8:34 am | delete
    watching the leguanas resting in the front yard
    the yellow-bird school bus (now that was a fancey school bus)
    Carnival season-in Colon
    eating those meet on the stick that they would sell in the city.
    Raspados-Shaven snow cones with the leche on top
    going fishing all year round
    building wooden forts out of the old cargo storage boxes that where left by the movers
    the Coke man who would deliver our sodas to the house
    Fort Sherman beach
    picking mangos right off our trees
  • Veronica Olivarez Oct 23, 2008 @ 8:08 am | delete
    Hi Dawn, Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful memories with us. I must say that you brought back some old faded memories that I have been keeping stored away for some time. Which is why? I would personally like to thank you for unlocking all of my treasured memories that I have been keeping stored up and locked away for some time. But, most of all for allowing me to relive my youth through the eyes of your memories.
  • Hugs from me! Jul 23, 2008 @ 11:01 pm | delete
    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
  • Donna Yerxa Jul 10, 2008 @ 8:31 am | delete
    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?!
  • Uncle Ray Jun 24, 2008 @ 12:50 am | delete
    Dawn loved every minute of it verry imformative and beutui
  • Mom Jun 20, 2008 @ 12:56 pm | delete
    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
  • Richard Polite Jun 14, 2008 @ 4:01 am | delete
    Dawn that was great! You laid it out perfectly! Avoiding the stickers! Very nice.
  • Susan Jun 13, 2008 @ 10:11 pm | delete
    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...
  • mommy157 Jun 9, 2008 @ 10:43 pm | delete
    great story Dawn loved it
  • TopStyleTravel May 24, 2008 @ 11:06 pm | delete
    Great human interest story.
  • Suzanne Steele May 22, 2008 @ 11:09 pm | delete
    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!
  • Amanda_Blue May 22, 2008 @ 1:18 am | delete
    This is a touching and lovely lens into memory. And for a non-zonian like me it's informative too.
  • cappuccino136 May 21, 2008 @ 10:28 pm | delete
    This is a beautiful lens and a great tribute to home and a piece of history. Thanks for letting us know what it was like in the Canal Zone.
  • ElizabethJeanAllen May 20, 2008 @ 7:02 pm | delete
    Beautiful lens. I'm very sentimental about my chidhood home. Fortunately, its still there and I return to the roost every summer. I understand your sentiments.
    5 stars
    Lizzy
  • TWINLITES May 20, 2008 @ 6:13 pm | delete
    GREAT STORY, I REALLY LEARNED ALOT
  • Lou1842 May 19, 2008 @ 1:29 pm | delete
    The Canal Zone sounds like a wonderful place to grow up, a world away from the rainy streets of crowded London where I live. Maybe I'll get a chance to visit one day!!
  • Jimmie May 18, 2008 @ 11:41 pm | delete
    Interesting story. Thanks for sharing.
  • Dav1d0 May 18, 2008 @ 5:48 am | delete
    Hi Dawn193,
    I've just read really beautiful your life story ;)If I had such a fascinating opportunity to live in Panama, I wouldn't waste it. Good luck in the future and keep lensrolling ;)
  • Tony Kucikas CHS 62 May 16, 2008 @ 8:35 am | delete
    Dawn, Very nice about our homeland as you said some kids can only dream it, we lived it.

    April breeze for kite flying
    Climbing rubber ball trees
    We played out side never inside
    A great police force
    Walks to school
    Christmas in the Canal Zone
    Nice friendships that last forever
    Great memories
    Outstanding teachers
    The best year round weather including the rain
    A nice environment to be raised in
    Motorcycle riding all year long
    The jungle
    The colorful culture and customs outside the
    Canal Zone
    Nice homes and landscaped yards
  • Roberta CHS 77 May 16, 2008 @ 8:10 am | delete
    mola patched jeans
    black palm rings-we "sanded" the seeds on the steps of the Coco Solo theatre
    counting the numbers up on our movie ticket stub and hoping for it to equal 21
    battleball (my vote for it being an olympic event)
    cheering in the rain (a woonie coonie cha a woonie)
    Before Jamboree, we all held hands and made a chain then we ran through the field to the bonfire and cheered as a stuffed BHS manequin was burned
    hitchiking to Devils beach to body surf
    meeting up at the Tarpon Club, or Aides Club
    KC hamburgers
    using baby oil and mecurichrome (iodine) as suntan lotion
    riding bikes to Ft. Randolph to walk the breakwall
    After football games in Balboa, we would climb the stairs then run down the hill at the Administration building and make it back on the train to Mt. Hope
    night swimming at Coco Solo pool
  • mlwczbrat May 15, 2008 @ 9:58 pm | delete
    Christmas tree bombfires
    rain
    Balboa Clubhouse
  • Kathy Corrigan Barcia May 14, 2008 @ 4:08 pm | delete
    chinese plums
    the train
    snake road
    4 way stop
  • RiverBirch1967 May 13, 2008 @ 2:51 am | delete
    Ring-a-liv-e-o! The guinups right off the trees. Electric caterpillars. Let me repeat from your list "rain."

by

Dawn193

I'm Dawn and this is my first lens. I thought sharing about the wonderful place I grew up, my lost paradise, the Panama Canal Zone, would be a good fi... more »

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