Panama City, Panama

So the canal is pretty boring, which should not come as a surprise to anyone. It is something that you have to see to say that you have done it. Ironically, it is not owned by anyone as technically it is considered international waters. The Panamanian people definitely collect the funds. 

There are boats littered everywhere waiting to get through it and it can cost over a million dollars to cross. The city itself use to belong really to the US before it was given back to Panama in 1999. Oddly enough, the US still has the ability to take it away if Panama misbehaves. 

Due north of the the Miraflores locks is Monkey Island. An island that has three different species of monkeys on it that are friendly to tourists. 

Lihue, Hawaii

We had been to Waikiki before and hated it. This time we thought that we would try our luck in Kauai and we definitely had a much better time! We started out ziplining, which was kind of a bust, but it put us right next to Secret Beach, which was one of the prettiest places we have ever been. Of course being the smart child that I am -- I thought my selfie-stick was as indestructible as I am. Unfortunately, both of us were clobbered by a huge wave. We did tubing and then a helicopter ride going past the Jurassic Park falls. It was pretty incredible!

One thing that did happen that I instantly regret was introducing Grant to shaved ice. He would not stop eating Hawaiian shaved ice. Everytime, I asked him what he wanted to eat he would say, "shaved ice."  He was a monster! 

Much better trip than the first!