Day Trip part 1

Luckily one of Laura's collegues is from Panama City and it just so happens that her father is a tour guide for the past, some 20 years. YEA!!!
Talking to him the night before did both of us good. His suggestions and my wishes met in the middle and he took me to a hotel that is situated in a rainforest. He drove us out to it today along the canal, a single lane wooden bridge, and a two lane stretch of highway while explaining cultures, history, and animal life. His knowledge is very extensive with all of Panama. As we got near the hotel I decided to ready the camera and I was getting excited to see all the monkeys, tucans and butterflies. On our arrival and sign up, he took me out to the back overlook of this magnificent hotel to view the "man made" lake that feeds in to the canals for its purpose of moving ships. This is when anger set in when I notice that I forgot to load the dang memory card, in the camera!!! AGHHHH!!! I loaded the battery, why no the stupid (sorry Ali, but I was mad...bad word, folks) memory card.
Luckily the gift shop was open, and no they don't sell memory cards, but they did have a little point and shoot that I bought. Man, did I feel silly with this great camera in my bag and I'm standing there holding a point and click camera feeling like I was 9 years old again. I can't even remember the last time I had to develope film. LOL!!!
Anyway, back to the day at hand..They have multiple tours that you can do. Thomas, my guide had already set me up for a canopy tour (like a ski lift) that takes you up and above the floor of the forest and your like a monkey on a leash:) At this point I got even more upset, then happy...why...well as we were getting on the lift to go up, I was partnered with the guide and a guy that had a HUGE camera. I mean, HUGE DUDE!!!
This made me sad since mine was now downgraded to a point and click, but made me happy because I told him how silly I was with the whole memory card thing and he understood by telling me he's done it more than once himself and that if I would give him my email, he would gladly send me any pictures of that day to me. SCORE ONE FOR RICH!!! So...Hopefully he will come thru quickly and I'll post them here.
The canopy tour took us to the top of the hill and we got off to walked up this huge man made structure some 50ft high to have a look see of the canal and the man made lake that we had seen before. There were no monkeys about, which was disappointing and the only other thing we saw were 5 Tucan birds. Such a drab outcome, but I was happy that I didn't miss much without my camera. Continuing on, we went back down the ski lift and went to 3 different areas they have put together, snake viewing (yuk, and borring), orchids that they are "farming" (most of them were not in bloom):( and a butterly area (cool). They have a butterly here that has a beautiful blue color on the top of its wings, and a drab brown color on the bottom or underside. when they fly around the blue colored side is awesome, but as a defense against birds, they will flip over in flight to trick the birds from eating them..neat and tricky...Hopefully I will get those photo's...keep your fingers crossed...