Visit to the Spanish fort designed to defend against the real life pirates of the Caribbean in Portobelo, Panama

Built right on the water, complete with watchtower, gun holes built into the walls, and cannons.

The cannons are still there, all covered in rust.  Considering that they are made of pure iron, it's not surprising that the Spanish left them there. 

It's a really old fort, built in the 1640s.  The best part is that visitors are allowed to climb all over everything... sit on the cannons, climb in the watchtower, walk up and down the boat rack, hang out in the dungeon.  Here, my friend Andrew and I were checking out the artillery ramp.

And here, my friend Ashley is peering from the officers quarters into the sentry station.  Nothing like direct interactions with history to make it come alive.