Blogs from Panama City, Panamá, Panama, Central America Caribbean - page 11

March 30th: Today we crossed the Puenta de los Americas into Ciudad Panama or just Panama as the city is usually called. For me, this was probably the biggest thrill of the trip - or way up there with the Superman flight anyway. Now, I guess we can say that we’ve driven “the top of the world” highway from the Yukon into Alaska and over the Bridge of the Americas into Panama City. All we’ve got left to see on this continent is South America. Many of the Europeans we’ve met on this trip are coming or going from there. Actually, we crossed the bridge three times today because on the first pass we missed our turn into Balboa where we had originally planned to stay. On our return over the bridge we noticed the sign ... read more

Hola! After a mini road trip, three flights (covering most of the eastern U.S), an overpriced Panamanian cab ride, a breif Panama city tour in the back of Policia car, and a pleaseant yander with professor ¨Octavio¨, myself and Jessica find ourselves waking a little groggy, after some Soberana and Panama, in Zullys hostel.The majority of our time thus far has been orienting ourselves with the city while avoiding the suburbs labelled ¨STAY THE HELL OUT OF HERE!¨, inbetween numerous mid-day siestas and meals of arroz con pollo. Panama for the most part is what we expected it to be, A very metro, miami'esk, city center surrounded by poorer slums. The Panamanians are extremely friendly and helpfull, in our first day here we we're driven to our hostel by some enthusiastic police officers, and enjoyed ... read more

Hola todos! I wish it hadn't been so long since I've written- it seems like January went by so fast and now it's already past the halfway mark of the McGill field study program! I guess time really flies when you're having no fun at all. We're all beginning to wish this were a year-long program, we're having too much fun to think about it ending in 6 weeks. We're really moving along in our work though and we've just finished our second class. I s'pose the last time I wrote I had just finished touring Veraguas with my internship supervisor and we were all getting pumped for Carnaval week- and dios mio, what a week it was! Caranaval 2010: nearly the death of Lachlan Crawford & co. We started by spending 4 of the longest ... read more

Panama the last Central American country we visited, and we were not sure about what to do or see other than than the Canal of course. Without it Panama may still be part of Columbia. The French went broke building it due to a bad design and yellow fever. The main French stockholder obtained power of attorney from the 12 main families in Panama and made a deal with the USA to complete the project. As expected America and the Frenchman were the winners and the Panamanians realized it after the fact. The canal is something to see ships carrying 4,400 containers squeeze into a lock with 2 feet on either side is something you don’t forget. The thing you have to realize is that Gatun Lake in the center of the isthmus makes the canal ... read more

ok...so this trip is fine...I think I will definitely go alone everywhere else I travel and not prepay for a tour guide. ...lol...I am making friends with the indiginous locals...as the ones that look like me are all about the European tourist...lol..The country is very poor but beautiful...It has alot of galvanized structures and the people seems to love one another but the differences between races may exist...and it is primarilly between the indigenous and everyone else...There is absolutely nothing to see in Panama city...;(..(Btw the keyboards are different here so this is taking forever!!!!)...I would definitely recommend it as a place to visit but it is primarily filled with old couples who are retired and coming for the "adventure"...there are huge structures that are residential places..where as the government buildings are small...lol...did I mention that ... read more

Feb 17 2010 I am super excited to leave for my trip to Panama. I will basically be touring all over Panama and Costa Rica. I am hoping that I meet some great people and that my spanish is great;)...I am nervous as to what I need to take but I am hoping that what ever I dont take I can buy. No words to describe how I am feeling at the moment. I have a 6am flight in the morning and I cant flicking sleep...It is like me being the kid before my birthday. I am so nervous about leaving work as well as school for the next two weeks to just mellow out. I am hoping that this trip is fabulous and I am willing to step outside of my comfort zone to fully ... read more

Last night we had a decent (not great) dinner at Bucaneros. Wine was good at $16 a bottle. This morning, we had a sweaty walk up Ancon Hill to the top. A giant Panamanian flag now flies where a giant US flag used to fly back in the days. We walked back down which was a lot easier task. Later we went over to the Miraflores locks for their tour which was very well done. Watched a cruise ship work its way through the lock - it was slow - like watching paint dry. We turned our car back to the vultures at AVIS - our $15/day average rate magically ended up at about $80/day for the two days we had the car - $11 of that was the GPS which was the only deal. I ... read more