Blogs from Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panamá, Panama, Central America Caribbean - page 3

Panama City It wasn't much of an experience. Well actually, it depends on which way you look at it. I guess it was a very memorable experience, yes indeed it was. One that I won't forget any time soon and I guess it therefore makes my Panamanian experience all the more memorable. I was rather sick during my 4 day stay in the city of Panama. I had food poisoning, I'm guessing from a very suspect kebab I so keenly devoured on my last night in Bocas. Unfortunate really, because for the 5 nights prior to this very unfortunate evening I had indulged in at least 3 kebabs a night (now, now, don't judge!) So on the morning following the night that I so keenly devoured the very suspect kebab it was so unbelievably unfair that ... read more

Our arrival in Panama City might not have been quite as impressive as Henry Morgan's was in 1671, but we bet he had better weather.  After a bus and a taxi from Tocumen airport, night was just beginning to fall, and the rain was too.  By the time we had checked in to our 17th floor room, the sky was lit up like Blackpool illuminations.  Streaks of lightning aided our limited view of the cloud covered bay and the skyscrapers that are going up at an alarming rate. As we settled into our $320 per night room (cheers Mike!) we found that breakfast wasn't included, nor was wifi (which the t's & c's kindly told us we could prepay or have added to our room bill).  The room, however, did surpass expectations. The bed was vast, mini ... read more

Haven’t updated the blog since the fierce expedition known as the Los Quetzales trail Cerro Punta to Boquete. It was quite a traumatic for Rico but he’s just about able to talk about it now…. We said a sad farewell to Elle and Tash in Almirante. They were heading on their way back up to Costa Rica whereas we were driving on to discover more of Panama. They are continuing their journey from LA to Oz. We’ll definately be keeping in touch with them. Facebook is great. That night we made our way on Panamas brilliant bus service to David. We then got a taxi to the well publicised Purple House Hostel. I’d like to discourage anyone reading this from going there. Yes I know more than the lonely planet that’s 4 years old. Think Andrea ... 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

... es war schon etwas komisch wieder festen Boden unter den Fuessen zu haben. Es hat auch nicht wesentlich geholfen das wir erstmal 2h auf unseren Transport in die Stadt warten mussten, in der Sonne stehend und schwitzend waehrend Sandfliegen grossen Spass hatten uns zu belaestigen. Auf dem Achterbahnaehnlichen Weg in die Stadt sind wir noch einem faulen Faultier begegnet, das hatte sich einfach auf die Strasse gelegt... ein selbstmoerderisches Unterfangen, dem unser tierlieber Fahrer ein Ende bereitete.Er hat es sanft und mit Stoeckchen an den Strassenrand befoerdert. Im Hostel angekommen haben wir ausgiebig geduscht und uns die Sicherheitsvorkehrungen der Stadt erklaeren lassen... wir durften nach rechts und links gehen, aber bitte nicht geradeaus ins Gangsterviertel... eine Stadt zum wohlfuehlen :-) Wir waren so platt vom Boot fahren... Dean fuehlte sich noch ein paar Tage ... read more