Panamaramic
Trip Start
May 03, 2011
1
64
129
Trip End
May 10, 2012
Where I stayed
Hostel Villa Vento Surf
Panama City, Panamá, Panama
Sunday, October 9, 2011
With an average GDP per capita of $11,700, Panama has been among the top five places for retirement in the world, according to International Living magazine. Panama City has a dense skyline of mostly highrise buildings, and it is surrounded by a large belt of tropical rainforest.
We got a busy overnight bus from Alimantre to Panama City. Luckily for us we managed to get a double seat each so that we could at least try and get some sleep on the 11 hour bus journey. We both managed to get a few hours shut eye and we arrived in Panama City feeling refreshed (well sort of anyway).
Our hostel was great and right in the centre of Panama City. We headed straight out and took a long walk along the water from the business district to the Casco Viejo (old port) area. It was so good to be back in the hustle and bustle of a big city. We were really impressed with Panama City and it is definitely the nicest and most developed of all of the capital cities we have visited in Central America. The old port area was fantastic with lots of great old churches and the presidential palace. We imagined that this is exactly what Havana would look like.
Day 2 was a VERY special day as it was Nick´s birthday and he got thoroughly spoilt. We took a trip to the Panama Canal and were fascinated to learn all about the history of the canal and the current expansion programme. Learning about the fees that ships pay to pass through here (on average between $300,000 and $400,000 per ship) and the projected volume of traffic after expansion it is easy to see why Panama City feels so wealthy and developed in comparison to much of the rest of Central America. We also got in a quick visit to the National Park and headed out for a slap up celebratory birthday meal, courtesy of Pombo. Nick could have rolled home rather than walked as he was that full and bloated from all that food and drink. I think our stomachs have shrunk on this trip so a good feed plays havoc with our tummies. Still it was definitely worth it. Panama City has been really impressive and for this reason we would give it 8/10.
Next we head out of Central America which is really sad as we have had a fab time here. It has been so different to our travels in Europe and North America. The level of poverty has been incredible and we will never moan about what we have got ever again. Seeing the way people live and make the most of what little they have makes you appreciate your life and I hope that we will live a simpler life back in the UK.
Reflecting on our time in Central America :
Top 5 places would be 1.Granada, Nicaragua 2. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica 3. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica 4. Caye Caulker, Belize / Roatan, Honduras 5. Panama City, Panama.
Bottom 3 would be 1. Belize City, Belize 2. Bocas Del Torro, Panama 3. San Jose, Costa Rica
