Panama City
(DAY085 : Almirante - Panama City : 370 miles)
(DAY086-91 : Panama City)
The road out of Almirante was spectacular all the way up the mountains .
With only a few stops for food and gas, I made it to Panama City in about 7.5 hours, and checked into Hotel Centroamericano for $33 a night. Certainly over priced, but they had a garage.
Katirga posing over the canal.
Puente de las Americas (Bridge of the Americas)
15 minutes at the Miraflores locks.
Avenida Central
I hadn't been on a fifth floor in a long time!
The new city is one big construction site.
Casco Viejo (the old city) is much easier on the eyes.
Below: Casco Viejo
Had I not been out of road and out of tyre, I would have left this city in one day. Drivers try to kill me all the time, and knowing that it's not personal doesn't help. The man holes don't have covers, and you can never trust a green light. If you take a cab, they charge whatever they feel like at the time, and may at any time pick up other passengers resulting in long detours and delays. Although colorful, the nightlife costs an arm and a leg.
The bad news is, we've been stuck here for a week, and could not find a suitable tyre anywhere in the city (130/80-17). The good news is, if all goes well, we'll be sailing to Cartagena on a 50 foot sailboat on Tuesday.
Cross your fingers.
(DAY086-91 : Panama City)
The road out of Almirante was spectacular all the way up the mountains .
With only a few stops for food and gas, I made it to Panama City in about 7.5 hours, and checked into Hotel Centroamericano for $33 a night. Certainly over priced, but they had a garage.
Katirga posing over the canal.
Puente de las Americas (Bridge of the Americas)
15 minutes at the Miraflores locks.
Avenida Central
I hadn't been on a fifth floor in a long time!
The new city is one big construction site.
Casco Viejo (the old city) is much easier on the eyes.
Below: Casco Viejo
Had I not been out of road and out of tyre, I would have left this city in one day. Drivers try to kill me all the time, and knowing that it's not personal doesn't help. The man holes don't have covers, and you can never trust a green light. If you take a cab, they charge whatever they feel like at the time, and may at any time pick up other passengers resulting in long detours and delays. Although colorful, the nightlife costs an arm and a leg.
The bad news is, we've been stuck here for a week, and could not find a suitable tyre anywhere in the city (130/80-17). The good news is, if all goes well, we'll be sailing to Cartagena on a 50 foot sailboat on Tuesday.
Cross your fingers.
posted by Serdar at
6:01 PM
5 Comments:
Looks a little different from our experience during our U.S.cross country trip in Panama City Florida huh..
At least you are safe from teenage drivers.
Any thoughts on the US economy and housing crisis and the life of the other free trade countries?
Safe from teenagers, but not adult Panamanians. Glad to leave them behind man. Maybe there's black magic in that name!
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Err, Anonymous... Get a bike man. It helps.
(Or makes one believe that it does. But then, what's the difference?)
(Sigh) I need a more intellectual companion.
So I'll pose this question to Katirga...
I was thinking that it must be a contrast from the go-go life of LA to the generally peaceful and happy poorer people in Central America.
The US housing crisis was caused by the greed of the people trying to make more money and live in bigger houses.
I was hoping for an enlightened meaning-of-life reply from Serdar. Maybe you can expand on it.
PS: I have a bike and I live in the very go-go land of Alberta (more money here than you shake a stick at).
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