Panama City

So here I am, the country of Bananas, inter-oceanic trade and tax evasion. I didn't quite know what to expect. In general the Panama City  looks a bit poorer and undeveloped in comparison to some Colombian cities like Cartagena. I had actually expected more wealth after so many decades of close ties with the US (some could call it occupation). The prices are definitively higher and their currency, the Balboa, is basically a fake dollar (converted 1:1, bills are all American Dollars. There is no “official” public transportation system from the international airport to the city (which is already a joke in my opinion). The taxies cost about 30$. I am still a bit spoiled from Colombia and refused the rip-off. By asking some local workers at the airport, I found a bus station just outside (well you had to cross several motorways). That bus takes you to the city for just 2$. Not many people seem to know about it, since I was the only westerner in the bus.

Panama City is quite a crude mix of Dubai luxurious architecture and Caribbean lifestyle (and pollution). For being the oldest city in the whole of South America there is actually not much culture to see here. Apart from the Panama Canal, there is the old neighborhood of Casco Viejo, which is so small that you can see it within an hour. So most tourists stay here just for 1-2 nights at the beginning or end of their trip.

Getting off the bus in Panama City

there is actually a whole street that only features costume/party shops (I counted more than 30!)

Old Town (Casco Viejo)

Half of the suburb is perfectly renovated, the other half in ruin

different from other countries I have seen, all churches got air conditioning (glass walls to keep the heat out)

a lot of old town gets sealed-off at nighttime, probably security reasons

My Hostel

My first Panamanian Dinner

My first great dinner. They said Panama is much more expensive than Colombia. Well, that is true but a lot of it you can actually evade. There are many “fonda” style restaurants that cater for local people. They cost just a fraction of a “western style” restaurant. Anyways, I was craving for some proper food. I heard of a really nice restaurant in Casco Viejo. The waiter there said a dinner would be 25$, too much for me without a proper justification. Then he told me I could also take the lunch option for 10$. Deal! This lunch option was 3 entrées (garlic butter and bread, fruit salad, and a big piece fruit quiche) all of a reasonable size and really delicious; then fish and vegetable/rice as main and cake as dessert. Everything rather high quality. Afterwards I felt almost a bit ashamed of paying so little :P