At 4 o`clock in the morning I woke up in the biggest bus station I have ever seen. Took a shower at the bus driver’s depot (very nice and clean). And left for the city. 2 km down the road a taxi driver started shouting at me. Finally, I realised that I had left my money belt and passport in the shower room. Luckily nothing missing, I left the attendant a thank you tip and started the day again (there are good people out there!!!).
Panama city was very pleasant with a wide green avenue at the sea front. Running and cycling tracks with the accompaniment of, seemingly, hundreds of sky scrapers. It has a very distinctive old town, somewhat similar to old havana on a very small scale. What a sunrise! Mr Balboa wasn’t wrong calling the sea The Pacific (from peace). It really is deadly calm, hardly any waves. You could almost say boring…
Cycled past a humongous fish market – it was nice to see people using the local resources.
Had breakfast on the French square (remaining from the time of their attempt to built the canal). Cycled out town to have a glimpse of the human masterpiece but in comparison with the extent of the European canal network, it is nowhere near as advanced. It is definitely big though and does take massive ships. The expensive viewing platform is too far away to see the details and there are a lot of police checking that you aren’t a terrorist. The canal is a mega money making exercise, and it has just got the green light to become even bigger. Thanks to the canal Panamanians are getting lots of support from the US Government. Decided to get back to town and check the museum of the Canal…. Unfortunately it was mainly in Spanish…. Met a German man there (first generation American). After leaving, got a puncture, and then another two (had not seen a piece of glass stuck in the tyre).
Cycled out to the peninsula “causeway” of Amador. Very upmarket, hosting yachts from all over the globe. Stopped in the local café for an internet session and a chat with a yacht owner but he was partially deaf so no luck with communication here. On the way back I was stopped by the Police in the “Chorillo” area of town and have been taxi`d out. Apparently it is a no go zone for tourists and I have been very lucky! With three handcuffed young gents sitting with me in the back of the police truck we made it to the old town and off I went in search of next transport back to David. I am very glad that I managed to visit Panama city. It’s a rich and vibrant town with lots of potential left in it.
Another puncture on the way to the bus station!?. Had to walk (too dark to change the inner tube). 10 mins later I had joined the queue. Got the bus leaving at midnight.
Panama city was very pleasant with a wide green avenue at the sea front. Running and cycling tracks with the accompaniment of, seemingly, hundreds of sky scrapers. It has a very distinctive old town, somewhat similar to old havana on a very small scale. What a sunrise! Mr Balboa wasn’t wrong calling the sea The Pacific (from peace). It really is deadly calm, hardly any waves. You could almost say boring…
Cycled past a humongous fish market – it was nice to see people using the local resources.
Had breakfast on the French square (remaining from the time of their attempt to built the canal). Cycled out town to have a glimpse of the human masterpiece but in comparison with the extent of the European canal network, it is nowhere near as advanced. It is definitely big though and does take massive ships. The expensive viewing platform is too far away to see the details and there are a lot of police checking that you aren’t a terrorist. The canal is a mega money making exercise, and it has just got the green light to become even bigger. Thanks to the canal Panamanians are getting lots of support from the US Government. Decided to get back to town and check the museum of the Canal…. Unfortunately it was mainly in Spanish…. Met a German man there (first generation American). After leaving, got a puncture, and then another two (had not seen a piece of glass stuck in the tyre).
Cycled out to the peninsula “causeway” of Amador. Very upmarket, hosting yachts from all over the globe. Stopped in the local café for an internet session and a chat with a yacht owner but he was partially deaf so no luck with communication here. On the way back I was stopped by the Police in the “Chorillo” area of town and have been taxi`d out. Apparently it is a no go zone for tourists and I have been very lucky! With three handcuffed young gents sitting with me in the back of the police truck we made it to the old town and off I went in search of next transport back to David. I am very glad that I managed to visit Panama city. It’s a rich and vibrant town with lots of potential left in it.
Another puncture on the way to the bus station!?. Had to walk (too dark to change the inner tube). 10 mins later I had joined the queue. Got the bus leaving at midnight.