"Are you watching the channel too?"

So, which country were we asked about? Right, Panama...

Panama is where America is at its narrowest. But what else do you know about it? Perhaps that the USA operated the construction of the Panama Canal? That they supported the revolution after Colombia, whose protectorate Panama was, refused to cooperate in the construction? It's also related to the canal. Cheap ships under Panamanian flag? That's also related to the canal. They used to be part of a World Cup. Ah yes, so besides all the ships, there are also people living there. And what else?

Panama welcomed us with requests for tips and bribes to get across the border. Just to not rummage through the backpacks and confiscate pills? That'll be $10. Helping someone across the border? A few more dollars. A tip for the taxi driver? A few more dollars.

This first taxi ride in a pickup without seatbelts, with our backpacks in the truck bed, had a bit of an adventurous vacation vibe – especially when the driver read WhatsApp messages in the curves at what felt like 90 km/h (the speedometer was broken).

Looking out the window to avoid watching the driver, you often saw poorer houses than in Costa Rica, banana plantations, and a lot of unspoiled nature. The impoverished rural population stands in stark contrast to the wealth in a few neighborhoods and the steel and glass skyscrapers in Panama City’s financial district. Money is indeed present in Panama – but it's far from evenly distributed. The wealth disparities between the neighborhoods in Panama City appeared obscene to us. And we were strongly advised beforehand not to carry too many belongings with us and to only get into registered taxis.

Sounds like a nightmare? It wasn't. You can certainly tell that life has been harder for the people in Panama than for those in Costa Rica, whose in parts unbridled capitalism seemed almost like a communist utopia in comparison, but we also encountered kind, warm-hearted, and helpful people here. Joy of life could be found not just in the wealthy neighborhoods but also at the beach baseball tournament, where the outfielders often had to wade deep into the sea. Life also carried on in the poorer neighborhoods, where people played, debated, or got their hair done on the street.

The old town of Panama (Casco Viejo) is beautiful anyway and full of nice little discoveries around the next corner – if you can afford it and are not pushed away by the tourism police (there really is one!). While we weren't wearing haute couture, we were not chased out of the old town, and we were warmly welcomed in our hotel.

Of course, we also visited the canal and the Bridge of the Two Americas (technically, the old town of Panama is practically in South America), where we saw tons of containers but surprisingly few ships. However, we were extensively informed about the construction of the canal in 3D at the huge cinema with the voice of Morgan Freeman.

Moreover, Panama is decorated everywhere with the national flags – apparently, the stark economic differences are covered over by a nationalistic community feeling – something people know well.

Doesn't sound so great? Yes, it's true, Panama won't be our favorite country and had a hard time following our dream destination Puerto Viejo. But the country has a lot of beautiful nature to offer alongside the beautiful old town of the capital and many decent people. So it was very nice to travel by night bus to Panama City, virtually surrounded by young and nursing mothers on the bus, lovingly raising a new generation of Panamanians. And so we are happy to be able to mark this country on our world map in the blog and will keep nice memories of Panama.