Panama'ya günaydın

I haven't been on the road for even a week yet, and yet I don't even know where to begin telling you...

Well, in any case, the day of departure and the day of no return were approaching. So, I packed all my belongings for the next +/- 14 weeks into two small carry-on backpacks (not more than 12 kg, mind you :D) and took the train to Berlin to fly from there. Why from Berlin and not from Hamburg? Hm, let's just say there were a few inconsistencies in the planning, but that was my own personal problem. Anyway, the flights themselves, the layover in Amsterdam, and the entry into Panama went super easy. Everything went well and I arrived tired but safe at the hostel. There I was, alone in Panama City, with a super hot, humid climate, hardly any knowledge of Spanish, and absolutely no idea where my path would take me in the coming weeks. Admittedly, the first day didn't feel as cool at first. Family and friends, especially Dexter, were super far away, I couldn't quite grasp the 'travel vibes' yet, and I had no feeling for the country, the people, and the culture. But after breakfast, I left all my worries behind and walked along the Cinta Costera to the old town of Panama, had the first nice conversations, and enjoyed the freedom. And as it always happens when traveling, unexpected and wonderful things often happen, so on the second day I already met dear Kathi from Hamburg. The chemistry between us coastal kids was perfect right from the start, and funny enough, our travel routes are the same too. So, we spent another day together in Panama City, visited the Panama Canal and a national park. Some say the canal is the 8th wonder of the world, and that's not an exaggeration. It is impressive to see the large container ships crossing the country and the huge sums of cash being transferred there every day. Panama is probably the wealthiest country in Central America for good reason, with a skyline resembling New York. Or at least a mini version of New York. In the national park, we made acquaintance with the first wild animals, and a sloth 'in action' was my absolute highlight.

And even though I liked Panama City very much, I definitely wanted to get out of the city with these temperatures and get to the beach as soon as possible. So, together with Kathi, I made my way to Santa Catalina, a really beautiful surf spot on the Pacific. The journey with public transport was a bit wild and chaotic, but ultimately it took us to our destination safely after nearly 5 hours. It was super nice in Santa Catalina. There wasn't much there other than the ocean, nature, and surfboards.

I spent a really nice day in the Pacific, got the first bruises from surfing, and for the first time, I was simply able to enjoy the moment.

In summary, the first few days were already full of experiences, great encounters with travelers from around the world, and experiences and impressions that will stay with me. It's amazing how quickly you get used to life with the bare necessities and how normal it becomes to share personal things with complete strangers. Suddenly, having 3 cookies for breakfast or snagging the bottom bunk bed are the biggest highlights. Things that are unimaginable in Germany, like recurring small power outages, ants in the room, lizards on the wall, chickens on the bus, all kinds of animals on the road, or a reception that is practically in the grandmother's room, I accept with a smile and am fascinated by how different everyday life can be. Oh, and one more thing: Yes, of course, as a blonde woman, you really stand out here, but as long as you travel through the country with open eyes and a healthy awareness of danger, it's no problem at all. I'm glad that I dared to do it alone, even though so many horror stories were told to me beforehand. #justdoit. Plus, the people in Panama are super warm and helpful. Communication is indeed still a problem, as their English is often just as bad as my Spanish. But with hand gestures, smiles, and a smile, I have always reached my destination so far.

As for the further plans: Kathi and I have decided to continue traveling together towards Costa Rica, which makes me very happy. Especially when you travel alone, these unique connections can arise. Our next stop is Boquete. We'll see what awaits us there.

Until then, keep your spirits up, and we'll talk/read soon! :)

PS: Motivational song of the week: Rolf Zuckowski - I'm doing fine! :D