Panama City

28.12.16 - 31.12.16

The canal is probably the most interesting thing about the city. I don't like it spontaneously, although I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it is in the beginning. The city reminds me a lot of Florida. Which is funny because when I was there back then, Miami seemed very Central American to me, even though I didn't know that at the time. After walking around for a while, I finally realized what was bothering me. Panama City is very American. Fat people, big cars, fatty food. It's all a bit more show than substance. The skyline looks fancy and impressive from a distance, but when you look at the houses up close, they are pretty shabby.

Another shock at the beginning of the trip: Panama is super expensive!!! I went to the supermarket in the morning to get a toothbrush and something to drink and EVERYTHING was more expensive than in Germany! Great when you're on a low budget. I knew that Panama is the most expensive country on my trip, along with Costa Rica, but soooo expensive? No!

So I walked from the nearest metro stop to Casco Viejo in long pants, sturdy shoes, and a black shirt in the midday sun (34°). It's actually very beautiful. Houses from the last century (I think?), you can still see their former grandeur, but most of them are uninhabitable, still... They are renovating the entire Casco Viejo. Since there are apparently only two certified architects doing this, it will take a while. The contrast between old and new is really fun. A few years ago, when the renovation hadn't started yet, Casco was a very dangerous area. Gangs, murders, robberies. You can still feel it in some places.

The contrast between rich and poor is very present in the city anyway. If you walk from the nearest metro station to Casco, which is THE tourist attraction, you have to go through a pretty shady area. Doable and exciting during the day and with company. The metro is very modern and only two years old. There is currently only one line, but a second one is supposed to be added. Something that is surprisingly missing in the city: scooters and motorcycles. Very strange if you're used to Southeast Asia. But it only occurred to me after a while. I find it very strange in a warm country where it seems like everyone is constantly on the move. The scooters are apparently replaced by chicken buses that criss-cross the city without a recognizable system for outsiders.

After being almost alone on the promenade in the midday sun, I was even more surprised to find it crowded with people on the way back in the evening. Great, full of life. But somehow trashy. Blinking LED shoes everywhere, plastic light-up toy stands, and occasionally street food stands. To my dismay, they only had burgers, hotdogs, sausage on a skewer, cotton candy, and popcorn. Blah!!! No wonder they are all so fat. And I thought I would come here and eat fish and vegetables to get in beach shape.

There is definitely still a lot to see in Panama City, but I just didn't warm up to it. And since the city didn't really ignite me, I'm leaving for Santa Catalina two days earlier.

If you don't like it somewhere, move!