Disillusioned from our voyage from Colombia, we arrive in Panama City in a taxi gawping at the skyscraper's that towered from above us. "Where are we" we had thought at the time. After spending 5 days out at sea to then arrive in a landscape that was reminiscent of New York it was a shock to the system. It took some time to adjust to the surroundings, even when we were stood perfectly still we could feel the motion of the sea bobbing up and down.
Michael still had a high temperature that he developed during San Blas so the first couple of days were spent in hospitals trying seek medical assistance. We later found that because we came via boat, we were not entitled to the free medical care that Panama offered. Because of this we were turned away by the private hospital unless we were willing to pay $500.00 deposit to be seen. Michael told them he wanted a check up not an operation, but this didn't get us very far as you can imagine.
We stayed at a really nice hostel called Luna Castle in the old town. Luckily there, the cleaning lady offered to take us to a general practice nearby that the locals used. It was very good and we didn't have to wait long at all. Typically Central American we had to join the whole ticket system whereby you were seen by the doctor, they then gave you a ticket of the apparatus you needed, like a pee pot and syringe etc. You then took the slip to a pay booth, buy the stuff and then take it to another area where they took the test. The test is then given back to the doctor who then wrote the prescription. It sounds complicated but it was very fast and worked. Overall, it only cost $20.00 so much less than the $500.00 the private clinics were asking for.
Luckily we had a lady doctor who spoke perfect English and was very thorough. She made sure Michael had the correct medicine for his fever.
On the mend we didn't manage to sample the nightlife in Panama City which was a shame as the bar in the hostel had a happy hour selling beer for 50 cents each. We visited the Panama Canal which was a disappointment, it was smaller than imagined and we didn't get to see any of the big cargo ships. The information given was impressive, all cargo ship are made to measure for the Panama Canal and it has traffic from all around the world. It was around the time we were there that they found the Korean cargo ship full of missiles going through the canal. They had a museum you could walk through and it had a layout of a typical control deck on a cargo ship. The boys didn't hesitate to jump on pretending to drive it playing captain, warping to back to being children. We were there just under an hour, you could do the tour in the actual canal surroundings but at a whopping $100.00 pp we thought we would give it a miss.
Looking for a spot of lunch we hailed a cab to Panama City's fish market. This place can only be described as heaven for all seafood lovers out there. As you enter its chaos, there are stalls dotted everywhere with their fresh catches laid amongst the tables. We are talking, squids, langostinos, lobsters, king prawns, mussels, giant crabs, red snappers! Anything and they had it. There is even a Ceviche stall that sold around 25 different types ready to be eaten in plastic cylinder cups for a measly $2.00 each. The taste is was just out of this world.
On the top of the market is a restaurant called Mariscos where you can take the fish that you bought and they cook it for you for a small price. They also have a menu but its better to buy your own as you get more for your money. I bought half a pound of squid for only $1.00 and it was enough for a meal. Also half a pound of King Prawns which cost $4.00. The German guys went crazy and bought 2 pounds worth of lobster tails as well as King Prawns. These boys can eat for the world am telling you. The chef cooked our seafood with a garlic sauce for $4.00 a pound and we ordered sides dishes as well as drinks. We spent all together around $20.00 and had so much seafood it was hard to even finish. What a great place, I still dream of that market now.
Safe to say Panama City is very, very Americanised. Sky crappers line its streets with the notable brands popping at you as you walk along, brands such as Hard Rock, Hilton, McDonald's and Taco Bell etc. They have huge malls dotted around the city with every brand you could think of being sold. We liked Panama City and as you have read, especially the market, however, we were keen to get out and get back on the budget backing trail away from the suffocating influence of the western world.
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| Michael with Gloria the maid that took us to the GP. Nice woman |
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| Our view from stepping outside our hostel |
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| Panama City Skyline |
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| Beautiful buildings in the old town |
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| Skyline at night |
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| The Panama Canal |
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| Fish Market |
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| Rrrrrrrrrar! Langostinos |
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| Typically dressed Kuna lady (Panamas Indigenous) |
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| Crabby Crab Crab |
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| Lobster tails and King Prawns |
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