So Panama has definitely been an interesting trip so far. We got off the bus at 3pm yesterday and got in a cab with two others into Casco Viejo. We attempted o stay at Luna’s Castle but they only had 1 bed, and well we are two people and they wouldn’t let us share, soooo moving on we ended up a couple blocks away at another hostel that we loved so it worked out. We got to the dorm room, hung out for a bit and then decided to wander. We ran into a lovely couple from California who was on our bus so we went to dinner and wandered with them a little bit. Wandering was about as wild as we decided to get before calling it a night.
Sunday we woke up, went down for breakfast which consisted of PB&J and bananas (I honestly could not have been more thrilled, seriously). Then we embarked on the “we need to buy tickets to get to Bocas early because the bus sells out," we obviously weren’t very creative in creating a title for our mission. So after asking about 8 people we found the bus to take us to the terminal, got the tickets…now that was the easy part. Then we were told to get on a particular bus to get back to Plaza Cinco de Mayo, well apparently we missed the stop to get off so we just stayed on the bus and got a wonderful city tour. It was actually perfect, we got to see all around Panama City and even went though part of the ruins of the first city in Panama that was ramshacked by Captain Morgan or someone like that? Eventually we actually needed to figure out where we were so about 30 minutes in we were assisted on which other bus to get onto to take us back. Well, he didn’t stop at the Plaza so once we reached the original place we bought our tickets from he decided that he would give us a personal ride back to the plaza. Yep, an entire bus for me, Des and the bus driver who kept asking us if we were married and telling us to call him when we came back to Panama. (yeah, ok) FINALLY, Plaza Cinco de Mayo…..Where we were then relentlessly harassed by some guy who insisted upon following us and trying to give us his number, then we walked into a shop and the owner told the guy he was calling the police. Thanks random shop owner! So we wandered around a little more, got back to the hostel, packed our bags and headed to the Canal. Of course to get there we had to take another bus and then opted for a taxi the last half of the way, it wasn’t too far.
The Panama Canal was really neat. It’s crazy to think how important that one waterway is. We got there at the perfect time to get up to the observation deck and we were able to watch 2 different HUGE ships make their way through. At about 5 we decided to head back to the terminal and we took a taxi with the most wonderful lady in a bright pink 70’s dress.
We needed to be at the Albrook Terminal, but got dropped off at the Albrook Mall…no problem really, the terminal was just on the other side of the mall but we were quite the scene walking through the mall with our ridiculously huge packs on. (I mean really, imagine someone walking through South Coast Plaza with a backpacking backpack on, you would be a little confused to). Oh and the fact that at one point Desiree and I decided to play bumper cars with each other and pose with the giant animal statues. It was a good time. Now we are sitting in the terminal waiting for our bus. Panama City, it’s been fun.
Oh side note: being a red head in Panama is not advised. Today alone I’ve had my hair physically touched 3 times, been cat called, lightly hit on the arm by a man trying to say hi to me and the best was when 3 old men started to literally howl (yes, like wolves). Meanwhile Desiree can barely breathe she is just laughing so hard at me, thanks, you’re a great friend. Anyone got some scissors and hair dye?
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