Date of Entry: January 17th to 20th 2017

Date of Writing: October 9th 2017

Panama city is beautiful and a city with a lot of contrast depending on which neighbourhood you explore.  From the old town colonial streets of Casco viejo to the incredibly modern skyscrapers of the financial centre, Panama city has a bit of anything.  This fact, combined with being a bit tired out from our time in San Blas means that we didn’t actually do much in Panama city other than wander around together, eat frozen overpriced but overly delicious frozen yogurt, and enjoy each other’s company.

The Ancient part of the city in Casco Viejo is full of beautiful colonial buildings that make a great place to walk around for hours and hours, despite the considerable heat.  We explore old church facades and more polished government buildings, enjoying good food and relaxing days for our last few days of this trip together.

One highlight comes when we use my Aunt Katie’s generous christmas gift to go explore the richer more modern business center and find a truly amazing indian restaurant to enjoy our last dinner together.  It’s some of the best Indian I’ve had since India.  Thanks Aunt Katie, and Renata hopes she gets to meet you soon.  It was a great treat to end our trip.

The next morning I go with Renata to the Panama airport both of us in a somber mood.  Despite some difficulties it’s been our best trip yet and I’m sad to see her go, though of course I’m excited for the next 3-4 weeks in Central America and Mexico.  After yet another tearful airport goodbye I do my best not to waste anytime, getting an uber straight to the bus station and booking a long haul bus to San Jose with the overpriced but well run Tica Bus, it being the only direct departure that day that doesn’t involve overnighting in David, Panama,a place I sadly won’t have time to visit as I try to cover too much ground on my way up to Mexico.  As we drive I snap some photos of the modern centre of Panama City, a place full of north american goods and a very developed place, more so than I’d expected.

Now the journey continues solo as my spanish continues to flood back.  I’ll miss Renata dearly but it’s only a few weeks and Ive got plans to do many many things. Should I ever return to panama city I’d do a better job of seeing things like the panama Canal, but it was nice to have a few days just to Relax with my lovely Renata before she flies back to Brazil.