Impressions of Panama City

  Panama City, Panama
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Panama City  

On the Causeway

My first impression was of the hot humid climate. It is the sort of heat that melts an Alaskan in his sandals. I walk from my apartment to the nearby Veneto Hotel (or the cyber cafe) just to sit in the air conditioning. If you live anywhere north of the Canadian Border, the heat will take some getting used to. It is comfortable when your sitting in the shade and the wind is blowing.  

Learning Spanish

A Vegetarian Restaurant I like - 3 items for $1.75

I am taking two weeks of Spanish lessons through Spanish Panama school before I start traveling. I like their instructors (you can find them on the web). Some days I am frustrated with the slow retention I have of Spanish. I have to keep reminding myself that it takes time. My head aches afterwards. One of the benefits of going to school is that I have met other gringo visitors and we go out on the town together. They also found a room for me in an apartment in City Center, and it is only 10 minute walk to school. 

My Lunch

I quickly settled into a daily routine. Two hours of Spanish language, a light lunch, two more hours of language class, and an hour of salsa dance.

The Panamanians work during the day and play during the night when the cooler breeze makes life more comfortable. Dinner is commonly served around 7-10 p.m. at restaurants. Bars stay open until 5 am on weekends.

Let there be Silence!

I have made up a slogan for Panama City - The City of Horns. The cars and trucks beep endlessly as they zoom up and down the roads. The drivers beep at stopped traffic, at other cars who dare to get in their way, at people walking by who might want a taxi, and sometimes just to express their jubilation in their freedom to drive.

This beeping goes on even late into the night and on weekends it never ends. The beeping is punctuated by the Wheeoo - Wheeoo - Wheeoo, Rooop - Rooop - Rooop of car alarms going off at all hours of the night. Between the heat and the noise I haven't had a solid nights sleep since I got here.

                                                             Salsa

Nelly instructing her Class

I found a salsa instructor named Nelly who teaches Puerto Rican salsa.  I spend one hour a day doing private salsa lessons with her. My spins are much better and I am learning lots of moves! One hour is about all I can handle in this heat. She is building up her group by teaching group classes three nights a week. 

Nelly and I