Chiriqui Grande to Panama City, 342 miles
We have successfully completed the first leg of our journey. This portion we expected to be the most dangerous, difficult, and uncomfortable. Dangerous and difficult? Not really. Uncomfortable? Absolutely. We had more than our fair share of rainy days, dumpy hotels, bad food, mosquito bites, and diarrhea. But as they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; and the worst times turn into the best memories. Wait, aren’t we on vacation?? Bring on the next continent!
We slept good in the AC. We sleep in the tent on the bed in almost every hotel to keep the mosquito-bite-count as low as possible (I have 16 on my feet alone). The tent we have has very fine mesh, and shouldn’t even really be considered “mesh” as it isn’t breathable its so fine. Its normally 10 degrees warmer in the tent than in the room (our alarm clock has a thermometer) so when its 80s-90s, the tent is unbearable. So that brings me back to the first sentence: We slept good in the AC.
I almost drove threw the glass show-case cabinet in the hardware store last night while jumping the bike up the curb from the street and across the wet and slick tiled sidewalk and storefront. Getting it out was much easier. The Panamenos (Panamanians) are very patriotic and this hardware store sold full size flags, small flags, plastic flag banners, but no flag stickers (we are collecting them for our panniers). I settled for a pair of safety goggles (for the rainy days).
We hit the road by 9am, and wound our way through the Chiriqui highlands, some of our best scenery (and roads!) the whole trip thus far. Lots of lush greenery, waterfalls, mountains, wildlife… As a matter of fact, shortly after passing what can only be described as a lizard crossing sign, a green flash about a foot long and six inches around, shot across the road… right infront of diesl trucker who hit it with a series of wheels! Then we hit it. And I say hit it (instead of ran it over) because it was that big.
The people here are so friendly and helpful, I really like Panama. We get lots of waves from young and old as we pass by, and as soon as we stop and look lost for a moment, someone pulls over and offers help. This is without a doubt the friendliest country in Central America.
We stopped at the halfway point for McDonalds. Amie hadn’t eaten anything significant in at least 2 days, and her faithful “Pechuga Crispy” is all she could think about as her passed bout of food poisoning had her more than a little weary on the street vendors / local restaurants. I bought my big mac with US dollars and then drove by cops with radar and for a second I felt somehow closer to home…
Our butts were numb at 200 miles. Even averaging 60miles an hour on the good road, 350 miles is hard for us to do comfortably. At 250miles legs were tingling. At 300 miles we crossed Puente de las Americas (bridge of the Americas) that arches over the panama canal and were in the city. There are two different neighborhoods immediately identifiable Casco Viejo, the colonial, old town, and the new modern financial district downtown. Casco Viejo has the colonial churches and buildings (and ruins) from the 16th centry. The financial district looks like any major US cities downtown. There are also tons of condos going up. They are boasting the weather and all the luxury of Miami at half the price. Our hotel runs $22/night, I talked them down to $18. Cable, AC, a pool on the roof in the middle of the city! By that measure, condos here should be ¼ the price of Miami.
We slept good in the AC. We sleep in the tent on the bed in almost every hotel to keep the mosquito-bite-count as low as possible (I have 16 on my feet alone). The tent we have has very fine mesh, and shouldn’t even really be considered “mesh” as it isn’t breathable its so fine. Its normally 10 degrees warmer in the tent than in the room (our alarm clock has a thermometer) so when its 80s-90s, the tent is unbearable. So that brings me back to the first sentence: We slept good in the AC.
I almost drove threw the glass show-case cabinet in the hardware store last night while jumping the bike up the curb from the street and across the wet and slick tiled sidewalk and storefront. Getting it out was much easier. The Panamenos (Panamanians) are very patriotic and this hardware store sold full size flags, small flags, plastic flag banners, but no flag stickers (we are collecting them for our panniers). I settled for a pair of safety goggles (for the rainy days).
We hit the road by 9am, and wound our way through the Chiriqui highlands, some of our best scenery (and roads!) the whole trip thus far. Lots of lush greenery, waterfalls, mountains, wildlife… As a matter of fact, shortly after passing what can only be described as a lizard crossing sign, a green flash about a foot long and six inches around, shot across the road… right infront of diesl trucker who hit it with a series of wheels! Then we hit it. And I say hit it (instead of ran it over) because it was that big.
The people here are so friendly and helpful, I really like Panama. We get lots of waves from young and old as we pass by, and as soon as we stop and look lost for a moment, someone pulls over and offers help. This is without a doubt the friendliest country in Central America.
We stopped at the halfway point for McDonalds. Amie hadn’t eaten anything significant in at least 2 days, and her faithful “Pechuga Crispy” is all she could think about as her passed bout of food poisoning had her more than a little weary on the street vendors / local restaurants. I bought my big mac with US dollars and then drove by cops with radar and for a second I felt somehow closer to home…
Our butts were numb at 200 miles. Even averaging 60miles an hour on the good road, 350 miles is hard for us to do comfortably. At 250miles legs were tingling. At 300 miles we crossed Puente de las Americas (bridge of the Americas) that arches over the panama canal and were in the city. There are two different neighborhoods immediately identifiable Casco Viejo, the colonial, old town, and the new modern financial district downtown. Casco Viejo has the colonial churches and buildings (and ruins) from the 16th centry. The financial district looks like any major US cities downtown. There are also tons of condos going up. They are boasting the weather and all the luxury of Miami at half the price. Our hotel runs $22/night, I talked them down to $18. Cable, AC, a pool on the roof in the middle of the city! By that measure, condos here should be ¼ the price of Miami.
Succesfully out of the hardware store
Shoe-shine boys give their blessing
Ridin' through the clouds
Beautiful Panama
Typical highland abode
another...
posted by Pedro and Maria at 3:40 PM
2 Comments:
YAY!!! It'll only get better! I'm so glad Panama has been a good friendly experience! Time for a break, especially after the illness...:(. xoxox
Glad you made it to Panama City!! And are enjoying your last bit in Central America . . . Have a great time while there . .. I enjoy your blog! Be safe! Love you! XXOOO : )
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