Panama City

Panama City – The last bastion of the United States

Coming from Palmar Norte in Costa Rica, we had a 15 hours bus drive ahead of us (3 hours waiting at the Panamanian border included) before arriving in Panama City. For this trip we booked the executive class, which meant meals and beverage (served by a very friendly male bus hostess) were for free.

The American Way of live can be found everywhere here in Panama. Due to the economic benefits of the Panama Canal, the Americans hold a protective hand over their ‘cash-cow’. We discovered this already in the bus, where we got a Big Mac Burger and a coke from McDonalds for lunch. In the city itself, one finds all the big fast-food chains and fashion boutiques, which takes a little bit the charm of it. Nevertheless, if you walk through the city, past the China Town and the ‘Ghetto’ towards the old town ‘Casco Viejo’ you hear at every corner Latin music, see people on the street, sitting together, speaking, reading newspapers, playing games and enjoying their lives.

We stayed the first night in ‘Casco Viejo’ and found during the evening a nice little rooftop bar with a panoramic view on the skyscrapers scenery. After eating the local tapas and drinking tasty Caipirinhas, we heard from downstairs some fine Jazz music. On the first floor, local musicians started a jam session. We could not be kept away and wouldn’t want to miss the chance to be part of this unique atmosphere. So Jean-Marc went back to the Hostel to grab his violin and joined the concert. It was something really special going on there.

After the performance, we exchanged some words with the contra bass player and he invited us the next day to his concert in the ‘City of Knowledge’ with the Symphony Orchestra of Panama and the Choir of the Panamanian University, for free! This fortunate coincidence allowed us to enjoy the following evening the serene sounds of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, led by the Spanish conductor Iñigo Pirfano. It was a blast! Our ‘couch surfing host’ Ana accompanied us, with her partner Phil, to the Athenaeum in the ‘Ciudad del Saber’ to listen to the Spanish speaking choir singing Beethoven’s Lyrics in German.

The next day, we strolled along the picturesque seaside promenade, ate some local fish dishes (a cup of fresh 'ceviche') and went afterwards to the ‘Circus Market’, a local fun fair organised by the circus school. There we chilled out in a relaxing atmosphere and let the evening fade away.

At 5am we arrived on the Panamanian border, but the Costa Rican office opened only at 6am. After waiting an hour, the Panamanian border police checked the luggage of every passenger on the bus, which took us another two hours.

A local bar in Casco Viejo after a night of Salsa and Rumba.

When it rains in Central America, it doesn't last very long but the amount of water is much higher than in Europe

In the old town, one can find new and old buildings side by side.

Nobody can keep this man from reading his newspaper in the morning.

Birds taking a bath in front of the skyscrapers landscape.

Jam Session in the bar Gato Negro in Panama City

We smartened up for this special occasion. As we were very early, we got the best spots in the 7th row.

Panama is the second country in the international tour of 'A Kiss for all the World'. Four soloists and a choir of 80 voices took part in the fourth and final movement of the symphony, which lasted just over an hour.

Plaza Simón Bolívar. In the back is the iglesia de San Francisco de Asis.

But all that glitters is not gold: Next to the tourist attractions, you will find a lot of people who have to make a living from the little they have.

A lot of those big buildings serve as shelter for people who don't profit from the tourist industry, the Panama Canal or the offshore companies.

Next to the fish market (donated by the Japanese Government) locals 'park' their small fisher boats.

There is a lot of hustle and bustle on the harbour.