Panamania

I could live in Panama City.

I'm going through previous trips to offer ideas for other travelers.  Kevin & I spent close to a month in Panama in February of 2010.  As I'm sorting through photos I've realized I'll have to break it down to region-- there is SO much to experience in Panama!

Let's start at the beginning: Panama City.  It's a bustling city with a fantastic arts scene.  It reminds me a bit of arts in cities like Savannah, GA.  In both cities there's a dynamism between modern art & restoration of both art and architecture.  In both cities there are intriguing conversations about conservation and environmental sustainability.  Casco Viejo, the old city, is filled with romantic old alleys where you're equally likely to stumble upon an art exhibit or Carnival preparations.

The ruins of the original fort are intriguing.  From crumbling towers you catch clear views of modern industry.  My imagination wandered from old pirate stories to current tales of corporate espionage.

We took a taxi out of the city proper to check out the canal.  There are lots of ways to see the canal & it is worth seeing, even if you're not excited about history nor engineering.  What we did not do, but seems the most fun, was catch a ride on a sailboat going through.  Pretty much anyone sailing around the world (& there are more of these characters than you might expect) will go through the Panama Canal.  As we discovered in other regions, many sailors continue exploring the islands along both coastlines.  Panama is a great country for boaters.

Many small sailboats only have two full-time passengers.  To traverse the canal you're required to have four deckhands-- or were in 2010.  There are constant message boards with boaters asking for two volunteers to travel the canal for free!  The whole process takes at least a day.  To someone with flexibility & a spirit of adventure, it's a great option.

The city is wildly beautiful.  & intriguing!

The only experience we wanted in Panama City that we didn't achieve (on this trip) was taking in a baseball game.  Panamanians LOVE baseball.  If your team has a Panamanian player, people treat you like family.  Phillies' own Chooch was our ticket to instant friendship!  I'm told that there is non-stop salsa dancing during a game in Panama City.  That is how it should be.

We happened to be in Panama City during Carnival.  Honestly, it's better to be in David or further out in the country for a real live Carnival celebration.  We had a blast though!  Tourists are always doused with shaving cream & confetti.  Any little kid will make sure to cover you from head to toe.  As long as you're game & have a good sense of humor, you'll be dancing in the street!

Wanna go?  I can help make it happen.  Email maiga@yogawood.com.  Happy trails!