Dec 15, 2009. 1:17am EST
I arrived safely in Panama yesterday around 2:30pm. L picked me up and took me to the airport, which I am very grateful for his help. He thought that I was very nervous as we headed to SFO. I definately had a bit of nervous excitement. This trip feels like my first truly solo journey and adventure, believe it or not. I know that I’ve been a good number of places. Panama is the first place that I feel like I am really on my own. Montreal, I had my cousin there when I made the first bus ride for my interview. Calgary, my sister was there. Barbados has always been with the family and on one occasion with the high school band. Frankfurt and Stuttgart were tied into a conference. Mexico, I went with a friend. All the places in North America, all the towns from Kaui to Cody Wyoming are all within North America and there is a certain familiarity that goes along with being in the same continent.
I am in Central America! Its 90 degrees. It is humid and I love it. It is the kind of humidity that reminds you of a Bikram Yoga class. I left after miidnight on the 14th from SFO making connections in Dallas, Miami and then on to Panama. I think all in all a 10 hour journey. I took No Jet Lag, all natural pills from New Zealand and just recalles from my memory the book i bought when I first came to San Francisco about how to adjust to the time zone difference when travelling and reducing jet lag. Technically, I should not be up still, but I want to get this writing in while it is fresh.
I sat beside a Panamanian guy who parents were from Korea. We didn’t talk too much. He advised me to get prepared for the humidity. He said Panama was the nicest or most evolved country in Central America. Once I landed it took about 2 hours to navigate through customs and immigration. The women’s bathroom, only one toilet-that took up a lot of time. There were a lot of people arriving from the US, Canada and Europe. I used my spanish here and there, I find myself going to French a lot when I am trying to communicate. The taxi ride was $28. What I noticed is that there is a lot of undeveloped land here adn a lot of bill boards, tons of bill boards. Only other place that I have seen so mant billboards was` in Texas. The city has a lot of half-built sky scraper condominiums. If you know me-well then you know I love condos. Unfortunately the downturn in the US economy I would say from the looks fo it has a direct impact on Panama. Most of the people buying the condos were Americans and Canadians retirees and investors. Some buildings are being qorked on, while others just seem to be an empty shell.
My accomodations are very modest, i am staying at the Tower house hotel on Bella Vista, its about $60 a night and the place is in the heart of Panama City. It is easy to walk around. My room has 3 single beds an sofa, desk, mini refrigerator, tv and bathroom with a shower. There is an air conditioner unit in my room. It is a good budget hotel. The one thing I noticed right away is that there is that slight smell of moldiness but I think it comes with the territory of the country that I am in. I remember reading in Michael Coniff’s book Black labor on a White Canal. “It was so humit that you woul place you shoes in the closet and the next day there would be mold growing from them. I had some pringles left over from the plane ride-i put them in the fridge. I see no bugs and no mosquitos so far, no critters at all. THis is a good thing. I soon as I got in, I knew that I had to immerse myself so I hopped in the shower and then went walking. I ended up at Le Meridian hotel where I had a glass of champagne at the bar and some bottled water. I ate at Latitudes restaurant and had a great meal. Blackened Mahi-Mahi with Couscous and vegetables and chocalate extravaganza with vanilla icecream (although they gave me strawberry ice cream). THe restaurant was very elegant and nice. THe staff was very friendly. The service went a little down hill when the shift change happened. ALl in all it was good and I had a good first meal. THe front desk person back at my hotel, Drexalla has been great. SHe got me a guide\driver, Manuel which was the thing that I was praying for and hoping to have to help me navigate this Country. Tomorrow I am off to the West Indian Museum.
