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Panama City
Hotel Stanford provided a good nights sleep once the air conditioner
caught up and I put my ear plugs in! It's cloudy this morning, but the
veiw is so colorful below. I stood by the window for an hour just
taking it all in. Eventually my need for food and water made me get
dressed and venture out. I stopped in the lobby and used their
computer to check my email. Since my phone went in the river, it's my
only communication with the outside world. I tried a phone card
yesterday in Miami, but I could only hear and not be heard. Maybe it
was just that phone. But the phone in my room doesn't work either.
The keyboard is different. Especially the punctuation. But I don't use
it correctly anyway. My friend Rob sent me the best new name idea!
Actually I think it was his wife's idea to use "Jellyfish"! It made me
laugh. I really like all the comments both on Facebook and the blog so
I hope they keep coming!
Out in the street, there are lots of buses and taxis. Police officers
blow a whistle and stop traffic for people to cross. Most are dressed
in causal western wear, but there are many Kuna natives in very
colorful dresses and sandals. I got a bag of Cheetos and water at a
little store and ate them under the raised highway and deciphered the
altura libre 5.50 m. I guessed first it was the highway name with the
clearance height. Then my Spanish started to work a bit more and I
realized that it wasn't the name at all, just "height free" or
"clearance" duh!
Across the street and actually on the sidewalk, 8 barber chairs were
lined up under a tin roof. I couldn't tell right off who was waiting
for a hair cut or if they were all barbers waiting for clients. Then I
saw a couple guys get their heads shaved. You know what I did don't
you? Yes, I went over and in my poor Spanish and with a lot of hand
gestures managed to get a quote of $3 and sat down on the curb to wait
my turn. It's an interesting way to spend time at the barber. The bus
stops only 10' from me and unloads passengers who pay their dollar as
they exit the bus. People of all kinds. School kids in uniforms.
Nurses. A family carrying their little girl with braces on her legs.
Polio? A traveler like myself with a small backpack. Old men with long
hair and sandals. All the while the kid in a black rock band T shirt,
black jeans and a silver belt buckle in the molded shape of a pistol
shaves around my ears and cuts my hair! Ok so now the grey shows on
the sides of my head, but it's an improvement nonetheless.
On the way back to shower and get the loose hair off my shirt, I
stopped and bought 2 bananas for a quarter and climbed the four
flights to my room. Then, anxious for more of Panama, I walked down
Avenue Central. I looked at phones but couldn't tell what I was
supposed to do for a sim card or minutes. Found the equivalent of a
walmart and looked around. Foods about the same but other stuff is
pretty cheap by US standards. I bought 5 cards and got charged for 6!
Didn't pay attention till I got back to my room. Oops!
A 74 year old man, Conrad Grant, very dark skinned, and only a couple
teeth, asked me what country I was from and proceeded to give me a
"free" tour. He did show me where the good hostel is. I guess you want
to stay at the hospedaje Casco Viejo. It's $10 a night but looked very
clean. A nice upstairs dorm and balcony and a buzzer to secure the
door. The other hostel is supposed to be only $5 but dirty! He
recommended the restaurant Coca Cola. He said tip many times and so I
sent him on his way with $5. He asked for 2 more! I was aware this
would happen, but this one time I followed my instinct and he
delivered. After all, I wouldn't have found the hostel on my own or
known where to eat. And it was very good. It's the oldest restaurant
in panama! I had the chicken Parmesan with rice and beans. The owner?
followed me out to tell me where the post office was. I guess I walk a
little fast. He was out of breath!
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