An addendum to Panama
Rogue
Alan and Noi not sure which is which
Sat 28 Feb 2009 23:15
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An addendum to Panama.
After all my comments about it’s Panama etc. Panama
was a total surprise to us after all the stories. It is one of the best
provisioning areas we have been in. It is extremely cheap with good quality
available. You can basically get anything but it can take a while to find. Most
people speak a little English and everyone is more than willing to try and make
themselves understood and to try and understand what we are saying. Great
people, extremely friendly and if you start the conversation with a smile you
get an immediate friend. It is Panama and manyana does exist but it’s not a bad
way to live.
Panama city is polluted and the roads are very busy
but it is a bustling, vibrant ,growing city that is in the most part safe to
walk in and take local transportation.
Shelter Bay marina was a good stop but if we knew
Panama City was so good and the anchorage so pleasant we would have crossed
sooner and waited for the part on the Pacific side.
Colon is with no doubt a place to be missed. It is
a dying city and the police and general population seem to have washed their
hands of it. As I am told by the locals, 13 streets in Colon and 17 gangs. You
can not walk anywhere other than the main street and parts of China town. The
bus and train stations are not safe and town is not only unsafe but a total mess
with garbage.
We had a great stay and only wish we had seen more
of the country.
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