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Trip Report: Panama City, Panama (Feb 2017)
Hector_Lavoe:
I recently came back from a trip to Panama City, Panama and as a city/place it is fantastic! I absolutely get why it is so popular among expats from North America. The place is a vibrant tropical metropolis with gleaming modern skyscrapers and a modern infrastructure (including the first & only subway in Central America).
A ONE WOMAN TRIP:
This was more or less a "one woman" trip as I was there to visit a woman I met two years ago in Nicaragua. Yeah, I am open to any constructive criticism as I had previously written her off due mostly to some family related issues which are out of her control. She moved from her native Nicaragua to Panama about 18 months ago for better economic opportunity. The "evangelical" influence of her mother was a non-issue in Panama since she her Mom does NOT live there. Two of her sisters also live in Panama but they are very normal/cool people.
We kept in touch off and on over the past two years. She had been in a relationship with a local guy until the very end of last year. The guys down there get away with MURDER! The guy she was with was a control freak and absolutely "cheating" on her. Cheating in quotes because to him it wasn't cheating, he was just doing what guys do. Suffice it to say, all that machismo stuff boils down to 100% weakness in my opinion. The wimp had the audacity to tell her he'd "hit" her if she ever left him AND he would constantly take her cell phone from her to "check" her messages and even reply to messages for her. He was a jealous fool who deep down knew he did not deserve her. I am not anything spectacular but I've seen pictures of the guy...he looks like a weasel. And when she did finally break it off with the guy, the piece of sh&t did hit her in the arm (hard enough to give her a small bruise).
Is that enough drama for you?
She had always wanted me to come back for Trip No. 2. I recently hit 50 and she is 26. I just figured I ain't getting any younger. I've been on numerous trips over the past several years and this lady is the one that I could never forget. So as we re-connected I figured why the hell not take a chance? Her thoughts/words to me could be roughly summarized as:
"Well we had a nice chemistry before. Why don't you come visit me in Panama City? I always felt you are the type of man I would like to be with for the long-term. The only way we will both know for sure is if you come to visit me."
This is a glamour shot of her (to be deleted in the near future):
BRIEF CITY REVIEW:
With the Panama Canal only 15 minutes from the city center, Panama City is an international hub of trade and immigration. Yes, the street traffic is INSANE during the week but the roughly 1.5 million metro area packs a punch.
Skyline View from bayfront park
The very urbanized capital is stacked with gleaming high rises between chic clubs, hotels and restaurants. A center of international banking and trade, the sultry skyline has echoes of Miami. By contrast, the peninsula of “Casco Viejo” (the Old Quarter), a 5 minute cab/uber ride from the modern city center, has been transformed from a neighborhood of urban decay and crime into a thriving colonial neighborhood. Cobblestones streets link newly restored boutique hotels with salsa clubs and rum bars.
The Casco Viejo (Old Quarter)
In the midst of all the concrete canyons, you can escape to the “Parque Natural Metropolitano” which is a rain forest a mere 20 minutes from the city center. On a hill north of downtown, this 650-acre (or 265-hectares) park protects vast expanses of tropical forest within the city limits and serves as a wilderness escape from the city center. There are two main walking trails, the Nature Trail and the Tití Monkey Trail, which join to form one long loop. At the top of the trail, the mirador (“lookout”) offers panoramic views of Panama City, the bay and in the other direction almost untouched verdant rolling hills.
Skyline view from Parque Natural
Parque Natural
Along the urbanized bayfront the city has built a greenbelt of pedestrian paths and bike paths that hug the waterfront. This is a gathering place for families, bicyclists and joggers. Really a beautiful spot to take in the sunset. The weather is tropical. I was there in the "dry season" (Dec. to April). The weather is hot and humid during the day but quite pleasant in the evenings.
Last but not least, the Panama Canal is only about 15 minutes from the city center (assuming no traffic). An engineering wonder of the world with a tragic and interesting back story.
THE WOMEN:
While I was there to meet one woman I still wanted to have a Plan B in case the whole thing fell apart. For a metro area of only 1.5 million people, this place packs a punch with regards to its urban amenities: parks, museums, restaurants, hotels and its very own subway. HOWEVER, Panama City appears to punch below its weight in terms of the ladies. Just not nearly as many hot women as you'd expect to see in a city with so much wealth (relatively speaking). The cutest women you'll meet there are very likely women from Venezuela or Colombia. Granted I am basing this on a my very unscientific observations of just under one week there.
Plan B ended up not being necessary but you can meet women here: many good malls, bars, restaurants, etc.
Without getting too much into details, we hit it off pretty good. I still think I am nuts due to the age difference and yes her family is a bit of a wild card. But as long as they are in Nicaragua I don't care.
Just before we re-connected I met a 28 year old Latina here in the U.S.A. She was born in Florida and honestly she is also marriage material. We hit it off pretty good too. The "local" Latina is definitely ballpark to my Nica/Panama City girl with regards to looks, etc. On "paper" I should go with the local girl as she is here, she has a college degree, we share a North American culture, and she couldn't possibly be into me for a green card (she is a U.S. Citizen).
All that said, I just really dig the Nica more. Can't really say why, I just do. I've not yet bought my return ticket to Panama but she is expecting me to come back soon and I am planning to go back soon.
mambocowboy:
--- Quote from: Hector_Lavoe on March 17, 2017, 06:02:06 PM ---I recently came back from a trip to Panama City, Panama and as a city/place it is fantastic! I absolutely get why it is so popular among expats from North America. The place is a vibrant tropical metropolis with gleaming modern skyscrapers and a modern infrastructure (including the first & only subway in Central America).
A ONE WOMAN TRIP:
This was more or less a "one woman" trip as I was there to visit a woman I met two years ago in Nicaragua. Yeah, I am open to any constructive criticism as I had previously written her off due mostly to some family related issues which are out of her control. She moved from her native Nicaragua to Panama about 18 months ago for better economic opportunity. The "evangelical" influence of her mother was a non-issue in Panama since she her Mom does NOT live there. Two of her sisters also live in Panama but they are very normal/cool people.
We kept in touch off and on over the past two years. She had been in a relationship with a local guy until the very end of last year. The guys down there get away with MURDER! The guy she was with was a control freak and absolutely "cheating" on her. Cheating in quotes because to him it wasn't cheating, he was just doing what guys do. Suffice it to say, all that machismo stuff boils down to 100% weakness in my opinion. The wimp had the audacity to tell her he'd "hit" her if she ever left him AND he would constantly take her cell phone from her to "check" her messages and even reply to messages for her. He was a jealous fool who deep down knew he did not deserve her. I am not anything spectacular but I've seen pictures of the guy...he looks like a weasel. And when she did finally break it off with the guy, the piece of sh&t did hit her in the arm (hard enough to give her a small bruise).
Is that enough drama for you?
She had always wanted me to come back for Trip No. 2. I recently hit 50 and she is 26. I just figured I ain't getting any younger. I've been on numerous trips over the past several years and this lady is the one that I could never forget. So as we re-connected I figured why the hell not take a chance? Her thoughts/words to me could be roughly summarized as:
"Well we had a nice chemistry before. Why don't you come visit me in Panama City? I always felt you are the type of man I would like to be with for the long-term. The only way we will both know for sure is if you come to visit me."
This is a glamour shot of her (to be deleted in the near future):
BRIEF CITY REVIEW:
With the Panama Canal only 15 minutes from the city center, Panama City is an international hub of trade and immigration. Yes, the street traffic is INSANE during the week but the roughly 1.5 million metro area packs a punch.
Skyline View from bayfront park
The very urbanized capital is stacked with gleaming high rises between chic clubs, hotels and restaurants. A center of international banking and trade, the sultry skyline has echoes of Miami. By contrast, the peninsula of “Casco Viejo” (the Old Quarter), a 5 minute cab/uber ride from the modern city center, has been transformed from a neighborhood of urban decay and crime into a thriving colonial neighborhood. Cobblestones streets link newly restored boutique hotels with salsa clubs and rum bars.
The Casco Viejo (Old Quarter)
In the midst of all the concrete canyons, you can escape to the “Parque Natural Metropolitano” which is a rain forest a mere 20 minutes from the city center. On a hill north of downtown, this 650-acre (or 265-hectares) park protects vast expanses of tropical forest within the city limits and serves as a wilderness escape from the city center. There are two main walking trails, the Nature Trail and the Tití Monkey Trail, which join to form one long loop. At the top of the trail, the mirador (“lookout”) offers panoramic views of Panama City, the bay and in the other direction almost untouched verdant rolling hills.
Skyline view from Parque Natural
Parque Natural
Along the urbanized bayfront the city has built a greenbelt of pedestrian paths and bike paths that hug the waterfront. This is a gathering place for families, bicyclists and joggers. Really a beautiful spot to take in the sunset. The weather is tropical. I was there in the "dry season" (Dec. to April). The weather is hot and humid during the day but quite pleasant in the evenings.
Last but not least, the Panama Canal is only about 15 minutes from the city center (assuming no traffic). An engineering wonder of the world with a tragic and interesting back story.
THE WOMEN:
While I was there to meet one woman I still wanted to have a Plan B in case the whole thing fell apart. For a metro area of only 1.5 million people, this place packs a punch with regards to its urban amenities: parks, museums, restaurants, hotels and its very own subway. HOWEVER, Panama City appears to punch below its weight in terms of the ladies. Just not nearly as many hot women as you'd expect to see in a city with so much wealth (relatively speaking). The cutest women you'll meet there are very likely women from Venezuela or Colombia. Granted I am basing this on a my very unscientific observations of just under one week there.
Plan B ended up not being necessary but you can meet women here: many good malls, bars, restaurants, etc.
Without getting too much into details, we hit it off pretty good. I still think I am nuts due to the age difference and yes her family is a bit of a wild card. But as long as they are in Nicaragua I don't care.
Just before we re-connected I met a 28 year old Latina here in the U.S.A. She was born in Florida and honestly she is also marriage material. We hit it off pretty good too. The "local" Latina is definitely ballpark to my Nica/Panama City girl with regards to looks, etc. On "paper" I should go with the local girl as she is here, she has a college degree, we share a North American culture, and she couldn't possibly be into me for a green card (she is a U.S. Citizen).
All that said, I just really dig the Nica more. Can't really say why, I just do. I've not yet bought my return ticket to Panama but she is expecting me to come back soon and I am planning to go back soon.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the trip report. Nice that you have options. Just remember long distance relationships are more difficult. You can't be sure the Nica is exclusive with you so feel free to follow up with the 28 year old here while keeping options with the Nica open too...
Elexpatriado:
Your not scared of the nut ball jealous boyfriend?
Ex boyfriends can be wacky. These Latinos want all the women to themselves..
buencamino3:
Really terrific report Hector and great photos. I was there in 1999 for a Spanish class with home stay. I do remember it was hot and muggy. The girl is gorgeous.
Awesome:
Great trip report and fotos!
You must be a decent looking 50 year old if you have a 28 year old educated gringa wanting you. That would put you light years ahead of scrubs like expat and bc.
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