I’m currently in Panama. We decided to go to Cost Rica as the last leg of a road trip that let me see some areas I wanted to see in Panama close to the border, such as Boquete, David, and Volcan. What was supposed to be a quick day trip over the border into Costa Rica and back turned into a cluster fu&%
BTW, Boquete, and Volcan are incredibly beautiful areas and many go there for vacation, retirement, etc. Pics really don’t do the place justice I can tell you:
On return to Panama, there was drama as they tend to change their policies when the whim strikes them, and we lacked some “required” documentation for this weeks whim which took 24h hours to get. Thus, went to a crappy hotel close to wait for that. Fun fun, but life’s an adventure and all that. What follows is some pics of said hotel room to give you an idea which was interesting to say the least.
First the shower, which has to be seen to appreciate. Not a torture device. That’s a water heater. We all know how well electricity and water mix. I took “cold” shower for obvious reasons.
The “drain” in the shower which nothing but hole in the wall where water go directly out. Just the right size for something to slither into in the middle of the night…I stuffed the hole at night for obvious reasons.
For your entertainment:
Q for those of you who have traveled to various “austere” locations. What is it with the love of exposed bulbs with these places? It really adds to the ambiance no? Is it they grew up minus the concept of a simple lamp shade? I pondered that as I looked at the ugly ass exposed bulb in the room which makes every look just that much more awful, where as even a home made lamp shade of some kind would do wonders. If I had had to stay beyond that one night, I literally would have made one my damn self.
Did a tour in Central America in 1996-1997, and obviously spent some time in both Panama and Costa Rica as a result. Oddly enough, of all of the places that we operated, Costa Rica was by far the most developed, and it just-so-happened to be the only place I ever really got sick. From Burger King, no less. Never saw that coming; especially after spending so much time in more austere places like El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.
Culturally, these are curious, if interesting regions. Definitely a beautiful part of the world, though.
I lived in Honduras the showers always freaked me out
yours has a switch that is fancy my wires just went to a plug and the outlet was also in the shower so you had to plug it in on top of it
the drain to your shower is common it seems but whats worse is where I was the toilets were like that the pipe just ran to the outside and dumped it outside for you ! hahaha nasty
want to get down to Panama sometime and Costa Rica
so what was the mess at border ? thought I would have read a great story of fun I learned to leave a 5 or 10 bill in my passport in the back to speed things up
I can tell you Panama is now far more developed than Cost Rica, which has gone down hill in recent years, where as Panama is now a major world player, and Panana City a “real” city. I honestly dislike seeing all the American fast food chains here and do my best to tell the locals to avoid it.
KFC will have a line around the block at times. As expected, obesity and related diseases are quickly rising sadly.
BTW, lots of retired mil here, many still working as contractors in various locals. High concentration of SF.
Believe me my friend, I know the “right” places, and FYI, Panama blows CR away in that respect. However, border town in CR is a shit hole and security a priority in that local.
For our purposes at the time, Panama was really not a part of Central America proper, but of course, you are correct. Not really a direct comparison, as Panama is a thoroughly-modern place by comparison, and far more active as a trade/shipping/monetary center, etc. At the time, the Chinese seemed to be making heavy investments there, as well. Lots of new construction.
Costa Rica was still a bit more like an exotic travel destination, but with seemingly more European influence (and money) than their neighbors to the north.
This one has a real toilet, so first class all the way dude.
I’d recommend Panama over CR all day personally.
Here’s the sign. You have to stay at least 24 hours, have a return plane ticket to the US, and show you have at least $500 in a bank account some place. Don’t ask man, I don’t understand it either.
I know the place. Panama pisses all over that set up and Panama City is 10x nicer and far safer than San Jose. I’m not a big fan of CR to be honest. I can’t claim to have been all over it or am an expert on it, but I will say it’s not on my list of favorites as Panama (in my estimation and experience) offers anything CR does, and does it better. Country I really do want to visit is Columbia.
Obviously a subjective figure on my part, but you get the idea. I was shocked by what a world class city Panama City is and even if it’s been say a year since people have seen it, it’s changed considerably. Brand new metro is currently being built under the city for example.
love signs like that yeah no sense but nothing much does in those parts of the country it seems
by the hotel I say you picked the correct places I always seek out the ones on the edge a bit and tried to see the real side of things ? and choose the most local and least tourist was always the most fun
a few people we know have been buying up real estate down in Panama
the showers always freaked me out 