Category Archives: Panama

Panama our 32nd country achieved!

Sunday January 24, 2016, 251 miles (404 km) – Total so far: 13,736 miles (22,106 km)

Five days 251 miles bicycle 150 miles bus We have two friends that we want to hang out with in Panama City starting today so we left Jaco in Freddy’s Transportation van for a ride closer to the border. We then cycled to the first major Panamanian city of David and boarded a bus to take us further south past a major road construction project of over 100 miles. The road was down to one lane each way with several areas of just gravel. Without this van and bus transportation we would never have been able to arrive in Panama City to see our friends.

The border crossing was interesting as once again it is a “game” to figure out where to go and the “proper” procedures. In this case we had gotten an early start and stopped at a restaurant near the border for breakfast. As we waited for our food I took our passports across the street to immigration to try and figure it out. I learned that once again we had to pay an exit tax. When we flew home for Christmas the airport exit fee was $29 each. Costa Rica is full of taxes. In fact at a restaurant there is added 13% tax to the bill along with a 10% service fee (called the propina or tip) for the workers. Anyway I asked 4 different people where I pay this tax and got 4 different answers (mostly pointing). I even walked into the police station at the border and was told there is no tax. Back at customs I obtained two exit forms after standing in line. Exit forms are never just sitting around to make it easy for people to pick up. This is true for most of the countries we have visited. I took our forms back to the restaurant where Jocelyn was eating and we filled these out as I ate. I then went back to immigration and asked several more people “where do I pay the tax”. Finally a kind girl took me to a van where another girl was collecting this fee. It’s hard to believe that the tax is collected in a car – but it is. Armed with my receipts of $7 each I was able to get that all powerful exit stamp on our passports. Checking into Panama was a breeze. We then exchanged our Colones for U.S. dollars. This is the second Central American country (the other was El Salvador) that uses U.S. currency. Panama does however have Balboa coins which is the equivalent of U.S. coins.

We are very happy to be out of Costa Rica due to high prices. The ride to Panama City is along the Pan American Highway (C.A.1). There are no alternatives. This road is very busy with and without shoulders. Most of the shoulders are very trashy and some are just plain gravel. It is a tough road to bicycle on. About 20 miles out of Panama City the road widens to 3 lanes each way but the shoulders are clean. Since there is no alternative riding along C.A. 1 is allowed. Most countries would not allow cycling on such a major road.

Sunday morning found us cycling over the “Bridge of the Americas”. It was indeed a banner moment as we cycled over the bridge and around the historical part of the city to our hotel for the next three nights. I was last here July 5, 1998 when I was working for the Sea Launch Program (on loan from Boeing). I worked on the Assembly and Command Ship in St. Petersburg Russia to help it prepare for launching Ukrainian Zenit rockets from a launch platform in the Pacific Ocean at the equator. On this day we transited the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific and up to the new homeport of Long Beach California.

We have stayed is some very cool hostels in Costa Rica and Panama. Jocelyn also found us a cool camp spot on Palmar Beach, San Carlos, Panama at a surf camp. There was a hotel at the surf camp at $70 a night but when I was told about camping on the beach at $10 we were sold on that. We love beach camping. There is something about hearing the surf lap the shore all night that makes sleep come easy. There were no rivers here so we did not fear the crocs!

My Spanish is getting better. I attribute that to my riding. Sitting on a bike for hours every day I read signs. I practice my pronunciation and learn how to speak better plus I learn several new words each day as it is pretty easy to figure out what the sign is about. In this way Spanish comes easier.

Jaco Beach to the south...
Jaco Beach to the south…
...and north. All the surf was at Hermosa Beach a few miles south.
…and north. All the surf was at Hermosa Beach a few miles south.
We were standing under this coconut palm when it started dripping. We looked up and a squirrel had bit through one and started eating.
We were standing under this coconut palm when it started dripping. We looked up and a squirrel had bit through one and started eating.
Before this picture this dog was sitting in a mud bath. It was a "dog day afternoon".
Before this picture this dog was sitting in a mud bath. It was a “dog day afternoon”.
This is the van you pay the $7 Costa Rica exit fee in. Very strange. Inside are two girls collecting this fee.
This is the van you pay the $7 Costa Rica exit fee in. Very strange. Inside are two girls collecting this fee.
Our 32nd country!
Our 32nd country!
Cycled across the border and headed to David, Panama.
Cycled across the border and headed to David, Panama.
Another great fish dinner...
Another great fish dinner…
...and hostel. This open jungle room had 10 bunk beds for $11 a night each!
…and hostel. This open jungle room had 10 bunk beds for $11 a night each!
Hostel Bambu in David.
Hostel Bambu in David.
A great camp spot on Palmar Beach near San Carlos, Panama.
A great camp spot on Palmar Beach near San Carlos, Panama.
And another nice seafood dinner!
And another nice seafood dinner!
Along with a beautiful sunset...
Along with a beautiful sunset…
...and sunrise.
…and sunrise.
There was no surf at this surf camp. But we did see some great surfing pictures from here.
There was no surf at this surf camp. But we did see some great surfing pictures from here.
On the way to Ciudad de Panama.
On the way to Ciudad de Panama.
A nice lunch spot to eat tuna and crackers.
A nice lunch spot to eat tuna and crackers.
This lady is cutting her lawn with a machete on a Saturday afternoon.
This lady is cutting her lawn with a machete on a Saturday afternoon.
We haven't seen "Jesus buses" since El Salvador.
We haven’t seen “Jesus buses” since El Salvador.
They are very popular with the owners going all out with decorating them. They are also called "chicken buses" as the locals use them to transport livestock to the market.
They are very popular with the owners going all out with decorating them. They are also called “chicken buses” as the locals use them to transport livestock to the market.

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Sunday morning we couldn't find anywhere to eat breakfast. So we stopped at a McDonald's before the highway. We hadn't been in a McDonald's since China.
Sunday morning we couldn’t find anywhere to eat breakfast. So we stopped at a McDonald’s before the highway. We hadn’t been in a McDonald’s since China.
I really like the Jesus buses. But for some reason they are call the "red devils" in Panama.
I really like the Jesus buses. But for some reason they are call the “red devils” in Panama.
All the markets that we have stopped at in Panama are owned by Asians. They have "schooled" me on how to give exact change as they don't like giving change.
All the markets that we have stopped at in Panama are owned by Asians. They have “schooled” me on how to give exact change as they don’t like giving change.
A motorcycle policeman tried to stop us from bicycling the "Bridge of the Americas"to Panama City. Jocelyn convinced him that we knew how to ride in traffic so he let us go.
A motorcycle policeman tried to stop us from bicycling the “Bridge of the Americas”to Panama City. Jocelyn convinced him that we knew how to ride in traffic so he let us go.
Coming up to the Bridge of the Americas.
Coming up to the Bridge of the Americas.
It was a tight ride but the drivers were very courteous.
It was a tight ride but the drivers were very courteous.
A cyclist in front of us cut his skinny tire in a rut. This sag car was right there to pick him up.
A cyclist in front of us cut his skinny tire in a rut. This sag car was right there to pick him up.
A fine bridge...
A fine bridge…
...and city skyline.
…and city skyline.
Riding through the narrow streets to find our hotel.
Riding through the narrow streets to find our hotel.
The church in old town where we are staying.
The church in old town where we are staying.
A fine beer.
A fine beer.
Another great seafood lunch with friends. We met Jesse in Guatemala as he backpacks south into South America. Along with him we met Jocelyn's classmate from high school, Pepper, who is flying home tomorrow.
Another great seafood lunch with friends. We met Jesse in Guatemala as he backpacks south into South America. Along with him we met Jocelyn’s classmate from high school, Pepper, who is flying home tomorrow.
I'It's nice to meet up with friends along the way. Jocelyn also met another friend in the evening that works here with the Peace Corps.
It’s nice to meet up with friends along the way. Jocelyn also met another friend in the evening that works here with the Peace Corps.
We will explore the city then find a ride to Columbia as the road ends at the Darien Gap south of Panama City.
We will explore the city then find a ride to Columbia as the road ends at the Darien Gap south of Panama City.

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