Breakfast was coffee, a smoothie, and some kind of pastry. Generally good, though bread really isn't Latin Americas wheelhouse. We took a cab out to the city park today a little out of downtown. Really nice, lots of forest. It was a bit sweaty, but we managed a 2.5 mile hike with lots of bird sightings (few identified), leaf cutting ants, turtles, and lizards. No sloths or monkeys though.
We had planned to cab directly to the Panama City ruins (circa 1520) but the cabbie was giving a shit price so we just went back to the hostel. Cabs in general are a headache here. No meter, just agreed upon prices, supposedly standardized by "zones", but you don't really know what zones are where and they are constantly trying to screw you.
Post lunch, we chanced the bus. You need a metro card ,which we didn't have, but heard you can simply ask a person to swipe for you and pay them instead. We (Kate) had a little trouble asking at the stop, as the bus came soon after we got there. I'm always worthless in these situations, so I wasn't any help. The bus driver just had us get on without paying. Very generous, although I think the fare is only a quarter. Very crowded, albeit free bus, but in 15 min or so plus more of Kate saving the day by asking how we'd know when the stop was, we arrived, saving 7$ perhaps.
The ruins were about what you'd expect. That said, they are a world heritage sight and it was cool to place yourself on the edge of this mudflat ,looking out at the Pacific Ocean and imaging what life was life for the first European settlement this side of either continent. They had renovated the bell tower of the old cathedral too- great view for the city and surrounding area.
Dinner was a modern restaurant in casco Viejo- the old colonial city. A lot like the French quarter, though still very much in the works of renovation. A fine time in Panama City, but I think we're both ready to move on to bigger things.
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