As I continue to check off my list of Spanish-speaking countries visited, Panama jumped out at me and I began my normal pre-trip research. What I found out is that in addition to the jungles, mountains, islands, and of course the Canal is that Panama City is also a great destination so in planning, we decided to see a variety of what Panama had to offer in the eight days we were there.
We started in the cosmopolitan, very international capital city. What I noticed first was the low prices. Retiree alert! You can use your US dollars here their national currency and live like a king. We enjoyed afternoons at the 7th-floor pool when we were worn out from the degree temperatures and our sightseeing. The Bella Vista neighborhood looks like a cross between Manhattan and downtown Miami with its skyscrapers, banks, and urban buzz. Strolling around this area is a must. That said, we took a break from strolling and arrived at the opening time to score a table.
It was worth it! The flavors were amazing and we loved sitting at our table near the open kitchen to watch the chefs at work. The following day we were off on an adventure on the Panama Canal. We were interested in seeing the Canal but did not want to dedicate hours to passing through the locks so we opted for a Monkey Island Tour that we booked through Viator.
We really enjoyed the pace of the excursion. We were picked up around by a private driver and were back in the city by We joined other boats that were beached on the shore waiting for the monkeys to come and eat the fruit thrown onto the bow of the boats.
This got a little too close for my liking once in a while, but it was nice to be out on the water and out in nature. The highlight was on the way back when we floated alongside huge cargo ships making their way through the Canal. On our way back into town, after passing by the prison where notorious ex-leader Manuel Noreiga served time, we asked to be dropped off at the Mercado de Mariscos where we ate at the indoor restaurant at the end of the market.
