Hola from Panama!
I kind of hate to brag, but I am sitting by a pool in Panama. It’s 95 degrees. I actually don’t hate to brag–I am having the best time and am deeply in love with Panamanian life. OMC is proving to be the best tour guide ever (he’s lived in this town every summer for 6 years). Our house is insane. In the backyard there is a mango tree, a papaya tree & an avocado tree that we are welcome to pluck from as we wish. It’s strange being a gringo in a small Panamanian fishing town: everybody knows we’re here and what we’re doing and where we live and boy do we ever stick out. I haven’t seen a cockroach yet. I have seen geckos. I have had the best coffee of my entire life this weekend. I want to move to Panama. It’s charming and dusty and ridiculous and noisy and fantastic.
Panama City is absurd. It’s huge and is never quiet. The Canal is surprisingly dinky. So many sky scrapers are being built there right now: rumor has it our little economic crisis hasn’t effected Panama. I went to the top of a tall building and counted so many cranes. Tomorrow field work starts, which will be considerably less fun. But now, it’s time to swim!!!
May 18th, 2009 at 7:55 am
I saw that you updated your Facebook status to brag a few times. You must be at McDonalds a lot.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:56 am
HOORAY! I’ve been thinkin’ about you! Glad you have arrived, and I am ultra jealous of your backyard food sources. Oh man.
May 19th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
@ Lydia:
McDonalds put a lock on their internet. Instead I am at the scenic Hotel Versalles in Monagrillo, Panama. If you ever find yourself in this small dusty Panamanian town I highly endorse their courtyard swimming pool, as well as the strength of their wireless internet. 2 thumbs up.
@ Emma:
It is the best!!!! Being vegan here would be impossible, but I don’t think I’ll soon grow tired of plucking a mango or a lime from a tree in the backyard and being on my merry way!