The best term to describe Panama life style for Gringos would be Central America Lite. Its got enough foreignness to feel like you are still in central America and not just a suburb of Miami, but also a lot of the shopping style, comforts and amenities and even currency to make you feel you have not strayed too far from the reservation. Immediately upon crossing the border we were on two lane well maintained paved roads with a large divider between lanes. It more resembled the PA turnpike. The houses along the way seemed a lot less ramshackle than similar ones in Costa Rica, and there were far more cars and less tiny motor bikes on the road. There were large department stores with names you'd recognize, and easily accessible parking lots. It felt great to go into a fully stocked supermarket like Publix or King Super. Prices all in US dollars, and even weight measures in lbs and kg. There was even a Price Mart!
While I am not yet ready to pack up our stuff and head for the border tomorrow, it does give us a lot of food for thought for what comes next.
We are eternally grateful to our newest friends Kris and Joel Cunningham, and Cindy and Dave Thomas for all the help effort they gave us total strangers.
While I am not yet ready to pack up our stuff and head for the border tomorrow, it does give us a lot of food for thought for what comes next.
We are eternally grateful to our newest friends Kris and Joel Cunningham, and Cindy and Dave Thomas for all the help effort they gave us total strangers.