It's amazing how we can make things happen just by putting our mind into anything we wish to do. JJ and I always wanted to travel the world and Panama City was on our radar so an opportunity came at the right time to escape to a warmer climate after spending a cold winter on the west coast.
We didn't know what to expect from this city but we read good things about it. Retirees love Panama because of its beautiful beaches and mountain towns, the amenities and modern infrastructure, the canal and of course its culture. But, our goal is to find that special place to call home so good reviews are not enough to make a move to a city we've never been before; for us it's about feeling the energy, exploring and falling in love with all what this special place has to offer but most importantly we're looking for a new home were we can be content and where we can see ourselves reaching our golden years.
We arrived in Panama on a warm morning so it felt good to know that shorts and t-shirts will be all we needed... no more sweaters and rain coats! We made our way from the airport to Casco Viejo, the historical district of Panama. Here we took care of Ouija, a sweet Cocker Spaniel who demanded his raw carrots treats and cookies... he gave us plenty of love while we looked after him.
Casco Viejo is like a small village across from the city of Panama, the bay area divides the two of them so the views from either side are spectacular; Panama being the modern city of high rises and Casco Viejo keeping the beautiful colonial architecture.
We were excited about exploring the historical district so as soon as we were settled in the house, we took our first walk around the neighborhood.
Casco Viejo is a nice melting pot of people from all over the world and its locals, walking around the narrow streets and between the old houses was like going back in time. The village is under restoration so they're bringing back the beauty of its buildings and history.
The house we took care of is right in the town's heart so we had everything within walking distance. The rooftop terrace was our favorite place, the amazing 360° view allowed us to appreciate the city from a different perspective. Looking at the ocean, the ships going through the canal and the beautiful bell tower churches around the city was never tiring; specially in the evenings when we were able to appreciate the sunsets and enjoy the ocean breeze after a hot and humid day.
Casco Viejo has a good selection of international restaurants and cafes, all you have to do is walk around and discover some charming places where to sit down al fresco and enjoy a good meal.
Overall our experience in Panama was very good but, unfortunately we didn't have the time to explore its beautiful beaches; we didn't realize they were about two hours driving distance from the city but, we have an excuse to go back one day and explore the more laid back side of Panama and hopefully we get to enjoy the cooler mountain towns and the beautiful Caribbean beaches.
Panama is a very pricey city for Latin America; doing grocery shopping, eating out and even buying a simple ice cream can be the same or even more expensive than in the US so that was a big negative for us because the goal for most of the retirees is to find places where their income can stretch a bit more and give us the opportunity of having a better quality life.
As a gay couple we're also looking for a place where we can be part of the community but Panama still has some time to grow and be more open about its diversity. We had a bad experience at the airport where we had to show our marriage certificate going through customs to prove that JJ and I were married, fortunately we always carry a file with all these documents in case we need them; the truth is that we felt discriminated against... with that said, our adventure continues in the search of our forever home.
Safe travels my friends!
No comments:
Post a Comment