Bocas to Panama city

Hola todos! I ended up staying 2 nights in Bocas del Toro but really not got much to say since that extra day was just spent sleeping with some lunchtime boozing some more sleeping and some more boozing. I was physically and mentally fried and needed a day of doing nothing productive. Had I been on a more even keel could have done a boat trip, gone to a playa or a diving or snorkeling trip but was not meant to be. After all I hadn’t even planned to come here I only came here because it was literally the only option for getting out of San Jose quickly.

Wednesday rolls round and it’s time to head to Panamá city. It’s another early start and I almost sleep through the alarm which shows I needed rest! Up I get and get down the port on time. it’s very wet with a tropical storm in as we leave port. Asses and bags get soaked on the boat ride back to the port. From there isn’t is a quick taxi ride to the bus station where quite a plushy coach is waiting for us. A nice bus like the ADO ones in Mexico. We board and are off. It’s about an 8 hour ride to Panama city from here.

The tropical storm rages on through most of the day and it is looking very Welsh tap esque with fresh mud puddle bogs at the side of every road. The ride first gets very mountainous similar to the mountains of Oaxaca and is quite entertaining. After this we drop into flatlands and it is mostly uneventful. The only gripe about this ride is how many times cops stopped the bus checking everyone’s passports but it was just a routine check where they come aboard do a quick walk round check everyone and we’re on our way. No debusing or metal detector headache. Though about 4 times we had to do this routine.

Eventually despite the weather we roll into Albrook terminal just outside Panama city and not very late actually. This is actually a very nice terminal as it connects with Albrook Airport – the smaller of the 2 airports of Panama city that serves domestic flights. It is new and modern and has all the amenities one could expect of a decent airport. One of them is the metro connection which I now concluded was the easiest way to the hotel. We cross the bridge, get a metro ticket after some faf we are on our way. Panama’s metro system is fairly new and very clean and efficient 20 mins on the train and 10 minutes walk I am at my hotel in Bellavista, a chill residential district with a few bars and restaurants, not much going on but all needs covered.

The night is uneventful but at least we are here and the trip is back on track. Tomorrow will get on a walking tour or something.