This Wide Wonderous World: Around Panamá City

This is a general post about our activities and week in Panama City. Not only did we not do a fair effort exploring this city, I also didn't well document our stay, in part because my phone died the day we visited the "old city", I wasn't feeling good AND I was TIRED. That's what two weeks of basic living will achieve when you are FIRST WORLD SPOLIED.

I came from Bocas unknowingly sick. I had experienced some UTI symptoms I thought were a routine flare up but by the weekend after arriving in the city, I recognized a UTI, which isn't usual for me; probably why it took me so long to figure it out. I also might have passed a kidney stone, which HAS been typical for me in the past. To say the least, I was tired and in pain. I also realized it was too late for me to seek medical treatment because there wasn't time for the cultures to come back before we left for Paraguay. Following is some of what I did document...somewhere there are pictures of a historical church we visited in old town, and I will add those when Clark sends them to me. Be sure to check out my post about our best excursion while visiting Panama City: our day trip to the San Blas archipelago!

In Panama, as is the culture in other Latin countries, the locals value art and creative murals can be observed on many city blocks.

We found a Wendy's in our neighborhood. Look at those happy smiles! Wendy's is what the kids insisted they would eat first when they returned to the USA. Shakes are called "bati" here.

In Panama City, there was a movement to eliminate straws and some businesses posted signs stating they were on board. At Wendy's they use these sippable lids.

Friday morning Clark and I visited the temple.

Side story: In the temple, the ceremony includes some phrases that have to be repeated back from the patrons to the supervising volunteers. Each session is spoken in a primary language and if you don't speak that language, you can ask for a translator headset. Also, when you have to speak, they offer a print out of the phrases in the primary language and sometimes English or your native language, if they have a print out available. In Costa Rica and Panama we chose not use the translator since we are learning Spanish. There are subtitles on the screen anyways which helps with following along. In Costa Rica, they didn't offer me a paper to read in English so I chose to speak in English anyways. I didn't feel confident about reading it in Spanish. The volunteer was very flustered about my English and I don't think I got all the words correct but its ok. In Panama, they offered to let me read/speak in English and I took that opportunity. In the process, I met a lady who came up to me afterwards, asking where we were from. It turns out, she and her husband are Cuban but since lived in the USA and earned their citizenship. They have some kids who live in the USA but also in Asuncion.

When the lady learned we were going to Asuncion, she offered to share some contact information for members they knew in Asuncion, including her son. Also, we followed the couple over to the hostel where the church provides housing for visiting missionaries and volunteers. They encouraged us to eat a typical Panamanian casado, in the cafeteria which was about $3 for fresh and homemade food.

Unfortunately, the contact information didn't get saved in Clark's phone, but it was such a blessing to make their acquaintance. I don't even know their names. The accent was such that I never got a clear idea of how it was spelled so I couldn't visual it my mind. I asked her why they had chosen Panama to serve unofficially in the temple. She explained that they wanted to serve and had traveled to many different Latin countries including Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, and Paraguay, among others? They thought Costa Rica was too dangerous with all the drug trafficking and observed their language skills for English were more useful in Panama since the Caribbean members who came to the temple didn't typically speak Spanish.

Flowering tree outside the hostel near the temple

A dragon fruit Clark wanted to try since it was yellow instead of pink.

Closer view of the neighborhood cathedral. We tried to go in but since it was on Sunday, the service was still in session so the doors were locked.

The kids spotted this tree that had grown through and into a fence. Nature is amazing. This reminds me of foot and head binding and neck rings.

We walked past a bbq restaurant on our way home from church and Clark insisted we go back to try it. It was pretty good. The cole slaw wasn't cold which was suspicious for me.

This seems to be a Panamanian thing. These are made of a stiff grass like material. I should have bought a little one for an ornament, but it was kind of pricey.