Panama 2015 week 3

We started this week with a champagne toast, celebrating our fine choice of accommodation, gourmet food choices (no longer daily rice and beans dishes) and of course the end of a great day. Bill is wearing his new authentic Panama Hat.

On Tuesday we took the bus into Panama City, then jumped on a Hop-on Hop-off double decker bus and toured the canal, downtown and Casco Viejo (Old City). We plan to return and stay overnight so we can spend more time exploring. 

Panama Skyline

Drive thru for  fresh juice, ice cream and smoothies in Panama City 

Transportation in the city can be on "Red Devils". Owners bought old school buses, painted and decorated each with their own special taste, named them and then raced each other through the streets on what could be called suicide missions, trying to be the first to pick up passengers. The vehicles were in such bad condition with parts falling off and causing lots of accidents, the city tried to get them off the streets. The owners would not oblige so the city passed a law that all drivers had to have a driving license. Yikes! Only a few left on the streets today for the tourists.

We are convinced the driver on our bus home from Panama was an ex, unlicensed Red Devil. The ride can only be compared to Space Mountain at Disneyland only cheaper ($3) but they didn't post a warning about heart conditions! The good news was we were packed in the bus so tightly, no one could move or fall out of their seat.

Wednesday night was at Picasso's again with our Canadian ex-pat friends.

Thursday Bill and I had appointments at the dental clinic. Me for an excellent cleaning ($34 seniors rate) and Bill an extraction, bone graph and 3 implants all done by a world class surgeon. If all goes well with the healing, the caps go on. Normally it takes 12 weeks and we have 10 weeks left here. Cost savings are great here and retired persons are eligible for 10% to 15% discounts at restaurants, beauty salons, dental clinics and other yet to be discovered activities. They even have a line at the bank for retirees, you just have to prove your receiving a pension. We just love being old! But, we refuse to take part in "early bird specials".

Friday was a day to rest and it turned cool Saturday with an unexpected rain shower. We had wi-fi installed in our condo and that lasted 12 hours. Hopefully it will be corrected and bring us back to normal communication.

Downtown Panama