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Travel

First Impressions of Panama City

written by Brenna Holeman July 24, 2012
panama-city-1 panama-city-2 panama-city-3 panama-city-4 panama-city-5 panama-city-6 panama-city-7 panama-city-8 panama-city-9

Panama City, Panama

The days are flying by and I can’t keep track of it all; I’m in Panama now, and have been for five days. First there was Bocas del Toro, a place that will merit its own post one day, a place filled with scuba diving and napping on beaches and lots of partying with surfers. And now, I’m in Panama City, my final stop in Central America before sailing to Cartagena, Colombia, by way of the San Blas islands.

A week ago, when I was still in Costa Rica, I watched a movie set partially in Panama City; in one of the scenes, the camera swept over the skyline, the buildings tall and glossy, the city huge and slick. My heart jumped a little bit – there? I was going there? I was so used to small little places, all easily navigated by foot: Antigua, Granada, Copan Ruinas, Cahuita. Tiny places in comparison, but places where I felt comfortable and present, places where it would be difficult to be lost or anonymous or forgotten.

And then we pulled into the giant bus terminal yesterday; people milled about, taxis lines the streets, cars and faces alike swarmed my vision from every angle. We jumped in an available cab – $3 to our hostel. “De donde eres?” the driver asked, as they always do. “Ah, Canadian girls. Muy hermosas,” again, as they always do.

I was ready to be discouraged by this big city. I was ready to face the smog and the catcalls and the grunge and grit that accompany most major hubs. I was ready for nearly everything, but I wasn’t ready for this, I wasn’t expecting to be charmed by such a large, sweaty, congested place. But charm me it did, and in many ways: the cool breeze off the ocean as we walked along the shore, staring at that same city skyline I had seen on a movie screen last week, its beauty much more tangible than on film. The delicious and cheap shrimp ceviche that I ate at the fish market. The crumbling and colourful streets of Casco Viejo, their graffiti calling for revolution (and recycling). The women with their beaded calves and vibrant skirts, selling me necklaces and patchwork bags. The cab driver who cranked Billy Joel and encouraged us to sing and dance along, as we laughed and laughed.

Panama City, you surprised me. What a perfect send-off after these last three months in Central America.

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Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

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4 comments

expatkerri July 24, 2012 - 2:38 pm

what a love letter to panama you wrote here 🙂 casco viejo certainly charmed us amid the construction! not many cities can do that… xo

Reply
A and B July 24, 2012 - 3:10 pm

great photos! I’ve always wanted to go to panama!

Reply
This Battered Suitcase July 25, 2012 - 4:05 am

Kerri – I can’t believe we’re already leaving Panama!!

A and B – Thank you! I hope you get to visit soon…

Reply
Street Art of Toronto - This Battered Suitcase September 30, 2013 - 1:14 pm

[…] art. It spawned a love of the art form, and since then I’ve collected photos of it from all over the world. Truth be told, however, I don’t know that much about it, though I’m certain that I […]

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

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INSPIRATION

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

About Brenna

This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why.

Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

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Last stops: Manitoba, Canada

Currently: Manitoba, Canada

Up Next: Manitoba, Canada (are you sensing a theme?)

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Please note that some links on This Battered Suitcase are affiliates (at no extra cost to you); I only recommend products I use and love. This Battered Suitcase is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

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WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

Last Stops: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

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