Part I: Panama
In and around Central America / Caribbean
Just as Leah went to India and Nepla following her college graduation, I travel to Panama and Mexico, with my dear friend Jon, him being an accomplished traveller south of the border, and a fluent Spanish-speaker. Leaving from Portland, Oregon, we'll head to Panama for three weeks, and then make our way to Mexico for five. Our itinerary is loose, at best, and non-existant for most days.
Going to Panama came as a suggestion from my dad, who mentioned it as a great place for Americans to travel. As I am a non-Spanish speaker, he said it was an easy place to get around, and indeed, even the Lonely Planet guide says that more English is spoken in Panama City than in Miami. So Panama will be our gateway to Central America. Then on to Mexico, to explore the culture, the language, the art, and the life. We'll be spending two months living out of our backpacks, taking each day as it comes, and of course, taking with us the spirit of Manako: love, laughter, and a life well-lived.
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler Manako Adventures
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1
Because it's the rainy season
What do you write about on a journey such as this? Do you write about the touristy things that people expect to hear about, like the museums... Continue reading »
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2
The Big City life of Panama
Big cities tend to be a total inundation of the senses - the sights, the sounds, the smells - maybe because I'm a fairly small-town person, it is e... Continue reading »
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3
Hot Springs and Coffee Trees
We arrived in Boquete, in the Chiriqui region of Panama, on a Sunday evening, after an all day bus ride from Panama City. Our bus b... Continue reading »
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4
What Would Michael Strong Do?
*Disclaimer: For those of you who don´t know who Michael Strong is: He was my instructor in a lot of my Outdoor Pursuits classes at the Unive... Continue reading »
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5
Rain Dogs and Change Burgers
The air in Bocas is thick with Caribbean humidity, and when the sun is out, the heat is stifling. The stray dogs that wander perpetually thro... Continue reading »
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6
Pacific Beaches and the Misty Mountains of El Valle
After leaving Bocas, we still had a day to kill before going to El Valle to visit some of my dad's good friends, so we decided to try Pacific Beach li... Continue reading »
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