panama city: humidity, history, and half-finished thoughts
i just checked and it's 25°c in panama city right now, which sounds nice until you factor in that 88% humidity. it's the kind of heat that sticks to your skin like a second shirt. i've been here three days and i'm still not used to it. my hair has given up completely.
walking through casco viejo feels like stepping into a half-remembered dream. the buildings are all pastel and peeling paint, like they're trying to hold on to something. i heard from someone at a cafe that this neighborhood used to be dangerous, but now it's full of boutique hotels and overpriced coffee. i found a decent cup at a place called café unido though-strong enough to keep me going through the afternoon slump.
panama city doesn't really do subtle. the skyline is all glass and steel, jutting out like it's trying to prove something. i kept thinking about how strange it is that this city is both a financial hub and a place where you can still hear reggaeton spilling out of open windows at 10am. someone told me the canal brings in more than just ships-it brings in money, people, and a whole lot of contradictions.
if you get bored, colon and davíd are just a short drive away. i haven't been yet, but i've heard colon has a wilder edge and davíd is more laid-back, like the city took a breath and slowed down. might check them out if i can handle the heat long enough.
i've been trying to take photos that capture the chaos, but the light here is tricky. it's either too harsh or hiding behind clouds that look like they might burst any second. i found some inspiration on unsplash though-people have managed to make this place look like a postcard, even if it feels more like a fever dream when you're in it.
anyway, here's where i've been wandering:
and because no blog post is complete without pictures, here are a few that actually make it look good:
after all that, i'm still not sure what to make of panama city. it's loud, it's sticky, and it's somehow both exhausting and addictive. maybe that's just travel though-you show up looking for answers and leave with more questions. or maybe that's just me.
if you're planning a trip, check out the reviews on tripadvisor before booking anything. and bring deodorant. trust me on that one.
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