Panama City

I entered Panama from Costa Rica on its north-western border, which is a long way from Panama City. There's a little pocket of tourist dollars near that border in the Bocas Islands, but for the most part, a very basic, rustic life of little material wealth. The one main road is in much need of care and is minimally sign-posted. To me, it felt like an old world, certainly compared to the one I knew in the West.

I caught a night bus from that end of the country, and emerged in Panama City around dawn, very surprised at the scale and modernity, particularly of the business district, a whole line-up of skyscrapers spread along the seafront, dozens and dozens of them. I couldn't believe the wealth of the place, when clearly so little had reached the people at the other end of the country. But that's another conversation...

For me, Panama City itself is a tremendous place with a lot going for it, and I'm not really a city guy these days. I'm not that into skyscrapers, though I still marvel when I come across them. Casco Viejo, the old quarter is a wonderful place, huddled on a headland east of the city centre, it's home to some wonderful modern stores in some awesome old buildings. There's a pedestrian friendly motorway that circles out over the water around Casco, and another motorway that links a chain of small islands just off-shore for a view of the ships as they await passage through the canal.

A very old volcanic cone sits just behind the old town, and can be climbed for some fabulous views, over the city... and the canal and its docks. A short bus ride will take you to various points on the canal where you can watch as the ships come through. The stacks of colourful shipping containers is like a mini city in itself...