Panamala
My next destination was one I had been looking forward to for a while. Excitement took over thinking of traveling there. Disappointment took over within the first hours after arrival.
Panamá. I knew of its existence, but it had never appeared on my itinerary. Plans to meet a friend I made in Argentina placed it on my travel-map. My knowledge of the country was, and is, limited. I gathered that there is a canal, that they use dollars, that it borders Colombia and that the capital is Panamá City.
My friend and I greet each other at the airport of said city. We then drive past the concrete jungle of high buildings and shopping malls and drop off our bags at our apartment.
We start our adventure in the historical centre of Panamá City. An hour later that adventure ends.
We see colourful, colonial houses covered in a Caribbean Sauce, we see boats and water and we see a random terrace on a random square, where we sit down and watch paint dry. Not much more is done that day. Not much more is there to do that day.
The next morning we make our way to the Panamá Canal. We arrive way too early, since boats and ships apparently only pass through the canal at a set time.
Whilst waiting we meet a group of charming Jamaican women and spend time with them until the show starts. Little do we know that the conversation will be the highlight of the day.
Hours pass. Motivational music starts blaring from the speakers, crowds gather, a ton of voices from the United States are heard. A ship nears. The water level lowers - as do the ships, a lock opens, a lock closes, some adults showing signs of retardation applaud and wave to the uninterested boat crew and by the end of the show my hand palm is merged with my forehead.
Who would have thought that after all the medication I’ve taken, an overdosis of sheer boredom is what might get me. Underwhelming is the word we are looking for.
We hold a moment of silence for the time that we have lost during this deception and head back to the apartment.
Sat down at the kitchen table we glance at the travel itinerary we put together the day before. We share a look of understanding, nod, cancel all our reservations and book a flight out for the next day.
We are sure that this country has a lot to offer, but we can’t be bothered to find out whatever that may be. 48 hours in Panamá are sufficient and we go to the country that I adore. The one that will never let me down: Colombia.
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