Salsa Music
by bilgeez
Salsa is very popular in Panama, and among the most popular artists are the siblings Samy and Sandra Sandoval. They are like gods here. Sandra had a baby in February and they had hourly updates on the local TV stations when she was in labor! They also had a two-hour TV special on her pregnancy during this time!
When we were in Chitré for New Years, the Sandovals filmed a music video for Carnival at that time. We went to watch them film the video, which everyone was invited to, so they could have as many people there as possible to give it a Carnival atmosphere. Which wasn´t a problem as New Year´s Eve is like Carnival in Panama, anyway, with parades and floats and queens, etc.
The Sandovals have a very pop formula for their songs. Samy plays the accordion and Sandra sings. Most are love ballads or songs about relationships.
Airport Taxis
by ianerin
If you budget travling/backpacking through Panama City, I highly reccomend - if possible - arranging alternative transportation from the airport into the city. The taxis there charge a flat rate of $25 to get into the city from the international airport, which is quite a distance from the city. This is quite a lot by central american standards. Alternatives include booking hotels that pick you up from the airport, or getting a group of people to take a taxis and splitting the charge, which should be for the drive and not per person.
Better Dim Sum
by bilgeez about Golden Unicorn
Golden Unicorn is a much better choice for Dim Sum than Palacio Lung Fung. It is in a better location, I feel, it is easier to find parking there, and you have a view of the gulf from the dining rooms, and the food is much better quality, and they have a slightly larger variety of dishes. I've had a very filling dim sum brunch and our tab was under $15 for two, including one of their over-priced coffees, too. I would go down to the corner behind the Evergreen Building to get a coffee at Mr. Pan. and get dessert there, too, it´s cheaper than Golden Unicorn! All their dim sum dishes are very tasty and better quality than Lung Fung. They have some other dishes that they offer besides regular dim sum fare in the dim sum dining room. They offer garlic-crusted fried shrimp that is to die for, for only $8 a serving. It is definitely worth it!
Panama Canal
by malianrob
I have to admit the Panama Canal was the main motivating factor for comimg to Panama. It was well worth it too. It was amazing to see and also to hear the story behind the Panama Canal. Everything was just so awesome.
So this is definatley something you have to do if you ever come to Panama. You can easily spend half a day here just watching the boats go through the canal and watching the movie of how the canal was built and checking out the exhibits that they have here.
I wont get into the history of the Panama Canal because by now most of you have heard how the French started the Canal, The Americans finished it and how now it is run by the Panamanians.
One thing I didnt know though was that they are going to start building an expansion to the Panama Canal. They will start building a third set of locks that will allow for even more trade to go through the canal.
Right now it takes about 8 hours to cross the entire Panama Canal. It is also very very expensive for the ships to go through the Canal and they must pay weeks in advance to crossing the canal. They must also pay in cash!
Palacio de la Garza
by Jim_Eliason
The Presidental Palace is just north of the the Governor's Palace in Casco Viejo. Admission to the area outside the front of the building is free but you must pass through security checkpoints and have your bags searched.
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One of the neat fountains
Ruins of Santo Domingo
More of the 67 columns
Yum!
