Santiago, Panama

Friday 30th April 2010


Panama to Santiago

161 Miles

Total PanAm Miles 9902

The day started very hot and humid, the temperature when we left at 9am was 29 degrees. We had a shower of rain before we left but luckily it stopped. We are in this part of the world just before the rainy season so hopefully we won’t get too wet. I decided not to wear the waterproofs as I would probably get wetter with sweat. Nigel, Martin, Brian, Suzanne and I left before the main group who were getting a taxi to lead them out of the city. Because we didn’t have much of a clue where we were going we soon got lost. After asking a few people we soon found our way to the main road out.

The road was dual carriageway most of the way so it was quite an easy ride apart from the heat which peaked at 36 degrees and combining this with the humidity made a bit uncomfortable. A little way from the town near where we were stopping Brian and I got stopped at a police road block. With only knowing a few words of Spanish and the officer not speaking any English the conversation was a bit of a struggle. We gathered that he wanted us to slow down although I hadn’t been over 120 km/h and stop weaving in and out of the traffic. After producing my documents and a sort of conversation he let us go.

After fuelling up a few miles later we were at Hotel Vistalago, a few minutes’ drive past Santiago (Panama). The hotel is modern and clean with a good shower and aircon in the room. As usual I’m sharing a room with Martin. The afternoon was spent relaxing in the pool and having a few beers. This is the life!