Panama

Last Central America border crossing and sure enough the ´Monkeys´ were out in force. The guys seemed happy to employ one so I went along with them. Didn´t cost a fortune but somehow it does not seem right.

Crossing the bridge spanning the Panama Canal was spectacular. The Panama sky line is filled with skycrappers and more going up. I reckon that Panama city has at least four times the amount of tall buildings that Sydney has- it is huge. Pity I was not allowed to stop on the bridge to get a photo.

Once again the decision was made to avoid the capital. We headed towards Colon on the Carribean Sea. Reasons were two fold. Get out of Panama and to see what was available by way shipping freight for the bikes.

Arrived Colon just on dark and struck it lucky by having no trouble finding the hotel. The hotel was chosen because it provided a 24 hour security gaurd for the bikes.

We got cleaned and wanted to go out for dinner but the hotel staff begged us not to go out. Peligrosa ( dangerous ). Armed gangs roam the streets and police are even in danger and are often targeted. So we stayed. The streets and buildings are in steady decay. It must have been a beautiful city in 1920 but not anymore. African/Panamians prevail and english is spoken among many of them.

The Colon shipping container companies do not provide the service we are looking for except a couple Barwil and Seafreight. Both have their agencies in Panama city. Private individuals located near Portabelo take bikers and backpackers to Colombia. So we headed there and the ride itself was worth it - passed along the Carribean coastline.