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105--Panama: Parting Shots @ CherieSpotting     Dec 16 2002 - 16:00 PST cherie writes: At first, I thought Panama City was a lot like America, except everything´s priced 50% to 75% off. But upon closer inspection, it is a city like no other. It´s its own fantastic world. Here are an assortment of pictures, from girls clowning around, to children with masking tape over their mouths. The young teens are marching in protest. They feel they are seen, but not heard. Panama City is a world of brightly painted wooden boats tied up in front of towering sky-scrapers. Where police officers quench their thirst with coconuts and women still saunter down the streets in elaborately embroidered dresses. You can buy an ice-cream for 29 cents and use the internet for free at the nearest McDonalds if you buy a combo meal. "Hojaldres" are our favorite thing to eat for breakfast. They look like a fried tortilla, but taste like a mix between buttermilk biscuits and funnel cake. (But that doesn't describe it right!) It's as if I were to write that a doughnut tastes like a sweet fried bagel. You'll have to fly to Panama to savor the unique flavor an "hojaldre," it's delicious taste is worth the trip! In Panama City everything is cheap, cheap, cheap. The most recent movie releases cost $2 a show, and so does a taxi ride anywhere in town. And at the days end, you can lounge on the beach, buy a 60 cent beer and enjoy Panama´s greatest spectacle--her sunsets. *The parade I photographed was in honor of Panama´s independence from Columbia. Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 7939    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   A young Panamanian girl marching with masking tape covering her mouth. These teenagers (and children) feel ignored and unheard. What happens when we stop listening to the youth. Children marching, making a statement with their silence. A man with a big gun next to a sausage shack. Darling Panamanian girls watching a parade. The young tot watches me, more than the parade. Men in uniform. Pride and sweat. Beauty and tradition. Who's that masked man? Baton twirlers, always a hit. Girls making twanging sounds with weird instruments. Teenagers with giant Q-tips? Girls clowning around. Colorful fishing boats in Panama City. Jimmy Buffet might be interested in buying this house. McDonalds is getting into everything in Panama, even the internet. Me and a mermaid in front of my favorite restaurant in Panama "La Cascade." Greg is about to get a "shock!" Hey, there is power here! Here's why the restaurant is named "La Cascade." (The Waterfall.) Delicious piña coladas for $2 each. Our entire bill, including shrimp, ribs, fish, steak, pork chop, potato, bread, salad, french fries and lots of piña coladas was under $20 (including tax and tip.) It is 2002, and you can still get an ice-cream at McDonalds in Panama for 29 cents. I'm no champion speller, but that doesn't look right to me. (Perhaps the owners should have considered a spell check before making a permanent sign?) There's my wake-board hanging out of the taxi! An aerial view of Panama City, taken on our flight back to the San Blas Islands. A bird's eye view of the Bridge Across America. (Photo taken from the plane.) Balboa Yacht Club, Panama. When a girl turns 15 years-old, there is a huge party given in her honor. This is one young woman's "coming of age" cake. A cab driver's way of acknowledging Christmas...more pine tree air fresheners. Dinner for two at a nice Italian restaurant--$10 bucks. A security guard quenching his thirst with a coconut.