Panama City, Farron, & Valle de Anton-- PANAMA

The air was thick, buildings protruding out of the seemingly endless construction sites, and traffic was unregulated and heavy. So was Panama City, Panama. Its been compared to Downtown Miami, and as we drove around, I understood why, it was beautiful, the juxtaposition between new and old was magnificent.

Straight from the airport, my friend and I rented a car, a small, white, boxed car, the type escapes me. Thats irrelevant anyway. We drove about seven kilometers to our hotel in the center of the capital. It was LUXURY! A rooftop pool, state-of-the-art gym, inviting decor, we were living the life, very detached from the locals, but at that moment we felt good! We chatted with locals, and they advised us to stay with the tourists, that it would be dangerous for us to go into the local areas.

But after two nights in Panama City we got restless and ventured into a small mountain town called Valle de Anton-- and so began our explorations. While there, we stayed at a charming inn with a cobblestoned yard and murals painted on the interior walls by local artists.We enjoyed 3-4 hour long meals at nearby restaurants where we tried the local cuisine and beers. This particular town was home to mud-baths, hiking trails with draw bridges (just like in the movies!), natural springs and waterfalls. All of which we took full advantage of! One afternoon we visited the mud baths. We glopped the mud on our bodies and dried off in the sun, followed by a rinse in the natural spring waters. It was a gritty place, but oh-so spiritual. I felt close to my soul and connected to nature. There was a renewal of my senses while there.

Then it was off to the beach town of Farron. My friend booked the hotel, and because of my busy NYC life, I had no time to even research the place, so what I saw when I walked in was unbelievable! The hotel had HUGE pools with swim up bars, connected to a private clearwater beach. The rooms were immaculately kept and decorated. EVERYTHING was the highest quality! They treated us like queens. Valet parking, room service, anything we asked for we got. One day we requested bikes to go exploring and in 5 minutes they were ready for us. A ride on a golf-cart, CHECK, they got that for us too. And to really push it one day, we requested extra blow driers and a boost in electricity so that we could all get ready at once! We got that too! We felt what it was like to be part of the upper crust. We mingled with international bank owners, oil investors, and the owners of the place we were staying. It was such a different world than what I'm used to, and I have to say, I could have gotten used to it! But of course, I stay connected to my roots and appreciate every second of my life and every moment I get to enjoy. I recognize the privilege that I have in society and the unique moments I get to live.

(I didn't document this leg of the trip much, my memory card was full, haha)

This trip was unlike any other. The Panamanians were super nice, the country was very intriguing, and I got to experience what it was like to live a life of luxury and abundance.