When I first started researching the trip, I found it very difficult to decide which hotel to stay in while in Panama City, Panama.  Since we were only going to be there for 3 nights, I wanted to make the right decision.   We decided on the Marriott Hotel after much research on TripAdvisor and the Lonely Planet guide book.  I chose it because it seemed to be in a central location to everything, including restaurants and shopping.  It also was in a good neighborhood.  

As it turns out, the Marriott Hotel was a great choice for us.  The location was better than what I anticipated.  We found the staff to be extremely helpful and accommodating.  The rooms and common areas were very nice.  Check out these photos:

   The Panama City Panama, Marriott Hotel Entrance

The Panama City Panama-Marriott Hotel Lobby.

Panama City Panama-Marriott Hotel Lobby

After we checked in to the hotel, we decided to check out the neighborhood. There were a number of other hotels close by and lots of retail shopping.  It was very hot that night and we were tired after the long trip.  After about 45 minutes of checking things out we returned to the hotel.  The next day was going to be big day.  We needed energy to hit the ground running.

Next-We check out Panama City the following morning. 

Steve Barrymore

ssb11@prodigy.net

In total, our flights from OKC-DFW-MIA-PTY took 12 hours.  The airport in Panama City (PTY) is very modern.  If you want to see their web site, check it out here:

http://www.tocumenpanama.aero/index.php?id=cccpageqp0qpgaleria_fotos

Immigration was pretty chaotic, lots of people rushing to get in line.  As soon as we got to the immigration window, the agent said we had to go back and buy a tourist card.  No one had told us anything about a tourist card!  A supervisor came over and said he would hold our place till I returned with the cards.  I left Stephanie at the immigration window, went back, bought the cards and in a few minutes we were outside in the heat and humidity of Panama. 

 We had been told to only take official taxis and watch out for the “gypsy” cabs.  We were approached at least 6 times by taxi drivers that did not appear to be “official”.  Finally, someone with an official looking ID tag directed us to a taxi, and soon we were being driven by our new best friend, “Bennie” to the Marriott hotel.  Bennie was a nice guy who immediately wanted to sell us a condo.  He was ok with it when we told him we were just a couple of tourists and didn’t really need a condo in Panama City.  We told him we would hire him to take us back to the airport on Saturday at 5:30 a.m.  in lieu of buying a condo from him!!

Since my daughter, Stephanie, was traveling with me, I figured I should spring for better accommodations than usual.  When traveling solo to Latin America, I prefer to stay with local families to get the full immersion experience, but Stephanie wouldn’t have any part of that.  So, I parted with some Marriott points for 2 free nights (Wed. and Thurs) and then paid a reduced weekend rate for Friday night. 

We were at the Marriott in about 30 minutes.  Bennie dropped us off, we exchanged cell phone numbers, and he told us where it was safe to walk in the area surrounding the hotel and where it wasn’t. 

Steve Barrymore                                                      ssb11@prodigy.net

 Next-photos of the Panama City, Panama Marriott Hotel.

Earlier this year, I was looking to head to South or Central America to work on my Spanish.  As I began to search for air fares, I found a reasonable fare to Quito, Ecuador.  I had been to Quito once before, but just for one day.  I had always wanted to return. 

I had also always had a desire to go to Panama and see the Panama Canal.  As I started to check out my options, I discovered the round trip fares from Oklahoma City to Panama City, Panama were the lowest I had ever seen–$380.80 to be exact!  As I continued  my research, I found I could really do both cities, Panama City and Quito, for just a little bit more  money.

My wife was not able to go due to work, so I asked my daughter, Stephanie, if she would go with me.  She could go for only 3 days due to her own job, but was certainly up for the adventure if we could make it work. 

The plan was set—We would fly to Panama City for 3 days, see the Panama Canal and whatever else we could possibly squeeze in.  After 3 days in Panama City, Stephanie would fly home to OKC alone and I would fly southward on COPA airlines to Quito, Ecuador.    I could have saved a little bit of money by flying from Panama City back up to Miami and then down to Quito all on AA, but time was money for me.  Plus I figured it would be more fun flying Panama City direct to Quito. 

My goal in Quito was completely different from Panama.  In Quito I planned to enroll in Spanish Language school, live with a local family, and  travel around in Central Ecuador as time permitted.  I had only 3 weeks to plan the entire trip.  It would be a trip of 2 different experiences. 

I will post a series of reports of my adventures in both countries.  I have plenty of photos to share……so stay tuned.

Steve Barrymore

ssb11@prodigy.net

The airport in Tuxtla in very modern. You can see the photo here:

I gorged myself on some nachos and water while I thought about our great week in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.

Final comments:

I have been to a number of different cities in Mexico and I must say that San Cristobal is my favorite. It is a delightful town with lots of activities. We felt perfectly safe the entire time we were there. In addition to great restaurants and shops, there are a number of attractions in the area (you already read about San Juan de Chamula).

The easiest way to get to San Cristobal is to fly to Tuxtla (TGZ) and take a taxi to San Cristobal. There are plenty of very nice hotels in San Cristobal. If you want a real experience though,  you should try a B&B such as Bela’s.

Hope you enjoyed Mexico. If you have comments you can post them here or e-mail me at ssb11@prodigy.net

If you want some great Mexican food recipes I notice that Dave Cathey, The Oklahoman’s food editor has some great recipes on his web site. You can find it here: http://blog.newsok.com/fooddude/category/mexican-food/

BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

View my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:                                   Colombia:                                                                  http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/ Mexico:                                                                         http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/                                                               

Caribbean island of Barbuda:                                  http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/   

San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                                   http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/                                                

  Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                   http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/

Since we are from Oklahoma, we asked Helga at Instituto Jovel to try to set up a tour of an agricultural project for our last afternoon in San Cristobal de las Casas. She obliged.

A taxi took us out to the outskirts of town, dropped us off and we ended up a school that was similar to a vo-tech training school with lots of activities going on such as carpenter shop, bakery, welding shop, vegetable gardens, etc.

We went into the office, explained who we were, and why we were there. The director assigned a young lady to give us a walking tour—totally in Spanish. She spoke no English.

Have to say, it was really interesting to see the students all focusing on learning a trade. We stopped in several of the buildings and spoke with students. They seemed as interested in us as we did in them.

                   One of the school buildings-

                 More of the school buildings–

               Typical students walking to class–

In the bakery, they wanted us to sample some of their cooking. I could have stayed in there all day!!

                 Carol going into the bakery-

After about an hour, our tour guide said goodbye and allowed us to walk through the property by ourselves. We promised to obey any signs dictating where not to walk, etc.

                  The Carpenter Shop

As we strolled through the vegetable gardens (all organic)the health and size of the plants was really amazing. 

       Translation of the above sign–You are prohibited from cutting the medicinal plants

                 Carol pulling a weed–who is kidding who?

                  The corn looked to be at least 10 feet high.  High as an elephant’s eye!

At one point, one of the workers came out of the field to speak with us. He answered all of our questions and asked us questions in return about what types of vegetables we grew in our garden at home.

At the end of the afternoon, we certainly felt like we may have been two of only a handful of outsiders that had been privileged to have observed this training school.

 Next-Final comments about San Cristobal de las Casas

If you want some great Mexican food  recipes I notice that Dave Cathey, The Oklahoman’s food editor has some great recipes on his web site. You can find it here: http://blog.newsok.com/fooddude/category/mexican-food/

BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

View my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:                                 Colombia:                                                                  http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/ Mexico:                                                                       http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/                                                            Caribbean island of Barbuda:                            http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/  

San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                                    http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/  

Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                    http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/

                 The street surrounding the market of San Juan de Chamula

                   The Market of San Juan de Chamula

Teresa introduced me to one of her personal friends who ran a small food stand. The lady was interested in my life in the U.S. I told her about my vegetable garden that I tended as a hobby.

                                            Check out the fresh vegetables of the San Juan de Chamula market

Soon, other vendors began to gather around evesdropping on my story, until there was an audience of (9) nine vendors encircling me listening intently to my description of my garden. Of course, this was all in Spanish.

We suddenly were no longer tourists in their market, but had evolved into their friends sharing information about our life in the U.S.

Teresa finally told us it was time to go. One of the vendors, a woman,  followed us to the car. She spoke to me very quickly in a Mayan dialect. Since I don’t speak Mayan I asked Teresa to translate. She said the woman was intrigued by my garden stories and wanted to come to the U.S. with us and work beside me in my vegetable garden!

It was at this time that Carol gently whispered into my ear “your stories of your vegetable garden are over lover-boy—you are not bringing  any strange women back with you to help in the garden.  No new wives!”.  With that, we hurredly left San Juan de Chamula. It was a fun day.

Next-A special visit to a school on the outskirts of San Cristobal de las Casas

If you want some great Mexican food holiday recipes I notice that Dave Cathey, The Oklahoman’s food editor has some great recipes on his web site. You can find it here: http://blog.newsok.com/fooddude/category/mexican-food/

BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

View my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:                                            Colombia:                                                                   http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/

Mexico:                                                                          http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/

Caribbean island of Barbuda:                           http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/       

San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                                  http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/     

Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                    http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/

                                                This is the entrance to the kitchen                                                        

      Preparing the tortillas from scratch

               Time to throw more tortillas on the fire

              Carol throwing down some tortillas-notice how stuffed her cheeks are–Hey, save some for me!!

I wasn’t sure the health department would approve of our dining situation, but it is one of those experiences you cannot afford to pass up and we were better for it.  We probably ate 20 tortillas.                                                                 Some of the helpers with the dishes                                                                                                                                                                                                       We were leaving the house when I saw the above photo opp which I thought was interesting.  I turned around and quickly captured it. 

In SJC there is a very interesting church with an incredible religious history that is much too complicated to go into on a blog, so you will just have to go yourself. Don’t miss it! I will tease you with a photo of the doors of the church.                                                                After the church tour we went out into the plaza and were in the middle of a huge market.     

Next- The Market of San Juan de Chamula and an opportunity for a new wife!

If you want some great Mexican food holiday recipes I notice that Dave Cathey, The Oklahoman’s food editor has some great recipes on his web site. You can find it here: http://blog.newsok.com/fooddude/category/mexican-food/ 

BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

View my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:                             Colombia:                                                                          http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/ Mexico:                                                                       http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/                                                                       Caribbean island of Barbuda:                             http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/                                                                         San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                                    http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/       

Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                      http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/

This was a trip that Helga from the school set up for Carol and me with a private guide.

At the end of classes on Wednesday, our guide, Teresa, came to the school and off we went in a taxi up into the hills to visit one of the most colorful villages in the area–San Juan de Chamula!

In SJC we went into the home of a local family who sold some beautiful fabrics that you can see here in the photos.

Pretty neat stuff, huh? But, we weren’t leaving the house quite yet….there were still tortillas to eat in the kitchen. 

Next-Eating REAL Mexican tortillas

If you want some great Mexican food holiday recipes I notice that Dave Cathey, The Oklahoman’s food editor has some great recipes on his web site. You can find it here: http://blog.newsok.com/fooddude/category/mexican-food/

BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

View my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:Colombia:                                                                     http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/

Mexico:                                                                            http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/                                                                       Caribbean island of Barbuda:                              http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/      

San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                                    http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/      

Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                    http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/

If you liked these street scenes then check out my next blog with some shots of the buildings of     San Cristóbal de las Casas.

If you want some great Mexican food holiday recipes I notice that Dave Cathey, The Oklahoman’s food editor has some great recipes on his web site. You can find it here: http://blog.newsok.com/fooddude/category/mexican-food/ 

BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

View my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:                       Colombia:                                                                  http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/

                                               Here is Carol checking out the school library

When I travel to foreign destinations, I always like to have some real localized experiences. Helga, the director of the school,  set up several side trips for Carol and me that I will discuss in subsequent blogs. Helga also offered us several trips that had we had more time we could have had some other great local experiences.

One of my classes was with Regnaldo who is one of the directors of the school. Regnaldo kept us on the edge of our seats explaining in graphic detail the battles  the state of Chiapas had with the Zapatistas who tried to overthrow the government. Many people know of Chiapas because of the Zapatista movement.

 One of the most riveting stories was the one of how his injured father had been forced out of his home by the Zapatistas into the cold night. He had been told he would return and find his house burned to the ground. Fortunately, when he returned, his home was intact except for some personal belongings.

To hear these stories from someone who had experienced them was incredible! Thanks Regnaldo!!

                         This is the  banner that was hanging in a Zapatista co-op that we visited so we could find out what this Zapatista stuff is all about.               

After a week at Instituto Jovel we felt our Spanish had definitely improved.

If you are interested in attending the school here is the web address:www.institutojovel.com.  I highly recommend them. 

If you want some great Mexican food holiday recipes I notice that Dave Cathey, The Oklahoman’s food editor has some great recipes on his web site. You can find it here: http://blog.newsok.com/fooddude/category/mexican-food/

BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

Next Posting-some interesting photos of the streets of San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas

View my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:                                          Colombia:                                                         http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/

Mexico:                                                                        http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/        

Caribbean island of Barbuda:                           http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/                                                                                  San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                            http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/       

Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                   http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/