panama city: a digital nomad's sticky keyboard adventure
so, i'm sitting here in a co-working space that costs less than my last month's rent back in brooklyn. the air is thick enough to chew, and my second coffee of the morning is already sweating through the coaster.
just got a look at the weather app - it's holding steady at 25.5, humid as hell, hope you brought your deodorant. the locals seem unfazed by it, which is both annoying and impressive. i heard that the humidity here is like a second skin, and i think they're right.
this view from my balcony is something else. every morning, the sun punches through the clouds and lights up the city in this golden hue. it's almost enough to make you forgive the fact that your laundry takes three days to dry.
if you get restless, just a hop skip away is colĂłn or the beaches of bocas del toro. haven't made it there yet, but the word on the street is that they're worth the bus ride.
someone told me that the fish market at the old port is where the real breakfast happens, but only if you show up before 6 am or the locals will sell you yesterday's catch. i tried it once and ended up with a ceviche that had more stories than fish. worth it, though.
the work-life balance here is a joke, but in a good way. i spend my mornings replying to emails and then i'm off to explore. yesterday, i found this hidden bar that serves craft beer in a former bank vault. the bartender, a guy named carlos, told me that during the dry season the whole city dries up and the only thing that keeps the tourists coming is the fact that you can see the canal from almost anywhere.
it's not all sunshine and rainbows, though. the traffic is a nightmare and the wifi in my apartment is more of a suggestion than a guarantee. but for the price, i can't complain. i mean, where else can you get a two-bedroom with a balcony and a rooftop pool for $700 a month?
if you're thinking of coming here, check out visit panama for the official lowdown. for food, yelp panama city has some decent reviews, though take them with a grain of salt. and if you want to see what other travelers are saying, tripadvisor panama city is a good resource. i also stumbled upon panalocker which is a local blog that has some cool insights.
so yeah, that's the story from my sticky keyboard. hope you're having a less humid day wherever you are.
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