Super Mini Fuk...

Many a cheap laugh to be had in these parts, especially when the language barrier comes into play. One of the most amusing things I like to think of is the improper use of a foreign language. Although in the longrun it may be a backward step in the learning of Spanish, I think it's funny to get hold of a Spanish phrase e.g: ¨quezas es muy peligroso¨ - ¨maybe it's very dangerous¨ and use it as many times as possible, at various volumes, regardless of context or appropriateness. For example if we're speaking to a taxi driver about a certain area of town: ¨Maybe it's very dangerous?¨, or if we're talking about some strange Central American bug: ¨Maybe it's very dangerous?¨. Similarily, when ordering another beer: ¨Maybe it's very dangerous!¨, or if people ask if me and Woody are a couple: ¨Maybe it's very dangerous!!!¨. Hours of fun at a low low price...

Equally the translation from Spanish to English on notice boards can be entaçertaining in itself. The obligatory ¨Thanks for don't smoke¨, tour companies promising to ¨came back your moneys¨ if your tour is rained off. I think the best is hostel owners urging you to ¨Clean please your dishes for avoid to have dirty in the kitchen.¨

As with most foreign countries you can get a good laugh from the shop names. The current top 3 are the newsagents ¨RAMINIT¨, San Jose's number one laundrette ¨Lavanderia Fanny¨, and the family friendly corner shop - ¨Super Mini Fuk¨...

After weeks of either mountain towns or beach towns, we hit El Ciudad de Panama - Panama City at the start of the week. The main area is much like any big city in the U.S - shiny skyscrapers, wide roads and lots of traffic. In stark contrast, the old town of Casco Viejo is really where we felt like we were in a proper colonial town. There were beautiful buildings (even though some were in a bit of a state), narrow streets and not a McDonalds in sight. With sea views on three sides, Woody's camera was snapping ten to the dozen, and it was great to finally see what we'd both expected from the city.

We also visited the Miraflores Locks of Panama Canal - an amazing feat of engineering. We saw two enormous ships go through, their crews waving and taking pictures as we did the same. To be honest, if the ships hadn't been there the most interesting thing about our canal trip would have been the fact that our fairly reckless taxi driver was pulled over by the Policia on the way there.

We quit El Ciudad and headed for the highlands, hiking and nature reserve of El Valle (not to be confused with Marty McFly's home town of Hill Valley). Many a great walk, waterfalls, monkeys and kinkajous and all sorts of wildlife. The people there are friendly, but there's plenty of 'stare in the community', especially when your asking about the square trees that are there and asking if we can 'do a bus to Chitre'. We came to the conclusion that they don't get many tourists around there. We also had rats in our roof...