Ohhhh Panama...

Welcome back boys and girls!!!  So, a lot has happened since the last time we've talked, I will try and get you up to speed...

Met up with Marquitos Mosquitos in Panama City .  About two weeks ago.  Panama City is a big, gnarley city.  That's about it.  And the worst Hooters EVER.  We went to watch football.  I have never seen so many grumpy hot chicks in my life.   And they were soooo lazy!!!  So we pretty much realized that without the girls being fun, Hooters is just another crappy, over priced restaurant.  Any way...

Marcodile

One thing in Panama City that was awesome were the street taco and meat carts.  The food was SO good and everything was pretty much a dollar.  Also we went to the canal and saw a huge cargo ship pass through.  We still dont understand how that thing works (pics are below... kinda out of order, sorry).  Each ship passing through the canal has to pay, and depending on the ship the fee can range up to about $350,000.  Crazy.

When we were leaving the canal and trying to get a cab, this other American guy jumped in with us and we rolled to Casco Viejo, which is basically Old Town.

Getting creative with the card games...

So this dude Shawn is an American, ex-military, and lives/works in Afghanistan.  Big guy.  He seems cool.  We get to Viejo and start walking around, and this kid Alex comes up and starts walking with us and giving us a tour of the town.  Normally we wouldn't bite on something like that, but the guy is really cool and knowledgeable.  So after a few hours walking around, Alex takes us to a little local bar that there is no way anyone would find.  We all hang out, play pool, and have a couple beers.  Well, time flies when you're having fun, and when we end up leaving, it's dark.  Mark and I are hungry, and ask Alex to take us to a street cart to eat.  We start walking around and there are tourist cops that keep stopping us and telling us that we shouldn't be going where we are going.  Alex assures us that it'll be fine, I'm not really too concerned and neither is Mark. Whatever, it's an adventure, right? 

La Punta, Santa Catalina

As we start getting into this area of town, it's apparent that we are not in a tourist zone, and this ex-military guy Shawn starts flipping out - spinning around, looking everywhere, saying that we are gonna get set-up, etc.  I reassure him that we will be fine and tell him to chill out because his behavior was drawing even more attention to us. I'm thinking "This guy is in the military?!" Yea, it wasn't a good area, but the allure of the chicken cart was too great to turn back.

"Mark, we are gonna die over trying to get chicken!"  We have a laugh and carry on...

La Punta again.  Really good wave.  Long paddle out.

Finally we get to the cart, Shawn insists that we get it "to go", he won't eat the food because it's "sketchy" (though, earlier, he was bragging about the prostitute he got the night before... the FOOD is sketchy?!?!), and we jump in a cab, Alex comes with us too.  Best chicken ever.  We get back to the hostel, four of us have a sit and grab a couple more beers.  As we talk and laugh about the day, Shawn asks Alex "We weren't really in the hood, right?"

"Oh no man, you guys were deep in the hood.  But you were okay because you were with me.  Don't ever go there on your own."

 No problem.  Good times...

After a few nights in Panama City, we head to the beach.  This little town on the Pacific side called Santa Catalina.  SO sick.  Great surf, 8-12 ft.  Look up "La Punta Santa Catalina."  Super chill hostel called Santa Catalina Surf Point, right on the ocean.  Run by this Panamanian family and a French guy who married the daughter.  The little restaurant was amazing.  The food was some of the best I've had, period.  And you cant beat the view..

Here is the canal and the cargo ship going through.  Its crazy because there is only like two feet on either side.  Its a real tight fit.

One of the churches in Viejo.  Really cool...

Here is the guide Alex and the other dude Shawn.  This is right before going to get deep in the hood chicken...

The restaurant/bar at the hostel in Santa Catalina.  25 feet from our room.  You just cant beat this for $12 a night. 

This is a parrot.  He bit me.

While walking around the city, in town, or wherever, taxis are everywhere.  They are constantly honking at us to see if we want a lift.  One day Mark and I are walking and another taxi honks at us and Mark turns to me a yells -
"Why do you have to be a 6'1" giant white guy?!?!"

"I'm sorry! There's nothing I can do about it!"

We're getting along great...

Finally, this is one of the weirdest things we've seen.  One night we are hanging out with a couple people at the hostel in Santa Catalina, and this dude goes "Have you seen the Ass-to-Ass Dogs?!" 

"Uhhh, WHAT did you just say?"

"Man, I swear.  There's these two dogs in town and all they ever do is stand ass-to-ass!?  Its the weirdest thing ever!"

Well the morning that we left, we were waiting for the bus, and sure enough...