Traveling To Panama 2

Panama Trip 2

Day 1

Copa Airlines to Panama

I boarded Copa Airlines flight CM828 headed for Panama City on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Ecuador's international airport. This was actually my second trip to Panama, the first being just four weeks earlier when I made what I'm calling my South Central Tour, that is in reference to the continents I was visiting not the neighborhood in L.A. I had intended this tour to be extended by adding Lima Peru to the itinerary but I had some issues trying to catch the necessary flights so I had to delete that segment and I extended my stop in Ecuador.

The flight from Quito left ten minutes early but I knew it was going to be a long one even though it was only scheduled for one hour and twenty five minutes of flying time. I sat in the next to last row, no problem with that, had an aisle seat, no problems there even though I prefer window seats, and there were five kids all around me all under the age of eight, one of them two seats over from me, big problem! Those kids were making all kinds of noise in Spanish before the plane left the gate and the little knucklehead in my row closed the window shades so I couldn't see the take off, my favorite part!

I had hoped to get a window seat on the Captain's side of the aircraft because the view of Quito on departure is spectacular and I wanted to get that on video with my little flip video camera. Also the landing into Panama City on that side is very scenic with the harbor, Amador Causeway, and city skyline coming into view. Of course I missed it all, maybe next time.

Checking into The Marparaiso

We got into Panama City 20 minutes early and I made it through Customs and Immigration in record since there was no line. I picked up my bag and found the Driver for my hotel exactly where I had spotted him last time and before long we were headed into the city. The Marparaiso check was simple, fork over $25.00 for each night, fill out an information card, and they hand you your room key, the TV remote, and chips for your free continental breakfast.

NEXT... Hooters In Panama City, Panama, Plenty Of Sexy Hooter Girls And Hot Wings

Jack Armstrong is the pen name for Campus Men's travel writer and an expert on all things related to South American travel, women and Hooters Restaurants. You can see photographs Jack has captured during his travels at Nsane Photography. To ask a question or suggest a topic, contact Jack.