Panama City

If temperature and humidity are a non-issue for you in Panamá City then I commend you. If you want to spend all day every day inside then fine. Balmy tropical breezes at night? It is past midnight now and well over 80 F with 90% humidity. High today was 96 and you will just sweat continuously. Now, that can be offset with beer. But it is hot. WTF would you expect? It is sea level near the equator. I would never live there just based on the year round temperature, let alone the humidity. Many taxis are not air conditioned and others do stupid shit like turn on the AC then drive with the windows open. The bus station is hot as hell, just ungodly, until you buy a ticket and then can enter an enclosed air conditioned area. And, it is hot by 9 or 10 AM.

Those are just facts, not value judgements. Really, it is just Miami plus five or six degrees. I wouldn't go to Miami in June or July either. Why would you? Now Bobby, if you have not been to either Medellin or PC you should go to Medellin, for sure. Medellin has very nice weather all year round. Some rain, yes, but it is of the refreshing variety. Neither country has good food. Both are full of Colombian hookers. Shit for a short trip maybe go with the cheaper airfare if you are just going to monger for a few days.

Daily afternoon showers it is far more bearable. Your point is well taken.

Thanks and enjoy Colorado.

Bob

[QUOTE=Dickhead; 1408472]If temperature and humidity are a non-issue for you in Panamá City then I commend you. If you want to spend all day every day inside then fine. Balmy tropical breezes at night? It is past midnight now and well over 80 F with 90% humidity. High today was 96 and you will just sweat continuously. Now, that can be offset with beer. But it is hot. WTF would you expect? It is sea level near the equator. I would never live there just based on the year round temperature, let alone the humidity. Many taxis are not air conditioned and others do stupid shit like turn on the AC then drive with the windows open. The bus station is hot as hell, just ungodly, until you buy a ticket and then can enter an enclosed air conditioned area. And, it is hot by 9 or 10 AM.

Those are just facts, not value judgements. Really, it is just Miami plus five or six degrees. I wouldn't go to Miami in June or July either. Why would you? Now Bobby, if you have not been to either Medellin or PC you should go to Medellin, for sure. Medellin has very nice weather all year round. Some rain, yes, but it is of the refreshing variety. Neither country has good food. Both are full of Colombian hookers. Shit for a short trip maybe go with the cheaper airfare if you are just going to monger for a few days.[/QUOTE]To each their own, I've been living in PTY for 8 years and love it, climate included. I've had close to a dozen friends move down as well and none of them have any issues with the climate either. The population of PTY is exploding, so apparently you are in the minority.

Who stays in all day?, sitting by the pool in the warm sun is refreshing and great, there are tons of taxis and it's not hard to screen to find one with A.C. Virtually every place you are going to go to is going to have A.C. as well.

If you think the food in PTY isn't good, then you are either tremendously misinformed or don't know the city very well. Looks like Frommers and New York Times disagree with you on this one as well.

[url]http://www.frommers.com/destinations/panamacity/3751010028.html[/url]

[url]http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/travel/24hours-panamacity.html?_r=0[/url]

Pretty hard to find bad food at any of the places on this site:

[url]http://www.degustapanama.com/restaurantes/[/url]

[QUOTE=Dickhead; 1408472]If temperature and humidity are a non-issue for you in Panamá City then I commend you. If you want to spend all day every day inside then fine. Balmy tropical breezes at night? It is past midnight now and well over 80 F with 90% humidity. High today was 96 and you will just sweat continuously. Now, that can be offset with beer. But it is hot. WTF would you expect? It is sea level near the equator. I would never live there just based on the year round temperature, let alone the humidity. Many taxis are not air conditioned and others do stupid shit like turn on the AC then drive with the windows open. The bus station is hot as hell, just ungodly, until you buy a ticket and then can enter an enclosed air conditioned area. And, it is hot by 9 or 10 AM.

Those are just facts, not value judgements. Really, it is just Miami plus five or six degrees. I wouldn't go to Miami in June or July either. Why would you? Now Bobby, if you have not been to either Medellin or PC you should go to Medellin, for sure. Medellin has very nice weather all year round. Some rain, yes, but it is of the refreshing variety. Neither country has good food. Both are full of Colombian hookers. Shit for a short trip maybe go with the cheaper airfare if you are just going to monger for a few days.[/QUOTE]Dickhead I agree with you. PTY is Way too hot. I have lived in Florida my whole life. Miami and Orlando Panama has little breeze and the biggest problem is the Urban Heat Island Effect. Go outside the City aways away from the concrete and its not too bad, but all the new construction, the mass of car fumes and the concrete of the buildings roads et trapping in the day time heating it never really cools down unless it rains. I don't have scientific data but, I bet you in the last 10 years Downtown panamas' average temp has risen. With that being said if you are on Vacation for 5-7 days who cares. You will be by the pool, or inside with AC anyway. Just walking around after sunset in jeans and going out clothes is not fun. Take a taxi and tell him to crank the AC. Also, the food in Panama does suck so does the service. The main dish is bland Sancocho. Compared to the rest of Central America the food is very bland tasting, and the service has notoriously been terrible. However within the last few years there have been some high end restaurants open and Many of the fine dinning establishments and hotels have hired top chefs to train. So it has gotten better. Medellin is fun, the weather is almost perfect but I do think Panama has a better night life scene. Its more concentrated in a small area and there are bars (veneto, Ashe, Habanos) with independents. Medellin is more for the casas and Internet.

Yes, PTY is hot and humid, even at night, but don't let that discourage you from checking out the country! But I do have to say with all the damn road construction, dead-locked traffic, and the continuous building of the up and coming subway system makes PTY a less desirable destination. And also the random and frequent number of checkpoints at night (no worries if you take taxi, unless you're with a chica and she can be asked to show documents). It seems to me the gov't is doing a bit of a crackdown on brothels as well since Colon is all shutdown and places like La Mayor and Bombaneros are closed. It's an election year next year, so may be things could change for the better!

I have to disagree with Mfins, there are a variety of great cuisine available in Panama. If you like seafood, you will love Panama! Amador Causeway has great restaurants and El Dorado offers various foods as well including authentic Chinese dishes. Local food is potato-heavy with patacones, frijoles, yuca, rice, and the ever present sancocho. The food culture has gotten better compared to years past.

BTW, after checking out Veneto, Ashe & Habanos last week. I've seen the same girls over and over again. Some girls stick to one location, most go from one to the other. I stick to Veneto because I can gamble and there's AC, but they overcharge. I asked a few girls and they all say they pay $20 to get in and $30 on weekends into Veneto. Passing that cost to the customers nonetheless. They get a damn ticket for their first entry and then free ins / outs after. I asked why they pay with the risk of getting nothing from it. Same answer 'All the foreigners / gringos know about Veneto", so that's why they pay and the casino knows that too.

I was at Ashe at 4am (closing time) last Saturday and a freaking tsumani of girls were chilling outside looking for some late night action. I saw couple girls arrive in a taxi and got swopped up in a few mins. I was too tired to partake, but the chica watching was cool.

[QUOTE=Mfins;1409324]Dickhead I agree with you. PTY is Way too hot. I have lived in Florida my whole life. Miami and Orlando Panama has little breeze and the biggest problem is the Urban Heat Island Effect. Go outside the City aways away from the concrete and its not too bad, but all the new construction, the mass of car fumes and the concrete of the buildings roads et trapping in the day time heating it never really cools down unless it rains. I don't have scientific data but, I bet you in the last 10 years Downtown panamas' average temp has risen. With that being said if you are on Vacation for 5-7 days who cares. You will be by the pool, or inside with AC anyway. Just walking around after sunset in jeans and going out clothes is not fun. Take a taxi and tell him to crank the AC. Also, the food in Panama does suck so does the service. The main dish is bland Sancocho. Compared to the rest of Central America the food is very bland tasting, and the service has notoriously been terrible. However within the last few years there have been some high end restaurants open and Many of the fine dinning establishments and hotels have hired top chefs to train. So it has gotten better. Medellin is fun, the weather is almost perfect but I do think Panama has a better night life scene. Its more concentrated in a small area and there are bars (veneto, Ashe, Habanos) with independents. Medellin is more for the casas and Internet.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=RiceRocket99;1409724]. and places like La Mayor and Bombaneros are closed.[/QUOTE]When did La Mayor close, that's a real shame.

I checked out Bocatorena for the first time last week on a Thursday night, even though I've been to Panama many times before. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Now I know why. Haha. I've read reports that once you get over the stench of the place and by pass the ugly chicas, there are some gems to be found. But the smell was just awful. 99. 9% locals. I couldn't freaking breath. So I tried to go next door to La Mayor (never been there either) and it's closed! I asked la policia and they mentioned something about permits, so go figure.

[QUOTE=Tbuss;1409991]When did La Mayor close, that's a real shame.[/QUOTE]

Was in Panama spur of the moment again last weekend. I didn't see as many hotties as the last time. Saw mostly 3's 4's and 5's and out of the 100's only a couple 9's. We went to the Hard rock bar just for drinks and I saw two Model looking types sitting at the bar by themselves, they kept staring at me and smiling. I think they were High price and High class working girls. Two of the hottest women I have ever seen. They were very discrete and subtle but I am fairly certain they were working. Probably $500 for the night or more but would have been worth it. I was with my GF though. So no chance. Not saying the Hard Rock Hotel is the new go to spot for pay for play but, It was interesting to see two High class, High quality, High money girls, scouting out the Hardrock. I have never seen girls that hot anywhere in Panama and certainly not at Habanos or Veneto.

One of the funniest things is seeing the clown at Habanos do his cig. Trick. Truly hilarious.

Also, a couple more points.

Carrot, law is 4 am on Thurs Fri and Sat but, the hotel- casinos decide to shut it down at 3am. Not sure why or If that is the law. Habanos served till 4am same with Ashe et.

It was hot as a mofo this weekend. In the city it could not have gotten below 83 at night and was well over 95 during the day. High humidity and no wind.

Girls were $150. 00 I did not find anyone getting less.

There was a news reporter from Colombia who came up to Panama about 6 weeks ago or so, and secretly recorded negotiations with the girls. It was the national news channel in Colombia. He went back and did a whole story about colombian pros. Working in Panama. SHowed the girls faces et. The girls were extremely upset and nervous that there family would see them on tv back home as most of the gilrs hide what they do and don't tell there family. The nervousness and shock has worn off but, a lot of girls did go home. There was still a large number of girls out and about tho.

[QUOTE=Mfins;1411533]There was a news reporter from Colombia who came up to Panama about 6 weeks ago or so, and secretly recorded negotiations with the girls. It was the national news channel in Colombia. He went back and did a whole story about colombian pros. Working in Panama. SHowed the girls faces et. The girls were extremely upset and nervous that there family would see them on tv back home as most of the gilrs hide what they do and don't tell there family.[/QUOTE]What an asshole. Can we take a life insurance policy out on this guy? I'm thinking he might not last too long back in Colombia.

Now, regarding food in Panamá and Colombia. Each has good restaurants, if you want to seek them out. I don't, so I judge by the median quality I find when eating at restaurants that I come across in the course of other activities. I am not a gourmet and I eat a wide variety of foods. So when I say neither of these countries has good food, I don't mean they don't have ANY good food; I mean the food overall is below average compared to such countries as Spain or México. Really, Perú may have the most imaginative and varied cuisine in Latin America but once you get south of Guatemala it gets pretty bland and starchy. I was a professional cook for eight years and so if you want to talk about quality in the restaurants as far as is the food fresh and so forth, both Panamá and Colombia use a lot of leftovers (think 'bandeja paisa') and that's not my preference. Some Latin American countries you can get good food in the bus stations. Panamá's are just nasty. Street food in Panamá rates low as well, as compared to most other Latin countries.

However, and importantly for the longer term monger, Panamá's grocery stores rate highly in quality and selection as compared to many other Latin countries. Maybe because the president owns a big % of one of the biggest chains? But more likely because of the way the distribution chain developed, more freely as opposed to some of their neighbors.

[QUOTE=Mfins; 1411532]Was in Panama spur of the moment again last weekend. I didn't see as many hotties as the last time. Saw mostly 3's 4's and 5's and out of the 100's only a couple 9's. We went to the Hard rock bar just for drinks and I saw two Model looking types sitting at the bar by themselves, they kept staring at me and smiling. I think they were High price and High class working girls. Two of the hottest women I have ever seen. They were very discrete and subtle but I am fairly certain they were working. Probably $500 for the night or more but would have been worth it. I was with my GF though. So no chance. Not saying the Hard Rock Hotel is the new go to spot for pay for play but, It was interesting to see two High class, High quality, High money girls, scouting out the Hardrock. I have never seen girls that hot anywhere in Panama and certainly not at Habanos or Veneto.

One of the funniest things is seeing the clown at Habanos do his cig. Trick. Truly hilarious.[/QUOTE]Mfins: did you conclude from seeing the chicas at the bar that the Hard Rock is chica-friendly for guests? Also wanted to hear from fellow punters if the former Moulin Rouge location (just down from Veneto, lower level arcade next to Oasis) is up & running again. They were remodeling under new name when I was there in mid-Feb.

[QUOTE=MiamiKevin;1411631]Mfins: did you conclude from seeing the chicas at the bar that the Hard Rock is chica-friendly for guests?[/QUOTE]I know well a couple of attractive non-pro (seriously) colombianas that have been stopped from entering the Hard Rock.

[QUOTE=Mfins;1411533]There was a news reporter from Colombia who came up to Panama about 6 weeks ago or so, and secretly recorded negotiations with the girls. It was the national news channel in Colombia.[/QUOTE]Anybody got a link for that report?

[QUOTE=Tp Horn; 1411771]I know well a couple of attractive non-pro (seriously) colombianas that have been stopped from entering the Hard Rock.

Anybody got a link for that report?[/QUOTE]My girlfriend and I stayed there the list trip and there are two very suspicious and big security guys at the main entrance and they more than once asked to see our room keys.

You can enter the second floor bar area via the connecting walkway from the Majestic casino and there was no guard there but, the place has employees everywhere and security everywhere. My guess is that is would not be chica friendly. However the Hotel and the rooms are phenomenal.

I would go back just to see if those two girls sitting at the corner of the bar are there on a regular basis. They were smoking hot. Gorgeous.

[QUOTE=Mfins; 1411846]My girlfriend and I stayed there the list trip and there are two very suspicious and big security guys at the main entrance and they more than once asked to see our room keys.

You can enter the second floor bar area via the connecting walkway from the Majestic casino and there was no guard there but, the place has employees everywhere and security everywhere. My guess is that is would not be chica friendly. However the Hotel and the rooms are phenomenal.

I would go back just to see if those two girls sitting at the corner of the bar are there on a regular basis. They were smoking hot. Gorgeous.[/QUOTE]If you're talking Elite / Le Palace quality, might be a real discovery, certainly preferable to paying a takeout fee on top of the $ for her company.

[QUOTE=Tp Horn;1411771]Anybody got a link for that report?[/QUOTE]I think I found it myself.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTJ3Bi22L0o[/url]

Seems they went out of their way to conceal identities.