If I didn't know any better I'd say we may have just landed back in any sunburban mall I've ever been to... All the brand name stores you'd expect to see were here from GAP to Victoria's Secret to Ralph Lauren and more. Expensive boutiques. A kids' play area. A food court with McDonalds and Burger King and the likes to match. Sprawling and intertwined catwalks, escalators, and small vendors in the middle of it all. But there were some differences - the personal sized pizzas (9") were $2.00. And when a smoothie cost $0.99, it cost 99 cents - that penny was coming back to you! (A novel concept really - to list prices INCLUDING the tax.)
Kelly and I are waiting for our bus from Panama City to David - from where we are to catch another bus to Boquette - but have a few hours to kill since the Canal closed at 5:00...well, six hours to kill to be precise. And attached to the bus terminal is the largest mall in Panama and probably Central America for that matter. We felt obliged to explore it.
Well, needless to say the first day has been pretty boring and uneventful; but we have high hopes for tomorrow. I really just can't get over how much it seems like any modern city in America. One thing that has stood out to me from a cultural aspect is the kindness from complete strangers. It almost feels like being home with "Minnesota Nice" ...numerous times already in just 24 hours people have offered their services. More so than any other place I've ever been, I have found Panama to be the most immediately welcoming.
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