The Gap

Lines form to greet you!

You try to sit quietly in the corner of a bar writing this post, but people always come up.  

They show you photos of their similar dogs (that aren't really similar at all)  

They comment how grande he is.  Does Claudia get sick of hearing how tall she is?

If I got a dollar for everytime I hear 'que bellissima' as we strut past this road trip would be fully funded

The doormen in your buildings remember you and open the door wide for him!

You can take the whole bed because you need your beauty sleep....

And the German supermodel helps you practice your Spanish and chat with locals.  

It's a fun way to see Panama City for the last 2 weeks alone, but never really alone as I have my supermodel dog Gustavo with me.  

Alone?  Yep, my emotional support human Gordon has flown back to Seattle for a couple weeks while I stay behind holding down the fort with our supermodel while we wait for our van to ship over the Darien Gap that connects Panama and Colombia.  

That's right, we've reached the end of the literal road folks. Sadly, it's not really possible to drive all the way down I-5 (the Panamerican Highway) to El Fin Del Mundo (the end of the world) as there is this pesky 60 km impenetrable gap called the Darien Gap.  North and South America don't have a road to connect the two.  On purpose.  Due to criminals and criminal animals / diseases, no road has been built.  

What this means for us vanlifers is about a month and $4000 to cross this gap by shipping our van in a container from Colon Panama to Cartagena Colombia.  And a dearth of paperwork and time.  

We weren't sure if our van would fit in a container, but by the grace of about an inch, we are able to deflate our tires enough to just barely make it in.  Which is a good thing as it saves us about 50% costs and secures the vehicle as we've read before that everything not bolted down can be stolen.

  

Since our sailing date isn't until July 9 when we could get a container buddy to share the costs with, Gordon decided to pop home and see some family and friends, while I couldn't quite leave Gus as he heals up from Cujo.   Besides we needed another mosquito screen for the van and more coffee supplies!  And Gordon needed to cool down.  

I was definitely feeling anxious about finding things to do with myself, and just being without Gordon when so used to our team approach to travel.  Who would I talk about what we should have for dinner?

I decided one of the ways to ease my anxiety would be to park the van and just walk or take ubers places.  It was just too much pressure to drive in this huge capital city and try not to wreck our home.  

This was our first night in Panama, it was $10 a night and they gave us 4 giant avocados so I think we actually came out ahead.  Nice way to start a new country!

I got a last minute place in Casco Viejo which is the old town of the city and the only place without huge soul stealing skyscrapers it seems.  Unfortunately, this place was probably a decent deal as it was 2 blocks into the kind of scary neighborhood with a street full of rundown houses, trash, no water and electricity, and what seemed like squatters.  

Gordon usually did the night pee for Gus, and the nearest park was thru these streets.  I was a bit anxious for sure as I don't usually go out alone after dark as a general rule.  

Gus and I made friends with the doormen of our building so I knew they were looking out for us and if we didn't make it back they'd notice.  Then just walked out with my shoulders back and remembered that these neighbors are poor, but that doesn't have to mean scary.  They are just people trying to live like everyone else and us tourists were invading their hood.  So while it wasn't my favorite walk, we both survived and it was a good reminder that people live differently and I was indeed out of my bubble.  

The second night Gordon was gone I took myself and Gus out for an IPA at the 'Golden Frog' brewery.  I hadn't been out alone in a long while, and was honestly a bit nervous and anxious so had to talk myself into leaving my hotel room. I brought a book and enjoyed the chance to have a rare IPA on this trip as opposed to the usual lagers.  

And tonight I am here again at this same brewery writing this post 12 days later.  As I walked in the bartender said 'we're happy you came back, would you like another IPA?'  He remembered my one beer from 12 days ago, and really made me feel welcome!  That's when I realized how different I felt 12 days later on my own, no nerves, just enjoyment of my life, and that confidence that I'm okay traveling alone.  Not that I didn't think I would be, it was just something new and a bit challenging to wrap my mind around when so used to being with my other half usually 6 inches apart.

The time honestly flew with daily exercise to keep me sane, including pools to cool off in...

Walking around this water wall of the city...

Exploring every street of the old town Panama and having the best chocolate cookie of my life at an adorable cafe while reading 3 books...

I even made a homemade meal for a couple Dutch vanlifers I met...

And signed up for intensive Spanish 4 hours a day to keep learning more and fixing some mistakes I had been making.  Gus got to come to school too!

The teacher Sandra in black is from Colombia and the German woman on the left Ann moved here by way of Malaysia and Iran where her diplomatic husband has been stationed.  We got together on the weekend and I loved hearing her travel stories.  On Friday when Gordon gets back, we'll all go out to dinner, excited to learn more as I've certainly never dined with a foreign diplomat before!

Goodness I love how travel can pull together people from all sorts of backgrounds by our common thread of wanting to see places different than our home. 

 

So I guess that's a wrap on my time alone in this huge city, I'm pleased how it all turned out, time always fills doesn't it?  I kept a low budget, made some friends, learned more Spanish, read some books, got some forward planning done for our trip. Okay and watched a few rom coms too.  For now I'm thrilled to have Gordon back and get on the road again to our new continent.  Just a little more confidence in my step that I like my own company and traveling alone, but I've met the right person in my life who makes everything better. 

It sure is good being surrounded by German supermodels.