Shopping and Casco Viejo

Sunday morning was an easy morning. We all woke up, took our time and got ready for our day. Our plan was to meet our graduate advisor, Edwin, in front of our apartment at 10 am to go get breakfast. We waited for Edwin for about 10 minutes and then we used the front desk telephone to call him. He didn't answer his cellphone so Keith took us to a french restaurant that was recommended to him. We all tried some different things. I had a savory crepe that was filled with eggs and cheese and bacon. Somehow, Edwin managed to find us (the four of us had not yet purchased cellphones so we were not reachable) and he brought along Lorey, who graduated from WPI last year and is a Panamanian native.

After breakfast, Lorey drove us around the city so we could see things. She showed us the supermarket that is closest to our apartment, walkable but pretty far depending on how much stuff we purchase. Then she drove us to the mall. There are 3 malls in the city. The most expensive mall is MultiPlaza featuring Coach, Ralph Lauren, etc. The middle mall is called Albrook. The cheap mall is called MultiCentro. Lorey brought us to MultiPlaza. We went to the phone store in MultiPlaza and picked up two cheap phones ($20 each) and put $20 on the phones for calling and texting. Edwin gave us two phones so then we all had communications :) Then we walked around the mall, in pure awe and amazement at its size and the riches that were behind each window.

Next, we went to the grocery store that is inside of the mall. We had to check all of our bags at the door. Security in Panama, especially pertaining to theft, is very intense. We spent quite a bit of money, but we did communal grocery shopping and stocked up on the essentials for our apartment such as milk, bread, flour, oil, butter, eggs, spices, coffee, etc. We also had the pleasure of discovering that alcohol is quite cheap in Panama compared to in the United States...

Anyways, then Lorey drove us back to our apartment (MultiPlaza is a few miles away) and we put away our groceries and made some lunch and watched the Pats game in Spanish. Then the thunderstorms began! There has been a thunderstorm here everyday so far (yes, I know it has only been three days...) and the lightening is incredible. The thunder is also incredibly loud. It sounds like every storm is right on top of you. We have noticed that they usually occur late afternoon and tend to be more centered over the entrance to the canal.

Edwin and Lorey came over to our apartment and we just hung out for a little while. You realize that you have it good when Edwin opens our front door and says "I hate you guys." Edwin was a senior last year and completed his project in Panama. They were housed in a different apartment that was about 10 minutes away from where we are currently. Apparently, our location and our apartment in general are way better then last year so Edwin was a tinsy bit jealous :)

Once the weather started to clear up, we got back into Lorey's car and went to Casco Viejo. This is the "Old City" and is one of the most popular tourist places in the city. There are lots of vendors, especially "Indians" or the natives of Panama who have some pretty cool crafts. There was also some amazing views of the Panama City sky line.

 This building was just too amazing to not take a picture of!!! 

 Ships waiting to enter the canal :)

A picture with me in it. They are few and far between but I don't want anyone forgetting what I look like ;-)

After visiting Casco Viejo, we decided to head to the cheap mall (MultiCentro), which is a block from our apartment, and hit the casino. I won $10 :) After the casino, we went out to dinner with Edwin and Lorey to a pizza place. I got this weird sandwich thingy that was like a cooked pizza crust but then was folded with delicious-ness inside of it.

We were all exhausted and went to bed early (by college student standards anyways...)