Last day I have pills for is December 8.
El Salvador - Arkam Hotel, San Salvador. An okay hotel but only the second one I’ve stayed at that had no windows! Also there was a lot of noise from the restaurant above my room until 10:00pm. This only happens on the weekend. It did have a very good restaurant, and the breakfast buffet, that is served on Saturdays and Sundays, was exceptional. They sell no alcoholic beverages, even for evening meals. Located at the corner of 11 Ave. Norte & 3 Calle Poniente Shafik Handal. So I would come here for breakfast but not to stay.
The guide food tour was very good which included a good amount of history and cultural information. Two restaurants stand out from the tour: Kuskatán Histórico, Calle Delgado for the excellent pupusas, and Pollo Bonanza, Calle Arce for the excellent chicken cooked on a wood fired grill (asado). The latter is very popular and usually has a lineup to get in, even for takeaway. These are both located in the area around the central square.
Tigo cell service was very poor on data. Usually none available and would occasionally connect but spotty. This even though had 3 to 4 bars of signal. I would try Airalo, or the local service Claro which is rated the best.
Panama
Panama City. I stayed at Central Hotel Casco Viejo in the Casco Viejo area of Panama City, considered to be the best area of the city to stay.
To visit Boquete, fly to David from Panama City airport (note: PAC not PTY), then either drive by rental car, take a taxi (~$40), or take the bus from the Terminale de Transporte de David ($2). The buses are usually white school buses with “David - Boquete” written on the windshield. They are not air conditioned. I did see one that was a new full-sized motor coach which is probably more expensive.
Boquete. Alto Boquete is about 4km from Boquete. The Garden Restaurant (M-F 08:00-18:00) and Sarah’s Place Bakery are in Plaza San Francisco in Alto Boquete. In the same mall are a dentist, a doctor, a veterinarian, and a law firm. Odonto Smile dentist (+507 6068-5138); Clínica Doctores Anguizola; Rivera-González Law Firm.
There is a flea market every Tuesday in Alto Boquete. I also need to check out the Pinoalto Country Club about 1km from Plaza San Francisco. A woman recommended two restaurants in the area: Nomad and Panamonte (which, I assume, is the restaurant in the hotel noted below.)
The bus to David starts in Boquete but can be picked up in Alto Boquete at the bus stop right beside Plaza San Francisco. Hotel Panamonte in Boquete is supposed to be very good, but was not available so I stayed at Oasis de Boquete in Boquete. Nice hotel, inexpensive but no AC, but has an excellent restaurant and grounds.
A nice 5* hotel in Panama City where I had the excellent buffet breakfast looks like a good place to stay. Hotel Riu Plaza Panama, Calle 50 con 53 Este. +507 282 0420.
Two recommended activities in the area are the Finca Casanga Coffee Farm tour and the Bee and Butterfly tour with honey tasting. Minimum two people required for each of these tours.
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| Panama City Metro map |
Geneva/Basel - One important date is October 17 in Basel for the cider festival. If inclined I could add some hiking.
Florence - See David; need to book tickets at Galleria Accademia Firenze. Book the 72h; it is the best deal for visiting David and the Medici Chapels.
Rome - Take ticket for guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistien Chapel.
Egypt - Exodus Egypt Tour from November 6-18 plus an extra day in Cairo for flight from Luxor where the tour ends. Fly back to Cairo and spend one night in Cairo at Le Meridian Hotel.
Arrive at Cairo Airport - after learning which hotel the tour has arranged, contact them to arrange for a pickup from the airport (or contact Exodus to have them arrange the pickup - cost $140).
See full details of the Egypt; Alexandria to Aswan tour. See also my Egypt page (for more information).
See timetable here.
Taking the Metro from Tocumen Airport (PTY) to the city centre.
At Tocumen Airport follow the signs for Metro / Metro Station; you are leaving from Aeropuerto station, take Line 2 toward San Miguelito / Panama City.
Ride Line 2 until San Miguelito then transfer to Line 1.
Take Line 1 in the direction of Albrook (you don't need to exit the Metro system for the transfer) and get off at Cinco(5) de Mayo. This is the Metro station for Casco Viejo.
From Cinco(5) de Mayo, Casco Viejo is roughly a 10–15 minute walk.
