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.)
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.
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.
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| Panama City Metro map |
Montreux & Basel
Montreux
Stayed again at Golf Hotel René Capt. Did a day trip to Gruyères and visited the Gruyères Cheese Museum and then toured Gruyeres Castle. Had a nice lunch of green salad and soupe de chalet at Restaurant Le Chalet de Gruyères, Rue du Bourg 53.
Basel
On October 17 I attended the cider festival. It was excellent with about a dozen sellers with 47 ciders to try; I try 16. The festival is held every year and has been going over 20 years. Some average ciders with a few duds, but Mohl Heimenhofer was one of the best I've ever had. Sampled and then bought a 70ml bottle. Mohl is a large cider maker of basic commercial ciders, but this one was a special one. Also did a day trip to Lucerne. Also had the 2024 gold medal winner Guillaume Sweet Simplon which was very good as well. Also tried two quice ciders; one was excellent, one was not. Also did a day trip to Lucerne.
Serbia
Belgrade
In Belgrade I stayed at Boutique Hotel Museum Belgrade, located beside the National Museum of Serbia. It was very good and in a good central location. Hotel Moskva looks like an excellent place to stay and only a bout a 5 minute walk from the National Museum.
All public transportation in Belgrade is free.
The National Museum of Serbia was excellent with a history of the area from pre-historic times to the present including Slavic tribes to Roman, Medieval, Ottoman period through Communist era. They also have a large selection of Serbian and European paintings. The GYG historical walking tour was excellent. At Jazz Brasserie I had a good arugula salad and, for the main, a Serbian stew which was very good but had about half a kilo of meat! Very filling. Boutique Cafe has great European style pastries. Located near the National Museum.
To and from the airport you can take a bus to the town centre and the train station. Bus 72N (not 72) goes to Republic Square next to the National Museum and the Museum Hotel. Bus 600 goes to the train station. Each takes 30-40 minutes and are free. A train line to the airport is planned for 2027.
There is an overnight train from Belgrade to Podgorica.
Montenegro
Podgorica (Πoдгoрицa)
I stayed at Signum Hotel which is excellent though about 1.5km from town centre. There are two possible hotels to look at closer to town centre and not far from the bus terminal and train station: Kings Park Hotel, and Ramada.
Buses in the city cost €1 and you should have exact change; there is no electronic payment. NLB Banka seems to be the best ATM to use; they charge about €5.95 which is 3.0% on a €200 withdrawal. When looking for a taxi, all legitimate taxies have the taxi light on the roof and their license plate has a TX after the PG which is on all plates.
See Railway Transport of Montenegro for train from Podgorica to Bar. For bus service from Bar to Tivat or Kotor see Bus Croatia. Try Stara Čaršija Hotel & Spa in Bar, or Radisson Resort Ruza Vjetrova just outside of Bar.
For buses from Kotor to Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina see Bus Croatia. Best option is the 07:40 bus from Kotor. Buses from Podgorica to Tivat and Kotor leave multiple times per day. MS Tours provides an airport bus from the Podgorica bus terminal 9 times daily for €3.
Tivat
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Trebinje - stay at Hotel Platani
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. Stay at B&B Soggiorno Battistero, Piazsa San Giovani 1, Florence.
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 - Exodus have arranged the airport pickup. They have my flight details and driver will be there for pickup.
See full details of the Egypt; Alexandria to Aswan tour. See also my Egypt page (for more information).
Flight from Cairo to Vienna booked for November 19 on Egypt Air, flight MS797 @ 11:50.
Vienna
Stay at Radisson Blu Style, Herrengasse 12 near Stephansplatz.
Lunch at Trześniewski and/or Zum Schwarzen Kameel, both near Stephansplatz. The lobster spread covered with many baby shrimp which was pretty good at the latter was good. I also tried their brand of Champagne which was quite good but expensive at €16.90 a glass.
Green n Clean - Alsergrund (store #7), Althanstrasse 7-9, is an excellent laundromat. It is the easiest to access from the city centre. Almost no one there in mid-day. Pay with cash or card, and detergent included.
Iceland
See complete tour 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.
