Our friendship with local police forces got intensified.

This time, they took us for a sightseeing trip through Panama­-City. How come?

Well, the travel agency STA sent a paper ticket I needed to fly from Panama to Colombia to my old San Diego address. I wanted an electronic ticket. A phone call later I knew that I would have to go their local branch office and present a police report saying that I had “lost” my ticket.

Unfortunately, the police office is situated at the other end of Panama-City and we don’t have a car anymore since “she” is sealed in a container somewhere on a vessel between Colon and Cartagena. Well, then, what to do? We asked a police officer of the so-called “Tourist Police” for directions (at first difficult to know whether they are there to help or to control tourists). After we had explained our problem, he called head-quarters and a police car picked us up after 10 minutes. In that time we discussed religious matters and learnt that people in Panama had to give 10% (!) of their income to the catholic church. Holy moly!

Our police escort drove us across the city and pointed out the nice buildings and high sky-scrapers. Arriving at the police station we did not have to stand in the queue and got our report almost immediately.

Since lunch-time was coming closer our police-friends drove us back with blue light and while heavily using the horn, we learnt about the best places for lunch in the city.

Long live Panama’s Tourist Police!

Ps: Of course we also had a lood at the Panama Channel. Its history IS interesting. Ships around the world are built specifically to fit into the locks of the Panama channel - and they use narrow margins (see picture). 

Pps: Oh, and since we have one David on board, we also stopped in David, Panama. Once again the couchsurfing experience was great - we went drinking on the beach with a whole family!