On monday the 17th we left Playa Venao and said good bye to Aaron and becky who were heading to Bocas del Toro. i wanted some fresh air and to get ready for the Machu pichu. I wanted to practise walking and went to el Valle, a very pitoresque and pretty valley in the middle of extinguished volcanoes. We were living in what was a long time ago a crater which top had blown away. We stay in a lovely hotel two nights and enjoyed the area, walking, going to see water falls, mudd baths, church, cycled around...the temperature was so cool there and it was lovely to be surrounded by mountains after few months next to the sea... we then left wednesday to panama city which is actually quite a pleasant town. a lot of trees and parks there evn with rainforest. WE stayed in a luxury three stars hotel with jacussi on the top with a great view of the city right in the centre. Panama city has dangerous districts and u have to choose your hotel carefully. the hotel was guarded by a man with a pump action shot gun.. quite demoralising to learn that he is paid 1 dollars 67 an hour to do that dangerous job which is the minimum wage for Panama. The city is modern with high buildings and posh flats, surrounded by the sea, the canal on the left where 40 boats pass daily. The most beautiful part of the city is casco antiguo where Panama city was rebuilt in the 17 th century, then left again in the 20th century as it was too small for development. The old part has been left down but is under revalorisation and has amazing colonial, french and spanish beautiful buildings, houses.... it reminds me of the old part of Barcelona with the clothes hanging outside of the houses. we visited the panama canal museum and saw how the French started building the canal and the whole history till 1999 when america gave the canal back to panama. At night we went to listen to Jazz in the same area. we had to keep one drink the whole night to save money. the bill was 6 dollars for two beers which is crasy price for here... the barman was coming every 10 min to see if we had finished our drink! not with tight arses like us....aah aaah aaah We also went out with the friends we had made in Venao, Berta and Leo , some surfers working in panama city. They took me out to a lovely wine bar and restaurant, showed me the breakwater to the canla entrance. They showed me around the locks of the canal. The next day we went to see the boats go through, very interesting. They made me try delicious ceviche, raw fish marinated with lemon. From that restaurant we saw some racoons on the beach. we had to say good Bye on saturday as we were flying to Bocas on sunday morning. We looked for flights to Peru. But changed our mind and decided to put our dates forward to enjoy Indo in the dry season as the visas have changed there. I am dissapointed not to go hiking in peru. It will have to be another trip, invitation to anyone who wants to join me.... next Bocas del Toro PS we are not following u becky and Aaron, it is just coincidence!!!!