My kind of town, inexpensive and really see and live with the Panamanians. Hotels around Central Avenue cost in the range of $15.00 to $25.00. I stayed at the "Riazor" hotel corner of Calle 16 and I Avenue ($15.00). Visa accepted as in most retail establishments throughout Panama City. Color TV on Satelite, Air Conditioning, Daily maid service with daily bed linen changed, excellent bed, private bath with shower and hot water. The hotel has a "swinging" Bar, restaurant. Personnel most nice and friendly! A litre of Atlas (Panamanian) beer costs $1.25; a rum and coke $1.00. The rum is poured into a 6 oz glass almost to the top, then the coke is sort of passed over the glass. Something like fixing a very dry martini! One sign in the bar tells it all: "No hay credito no hay" - like "No credit, no way"!

With Howard's Flight Line closing 1 May 99, transportation to and from the Commercial Air Terminal to the Riazor will have to be arranged.  Anyone with information on this, I would appreciate e-mail so I can update.

 Want a Big Mac? Of course McDonalds is on Central - in fact 3 of them along the avenue! Here's a picture of a unique McDonald's you'll see on Central.                                   

 Bet this is the only McDonalds worldwide where you can buy your Big Mac, go next door in the same building, enjoy the Big Mac while watching a porno flick!                                         

Visa information: Suggest you obtain your visa from the Panamanian Embassy in the States prior to visiting Panama. This costs you nothing, and if you ask, you can get the Visa good for 3 years. Send you passport along with a passport picture, a letter requesting the 3 year visa, and a postage paid priority mail envelope to: Consulate of Panama, 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington DC 20008. Allow about 10 working days for the visa to be processed and the passport returned to you. Their phone number if you may have questions is: 202 483 1407.

Restaurants abound in the area. I was able to eat 3 meals a day at a total cost of less than $5.00 per day. Every kind of restaurant imaginable from local cuisine to Chinese, Italian and everything in between! At one such restaurant I ate breakfast most every day - the menue was varied, including some traditional - fried bread for one (don't knock it til you've tried it, a meat (usually a variety of 3), and that great coffee.)) Cost? $1.05. Café Marisol Calle 17 & Avenue H. Excellent coffee "Sitton Café" (El café of Panama).

Another great restaurant - La CasCava on nearby Balboa Avenue (walking distance from the hotel). This restaurant covers one city block, has 11 pages of menu items in both English and Spanish. They advertise: "We have the prettiest waitresses in Panana, and we constantly have to hire new ones because the GI's are always marrying our girls and taking them to the states! Don't know about the marrying stuff, but surely they are most gorgeous and friendly!

ATM's are available in the many Banks in the area.