Lee n Tan

Saturday January 9, 2010 – The bus didn’t leave until 11.30pm but this was not an issue as we arrived at the border at 5.20am, 40mins before it opened!!!! The journey last night was pretty uncomfortable even though we were on an Executive Class bus, I think it had less room than the tourist class. It’s 8.20am (3 long hours) and we are back on the bus!! I think this crossing takes the award, it was so disorganised we had to line up to then be told to go to another line for our tourist visa (but you couldn’t get this first). Then you had to get back in the first line to actually get your stamp for Panama, then once everyone had got their stamp they unloaded all our baggage & we had to go through the customs check, what an expedition! Also it was the first border where they insisted on seeing an onward ticket, luckily we had an email from the boat & along with the guys poor english we managed to fumble through. Just discovered that we are now an hour ahead so that shortens the journey that little bit more.
We arrived at the bus terminal at 4pm, right on time! We had forgotten what 1st class was like, we were given breakfast, lunch & drinks. The only downside to that is you don’t get to get off the dreaded bus so you just sit & sit & sit. To make things even worse the a/c was playing up & in the end was turned off, so we were all roasting!
We are now checked into Panama Hostel by Luis seems ok, we have the only private room upstairs which is right next to the a/c lounge/tv/Internet room & has a bathroom right next door, very handy! Now it’s time to have a shower then kick back & relax after 14hrs sitting on the bus & 3hrs enduring the border staff!!!!