Posts tagged Taxi Ride
A Wild Ride – Taxis In Panama City, Panama
Oct 8th

Riding a taxi in Panama City can provoke just as many emotions as a free fall roller coaster ride, but at only a dollar a pop. Similar to the roller coaster, you can expect to jerk from left to right, feel your stomach drop, tense your muscles and squeal with excitement and/or fear in a Panama City cab. Like most taxis, especially in third world countries, the ride can make you fear for your life. But, there are some unique characteristics about a Panama City taxi ride that make each one out of the ordinary.
Exterior and Interior of Taxi
Though rumor has it that all taxis will eventually be yellow (like New York City), it is still possible to observe the vast array of shapes, styles and sizes managing the streets of Panama City. Some are new and air conditioned, while others look as though they are from circa 1970 and have survived a serious fire and numerous robberies.
The exterior of taxis have a substantially higher amount of dents and dings than other cars in Panama City. Taxis drivers have one objective when working, to get the passenger to their destination so that they can pick up another passenger, thus increasing their cash flow. Therefore, taxi drivers do not seem to have the same reservations about making incredibly risky moves, and consequently getting in more accidents. The speed in Panama City is never so fast that there is any serious damage, but the remnants of these failed attempts are blatantly obvious. And, once the initial damage has been incurred, what’s another dent?!
The interiors of taxis can bring a smile to almost anyone’s face. The interior decoration of Panama City taxis almost always includes a flag or football (not the American kind) dangling from the rear view mirror, or the space where a rear view mirror should be, just obstructing the line of vision enough to make things interesting. In the United States and other like countries, our idea of what a car needs in order to function is relatively superfluous compared to Panama. I mean, is an interior really necessary for driving? Absolutely not!
Array of Honks
Many people complain about the noise population on the streets of Panama City. However, if we listen carefully, it is more like an urban symphony. Some honks are the typical “beep beep,” while others are analogous to the whoops and whistles of men trying desperately to get the attention of a pretty girl, or the whistle you teach your Cockatiel Pretty Bird. Either way, it is obvious that taxi drivers go to a lot of trouble to personalize their horns and feel a certain sense of pride, given they exercise the right to honk at every available chance.
Conversations with Drivers
One of my favorite pastimes in Panama, and in any foreign environment, is chatting with the locals. It is undeniable that one of the best ways to become acquainted with a culture is by interacting with the natives, in their mother tongue. In Panama, taxi drivers provide an interesting and entertaining interpretation of life in the city. My conversations with them generally start off, “Are you Swiss? You look like the girl from the hot chocolate!” Then, after clarifying that I am not from 19th century Switzerland, we embark upon an undoubtedly colorful conversion, sure to be the subject of dinnertime conversion (if appropriate).
A particularly exciting day was when I took a taxi driver on a goose chase with me to fix my car battery. As is a normal daily occurrence in Panama City, a passenger was already in the cab when I was picked up. So, I hopped in the front seat and we were on our way. This particular passenger, a woman about 60 years old, was undoubtedly a foreigner, most likely American, Canadian or European. Shortly after I got on board, we arrived at her destination. She handed the driver seventy five cents, and all fares in Panama City are at least one dollar. The driver said in heavily accented English, “One dolla’!” I turned around and translated, “One dollar.” She spat back, like him, in heavily accented English, “He took me around the entire city!” Apparently, she felt as though the driver had taken her on a while goose chase with the hopes of pulling a fast one. After listening to her short, heated explanation, she leaped out of the taxi and soon disappeared from our sight. So, the driver gave up and we left for my destination. On the way, he muttered to himself about the “whats and whys” of the recent situation. After five minutes of being stuck in traffic and the driver leaning over me to throw his eaten meal out the window into a garbage can, our rapport had obviously gone through the roof, and he began to inquire about why my “paisana” (countrywoman) did such an awful thing. “Doesn’t she know I have to eat?!” So, I explained to him that, although she wasn’t my “paisana,” foreigners generally implement the taxi protocol born from the etiquette of their mother land. Another day, another dollar for him, and a mini lecture about the cultural differences between one country and another.
It is never a dull day in a Panama City taxi.
Beach Inclusive Mexico Resort – Several Choices To Consider
Sep 12th

A popular vacation choice for most tourists is the beach inclusive Mexico resort deal. Lots of tourist hotspots in Mexico offer this deal. The great thing about beach inclusive Mexico resort deals is that you only pay a single price for everything. With a beach inclusive Mexico resort package, you can just relax and have everything at your disposal.
Here are two of the hotels and resorts in Mexico that offer beach inclusive Mexico resort vacation packages and deals.
The Allegro Payacar is a beach inclusive Mexico resort and part of the giant Occidental chain. This beach inclusive Mexico resort stands on a beach that is just a twenty minute walk or five minute taxi ride from the busy tourist town Playa del Carmen. Some features of this beach inclusive Mexico resort include welcome cocktail, all meals and snacks, unlimited local alcoholic beverages, room service for continental breakfast, and much, much more.
Located just an hour south of exotic Cancun, the beach inclusive Mexico resort that is Bahia Principe Akumal offers an area with a great lagoon for snorkeling. The hotel itself has over 1,000 rooms, occupying only half of the total property area, while the rest is filled up with the beautiful sandy white beaches and a shopping or entertainment area.
Whether you are traveling with your family or traveling as a single, beach resort all inclusive Mexico resorts have it all for you. There are beach resort all inclusive resort Mexico vacation packages to meet every need, including family, adult only, adult oriented, couples, honeymoons, golf, scuba diving, and more. Most of the resort hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico offer beach resort all inclusive resort packages just for you.
Family Oriented All Inclusive Beach Mexico Resort Packages
If you’re traveling as a family or with your kids in tow, beach resort all inclusive Mexico resorts provide vacations with activities tailored for the whole family. A family oriented beach resort all inclusive Mexico resort features entertainment, activities, dining, and excursions for every family member.
Adult Only All Inclusive Beach Mexico Resort Packages
Beach resort all inclusive Mexico resorts may also be for adults only. This is when the all inclusive features of the hotel resort have age restrictions. Adults only beach resort all inclusive Mexico resorts provide you with activities tailored just for adults, including entertainment, dining, and excursions. Some beach resort all inclusive Mexico and Caribbean resorts that are restricted to adults only include Couples, Sandals, El Dorado, Sans Souci, Super Clubs Grand Lido, Secrets, Villa Premiere, Golden Crown Paradise, and some Breezes.
There is also a sub-category to adults only beach resort all inclusive Mexico resort. Adult oriented is different from an adult only resort because there are no age restrictions, even though the activities and hotel features mainly attract adults.
Couples Only All Inclusive Beach Mexico Resort Packages
An intimate setting for a relaxing adult vacation is what couples only beach resort all inclusive Mexico resorts offer. The beach resorts that are all inclusive are often restricted to traditional male/female couples, providing a typical array of services and facilities, such as dancing and evening entertainment, excursions, high quality dining, spas, piano bars, and more. There is also a variety of water and land sports available just as they are available in any other beach resort all inclusive Mexico resort.
When booking your all inclusive beach Mexico resort vacation package be sure to have your travel agent give you the details of any resort you are considering. You don’t want surprises while on vacation.
