Experience in Panama City, Panama, by Gilberto

What's it like to live in Panama City? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

A cosmopolitan city. You'll find people from every nationality and culture living in harmony. The new Metro will start circulating soon so that will improve the city even more. It has an enormous and well organised Central Bus Station (which will be connected to the Metro), which will provide transport by bus to practically every city across the whole Republic. It has very good roads and motorways. It has a touristic train that crosses from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic in one hour. Throughout the whole year there are cultural events and festivals so if you come here, you'll never be bored. In January, in the middle of the summer there is the International Jazz Festival of Panama. In February there are Carnivals that they hold in the capital. But, more interestingly there are the Carnivals of various other provinces amongst them that stand out traditionally, and they are the Las Tablas and Chitre that are very close by. And the aquatic regions of Penonomé (on the river) and Taboga which is an island just an hour away from the city. You can get there over a ridiculously cool and cheap crossing across the Panama Canal in the Pacific. From the regional airport of Albrook, as well as going to various provinces (you can also arrive by the well made roads), you can go to David Chiriquí and go up by car or bus to the volcano and Cerro Punta with the mind climate or to Boquete. Or, you can go to the province of Bocas del Toro in the Caribbean, with a very pretty archipelago. Or another place in the Caribbean, which is called Gunayala (365 islands), and the smallest ones are completely inhabited, as they'd only be big enough for one person. The indigenous Gunas live there, and they have a very cool and interesting culture.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Panama City?

There are two state universities and a few private ones in Panama. The biggest is the University of Panama with regional departments in other provinces.

How much does it cost to live in Panama?

Not much. The cheap is very cheap (you can eat well, creole food such as rice, plantain, stewed meat, beans or chicken for less than $3. With $5 you can eat a substantial plate of prawns or shrimp or another type of seafood. But you can also find many gourmet restaurants at a much higher price. This doesn't mean that the other plates I mentioned are bad, but simply tasty. The transport and clothes are cheap too (you only need summer clothes and maybe something light for when it rains). You'll find electronics from all over the world at great prices. The French perfumes are even cheaper than in France. Colombian leather is cheaper here than even in Colombia itself (which is because they're purchased in scale which means they lower the price for consumers). This includes medicines which are cheaper than even in their country of origin, without being fakes. The prices of apartments are lower than in Europe or the United States.

Was it difficult for you to find your accommodation in Panama City? Do you have any advice?

There aren't any problems... there's a lot of varied things on offer.

What is the food like there? What are some of your favourite dishes?

It's varied and they use a lot of seafood. Caribbean food is very tasty.

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What places would you recommend visiting in Panama City?

The Canal and Central Museum with visitors from the Canal to add to it, The Old Town and the Conjunto Monumental de Panama Viejo with its visitors centre and artisanal market. The Amador road with splendid views of the city and the sea. Cerro Ancón, Exclusas de Miraflores del Canal de Panamá. Cinta Costera.

Is it good to eat out in Panama City? What are some of your favourite places to go?

Lung Fung and Casa del Marisco. Even cheaper, Don Lee (Chinese food for between 5 and 8 dollars), Nikkos (between 3 and 7 dollars) and a lot of other places of all prices.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Panama City?

Avenida Uruguay which is considered to be the rose of Panama. You can also find a good atmosphere in El Dorado.

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Panama City in the future?

To study in the University of Panama is relatively cheap, almost too cheap because it's very much subsidised by the State. But there are teachers, and then there are teachers. The quality of education is up to you because in many of the subjects you can choose your own teacher. So whoever wants to be educated well, can see who's the best to have through their references.

The most traditional private university is La Santa Maria La Antigua and the Latin University of Panama is the second one with bigger student population and good atmosphere. None of them have any halls of residence.