The Ying and Yang of Panama

After a long, stressful Friday in Panama City, I went to the airport to fly back to David.  I tried to check in at the airport and I was told I didn't have a reservation on the flight.

What!

I listened to our travel agent make the reservation and she made notes letting me know who the agent was with Air Panama and the exact time of the reservation.  There was no way she didn't make the reservation.  Come on!

I noticed several other passengers milling around and the lines at Air Panama started to back up.  Something wasn't Kosher.

I called our travel agent, Anavilma, and told her what was going on, so she started making calls on her end.

As it turns out, the flight was cancelled because of mechanical problems.

Rather than telling us what was really going on, they lied...blatant, bald faced lies.  What's that all about.  I have been told that Panamanians don't like to admit mistakes, not that a mechanical problem is some one's mistake.  Hard to figure this one.

Mean time, the competing airline, Aeroperlas, scheduled an additional late night flight so we could actually return to David Friday night.  How many US airline competitors would do that?

This is very good because hotel rooms in Panama are scarcer than home and car loans in the US, scarcer that happy conservatives with Obama's bailout, scarcer than consistency in Panama!

Now the amazingly good part.

Ananvilma traveled to David, a hour from Boquete, and went to the airport.  She had 2 clients caught in the flight dilemma.  She located Yella and let her know what was happening and offered to wait in the airport for 3 hours until I arrived and drive me home, a full 2 hours out of her way after the 3 hour wait.

Yella, of course, told her that she would wait even though the offer was sincere.

Time after time, an unbearable problem is solved by the kindness of a Panamanian.  This is truly the land of opposites.

While I don't like the inconsistencies of Panama, I am so impressed with the kindness of the people.