How are the stores and shops in Bastimentos, Panama? How's the shopping in Bastimentos, Panama?
Ian Usher - House Sitting Magazine
If you have ever been to Isla Bastimentos, close to Bocas del Toro in Panama, I imagine you'd find this question as amusing as I do.
The main town on Bastimentos is called Old Bank, and it consists of a narrow concrete walkway which forms the main thoroughfare through town. As you can see from the picture on the right, a traffic jam in Old Bank consists of a kid's bike left on the sidewalk, or more often a sleeping dog or two.
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If you have ever been to Isla Bastimentos, close to Bocas del Toro in Panama, I imagine you'd find this question as amusing as I do.
The main town on Bastimentos is called Old Bank, and it consists of a narrow concrete walkway which forms the main thoroughfare through town. As you can see from the picture on the right, a traffic jam in Old Bank consists of a kid's bike left on the sidewalk, or more often a sleeping dog or two.
There are no vehicles at all there other than bicycles, and the pace of life moves to a slower rhythm. You can't possibly hurry along that walkway; you have to amble at a Caribbean pace, smiling and greeting others as you pass.
The place has a sleepy laid back Caribbean feel about it, and you'll often hear Bob Marley or something similar playing from a house window as you pass.
Everything is small and basic here, as most people tend to do their shopping in Bocas del Toro, or even further afield at Almirante on the mainland.
Even in Almirante asking for the "shopping mall" would produce either a blank look or laughter. The biggest store in Bocas del Toro is a Chinese-run supermarket. On Bastimentos there are a couple of wooden-shack grocery stores
You will be able to buy tinned food, bottled water, a few basic locally grown fruits and vegetables, and you should have no problem finding beer. But that's about it. On Bastimentos, if you need to do some shopping, hop on a water taxi to Bocas.
How are the shopping malls in Bastimentos? Non-existent, and it's a nicer place for that.
Posted June 15, 2013
Ian Usher - House Sitting Magazine
The quickest and most honest answer to the question "How are the stores and shops in Bastimentos?" would be "Almost non-existent!"
This is a view of the main thoroughfare through Old Bank, the main town on Bastimentos. As you can see, it's not the busiest place. There isn't a road, just this narrow concrete sidewalk, and there are no vehicles other than bicycles.
A traffic jam in Old Bank consists...
The quickest and most honest answer to the question "How are the stores and shops in Bastimentos?" would be "Almost non-existent!"
This is a view of the main thoroughfare through Old Bank, the main town on Bastimentos. As you can see, it's not the busiest place. There isn't a road, just this narrow concrete sidewalk, and there are no vehicles other than bicycles.
A traffic jam in Old Bank consists of a kid's bike left on the sidewalk, or more often a sleeping dog or two.
Life moves to a slower, more tropical rhythm. You can't possibly hurry along that walkway, you have to amble at a Caribbean pace, smiling and greeting others as you pass.
The place has a sleepy laid back Caribbean feel about it, and you'll often hear Bob Marley or something similar playing from a house window as you pass.
Everything is small and basic here, as most people tend to do their shopping in Bocas del Toro, or even further afield at Almirante on the mainland.
On Bastimentos there are a couple of small wooden-shack grocery stores. You will be able to buy tinned food, bottled water, a few basic locally grown fruits and vegetables, and you should have no problem finding beer. But that's about it. On Bastimentos, if you need to do some shopping, hop on a water taxi and go to Bocas del Toro.
How are the shops and stores in Bastimentos? Non-existent, and it's a nicer place ecause of that.
The place has a sleepy laid back Caribbean feel about it, and you'll often hear Bob Marley or something similar playing from a house window as you pass.
Everything is small and basic here, as most people tend to do their shopping in Bocas del Toro, or even further afield at Almirante on the mainland.
On Bastimentos there are a couple of small wooden-shack grocery stores. You will be able to buy tinned food, bottled water, a few basic locally grown fruits and vegetables, and you should have no problem finding beer. But that's about it. On Bastimentos, if you need to do some shopping, hop on a water taxi and go to Bocas del Toro.
How are the shops and stores in Bastimentos? Non-existent, and it's a nicer place ecause of that.
Posted June 15, 2013