Some time ago I’d written a post describing an old Bert & I skit where a rugged Down-Easter had won a free trip to Boston for a week. When he returned and people asked him what Boston was like he said, “There was so much going on at the depot I didn’t get a chance to see the village.”
Well, the bus terminal here in David is sort of like that. I’ve alluded to it before in quite a few posts. It’s one of my favorite places in all of Panama, so I thought I’d give you more of an idea of what the place is like.
It takes up quite a bit of space…
If you’re heading to Panama City you go to this area…it’s in the upper right corner of the photo above…
You can see one of the modern double-deck, air conditioned buses waiting to load on the right. Buses leave almost every hour for Panama City and there is even an “express” bus that leaves late at night and knocks about an hour off the seven-hour trip. But I’ve never been tempted to take that one because you miss all the scenery along the way by doing that. The last time I took the bus to the city was to do the paper work necessary to get my driver’s license. The fare, one way, was $18 and change with the Jubilado discount.
There’s a hotel at the terminal but I can’t imagine what it must be like to stay there.
The terminal and the surrounding area is about more than just transportation. Across the street there are five stores selling all kinds of feed for animals as well as huge quantities of rice. The other day when I was down there, without my camera, of course, you could buy baby rabbits and quail. There are always young chicks for sale. They cost 50¢ each, or for a buck and a half you can get one of these…
Even in this day and age horses are a daily mode of transportation for many Panamanians…
And if you’re in need of a new saddle, well, just drop in at the terminal. I saw two different stores selling saddles there today and one in a store across the street.
Typical Ngöbe Indian dresses for little girls are available. Boys wear jeans and tee shirts…
More than a dozen people sell lottery tickets every day at the terminal. Panamanians LOVE to play the lottery and they go from one vendor to another looking for their special number. There are no “quick picks” here. If your number doesn’t come up you can use the pharmacy behind the vendor to buy something to calm your jangled nerves…
You can find out if you need to go to the pharmacy by having your blood pressure checked…
Not into pharmaceuticals? Well, an apple a day, they say…and grapes and strawberries are just nice to bring home with you for later…
Hungry? There are three fondas serving comida corriente, two cafeterias and a pizza place at the terminal…
After you’ve eaten your fill, if you’re a lady you can get your hair done at one of the three hair salons…
Or you guys can visit my barber and get a $2 cut…
There are also18 kiosks all selling approximately the same stuff…bottled water and soft drinks, bags of chips, empenadas, candy, ice cream, etc…
One More Good Adventure 
Así mismo recuerdo la terminal.
Gracias