At 9:00 we left the condo to catch a taxi into town. After waiting a while, we decided to just start walking. About 10 minutes later we did find a taxi. He charged us $2, less than the usual $3-4. We wondered if it was because he picked us up walking alongside the road and not waiting in front of the resort.
After getting into town we had the hour-long bus ride to the city for church. Of course there were churches nearby, but Hubs wanted to see some of his friends in Panama City, so we went there. The church we went to was a larg(er) Pentecostal church. The building outside just looked like any other city building next to some other businesses. Inside there was a long hall with rooms to each side, that led into the huge sanctuary room with chairs and stage, etc. The music was excellent, and I was able to sing along with some of the songs. I learned the words for "praise" and "cry out" (had to ask Hubs what they were on the slides!). Before we left to come down from MI, I spent some of my dish-washing time listening to Spanish worship music on Youtube, which made some of the words and phrases more familiar.
Another thing I appreciate about Pentecostal worship is how they wave banners during some of the songs. To me it makes the service feel more like a celebration with all of the different colors flying around. Unfortunately I didn't understand most of the sermon. Maybe next time! After the service I got to meet some of the friends Hubs had made while living here several years ago.
After church, Hubs took me to the mall, where he bought me a pecan roll at the Cinnabon stand (delish!!) and we got lunch at one of his favorite restaurants, Leños y Carbón (Firewood & Charcoal), a steak house.
Panamanians love their shopping malls. All three malls that I've seen here are bigger than those at home, often with an upper and lower floor to shop on. The Albrook Mall where we were today had a carousel and working train for kids to ride in. You can see how busy it was.
As if taking me on vacation isn't enough, Hubs offered to do the dishes the whole time we are in Panama. "You're not allowed to wash a single dish while we're here," he told me. What I guy! I really do have the best man ever! Tonight I sat at the counter dunking a banana in Nutella while I watched him do dishes.
I'm so grateful for such an awesome husband. :)