I've been here in Panama City for three weeks, and we only had one power outage, and that was in Casco Viejo, where the infrastructure is a bit older.

Well, I just had my handbag taken. I left it on a table in Subway and stood with my back to it while I refilled my drink. I was right next to the machine, and didn't think anything of it. Didn't even notice it was gone until I decided to buy something else.

The police came almost immediately, and said they would come back and look at the video, and tomorrow the manager is going to let me watch the video. I think she wants me to see just how careless I was.

Fortunately, my passport, credit cards, and most of my money were in a neck pouch.

I don't know about the court system, but apparently sentencing is light an people get out early. I've been told that police corruption has been pretty much eliminated here. They are certainly the friendliest cops I have ever met. Everyone complains about corruption, but then everyone in Boston complains about it, too. Come to think of it, no one complains in Florida. It's sort of expected.

Anyway, it depends on where you live. For a while I was out in Casco Viejo, and there were police everywhere, so I felt fine walking at night (not late, though). However, I wouldn''t go to any street in that neighborhood with a number higher than 13.

Now I'm in El Cangrejo, and I walk around in the evenings and feel fine. Taxis are cheap, which helps.

Panama has gotten much more expensive since my first visit here four years ago. For instance, rents are outrageous. I've been told that apartments that rented for only $550 about two years ago now are rented for $1400. I met a young woman doing a university internship here, and she was paying $550 for a room in a large 'share house'. There is high rise construction everywhere.