Panama City or Buenos Aires? If you had to pick one...
 

If you had to pick one of these cities to live, or spend an extended period of time in... which would it be?

Neither, and I have been to both within the last 6 months. Costa Rica was the closest thing I got to a place i could stay for a longer period, but I would never settle in a SouthAmerican shithole no matter how much money people would give me.

I have been to Panama a couple of times and really liked it... my last trip there was about three months long. Never been to Argentina, but was looking at places there are some really nice apartments/lofts there much cheaper than in Panama.

Will be going back early 2010 and plan on spending most of next year exploring Latin America.

buenos aires is way way better than panama

Bangbus :1orglaugh

panama city is awesome

I've never been to Panama City but I've heard good things about it and plan on going there one day. I've been to Buenos Aires and I can honestly say it's one of the best city's in the world if you are looking for a good time, great food and hot girls.

Prices are still low after the economic collapse. You can get a nice and furnished 2 bedroom apartment in a good and central area for around $1000 / month.

I know there is a bit of corruption and bs bureaucracy over in Argentina but not many countries in the world that doesn't have the same problems.

Like I've said I've not been to Panama City but I'm pretty sure Buenos Aires/Argentina has Panama beat!

I spent a week in Panama City and a few months in Buenos Aires.

There's is so much more to do/see/enjoy in Buenos Aires.

European Billing Europe!
 

Haven't been to Buenos Aires yet; could live happily in Panama City :)

Buenos Aires!

I'm in B.A. now and I love it here.

Never been to Panama City and I'm used to the whole Argentinean chaos so.........

Panama of course

BsAs...........

I've been in Panama City for close to two years now. I would choose Buenos Aires. Simply because PC is really pretty small. The country has roughly 3 million people, with 1.5 in the metro Panama City area. It's the smallest city of 1.5 million I've ever seen.

Buenos Aires has everything you could want or imagine. Best steaks in Latin America hands down. The food is awesome. Girls everywhere. Blond haired, blue eyed beauties in addition to the raven-haired latinas we all know and love.

Oh yeah - Huge hooker parks - one for straight, one for gay, one for trannies.

You can't go wrong :)

fusion is right.. panama is too small.. i kinda miss the states.. once u hit up the clubs here and fuck some colombians(if thats your thing), then theres not much else to do here at all

How is it like living in Panama as a "perpetual tourist" these days? I'm getting a lot of mixed info online, such as one article i read (can't remember what it was dated) stated that one must return to his country of origin for at least three days before re-entering.

Also I ended up in a jail cell at Migracion for not having my passport on me while I was out, almost missed my damn flight home (was just a week short of the 90 day period I was allowed to stay there so still legal).

I'm planning to visit both cities :)

that's true Panama City is the smallest city I've ever been too, has lots of room to grow. Next time I go I plan to spend more time outside the city.

ever been to Panama City?

not yet... but if you go, hit up Z, he lives there...

however, BA is called the Paris of South America for a reason... I don't think Panama has any nicknames like that

Buenos Aires sounds good.

Buenos aires for sure. Let me recommend Rio de Janeiro too (Brazil).

Buenos Aires is nice place...

I think I would choose Buenos Aires.

If you are looking for fun, don´t think it twice, Buenos Aires is huge and it will have whatever you want. I would choose Panama only if I am looking for a quiet period of time with nice weather and beach....

Buenos Aires ;)

do a lotta people speak english in buenos aires?

Buenos Aires for hawt chicks! :thumbsup

Panama City = sex/booze
BA = sex/booze/ + culture surprisingly European, albeit a much poorer city.

If I had to guess I'd say Panama City has more english speakers. A joke I've heard a few times from some Americans I met while there: "What's the difference between Panama City and Miami? - More people speak english in Panama City"

and its only getting poorer!

can you get by on english in buenos aires?

I have to leave the country every three months. I don't have to go to my country of origin. I usually go to Colombia. Cartegena is a great place to kick back and relax, and is only an hour away. Next month I'm going to Costa Rica to hang on the beach for a few days. No big deal.

You definately need to carry your passport, or at the very least, a copy of it with both the main pages (with picture, name, passport number, etc) and the page with your entry stamp. You also need to carry your Tourist Card, the little paper crap that shows where you entered. Make sure the date on this matches the entry date in your passport :)

I like it here overall, though it's difficult to get things done sometimes. I have a Panasonic split unit AC, and the fan motor is bad. I ordered a new motor and it's been 5 weeks, and nothing yet. I ended up buying a new AC while I wait for the thing to get fixed.

Traffic is horrific. The streets are laid out in a way that makes no sense whatsoever. They have these areas of one-way streets that make it really difficult to get anywhere. The Panamanian people are usually extremely friendly, except when they get behind the wheel. They turn into total assholes and idiots. Seriously, driving here is nerve-wracking, at best.

Service here also generally sucks. Waitresses feel like they are doing you a favor by serving you. It's funny to watch a Panamanian server working next to a server from Colombia. The Colombiana is busting ass, doing her job, raking in big tips, while the Panamana is bitching about how customers suck and waste her time.

Anyway, once you get past the small stuff, it's an OK place to live and work.

depends on the area but yeah.. you might wanna learn for the taxi drivers, but worst case have a map and point to where you wanna go. i take the subway most of the time.

oh you live there pervert? whats life like??? anyway i know basic spanish (from living here in panama for 8months), but i meant the people.. say you go to a club, or meet some girls.. do they speak english??

also whats racism like there? and whats black population like there?

fusion always wanted to ask you, we both live in Panama, it has lots of hookers, etc, but apart from that not really much else..

you say its an OK place to live, where would be a GREAT place to lvie?? you have way more experience living in panama & other places... say you didnt live in panama, where would you be?

Nice thread :)

I'd love to check out Buenos Aires someday soon.

It's always a matter of taste. Bs.As is HUGE! If you have no problems living on big cities, choose Bs.As. Tons of things to do and see there.

Security is always a matter of concern, trust no one there. Prices are cheap, you can find great food, try some meat, don't buy junk food, it's real junk. The girls are really really fucking HOT, surely the best thing there lol!

On the other hand, if you'd rather live in a quiet place with beautiful beaches around and hot weather all year long, choose Panama. :thumbsup

BTW, if you happen to choose Bs.As, visit Corrientes Avenue, you'll see it's packed with shows and restaurants. :thumbsup

Neither. My choices would probably be Paris or Tokyo.

BA hands down

are the beaches in Buenos Aires worthwhile? how is the weather during winter months?

buddy and i are thinking of packing up and going away for 2 months we had Cancun picked, but these threads always open me up to more places.

Avenida corrientes aww... Revistas and Tender Libres! Memories!

That's what I hear.

:2 cents:

anyone know what main rental place people in BA use? i want to look at some condos.

life is good here, it's like being in europe but everyone speaks spanish and its cheaper.
some ppl speak english and will try to speak if they know any. depending on your area there are more english speakers, like the open air markets and some of the shopping areas. as for the local markets, not really. depending on the girl, you might strike out if she doesn't speak any english, but if she knows some and wants to learn more, you hit the jackpot!

i can't see any blatant racism here. the only blacks i see are a couple of african street vendors and tourists. there really isn't that many blacks, so when you see one, you really notice them.

B.A. is like nyc and paris mixed togather. Its a great place and I don't plan to leave for a while. as for other places I'd like to live, tokyo is amazing and san diego is pretty awesome. if i learned french I would give living in paris a shot.

I would do Panama i guess:)

I have been to both cities and I would have to say Buenos Aires has more to offer for my lifestyle then Panama City, all though the fishing in Panama is second to none. Argentina's Mendoza area produces awesome wines and there national beers are also very good. They also have some of the best steak houses in the world. And the women there are very attractive :)

Buenos Aires for the hot women and awesome steak dinners every night at the parrillas. Did I mention hot women?