The Adventures of Day 2

 
Today, we're embarking on a six-hour drive to Boquete, Panama, primarily along
 Highway 1, the Pan American Highway. We'll continue on this route until we reach 
 David, where we'll switch to Highway 44 to complete our journey. Along the way,
 we encountered some road repairs and had to pass through a police checkpoint, where 
 they checked our passports, though the reason for this wasn't entirely clear.

Police checkpoints, or retenes, are quite common in Panama, especially at night,
serving to deter crime, apprehend wanted individuals, and ensure public safety. When
you approach a checkpoint, it's best to lower your driver-side window. Sometimes,
the police will wave you through without any questions, but they may also request
your driver's license, passport if you're a tourist, or identification card if you're
a resident. They might check the validity of your license plate and, if necessary,
ask for your car's paperwork. If everything checks out, you'll be on your way.

After the checkpoint, we stopped for lunch at a place called "El Fogon," which translates
to "The Stove." Located at Pan-American Hwy 2-123 in El Nancito, Chiriquí Province,
the restaurant offered a variety of traditional Panamanian dishes, including seafood,
fried foods, empanadas, and more.

The diesel engine in our rental car performed exceptionally well, providing great fuel efficiency.

After about seven hours on the road, we finally arrived in Boquete. The stretch from
David to Boquete was lined with shops and businesses, and the town itself had a
charming, old-fashioned vibe, complete with street vendors and numerous dining 
options.

There were many buses that stopped along the way so people could ride from Boquete to
Davinf and return.  The are many shopping areas in David.