Panama City...where do i even begin?

Ok so to be fair by the time i arrived in Panama i was exhausted and still holding a grudge so Panama had some major work to do to redeem itself in my eyes. So why the ill will? Panama has this policy that in order to enter the country you must have proof that you are leaving, other countries have the same policy but i have never seen it enforced. well this time it was. i wasn't planning on staying, i just didn't have a ticket out of the country because i planned/plan on taking the bus to the border and walking across...much like i have done in other countries. however it seems that when flying into Panama this rule is enforced by the airline. mind you, the same airline that sold me the one way ticket from Mexico City to Panama without telling me this might be an issue. In my mind, logically the airline should never have allowed me to purchase the ticket or should have at the very least noted this fact when i was in the process of purchasing this ticket...but alas. So there i am at the gate denied the ability to board and told that they will put me on a flight the following morning at 7am provided i have proof that i will be leaving the country. my choices? purchase a plane ticket out of Panama...can't purchase bus tickets and didn't have a computer oh and the only computers in the airport were at the hotels. nice. obviously i arrived in Panama so i got on the plane somehow right? yep i bought a ticket out...one that i won't use. and in case you were wondering it was not cheap. which meant that i wasn't even going to consider paying for a hotel for that night which is why i slept in the airport.I don't even know how to describe Panama City. I was there for less than 2 days and didn't see much of the city, partially due to time and partially due to the torrential downpour that came through on Monday. So what i have to offer are some random observations and random thoughts/feelings i experienced in my time there. Upon further reflection I truly believe i need to visit again for more time and probably with someone who knows the city...following that visit i imagine i will have a much more thoughtful and accurate assessment of the city and it's people.
My initial thoughts: "damn it is hot!" it was about 95 degrees with about 80% humidity and i was wearing jeans, a tank top, socks, shoes and carrying a 14lb backpack with a smaller 3 lb backpack.The city, or the parts i visited both days were full of sound. I wouldn't say noise because it was more like a cacophony. Music, cars, people, animals, rain, buses, boats and so much more. Lively is not the right word, probably energetic and even a little harsh to my ears. But let's not forget i was coming from Oaxaca so everything was heightened. This also then applies to the smells, the tastes and the sights...never did a beer or a plate of flautas taste so good. The smell of the sea was so strong i could taste the salt and the cool breezes that finally blew through in the evening calmed my burning skin.
The city is full contradictions. Great poverty next to great wealth. Beautiful architecture that sits crumbling as plants grow through the shattered windows and bowed door frames. Feral cats that run wild as people walk their tiny dogs. Salsa, reggae, jazz and funk that compete with the music of the the states and south america. A diverse population that intermixes and intermingles while a dividing line is still apparent when you look at the jobs people hold and the homes they live in.
Among all this, and amidst my many questions i could not shake the feeling of discomfort i felt. i am not thrilled when i experience this feeling, the feeling that as a woman you are not quite as safe as you would prefer. There was no evidence to warrant this feeling but after years of living and traveling i do trust this feeling and adapt my way of being in the world when i experience it.

So there it is, Panama City in a brief moment of my life. I wish there were more.