Sometimes plans go awry.

The night before had been filled with dreams of a nice lie in (until 8am at least), following two very busy (and long) days of first, travelling to Panama, and then exploring its capital city’s remarkable streets.

But sometimes plans go awry.

And so they did this morning, when, awoken rudely by first light at 6am, I find myself on the balcony of my room at the Westin Playa Bonita engrossed in capturing a sunrise (from every conceivable angle) with a camera still worn out from the night before.

Thirty minutes later, and it is all over. And with the glorious glow of another Panama City daybreak almost passed, it is time to go back to bed.

But sometimes plan go awry.

This time something catches my eye: a lone swimmer gliding through the sea in front of the hotel. So then, before too long, I find myself also bathing in the calm waters of the Panama Pacifico, lapping up the rest of the day’s early light. I swim for longer than intended, as the water is warmer than I had imagined – and the chance of a sleep-in is well and truly gone. But like most things around here, I just go with the flow.

Within fifteen minutes, I shower and leave my room, invigorated and intent on seeing what else this extraordinary place could throw my way.

Sometimes plans go awry. And sometimes you’re glad they did.