Deeper into the Corregimiento’s
October 5, 2012
Going deeper into Panama takes me away central downtown area out into the Corregimiento’s….I have to admire the sincerity of my hosts, for they just aren’t showing me certain sections of the city. They don’t want me to support them with a myopic vision. Thus, I get a chance to really get to know Panama!
Heading out into the districts…we will visit Ancon, Chorrio, San Felipe, Bathania, Tocumen, and Mananitas! We’ll also be talking with some of their district representatives to get some much deeper insight into the quality of life and what is influencing it in their respective communities. First stop – Ancon.
Ancon resides fairly close to the canal zone, and faces a major dichotomy. One one side there are thriving communities, beautiful architecture, good economic activity….very warm aesthetics…on the other side, you have many of the individuals staying who came primarily to work around the canal…including the recent expansion projects. Great meeting with the local representatives….great discussion on issues that many cities face: quality of life, housing structure, storm-water drainage, etc. Great Start!
Beautiful home with the traditional roof…man, feels like I am hosting HGTV or something….not my thing, but amazing things do demand respect and acknowledgement! An issue that has required a resolution is population density. Next to this home you see a multi-family style residence. That is their attempt to increase density throughout the area and reduce population sprawl. Again, the contrasts are constant, I found this next house to be really interesting on the eyes 🙂
There are plenty of other photo’s I could show for the other sides of this neighborhood, but I don’t want to be overly repetitive. Some of these areas, although in different districts, look quite the same. So, I won’t show all the areas…just the representative ones…
Heading out to another district, we stopped to get some refreshments:
This stand sells ‘Sugar Cane Juice’. You know, the juice that comes from a stalk of sugar cane….it is somewhat greenish in color (light)….and it is sweet to the tongue. Really highlights the difference between commercialized juice and non-commercialized. The juices here are ridiculous. Pineapple, Melon, Papaya, Orange, Baby Coconut…don’t have the acidity and thickness associated with what you would by the store. This stuff is fresh and light, makes it seem as though you will outlive Zeus 🙂
Next stop is Bathania. Took a really informing ride-a-long with their officials….we went deep 🙂 I’ll save that information for the strategic plan 🙂 However, their community center resides right next to their athletic facilities.
If you know anything about Latin America, then you know that they will ‘cut’ you over Football (Soccer) or Baseball! 🙂 To the left of the main building is an indoor soccer area….clean…very very clean….
And, just so happens that a scout from the Washington Nationals was there to observe a few young men strut their stuff. This facility is located right next to the soccer area….some of these kids start playing baseball as young young children…driven by their aspirations to make it to the big leagues….and the big leagues are always down here looking to oblige the local talent.
Heading out into the other districts, we find similar structures. It’s as if Public Housing has a particular design that is used all over the world. Remind you of anything particular in Chicago:
Something that is readily apparent here though despite any circumstances or challenges….faith is something that permeates this culture. Everywhere you go, you see tributes here and there as reminders of faith:
and at another park in the middle of a small neighborhood:
Interestingly enough, for what could be said about some of their challenged communities…they have done a pretty decent job of getting the private market to engage these communities. All over the United States there are discussions on how to get markets, stores and other service providers to establish locations in challenged communities…well, obviously, there are some things to be learned from Panama:
Have to make sure there is balance in the perception. While Panama has its share of high rises…and its challenged communities, it also has its share of regular neighborhoods…although the colors at times let you know that there is nothing comparatively regular here 🙂
I was once talking with a friend of mine about overseas travel, and the discussion led to how there is a perception, at times, that in the U.S. we warehouse our older people. That concept, I found to be really amazing. And, as I have traveled, I can see where that perception gains its strength. Driving through this community, we see where the government is installing machines in the parks. These machines are for mature and elder citizens, so that they can have a place to exercise to maintain and improve their health….quite interesting:
Heading further out into the periphery of the city, we get to areas such as Tocumen and Mananitas. These areas have been influenced by high degrees of migration from across the region. The infrastructure was not necessarily in place to manage this growth, and so what you find in this area are the ‘Informal Settlements’.
Some of these areas can pose challenges to maintaining a good quality of life, the rains and the drainage here always must be faced! But, I don’t feel the need to focus in on the challenges, they do deserve to be addressed; however, the ‘little homey’ here seems to be doing his thing…and I find that to be more delightful 🙂
I certainly am grateful for the opportunity to become immersed in such an educational experience. This was our guide for the day, who took us throughout the district and explain life in her community.
On the way back to the central city, we are reminded that in the world we live in…someone has to be around to, as we say, ‘hold it down.’ At any given time, you may see these gentlemen…two on a motorcycle…weaving through traffic….’Nino Brown Style’…trying to keep the peace!
And, although this world has its challenges….it’s always nice to have a truck load of fresh pineapples to remind you how sweet life is….I bet some of you saw the Mcdonalds sign in the background and though I was referring to the sweetness of Mac D’s…NO…not the case…what did I say earlier about contrasts…
But, at the end of the day…whether we are discussing sweetness or challenges, we have to remember that this should be about helping humanity….can we look passed the environment, regardless to whether it is challenged or sweet, and see a person’s humanity….and work to maintain that pearl….
Curundu – Neighborhoods – Housing
October 4, 2012
Effective Strategic Planning is not performed in a vacuum…the process must engage the environment it is intended to impact. Getting to know Panama through a strategic planning process is highly recommended 🙂 That may have just ruined the vacation orientation for some, but exactly, I am not on vacation!!!!
Structurally, the Municipality of Panama is made up of Corregimiento’s….This is a sub-division of a larger district, what some of us in the states may refer to as a neighborhood, except in this instance it is also a political district…led by an elected representative.
International travel should have an impact on a persons perception. In my case, I have experienced enough of the community dynamics in international settings that I don’t focus in on just problems. As Jane Jacobs once wrote “A City is a Problem”…”a Problem in Organized Complexity”. To focus on the problem is to focus on the obvious….which doesn’t really show much regarding depth of insight. Most cities have similar issues…complex in nature, they may vary in degree, but similar issues all the same.
I write that to say that I post pictures of areas to show the relative nature of realities…so that others can get a better take on the concept of viewing dynamics within their relative context…not within a judgmental negative context.
Here is Curundu!
Curundu is one of those areas where some urban renovation projects are being applied. Like most areas that have challenges, the one that jumps out most visibly is the condition of the housing. The Population of Panama has grown significantly over the past 10 years with individuals migrating from the rural country-side as well as from neighboring countries. That is why, conditions can not be assessed in a vacuum. Regional dynamics must be considered in the cause-effect equation as well! Add in the redevelopment that is taking place in some of the districts, and it creates a need to address the provision of housing.
Any of these photo’s could be ascribed to locations all over the world. The more you travel the more you see that although cultures have their variations….they also have high degree’s of similarity. In fact, either one of these pictures of housing in Curundu could be in several cities in the United States.
And, it does extend itself as in rows and rows…layers and layers….
In some instances, the government has taken extra steps to provide some additional forms of housing…this building is set up like a warehouse to provide a structure to build smaller homes within. It is actually similar to shelters in other countries utilized to provide housing…so that people still feel a sense of personal ownership, organizations have even used lines on the floors to distinguish personal space in shelters throughout the United States.
As I mentioned though, it all still has a relative aspect….for I didn’t see a bunch of people sitting around loathing themselves or immersed in self-pity. Instead, I saw many, just like this little one, who looked like he was dreaming of one day having his chance to kick in the game winning goal for the National Team of Panama 🙂
The government has to be given credit for its attempts to provide housing for those in need. Again, this is a city of contrasts…and typically these contrasts are highlighted because they rest right beside each other.
The newly developed housing stands in stark contrast to the older housing…the brightness of the colors does, indeed, speak volumes….
It is refreshing to see progress being made. In fact, seeing the old mixed in with the new really provides some serious food for thought. Throughout this trip, consistent and comparative contrasts stand out! By the end of this trip, I am sure much can be gleaned from that….
Panama Pacifico
October 4, 2012
Over the years, I have participated in many community development projects. Having been trained in City & Regional Planning, it is particularly interesting to me to see a city rise. As I stated before, Panama is going through drastic changes characterized by major developments and expansions over the past 10 years.
As part of the treaty that gave control of the canal over to the Panamanian government, the United States reverted back lands it had taken possession of when it was in control. This included several former military bases. The question then became, what does a government do with all of that land? In this case, the project was successfully put out to bid and now you have, in essence, a new city being built on top of a former base. This project is called Panama Pacifico.
This project is the first comprehensively master-planned community in Latin America and sits on approximately 3,460 acres of land. It sits right between the Panama Canal and the Pacific Ocean and when completed will have a international business park, residential living areas, schools, a town center, recreational areas, an airport amongst a lot of other amenities. Ideally, many of the companies that ship parts from around the world through the canal will use these facilities for additional component assembly. Talk about the Global Chains of Production….
The project is amazing in and off itself; however, as a planner….it is even more amazing to me. To watch a city built from the ground up….nothing short of amazing….to see a city go up in such a short amount of time…well, they are doing in 10 years what some haven’t been able to do in 50. There are also some other insights that should be considered here….
There are a few structures still remaining from the former military base; as you can see they have that Latin styled roof…..nice…
But, as I said…contrasts abound! This is the new styled housing they are building which pretty much went 100% sold out immediately.
Now the most interesting part to me regards the recognition of the global context and how that reality needs to be integrated into the process of planning cities. Hence, the very interesting educational system they are developing in this community.
Here we have a Jewish School, Next to a French School, Next to a Venezuelan School….quite interesting….and full of implications….so often we get stuck in our own little world just like a ‘Dung Beetle’….and we only have the same view as the ‘Dung Beetle’…this is further evidence that if we don’t open up our minds and develop ourselves…the world will keep moving right along and we will find ourselves and our identities completely obsolete to the globalized world.
Once this place is built out, there will be plenty of wonderful views to behold….at the base of this hill will reside a new recreational facility….
A penchant I have developed over time, especially in an international setting, is a love for culturally authentic food. I don’t mean fancy food necessarily, but food that supports a culturally authentic experience. So, for lunch we Jaime, Juan Carlos and Myself stopped by the Kiosk that isn’t far from the municipal building to get a nice snack. Just so happens the owners of this shop are family of Jaime.
No mechanically separated chicken, whole food, with plantain, beans, rice, and some salsa picante….pleased I am!!!!
On to Curundu!
Into Panama I Go….
October 4, 2012
Something that is readily apparent in Panama City is that contrasts abound. As I mentioned, the past 10 years this city has experienced exponential growth in multiple areas. This has created the type of intense diversity in the city scape also seen in the people.
Outside of the native populations and, of course, the European influences initiated when colonization was the dominant model of globalization, a large part of the genetic pool was created from the human migrations that took place to support the construction of the Panama Canal. Individuals came from Barbados, Martinique, Guadalupe, Trinidad, Jamaica and others such as the Spanish, Italians, Greeks, Hindus, Americans, Armenians, Cubans, Costa Ricans, and Colombians all have blended in this country. Include in the native Panamanians, and you have every single nuanced skin color, body shape, type and style that is known to man. It is like a human botanical garden.
For the past 10 years, the City of Panama has been growing exponentially and is in a thriving construction boom. This adds in multiple contrasts….The skyline is a rare find…there are two Trump towers, no pictures of that though…I figure ‘The Don’ get’s enough publicity 🙂 Condominiums litter the downtown area and give the impression of high density:
Turn another direction, and it appears the population is sparse and the accommodations are a bit more earthy 🙂 I am being careful here because although there are challenges with the housing market. Most cities have huge challenges when it comes to housing markets. So this example should only be viewed as an example…for I’ve seen these all over the world….
Then turn in another direction and there are people everywhere, shopping, perusing, rushing about…the regular siting on the markets…the street food, the shops….the type of place where you can just stop and people watch…
Gotta love the markets…and trust me when I say “THE PRICE IS RIGHT”…papaya, bananas, baby coconuts, fresh pineapple (ripened perfectly, low acid) all types of fruits that I would need help in spelling…all for a few cents…
This is the Central Avenue market area…it is generally closed off to vehicles, but since we are rolling with the City…we get the VIP Tour 🙂 Lots of people, activity, shopping, and a perfect example of the intangibles you find in an international market area.
Now, transportation in many international settings is serious business. We are talking about moving a lot of people, inexpensively over large stretches of territory. They have a formal public bus system and they are currently building a metro rail system (excellent forethought)! But, a major form of transportation comes in the form of these private bus lines.
Ever seen a tricked out school bus? Look at the murals painted on the side of the bus! Check this out: at night, they are lit with fluorescent lights… and based upon the sound system, it would be reasonable to assume that they are pushing ‘Beats by Dr. Dre’. Ohhhh….it is indeed a sight 🙂
The locals call them the ‘Red Devils’….as the drivers….are no JOKE! I mean when you see them coming…you best get out of the way….they put it down! For .25 cents you get to ride through town listening to latest Beats! 🙂
I’ve been a little slow with my posting….they have been working me hard! This is a complete immersion experience….I’ll be catching up over the next few days!!!!
www.takingownership.org
Casco Viejo – Old Panama City
September 22, 2012
Most who know me, understand that I generally don’t get terribly excited about food….however, they also know that I have no problem leaving bad food behind. One thing though I have picked up from my travels, is that I do get rather excited about experimenting with new food in different cultures. So after having such a delightful Ceviche experience, time to take a stroll to the adjacent neighborhood. Taking another look at the cultural style of the boats in waiting, and catching a bird in flight…I head down the road.
Going from the market to the Old City is a rather nice walk! Immediately, you can see the shift in architecture and the shift in the feeling. The city has done a great job of creating a pedestrian friendly walkway connecting the fish market and the Old City.
Getting closer to the Casco Viejo, you can make the old style of the buildings out a bit clearer. The back side of the White House you see, is the Panamanian version of the White House in the United States.
One thing you have to love about architecture like this is that the scale and style really warm you up and make it easy to relate to the physicality of the neighborhood…proximity, closeness, colors…it pulls you in….it gets your attention…
It just a short walk; however, pausing to look back gives you another view of the downtown area. As I mentioned, it is the rainy season so the lighting and the huge cloud banks make for quite and interesting view. This is the view from the Old City, however, it is the second Old City for the first one had to be moved as a result of the Pirates. As you may recall, the English, French, and Spanish…amongst others were vying for various parts of the world and so the original city had to be moved away from the range of the cannons. The skyline you see now, is the 3rd iteration of the city.
Considering what it looked like back before the mid-1600’s before all this was being established….
All the lives, the families, the people that have come through this area…really reminds us that time is a continuum…and this period is just a spec in the broader dynamic of civilizations and humanity. Unique about this area is that it represents a major point of confluence in the history of European expansion. Names such as Vasco Balboa, Amerigo Vespucci, Hernan Cortes and Pedro Davila all come into play when discussing the early history of Panama. Not lost on this history are the many cultures that were here upon their arrival….this history is so significant, that the Coat of Arms of King Fernando (Queen Isabel) of Spain still stands as the Seal of the City:
If you have been singularly in other parts of the city, then here you get a completely different feel….
The feel is reminiscent of Savannah, Georgia or Charleston, South Carolina and some other places, but this has more of a Spanish style to it…obviously….
The small streets and intimacy give you a sense of comfort. They obviously have done a remarkable job in restoring some of these buildings…of course with Historic Preservation work, there is always more to be done 🙂 Casco Viejo gets an A+ for these efforts…
Nestled in between the structures, you will find a variety of restaurants…and if you are more of a cafeteria style person….well, you will find that as well…
Several projects currently involve building restoration, but you can tell as well that much is being done to bring back the brick style streets…absolutely amazing….gives a sense of solidness to the experience….after a bit of walking…it is so beautiful…there is no need to do much but to look….and absorb….meticulous is the detail….
Having worked in the Historic Preservation community in Savannah, Georgia and having a great appreciation for its significance….I could not just walk by this sign and not take a picture….give your translation skills a shot 🙂
This structure is amazing and significant….even in its current condition…when you look at it and get a feel for it….you can hear it speaking….it is called “Compania de Jesus” it is a historical convent of the Society of Jesus….amazing…
Now I am loving me some historic preservation, but when I travel…for some reason…I generally take a picture of what I find a dog doing when I travel….as a side note…I have some interesting observations about the characteristics of dogs in different countries, maybe I’ll write about that one day 🙂
Never-the-less, when I walked up…this fella didn’t even move…he opened his eye-lid, and I don’t know if dogs can do this, but it looked like he rolled his eyes at me….as if to say “whatever dude….I am so already over you”, I chuckled…snapped my photo…and let him be 🙂 My Man!
Tucked into this community are also several interesting churches of highly historical significance. Built during the mid-1600’s, it has an old world style and feeling to it:
Beautiful…makes a statement…
This is a closer view of the front….it is made out of old world Gold…serious, serious craftsmanship and work went into it by the Spanish….regardless to your religion…or lack thereof, you have got to respect the master artisan at work…
Another church not located to far away…this one is under reconstruction I believe…wonderful to see the value placed on history and exemplified importance placed upon its future value…
What a full day of absorbing culture…the inside:
This is the French Embassy. The French played a role in the history of the development of the Panama Canal as they were the ones that started the process of building it. Because of this history, the Embassy remains at this location near the Plaza de Francia (the French Plaza):
When the French came, they then imprisoned many of the Spanish that were here. This is one of the locations where they held prisoners:
The statues represent various individuals who played a significant role in getting the work started of building the Panama Canal. Watch out for that guy in the middle….. 🙂
Keep looking throughout Casco Viejo and you will come across many significant markers. This is one that honors Simon Bolivar. We don’t learn much about him in the United States unless you study Latin American history or listen to Hugo Chavez of Venezuela speak, but he his held in high regard in many places for his efforts…
Okay, wherever we go, we’ve got to look for China Town! And, like in so many cities, they do have a China Town here. It isn’t a big one…but, significant all the same 🙂
Being in this community, it could be easy to forget that when you are in Panama you are also in a rain forest. The contrast between the buildings and the green and colors on this tree…well, sometimes you are forced to stop and smell the ‘roses’….even if they come in the form of tree’s…
Throughout Old Panama City, there are plenty of opportunities to purchase the items of your choice. Of course, this is the home the Panama Hat 🙂 But, the native Kuna, who are indigenous to this area provide plenty of handmade items to acquire….
This community provides a wonderful day trip….plenty to absorb…the layout, the structures, the redevelopment in-process…the history, make for a memorable day. Yet, bricks and buildings don’t make a community. One of the things I really liked about this community, is that they have not completely separated the redevelopment from the people who live here. Walking through these streets…the buildings have stories and have seen lots of things…but, looking at the people…those eyes have their stories as well…
And, in wondering what those eyes have seen, we could also wonder what these eyes are going to see…what they are wanting to see…the future indeed…
And so, walking behind the plaza….I see a lone fella…riding the waves…okay…give me my props 🙂 Had to use my expert photography skills to catch him…he was pretty far out there…interesting that the wave never really got that high…but it kept going for a long way…He’s got swagger…My Man! 🙂
Beautifully preserved space, and it is a work in progress…but where you find water…and a community…you should also find kids somewhere as well 🙂 couldn’t let this opportunity pass by!
Lots of walking, Panama is humid…so be prepared. And although I was feeling it, this next scene was a fitting end to the day. Sitting in the truck, I keep hearing this smacking sound combined with people fussing at each other…looking over I saw these tables with men sitting around smacking the tables and talking loud. I rolled down the window to take a closer look and realized they were playing dominoes….I said to myself, man all over the world there are so many commonalities…it is amazing that some choose to focus on perceived differences! Realizing I wanted a picture, Jaime said in a loud voice “MUCHACHO’s”, they all turned around and saw my camera and started waving and smiling like we were all family and cousins playing dominoes at the family reunion…
Man….! I am Loving me some Panama! Like ‘Ice-Cube’ said…”today, was a good day”
Mercado de Marisco
September 22, 2012
Obviously, Panama is known throughout the world for the Canal. However, an absolutely delightful characteristic of the city is the outrageous abundance of fresh ocean fare. Thus, a frequent stop for many Panamanians and visitors is the Mercado de Marisco: the City Fish Market. Open nearly every day, local fishermen gather to process their catch and many others line up to participating in the unloading. On any given day, you will see many colorful boats lined up as people from all walks of life fish to ‘make their own way’. The market sits adjacent to the world renowned Casco Viejo – the Historic District (Old City Panama). You can see parts of it in the background…more on that later!
Inside the market, you can see the vast array of seafood available: squid, octopus, corvina, tuna, snapper, langostino’s and countless other varieties. Now, I’ve been in my share of fish markets around the world…this one ranks high! I mean clean, fresh…
Makes you want to not just eat…but, makes the idea of cooking quite enjoyable…this is food that you want to put love into making…
Right outside the main market building are lines of vendors selling multiple varieties of seafood. Here you find all walks of life…this is where all classes of people come together….it is amazing! On any given day, you have to be mindful of when you come to the market for you may not even be able to get into the parking lot! But, if you can make it…trust…it is well worth it! Many of the vendors are selling Ceviche! My mouth waters just saying the name.
Now, I only learned recently about Ceviche….and just recently learned that by exposing seafood to citrus juice (e.g. lemon juice) over a certain period of time it renders it ready to eat 🙂 … add in some of your favorite seasons such as onion, peppers, cilantro…it varies and you’ve got one serious dish. Considering the abundance of fresh fish here in Panama, well, your intuition can fill in the rest 🙂 This is one of the many vendors, as you can see the Ceviche is in jars in the cart…take your pic:
For a very affordable price, you get quite a delight. This is the langostino ceviche….can your hear me say ‘RIDICULOUS’…. I mean, ‘DELICIOUS’ 🙂 I also tried the Corvina ceviche…very good as well…
Friday is also Fish Day…fresh off of the Boat!
Don’t make the mistake of getting in between a man and his fish…they have treated me very well since I’ve been here, but don’t let the smoothness fool you…’Jaime’ doesn’t play 🙂
Definitely, one of my favorite places…delicious, the environment is alive, and it is culturally eclectic…
On our way over to the Old City now…that is Casco Viejo….A Must See!
Follow On! 🙂
Canal de Panama
September 22, 2012
The quality of a sound ‘Strategic Plan’ is dependent upon its production process. The basis of this process is rooted in information characteristic of in depth analysis, appropriate broadness of consideration, and an awareness of the nuances of structure and culture. Thus, it begins with discovery. Consequently, I have the task of spending the next few weeks immersed in Panamanian culture….its community, economy, neighborhoods, and governance. Whew! What is a man to do! Somebody must do it! 🙂
This is Panama….So, let’s go to the Panama Canal! We are heading to highest peak in Panama City. From this peak, we can see everything…the new city, the old city, the canal…its gate…but on the way, we stop at….
Mi Pueblita – meaning ‘My Little Town’; it is an example of how some live in the country side…the village with the church at the center of the village, look at the architecture….
We stopped to check out this site on our way to ANCON Hill, ANCON represents Asociación Nacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza; basically, the National Association for the Conservation of the Nature….I may have the context of Naturaleza wrong, but you get the drift 🙂 ANCON Hill is the highest site to view Panama City. On its highest site, is the National Flag…had to take a picture to represent for all my new Panamanian Friends!
It is rainy season here in Panama so the clouds are thick and heavy…basically, it rains every day. Never-the-less, you can tell…this isn’t just some place where big boats float through to get to the other side. Indeed, we are talking about a major city:
That is the new city, changing directions from ANCON Hill, we can see the old city. Will show more of the ‘Old City’ later, but it is reminiscent of Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC…we will get to some close ups soon:
Discovery is a difficult task….especially when it has to be experiential 🙂 On the Pacific Ocean…behind me resides the entrance to the Panama Canal….this is called the Bridge of the Americas…. whew…this work is hard! 🙂
Turning to the other side of ANCON Hill, past the Canal de Panama Administration building sits the opening to the gateway to the West…the Atlantic Ocean…where it opens up at Colon. Looking past the ‘Bridge of Americas’, we get to the first cranes and storage areas for the containers carrying trade and prosperity from all over the world:
Keep in mind…we are in the middle of a rain forest…so the green and the moisture is intense! This is another shot at the cranes and transfer areas:
Heading up a bit further up the Canal de Panama….we see the first locks…because of the focus on optimal logistics…at this point there is also a railroad to Colon, an airstrip, and warehouses and assembly companies nearby to assemble multiple components for further product development.
Looking at the locks…adjacent to the hill on the left, is where the expansion is taking place. Scheduled to be completed by 2014…this is where the locks will be large enough for the next generation container ships to come through…serious work taking place here…making this area…and Ciudad de Panama…one of the more significant trade and economic points of interest in our continually globalizing society.
Next Stop…The City 🙂
Municipio de Panama!
September 21, 2012
First day in the office. I won’t spend a lot of time on this blog writing about our project; however, I will touch on it a bit. The country of Panama has been going through some huge and significant changes. As you may know, the French started the Panama Canal as a project, but due to a variety of reasons….were unable to finish. The United States, along with the sacrifice of many, stepped in and finished the Canal. Through a series of treaties, the Canal area became a neutral zone and was eventually reverted back under control of the Panamanian Government. With this reversion, came all of the assets once built and managed by the United States.
This included approximately 97,000 hectares of land, several thousand buildings and facilities including multiple former military bases. Essentially, over night, the land area within the responsibility of the municipality increased by over half of what its size was then. The responsibilities of governance increased significantly although the number of employees did not. Not long ago, the National Government decided to decentralize local governance to the municipalities, thus we have to build institutional capacity for the Municipal Government of Panama. The objective is to produce a ‘Strategic Plan’ to do just that! My primary work location will be in the Municipal Building:
This is the first day on location, in the first meeting of the day. Great information and great presentations. Right here, I am sitting with a few of the team members I’ll be working with:
All of them have a wealth of information, and already I feel my Panamanian stride developing 🙂 This project will really be amazing! The city has grown by leaps and bounds, literally, over night; lots of migration from neighboring Columbia and Venezuela; they are currently in the process of building a new Metro Train; they are converting a former Military base into a new city from the ground up (Panama-Pacifico); they have transformed other areas into uniquely developed concepts (Ciudad de Saber – City of Knowledge); and because of the influx of people, they are also experiencing some significant population sprawl….not to mention the expansion of the Canal de Panama to accommodate the next generation of super-size container ships!
The construction of new buildings is everywhere…to the degree that they have a hard time filling construction worker slots! Did I say there was a lot going on!!!! And, that is the tip of the Ice-Berg! The Municipio de Panama is stepping up to build its governance capacity to manage a lot of this activity.
Me! Well, I’m fortunate to be on the team! An afternoon of meetings, then off to delve into the city!
Hotel el Panama
September 21, 2012
Well, I must give it to my hosts….they are taking care of me very well! My abode resides right on the edge of the Banking district. You can probably imagine that a place where the America’s meet and where so much of the world’s trade must pass through….obviously has a serious banking district. Because of the abundance of travel, I have seen many a place. However, this place, I must say, I am impressed with. Not just because it looks nice, but because they have figured out the way to make you comfortable…particularly for a rather long stay. I present to you: Hotel el Panama 🙂
Sits on a hill! Note that most of the hotels in this area have Casino’s that are positioned next to them. Personally, I’m not much of a Casino person, but I don’t begrudge a person’s poison 🙂 As you can see, the rooms are huge:
Both rooms are equipped with comfortably sized flat screen tv’s, the furniture is most comfortable, and the bed…well, trying to see if I can fit it into my suitcase…you get the point…very comfortable…very kool…and the view is better than watching tv 🙂 Those who have had their share of a lot of travel can appreciate this….no cheap frequently seen everywhere carpet…and the paintings…well, you can tell they didn’t come off of the xerox machine…and guess what…no carpet 🙂 Just solid hard floors….may not seem significant at first…but over the long haul….ahhhhh….talk to me 🙂
The feeling of the structure is strong…connects you with a sense of permanence…the type of permanence that after a long day of work over extended periods of time…you can release into something less temporal…as if you are connected to a broader sense of time…MAN…I know…a serious description of a room…but, some experiences deserve their recognition and attention…laughing…
If you plan a trip to Ciudad de Panama, I would seriously consider this hotel. The pool is outrageous, the breakfast in the restaurant is set up the same as it would be for the Gods on Mount Olympus…and it is centrally located. Plenty of things of interest within walking distance! Okay, that is my marketing tid-bit, but mostly a statement of appreciation for the considerations provided by my hosts 🙂
La Trapiche: Getting that first Authentic Panamanian Meal
September 18, 2012
Waking up to the Journey, my hosts were conscious enough to give me a little time to get myself together. The time shift is only 1 hour, but that is not the primary factor…based on my experience traveling internationally! It is really more of the mental drain that comes with shifting to a different culture…hearing different languages…conceptualizing different challenges in society, economics, governance…and the individuals….a completely different set of stimuli…
Jaime, picked me up…and drove me by Roberto Duran’s restaurant and home …you remember him! Mr. Hands of Stone….I forgot that he was Panamanian….keep this in mind…to feel the spirit of this blog…When you say Panama…don’t pronounce the ‘a’ differently throughout the word…pronounce it the same ‘a’ = ‘ah’…’Pah-Nah-Mah’…
It is one thing to be introduced to someone from a different culture who also speaks a different language…quite another to open your dependency…then again, Jaime speaks great English…so he makes getting to know him, much easier 🙂 … With that said, I don’t understand why someone would leave the U.S. and then eat the same food they eat in the U.S….then again, I do understand that…but that is the subject of a more personal conversation 🙂
First stop, an authentic Panamanian experience… “FOOD” 🙂 This place is called ‘La Trapiche’ which represents a machine and process utilized to grind in the rural areas….its reference exemplifies authenticity…not other cultural influences…the fellow in the front, is what you find in many other countries…’he who runs the parking lot’ 🙂 he is how you get in the lot and out! 🙂 Same thing in Asia…same same in Africa…well, commonality with Central America!
I am a firm believer in ‘full cultural immersion’….Panama is hugely influenced by what takes place in the United States. In fact, it has to be one of the must culturally eclectic places…considering that this is where the world meets through trade and development….you will find a little bit of everything here. With that said, Dominoes, KFC, McDonald’s are everywhere. You know you are in trouble when McDonald’s delivers 🙂 However, I am in no danger of experiencing that…
So Jaime made sure to hook me up with some authentic Panamanian fare….So yes, I am doing my Anthony Bourdain:
Okay, this is a mix of several different meets, corn and such. Put a little pepper sauce on it and it becomes food for the gods 🙂 Especially the small dish of chicken…mmmm…used that to flavor the dish. I won’t translate what all of it is…as that may ruin the experience for those of my children that are in Spanish class…I didn’t eat all of it…but sampled most of it! This is the description:
More to come!
