July 1, 2009 In Panama
Yesterday, Wednesday, July 1st, was Inauguration Day for Panama's new president, Ricardo Martinelli. As late as Monday, the newspaper were still commenting that a national holiday had not been declared to celebrate Inauguration Day as had become a common practice in previous administration.
Well, guess what? I woke up Wednesday morning to a deserted, boarded-up downtown. Even some of the businesses that are normally open on holidays, were closed up tight. The funny thing is, I could not find a single reference in newspaper, or even TV station web sites, to any type of proclamation making it a holiday. It is as if the populace decided it was a holiday, weren't told any different, so it was.
Or, maybe I am the only person in the country who did not get the word. Well, I am used to that syndrome.
Wanderlust Urgings On Hold
One of the most interesting channels on the satellite here in David is TV Chile, broadcast out of Santiago. TV Chile broadcasts a lot of National Geographic-type programs that features sights and attractions throughout the country. And, there are some awesome sights to see in Chile. Some of the features are so visually awesome that there is not even any narration, just music and an occasional graphic to tell the viewer what national park, or lake or mountain village they are looking at.
I also like to watch the morning show 'Chile Hoy' (Chile Today), which has a format similar to NBC's Today Show. I speak just enough Spanish to figure out what the subject being discussed is, even while the specifics may escape me. But, what really intrigues me about Chile Hoy are the traffic reports. Huh?, you say.
Well, there must be two dozen 'sky-cams' mounted on tall buildings around Santiago, and what a visual tour of the city they provide. Santiago, at least from the sky-cam perspective, is a beautiful place. The city is clean and modern, with broad tree-lined avenues, and often with wide divider medians complete with flower gardens and mini-parks. And, the people on the street are well dressed, and noticeably European looking.
So, I decide that I need to put a plan in motion to go spend a few weeks in Chile. Good idea! Well, Monday morning when I surfed by Chile Hoy they flashed up a weather forecast for the entire coming week. The low every night, Monday right through to Sunday, was forecast for zero. You don't have to remember the formula to convert Centigrade to Fahrenheit to remember that 0(C) is freezing. And, the high for each day was about 13`(C), which works out to about 40 (F). Oops! How about a visit during Chilean summer, December or January maybe. Plan temporarily on hold!
But - BUT - Chilean friends I met on the cruise rounded up tons of photos on the agreement that I would make them a video. Here is the result, you can see for yourself why I am fascinated by the place. Stunning!
This link will take you to view the video.
Gone Five Weeks - Gotta' Be Re-trained
I was only back in the U.S. for about five weeks. So, I find it interesting that, upon my return to Panama, I noticed things that were always there, I had just become used to them. Used to them to the point that my eye for cultural differences was clouded. Here are examples;
- As background, according to the press, 95% of the alcohol sold in Panama is beer, almost all of which is 'long-neck' bottles. In the bars here in David when the waiter brings you another beer, he does not remove the empty. The table is cleared only after you leave. Put four guys at a table, and a couple of hours and several rounds later, the table top is covered with empty bottles. Why? The empty bottles are a cross-check on the tab. Questions arise - count the empties. As you might guess, questions do not arise. Latino efficiency.
- It is a fairly common occurrence for me to be sitting on the balcony and have people who have just checked into the hotel come walking down the hall, right past their room in some cases, to ask me where their room is. What is so difficult about matching the number on the key with a number posted on a door? Or, try this, if the first door is 201, and the next is 203, wouldn't the next logically be 205?
Well, if you live in an environment where things are not numbered it may not be all that logical. That's right, buildings, businesses, even houses are not numbered - they do not have addresses. And when you get outside of David, the streets are not marked - no street signs, so no names or numbers. Therefore, many of the folks are not used to using numbers as identifiers, not do they have any experience in numeric logical progressions.
- Visitors to the hotel balcony are also often an interesting study. It hadn't occurred to me before, but David is basically a single-story city. Some department stores have a second story, but there are no windows in the upstairs floor. And, since snow-loading is not a concern in this climate, house roofs have very little pitch. So the peak of the roof in their house is probably no more than eight feet off the ground.
So to some, the 25 foot height of the balcony overlooking the park is nose-bleed altitude. Many of them approach the railing just like you see people tip-toe to the safety railing perched on the rim of Grand Canyon. One woman last week ignored the urging of her husband to look down. She was barely comfortable looking straight out at the park. And, exuberant kids, who don't know they are supposed to be scared of heights, often end up in a parental choke-hold death grip.
- Given the information above, would it surprise you to learn that the elevator is shunned by many guests in the hotel. I am aware of only one other elevator in David. Even other three and four story hotels in town have no elevator. So many guests look with disdain at the elevator. They undoubtedly classify an elevator ride right up there with bungee jumping or cliff diving.
Reuben Blades Is Back
Reuben Blades is releasing his first record in five years on July 1st, Panama's Presidential Inauguration Day. Reuben who, you say? Reuben Blades (in Spanish it is pronounced 'blah dez') is arguably Panama's most famous entertainer, a long-established salsa star who has also appeared in a number of Hollywood films.
Back from where, you ask? Well, Senor Blades put his highly successful career on hold to serve for the past five years in President Torrijos' cabinet as Panama's Minister of Tourism. Blades's accomplishments in that position have drawn rave reviews from many quarters, both inside and outside of Panama. The ´Master Plan of Tourism for Panama´ that he developed and got approved by the national assembly, is a coup that had frustrated, but ultimately escaped a long line of previous ministers.
Blades has volunteered his time and talent to his replacement in the Martinelli government. He has laid out a plan where he will donate musical advertising spots promoting tourism in Panama.
One of the songs from the new album was released to Panama's TV stations on the eve of the inauguration. The song "La Perla" really highlights Blades' salsa talents, as well as his impish sense of humor. At the end of the song, he sings thanks to 'el residente y el visitante' (residents and visitors), concluding with the announcement 'se retira el ministro' (the minister retires).
Goodbye Minister Blades, but Welcome Back Ruben Blades!
Too Good To Pass Up!
My friend, Maureen in Wilmington, sent this to me. A Classic!
He´s My Brother
Two young boys walked into a pharmacy one day, picked out a box of tampons and proceeded to the checkout counter.
The man at the counter asked the older boy, "Son, how old are you?"
"Eight," the boy replied.
The man continued, "Do you know what these are used for?"
The boy replied, "Not exactly, but they aren't for me. They're for him. He's my brother. He's four. We saw on TV that if you use these you would be able to swim and ride a bike. Right now, he can't do either."
Till Next Time. Pura Vida.
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