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Thanksgiving - A Special Day in Panama
Thanksgiving celebrations are taking place throughout Panama. This United States tradition is perhaps the most widely accepted North American holiday in Panama, where this special day is embraced and celebrated by many in Panamanian society.
Many restaurants have extensive Thanksgiving menus and advertise heavily. Diners discover that there are many options when it comes time to enjoy turkey and gravy on Thanksgiving Day.
It Is Still The Rainy Season
The National Civil Protection System of Panama (Sinaproc) Friday declared "emergency zones" in several parts of the country due to floods caused by heavy rains. Authorities estimate that 400 people were affected by the floods that have affected nearly 150 homes, where the waters have reached one meter deep.
Last week, another rainstorm hit the Atlantic province of Colon, where floods have affected hundreds of homes and prevented the normal movement of goods valued at $75 million dollars through the Colon Free Trade Zone.
This week I traveled by car up the Inter-American highway to the border. The bridge that was washed out by floods in October will be a long time being repaired. The four lanes of traffic become two lanes to cross the remaining (eastbound) span. As I suspected, that is the same span that was washed out and closed for the first three years I was down here.
Jane Goodall In Panama
Dr. Jane Goodall, the famous naturalist, presented her documentary, “Jane’s Journey”, at the Ateneo Theater in the Ciudad Del Saber in Panama City this week.
Jane travels 300 days a year to give lectures around the world. She has spent more than fifty years observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat, which means she has developed the world’s longest field research on any wild species. The film is gaining attention and has aroused the interest of the Bill Gates Foundation and the World Bank in the struggle for sustainable development in communities through the program Roots & Shoots, promoted by the Jane Goodall Institute based in 27 countries.
While in Panama, Dr. Goodall spent some days with the Indians who inhabit the Mamoni Natural Heritage and Water Reserve, with young volunteers from the Earth Train Foundation
What Is The Earth Train Foundation?
The Earth Train Foundation (mentioned above) is trying to save the ecosystem. Earth Train’s principal effort in Panama has been founding the 10,000 acre Mamoni Valley Preserve and training future environmental leaders and guides.
How serious is the deforestation problem in Panama? Consider these facts:
Panama Jungle Facts
- 50 years ago, primary forest covered 70% of the country
- In the last half of the 20th century Panama lost half of its remaining forests —about 5.4 million acres.
- The provinces of Los Santos and Herrera on the Azuero Peninsula are almost entirely deforested and some parts are classified as desert.
- Panama had the 9th worst deforestation rate of primary forests in the world between 2000 and 2005.
- Panama loses more than 1% of its primary forest each year.
You Can't Make This Stuff Up
Panama as a country came to a screeching halt last week because of a fight - the Panamanians are rabid boxing fans. Manny Pacquiao (a Filipino) was defending his WBO Welterweight title on a world-wide telecast against a Mexican national, Juan Manuel Marquez.
After the fight, which was broadcast world-wide, a 'tweet' was sent to the winning fighter, Manny Pacquiao, from Panama President Martinelli's Twitter account. He congratulated Pacquiao for "having left the name of Panama on high", seemingly unaware of the fact that the athlete is Filipino and not Panamanian.
It was later confirmed by the Minister of the Presidency that the woman hired to handle president Ricardo Martinelli's Twitter account was fired and that Martinelli would now handle his account personally. An inside source confirmed that the account of the president on this network, was administered by Amanda Lucci, a journalist and the former Director of RCM News.
After seeing her picture I am considering having Ms Lucci handle my Twitter account (What - I don't have one?). But I am sure she will find a new position in the journalism field, though presumably not in the sports broadcasting business.
It's Not A Bus Or A Boat?
It's an Aquabus: The more than two million visitors arriving in Panama each year know that they can expect to find many land, sea and air species but few expect to find an amphibious vehicle. Aquabus City Tour is a new way to explore the evolution of the city with a tour by land and sea without having to change the means of locomotion. The Aquabus is an amphibious vehicle inspired by the old U.S. Army model, the DUKW, originally designed to carry troops and ammunition to places where there were no docks. Over time, these vehicles were purchased by tour operators to streamline their routes.
The Aquabus has a capacity of 46 people, a top speed of 8 to 10 knots and maneuvers between 150 and 200 meters from the coastline. The tours will last two hours and participants will be able to appreciate the evolution of the old colonial city to the modern metropolis from a different point of view. The Aquabus enters the water on Avenida Balboa for a trip on the Bay and returns to the same spot. It again takes to the water at the Playita in Amador and sails to the entrance of the Canal, giving its passengers a unique view of transiting ships.
My Book – ‘Angels in Panama’
My book is still available at a reasonable price from the publisher. Both Amazon and Noble are in the process of making it available in ebook form as well. I will update you when it all gets sorted out.
Paperback from Publisher $9.95
Till Next Time. Pura Vida
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