New Breast Implants?
Do you know what the objects are in this picture? Well brace yourself!
A Panamanian female passenger who was traveling from Colombia to Spain was caught with two breast implants filled with 1.3 kilos of cocaine, and was arrested by the Spanish police at the Barcelona airport.
The woman, who landed at Barcelona's El Prat airport on a flight from Bogota, raised the suspicions of the agents because of her ambiguous answers about the reasons for her journey, according to police.
Faced with the possibility that she could be transporting drugs, the woman was examined and the police found she had two bloodstained gauze pads covering open wounds under her breasts.
The passenger, a 20-year-old woman, claimed she had an operation two months ago for breast implants, but the wound had not finished healing. (Panama Guide)
'Give-Away Polictics - Panamanian Style
Yesterday, the president of the Assembly, Sergio Galvez said nothing will stop him from giving gifts to his constituents, after it was revealed that the 30,000 hams that were given to the people who live in his circuit had been paid for with state funds. The 30,000 hams cost $675,000 of public funds. (Prensa)
Don Winner (Panama-Guide Comments): Amazing. Nothing will happen to Sergio Galvez. Those politicians who are party of the ruling CD group get funds to give away in their districts. Those in the PRD and Panameñista party get nothing. This is why many politicians jump ship from one party to another, to get money and stuff, so they can get reelected. Old school, buying votes with state funds.
Panama's Mineral Deposits - Much More Than A 'Goldmine'
Base-metals miner Inmet Mining on Thursday announced it has increased the proven and probable reserves at its 80%-owned Cobre Panama project, in Panama by 27%. The additional mineral reserves deposits increase Cobre Panama's total estimated contained copper to about 26-billion pounds. The estimated contained gold increases has also increased by 41% to about 7.3-million ounces
To put that in perspective, a country more than $100 billion dollars that they are not pursuing them, while many people still suffer in poverty. Ironically many of the deposits are in the territories of the people that could use the income the most - the poverty-stricken indigenous camarcas. Why? environmentalists are trying to stop the mining companies from building this industry.
God save me from tree-huggers!
Christmas Trees in Panamac- Thanks to Canada and U.S.
Panamanians love their Christmas trees, both shopping for them and displaying them. And yes, you are correct, Christmas trees are not native to Panama. So ..
By the 1st of December there were already about 100,000 Christmas trees already on sale in the Panamanian market, and there were 58 more of those huge cargo ship containers on the way.
In short, a total of 105 shipping containers with about about 1600 trees per container are going to end up here (97 containers from Canada and another eight from the U.S.). Hope the country doesn't slide into the Canal from the weight. Even moire important, I hope they know by now that pine needles are very flammable.
The End Of The Rainy Season
It appears it has finally arrived, right on schedule the middle of December - the end of the rainy season here in Panama. We haven't had a sprinkle, mush less the normal afternoon shower for 3-4 days. It has been clouding up early each afternoon per normal. But then nothing happens. Nice.
I should probably explain something, since many of you have read some of my comments about the continuing flooding in Panama City and Colon for a couple months. In a country as small as Panama there are an astounding number of micro-climates.
Panama City and Colon have more typical tropical climates. Here in the David area the country side looks more like the Kansas - Nebraska states. Boquete, up the road about 45 minutes from Davis, you have a cooler, wetter climate with plush mountain foliage (which if you don't like, you can drive about 15 minutes in any direction to change it to something more your liking). If you want you can look at a weather map, and daily the temperatures in Boquete mirror those of the mountainous climate of San Jose, Costa Rica.
But there is absolutely why the rain suddenly stopped. It was required! The schools last day of the school year was Friday. Their 'summer vacation has started.
The Christmas Season Is Here!
Well, we are getting into the Christmas spirit here in Panama and, in many ways, it is not much different that other places in the world where the lights are bright hanging from the trees and the eves of homes and the children are all excited with the upcoming big day ahead.
But as you would think (hope) Panama Christmas traditions contain a curious mixture of Spanish and American traditions. Most assume that the American influence is the result of our involvement in building the Panama canal.
Panama is a very small country; just about the same size as South Carolina with a population of about 3 million people. About one fourth of the county’s populations lives in Panama City, because of this, to much of the country (and virtually the entire 'outside world'), the holiday traditions of Panama City, as the center of the country’s Christmas celebration, define the season. However the really interesting facets of the season are the numerous traditions that exist (and differ) throughout the rest of the country.
In Panama City and places across the nation the second weekend in December starts
the festivities. The Panama City Christmas parade is one of the most exciting Panama Christmas traditions. The poor children from around the city are gathered together and brought to the center of the festivities, so they, too, can enjoy them. The floats are decorated in the national styles and the women dress in their country’s party dresses, the pollera.
Smaller neighborhoods love to hold the Spanish Las Posada on the nine days before Christmas. They dress as Mary and Joseph. To mimic the search for a place in the inn, they parade from house to house. At the final house where they are received, they
sing, hit piñatas and enjoy food.
I should also note that Nativities (Nacimientos) are set up in many homes. On Christmas Eve at midnight, the Panamanians don’t ring the Christmas bells to announce the coming of the Lord Jesus, but instead shoot off fabulous fireworks. No one misses the beginning of Christmas in Panama - FIREWORKS!.
And The Christmas Feast
For the huge Catholic population, the biggest feast of the holiday season in Panama is on December 24—or Nochebuena. They have a night time feast and there is much dancing and celebrating in the streets of Panama.
At the feast you should expect to dine on Chicken tamales, chicken and rice (Arroz con Pollo), Perhaps, turkey and stuffing (pavo y relleno). Beautiful bowls of fruit and fruitcake are the traditional desserts. A form of spiked eggnog called Ron Ponche is often a staple as well.
That American influence also shows up at the dinner table a mix of gringo traditions…turkey and ham, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and fruitcake may all be on the table.
Till Next Time. Pura Vida.
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