National Holidays - Fiestas Patrias

Big holidays approaching Panama and Panamanians like to celebrate. Just about everything will shut down and there will be many parades, music and fireworks.

November 3: foundation of the Republic when Panama separated from Colombia in 1903.
November 4: Flag Day - flag designers had been working on a flag secretly.
November 5: Colon Day - Panamanian officials persuaded Colombian forces stationed in Colon to desist their efforts to march on the Panamanian capital.
November 10: "First cry for Independence from Spain" (Primer Grito de Independencia de Panama de Espana) from Los Santos
November 28: Independence Day celebrates its independence from Spain in 1821

Panama's Tropical Paradise a "hub of biodiversity"

(CNN) A hotbed of biodiversity, Panama's tropical habitats are home to some of the most diverse and exotic species of plants and animals on Earth.

Covering almost half the century's land surface are immense tracks of rain forests, mangrove wetlands and mountain clouds. Even the country's cosmopolitan capital of Panama City boasts a forest within its city boundaries - one of the last tropical forests in Central America.

In all, the country houses over 10,444 different types of plant species including 1,200 orchid varieties, 678 fern species and 1,500 varieties of trees. As well as 255 species of mammals and 972 indigenous bird species, according to the National Society for the Protection of Nature, Panama.

The reason for such ecological abundance is the country's prime geographical position. Dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea, the country serves as a "biological corridor," connecting both North and Central America. This, makes Panama a "hub of biodiversity." "The Isthmus of Panama and Central America arose over three million years ago through volcanic activity and has served as a bridge ever since - allowing land and freshwater species to migrate from north to south and vice versa."

The most famous part of this "corridor" is the Darien Region. Forming the easternmost part of Panama and boarding Colombia, the almost impenetrable wilderness of the Darien Region is perhaps most famous as a hiding ground for guerrillas, narcotics traffickers and paramilitary forces. But despite the negative connotations, it is one of the most biodiverse areas in the entire world." Due to its remote location and lack of infrastructure, the area has remained a haven for countless species, home to haguars, giant anteaters, harpy eagles and American crocodiles as well as sheltering various tribes of remote indigenous groups.

It is a constant battle to keep developers at bay. The region is definitely one of the most inaccessible areas of the country, but there is always talk about opening it up and constructing a road through it. What science and research has clearly indicated is that as soon as you cut a road through any fires it unfolds a chain of deforestation. Colonizers come in and extractive industries start to com in. The Panamanian government says it plans to keep the Darien Gap closed.

But not all areas remain safe. Various mining companies have announced future drilling operations in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, while the authorities plan to build the "Gran Costanera," a new road along the Caribbean cost - most of which is still forested.

Smithsonian celebrates 100 years in Panama!

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) has been in Panama since the beginning of the 20th Century, when the Smithsonian came to Panama around the same time that the construction of the Panama Canal began. In 1910, Smithsonian scientists carried out a "biological inventory" of the flora and fauna to study the impact of the Canal. The study ended in 1912, and thus began what has been a century of influential scientific research that has provided an important sum of data on the biodiversity of Panama.

In 1923, a small field station on Barro Colorado Island was established, in the middle of Lake Gatun, the freshwater passageway that is the Panama Canal between its Pacific and Atlantic locks. Barro Colorado has grown to be a site of major importance in the world of scientific research. From there, STRI scientists and fellows collect important data, focused on recent decades on the effects of global warming on tropical environments.

There will be many events beginning in October 2010 through February 2012 to celebrate the long and important relationship between the Smithsonian and Panama.

More information can be found at www.smithosnianpanama100.si.edu

Put your salad to the test!

You are here at the Rey, a large local supermarket chain, and you see all the shiny beautiful US grown apples, cucumbers and polished green peppers. How can you resist. The apples are so shiny that you can see your reflection in them and the green peppers look plastic they are so perfect. What you may not realize is the chemicals and the polishes that are used to make the fruit look so attractive. You then show up at the organic fruit market. The green peppers may be a bit smaller, the tomatoes are not as brilliant and the cucumbers are not as robust. So why would you go organic, well it is the TASTE.

Recently we bought our first basket of organic produce from our local Organic Market. All the food is grown in El Valle and brought to Coronado for pick up. You can choose from 3 different size baskets, and each basket contains a variety of items. We sorted everything out and made a salad with some of the items. The salad tasted so good. Why so good? Because you are eating pure vegetable. It has not been induced with chemicals to make it bigger, or sprayed with pesticides, and it hasn't been polished with wax to make it look nicer. There is a good article we found that discussed both sides of the debate.

US Department of Agriculture reveals that since the 1940's the mineral levels in fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy hae declined substantially in conventional foods. Combine this with earlier (pre-ripened) picking, longer storage, and more processing of crops, and it's not surprising that we may be getting fewer nutrients in our food than we were 60 years ago. Organic food has more "dry matter" (i.e. food). Because of this there are higher levels of nutrients in organic produce. (www.grinningplanet.com)

So our monthly organic market is growing and will be offering more variety and will be bringing together a few of the local organic resources in one place. I feel that this will be helping us all to eat healthier. As the market grows we might even be able to purchase our different size baskets more than once a month!

Panama Canal Fossils Reveal Ancient Collision of Worlds

Entire hillsides are being blasted away to widen the Panama Canal. It was the biggest event in our planet's history since the extinction of the dinosaurs. Three million years ago, the Americas collided.

The creation of the Panama Isthmus - the narrow land bridge that joins the two continents - wreaked havoc on land, sea and air. It triggered extinctions, diverted ocean currents and transformed climate.

Now a multi-billion dollar project to widen the Panama Canal is set to reveal new secrets about the event that changed the world. Panama is a tiny country, but in a perfect location. Positioned just north of the equator in the Caribbean, its famous canal is the strategic hub of the global shipping industry.

The 80 km (50 mile) long Panama Canal, completed in 1914, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Its existence means that ships can avoid - at a price - the treacherous 8,000 mile journey round Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America.

Authorities hope that the canal will increase revenue from shipping. However, the massive excavations have also proved to be a "gold mine" for scientists, trying to uncover Panama's hidden past.

As entire hillsides are being blasted away to expand the canal, amazing fossils are emerging that shed light on this key event. However, scientists only have a short window to collect the fossils before they are re-buried beneath concrete.

One of those fossil hunters stumbled upon one of the most important discoveries so far: the jaw and bones of horses, rhinos and camels. Three million years ago there was a kind of land rush. Animals that were native to North America - sabre-toothed cats, horses, camels and elephants - surged south across the land bridge. Animals from South America such as giant sloths and armadillos, moved north.

Fossils hinted at the possibility that giant predatory birds dubbed "terror birds" seem to have migrated from between the Americas as early as five million years ago. It is possible that long before the seaway finally closed, a chain of islands spanned the gap. Perhaps Terror Birds and other animals were the original "island-hoppers," migrating from one island to the next.

Lake Gatun

Lake Gatun is a man-made lake created in 1913 by damming the Chargres River. It forms an integral part of the Panama Canal which is the freshwater bridge between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean that allows ships to pass. The native jungle that surrounds the lake is actually the best defense of the Panama Canal. For this reason, the rain forest surrounding the Canal and Lake Gatun have remained largely untouched by human intrusion.

it is home to native Central American and South American animal species, indigenous tribes and the Smithsonian tropical Institute's world famous Barro Colorado Island, a site for biodiversity studies on an island that was formed when the land was flooded. Many important scientific and biological discoveries of the animal and plant kingdom originated at this site.

Note the impressive sprawl of Lake Gatun in the photo above.

Holy Spirit Flower

Panama graces us with about 1200 species of orchids. The country is blessed with an abundance of fora and fauna and thankfully beautiful weather to enjoy them. Finding them can sometimes be the hard part as a lot of orchids are tucked away, hidden in deep jungles or high in trees making them hard to spot and enjoy. That is why it is so important to take advantage of any situation that allows you to see them so you can enjoy them and learn about them more!

There are lots of places where they can be purchased or you may visit an orchid farm where you can enjoy the many varieties.

This is the Holy Spirit orchid, which is also Panama's national flower.

Harpy Eagle

A captive-bred harpy eagle, Panama's national bird, was released to the wilds from Summit Gardens, Balboa, on Monday, September 27 by biologists of Panama's environmental authority (ANAM).

Anam official Melquiades Ramos said that the female eagle which had been raised in captivity since 2005, had been certified as fit by a vet. She had received special training so that she could be released into the wild. The harpy eagle one of the world's largest birds of prey, is the national bird of Panama but in danger of extinction. It is found in areas from southern Mexico in North America, to Brazil in the south.

The Panama Canal

Controversial. Revolutionary. Amazing. The Panama Canal has been called "The Eighth Wonder of the World." And with good reason! It took 250,000 people from all corners of the globe more than 10 years to build, and it stands as a monument of mankind's ingenuity and power of conviction.

The Panama Canal is a unique experience which can't be reproduced anywhere else in the world. See 5,000,000-ton vessels rise and drop more than 50 feet as they make their way over Panama from one ocean to another, and learn about the history and future of this marvel of modern engineering.

Panama City "must do" is a visit to the new Miraflores Visitor Center at the Panama Canal. The state-of-the art visitor center has 4 exhibition halls: Canal History, Water the Source of Life; The Canal in Action and the Canal of the World. The exhibitions include historical objects of Canal operations, interactive modules, video presentations, and models of the Panama Canal. There is also a snack bar and a restaurant with stunning Canal-side views. Visitors may view ships passing through the Canal from the Visitors Center terrace free of charge.

A Day in Panama City

Casco Viejo is preserved as the conquistadors left it, Casco Viejo vies with Old Havana and Old San Juan in authenticity - but it is beginning to leave the others behind with the restored beautify of its courtyards, tiles and marble that line the cafes, restaurants that occupy these historic structures. Panama City across the bay is transforming itself into a totally unexpected, skyscraper-packed Hong Kong, Casco Viejo is in the process of being restored into the most tastefully attractive are of the city.

Plaza Mayor: also known as Parque Catedral or Plaza de la Independencia, is the main square of Casco Viejo. There is a mix of Spanish and French architecture.

Panamanian independence was declared on this plaza on November 3, 1903 and many important buildings such as the Canal Museum, Municipal Palace, Cathedral Church, and the religious ruins of the Jesuit Church, fringe the plaza.

Compania de Jesus Convent: The Jesuit Convent and its church were built in 1673, before the Spanish banished the Jesuits from the Colonies. In 1781 the complex burned down and was never rebuilt. The site also housed the first university and synagogue of the city.

La Plaza de Francia: The southern tip of Casco Viejo Peninsula is the Plaza de Francia and is home to a large obelisk in honor of the ill-fated Frenchmen, who, under Ferdinand De Lesseps, started the arduous task of building a sea level Canal in 1880.

Surrounding the obelisk is an arcade of marble plaques ornately carved with the story of the valiant French effort. This is also the current location of the French Embassy, the Instituto Nacional de Cultura and the Las Bovedas Restaurant.

Paseo Las Bovedas: wrapping around the French Plaza and the Institute of Culture is Paseo Las Bovedas (Promenade of Vaults) that offers couples and tourists a charming stroll on top of the Old Spanish seawall. An excellent view of the Panama City skyline, the ships cued for their turn through the Canal, and the Bridge of the Americas can be seen on this walkway.

Arco Chato: Built in 1678, Arco Chato (The Flat Arch) played a deciding factor in Panama's history and the construction of the Panama Canal. Spanning some 50 ft, Arco Chato was an architectural marvel for the fact that it resisted earthquakes and storms with no support other than its terminal arches. Logic reasoned that if the brick could withstand nearly 200 years with no visible means of support, then there was no real threat to constructing a lock-style canal. Ironically enough, in 2003, fireworks celebrating Panama's Centennial brought down most of what was left of the then 300 plus - year old arch.

Presidential Palace: Constructed in the old Customs Building, the structure was restored in 1922. Herons live inside the lobby of the entrance and contribute to its name, Palace of the Herons.

Plaza Santa Ana: Santa Ana at mid-morning is the heart of popular commerce; there is life in every corner where almost everything imaginable is for sale: cell phones, fruits, grains, incense, bottles of medicinal medicine that promise "to make you rich," inflatable toys and religious paraphernalia. Cafe Coca Cola, which dates from the early Canal days, is a great local restaurant on the south side of the park that is still a favorite among locals and tourists alike, especially for breakfast.

Amador Causeway, the Outstretched Arm of Panama City

On your way to the Causeway there is the striking architecture of the Figali Convention Center. It was built as the primary venue for the Miss Universe Pageant in 2003. It is now used mostly for concerts and sporting events such as boxing or ice skating. The Figali seating capacity is 10, 275. It is known to be one of the largest and most well equipped convention centers in Central America.

As you drive down the Causeway you will find well maintained lawns, benches and walking space. You might even run into a functioning carriage horse which transports people along a portion of the Causeway. Panama City, Panama embraces an international population of about one million persons. Panama is a country the size of South Carolina, with a populace of over three million. The city now includes over 250 high-rise office buildings, as well as condominiums and hotel towers, with another 280 or so high rises under construction. The Causeway is a wonderful part of Panama City, that is getting a lot of attention right now.

Continuing down the Causeway you will then be on Perico Island, on the left side, facing the Bay of Panama. Between Perico and Flamenco Islands there are many private motor and sailboats at anchor at the Flamenco Yacht Club and Fuerte Amador Resort and Marina. There are shops, restaurants and bars. On Flamenco Islands, the Southern tip of the Amador Causeway there are more restaurants and the cruise ships docks called Port Amador. That modern terminal is designed to comfortably receive passengers and offers them Immigration and Customs services, internet cafe, call center and several duty free shops.

The Amador Causeway connects four small islands: Noas, Culebra, Perico and Flamenco; with the mainland near the foot of the Bridge of the Americas in the Panama Canal. All of the islands were part of Fort Grant, which was established in 1913 as a fortification for the Panamanians and Americans to protect Panama canal access during the two world wars. Many of the fortifications and massive underground bomb proof structures still exist. The most distant of the islands - Isla Flamenco, was a US military Command Post in 1942 and on Isla Perico - part of the Fuerte Amador Shopping Center is built over an old underground military sanctuary.

The first island is Noas Island, when you make a right there you will find the home of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's Laboratories (STRI). The scientists have been working on Punta Culebra since early in the last century, accomplishing enormous amounts of research and analysis. It offers visitors an open-air museum focusing mainly on marine science and education, conservation and interpretations of marine coastal environments. Within walking distance is their Marine Exhibition Center which offers a number of interesting exhibits, explained both in English and Spanish. Some of these are: Panama: abundance of fish; Sea Turtles: mysterious navigators; Sea Aquarium; Marine invertebrates touching pool; Marine Physical process; Rise of the Isthmus: Panama's People and Oceans; Ocean Pollution; From the Reef. The most demanding entertainment available might be the use of their free telescope to view the ships passing on their way North and South in the Panama Canal.

Ancon Hill

No matter where you are in Panama City you cannot miss the huge Panama flag atop a very prominent landmark - Ancon Hill, about 650 feet high. It is definitely a challenge to find the road that leads up there and actually getting all the way to the top. You start by finding your way to Balboa which was originally a Canal Zone town and Quarry Heights, where the US Southern Command is located. You start driving up you arrive at a parking area and once you get out of your car you will find some of the most amazing views of Panama City, the Canal and all the areas surrounding it.

When you are up there you must admit it is the most spectacular view! Fabulous photo ops ever! It certainly makes your day!

Something smells fishy.....

Somewhere along Avenida Central as you wind your way to Casco Viejo you will find the Mercado de Mariscos or Fish Market. There is a Japanese flag on the sign BUT it is because the building was a gift from the Japanese government. On the top floor upstairs is a restaurant that overlooks the floor of the market where you can see all the vendors selling their seafood. That makes for a pretty nice show because it can really be incredible. You can buy your entree from one of the vendors and take it to the restaurant for preparation if you wish.

The fishermen dock at the municipal pier out front and sell their catches to wholesalers who buy the entire load. The wholesalers then turn around and resell the fish to the retailers. The stand you see are individual retailers who sell to the general public. No matter what your taste is you are very likely to find it!

Casco Viejo - what is that?

Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo or San Felipe) is the old quarter of Panama City. It was founded in 1673 after the original Pacific settlement of Panama Viejo was sacked by Henry Morgan. It is the oldest city on the Pacific coast of the Americas and remained the center of Panamanian life for 300 years until the 1930's. At that time Casco Antiguo declined as Panama's upper class moved to the suburbs.

It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 mainly because of it's blend of Spanish, French and American colonial, neoclassical and art nouveau architecture. Certain styles, such as the 16th through 18th century houses with inside courtyards, are specific to the region. Today, the buildings often contain a combination of ruins from the days of Spanish Explorers and Pirates, along with the influences of all of those who followed. To walk through Casco Viejo is definitely to walk through history. Buildings sitting side by side can be over three hundred years apart in age. Balconies are filled with flowers such as geraniums and bougainvillea wrapped around sculpted wrought iron crafted in another country. The streets are brick, and no matter which way they run, they run to the sea, because Casco Viejo is a peninsula jutting into the Bay of Panama.

It is very similar to Old San Juan (in Puerto Rico) in architecture as well as the narrow streets made out of cobblestones.

Today in Casco Viejo you will find the National Theater with black tie events. Kids diving from old ruins into the sea and indigenous people selling their crafts. Tourist shops, small clubs and sidewalk cafes, art galleries and many restaurants.

Starwood Hotels open 2 hotels in Panama!

Starwood Hotels is opening a Westin Playa Blanca Hotel not far from the city and Tocumen International Airport. In addition they are opening a Westin Panama in Costa del Este which is one of the fastest growing business centers.

There is a great need for hotels in Panama and new ones such as these will be very successful. Just keeps showing the growth being experienced currently in Panama.

FLEUR DE LANCE, from the viper family, is the largest and deadliest of the poisonous snakes. Costa Rica's most feared. Has a yellow throat. Rich brown or gray color, lives in wet and dry places. Can grow to 8 feet. Blends with surroundings, dangerous after sunset because it wonders looking for prey. Feeds off of lizards, frogs, birds....

This one was about 12-14 inches and was killed by our gardener in the front yard. This is the second one we have found this rainy season.