Casco Viejo, Panama´s own mini Havana Vieja

Panama, Casco Viejo – Casco Antiguo, San Felipe

Panamanians and Cubans can make a party anywhere and about anything.

I first visited Havana Vieja in Cuba around 1996. I was involved in one of those student associations at the university (studying Tourism Administration or something of the sort) and one of our teachers,  who had studied diplomacy in Cuba (go figure!) encouraged us to organize a fair and invite someone in Cuba as a speaker. Somehow, because of our student status, we where able to get in touch with Osmany Cienfuegos, who happened to be no more and no less than Fidel Castro’s Ministry of Tourism and left hand. I guess this is the kind of thing you can pull off as a student, to be able to just “show up” and get the Ministry himself to meet with you. An extremely sharp guy, Osmany stormed into the room fully dressed in military gear and chewing a big habano. We didn’t get him as a speaker, but I can say we enjoyed the ride!

It was a very interesting trip from which I learned a lot about our common roots, despite our different current political lives. Panama and Cuba are very much alike; our connection goes way back into the Spanish Colony times because of our common afroantillian culture. Cubans and Panamanians even speak similar. Of course, they speak faster and we eat more vowels, but the rhythm is pretty much the same (especially in Casco Viejo, check out my Casco Viejo Phrasebook post).  The famous Orisha religion has a lot of followers here too, although they are more concealed and kill fewer chickens. We both love assigning nicknames to anything and anyone. If you are thin, you´ll be called flaco, if you are fat, we´ll call you gordo. Tío, jefe, compa, it isn´t personal, it is simply how we refer to people!

We are also globally known for our taste for African and salsa music (they might be the Guaguancó and salsa kings, but we are the cradle of reggaeton along with Puerto Rico!) … conclusion: give us rum and drums and we’ll make the party!

And don’t get a Cuban and a Panamanian (especially from Colon) to start a dance competition, you’ll be dizzy in two seconds! The Cuban salsa dancing style tends to be more acrobatic (with more pirouettes) but the Panamanian salsa style is more elegant and can get really sexy, depending on the province you are at. Puerto Ricans and Dominicans dancing style remind me of jumping beans. I guess the fast pace of Dominican´s merengue isn´t meant to be sexy at all. Serious Cubans and Panamanians are more into the craft of engaging and flirting with the partner. It is a bit like love making! Well, maybe not just a bit. For us, jumping misses the entire point of the dance.

But the similarities don’t stop there. During my trip I had the opportunity to visit their famous Havana Vieja and I was amazed. Amazed at the size of the city, as it is far bigger, but also amazed at how incredibly similar both cities are. It is a flavor you don’t find in Cartagena or in Antigua Guatemala.  These two cities are heavily Spanish Colonial, where every street (although very beautiful) looks exactly the same.  Cuba and Panama have highly diversified architectural styles, a reflection of our own society.

But it is here where our differences start.

Havana Vieja is huge, and is bordered by “Havana Moderna”, which is what followed up to the 50´s and never continued to evolve. In Panama, Casco Viejo is surrounded by different cities that weave and feed excitement into each other. Casco Antiguo is equidistant from a world class banking center, a thriving and cosmopolitan Panama City and the unique Canal Zone which is experiencing an interesting development fueled by the Panama Canal Expansion and visionary projects such as City of Knowledge and Howard. The country itself is an easy port to arrive to and to depart from. Panama has become a regional hub, where big headquarters like Procter and Gamble have moved to, but also interesting NGO´s like UNICEF, United Nations just to mention a few.

While researching about Havana and Casco Antiguo, I found this poster announcing trips from the United States (California and New York) to Panama and then to Havana by ship. What a trip that must have been. Weeks in a boat to come from the cold to tropical paradise, I’m sure if you took the “fast boat” you could make it in a month…and no fooling around! Today, things are so different and in so many angles. Time is gold and most things most be achieved in no time or less. Your travel option has to be interestingly diverse, compact, accessible and safe.

So, where can you get the “Cuban” flavor, base at a 300 year old colonial town while exploring at the same time beach, island and mountain and still manage to get your business done in less than five days?

Only in Casco Antiguo, Panama, of course…

James Bond´s Quantum of Solace announces World Premier!

Panama, Casco Viejo  -  Casco Antiguo, San Felipe

The countdown for Quantum of Solace has begun!: the Odeon cinema will show Daniel´s Craig movie featuring also my favorite of all times Dame Judi Dench, our beloved bad guys Mathieu Amalric and crazy (we love you too!) Anatole Taubman and on the roll of James Bond Girl  the beautiful Olga Kurylenko. October 29th is the “H” Day, the night before the official opening at United Kingdom. Panama will be hooked to every press release, image, youtube pirated video…  As you may know already it was filmed in Casco Viejo and being such a small town (and country), everyone was either in the movie or working for production. And we´ll all go to see it … again and again and again…. Can´t wait!

See pictures HERE when they where filming in Casco Antiguo, Panama.

Travel Panama: African and Christian Religious Celebrations meets at Casco Antiguo

Panama, Casco Antiguo
Casco Viejo, San Felipe

 

Yesterday I was running to meet a client and suddenly got caught in the middle of this great religious parade. Kids dressed in white, they where at the front of the Virgen de la Merced (My Lady of La Merced) which was being carried all through Avenida A, from 9th street to first street and then back to La Merced church (see a virtual tour here of where the crowd ended the procession)  People singing, and of course, the band which is omnipresent. But in the specific case of La Merced Virgin, there is a sutile presence between the followers for those who can see it.

So it happens that Panama is a fully Caribbean culture. I´ve never grown tired of saying it, because it is so true and explains so much. One of the things that connect Caribbean cultures is their love for Orishas, which in some countries is called the Santeria religion, more famously present in Cuba and in Brazil, but that really travelled from Africa at the times of the Spanish conquest. Those black descendants that settled in the Caribbean islands later came to Panama to work in the Canal, and therefore their cultural traditions where brought with them and spread throughout the population.

As a result, a lot of Panamanians have a “santero” de confianza (of trust) or at least knows someone or knows someone that knows someone. In Casco Antiguo, where roots are more authentic, most people have their protector in the Orishas. Changó, Yemanja and Oshun between the most popular. One of the mechanics back in the slave trade times to protect the followers from the Spanish punishment was to conceal their beliefs into a Catholic figure. Oshun, for example, became the Lady of La Merced, from what they call “La Caridad del Cobre” (Cooper´s Charity). 

Her color is yellow and white (which is the general color of Santeria and Santeros), she is supposed to rule all things sweet and beautiful, is the love goddess, although as story goes she is never lucky as she gets hurt constantly. I think she was wife of Chango or something like that. Her elements are honey and sunflowers. People go to her to ask for a home, either new or a protection for it. If you ever go to La Merced church, you´ll see small “house” toys under the feet of the virgin´s statue. I´m not sure the priest really knows why they are there and why he has such a big following….

 

Book Awareness Week at Casco Antiguo, Panama

 

Casco Viejo Celebrates

A classic Monday morning in Casco Viejo: I was on the phone and at the same time answering emails (or deleting early spam… somehow the prince of Mombatu is still considering sending me at least $200,000 directly to my bank account, no papers signed) when suddenly a loud noise started to approach. “Drums…. Drums in the deep”… I thought, just like the Lord of the Rings episode when the good guys where about to get attacked by ugly orks. I couldn’t continue my phone conversation, so I hung up and ran outside with my camera… quickly, but not quickly enough, as the parade had already passed Calle 1era.

 

I ran through the alley to catch them at Calle 2nda, but then found out they where staying at Plaza Francia, so I had to run again to get a good shot before they disolved the formation.  And there they were: all dressed up in their school uniforms, heads high under the morning sun, a parade to commemorate the “Book Awareness Week”. A few local schools where part of it, Escuela de Mexico and I think I saw the Simon Bolivar as well.  The parade had two great signs: “To respect other people’s rights is to have peace” and “The books are our teachers”.

 

I’m glad schools take these small but significant opportunities to blend fun with great messages. For the kids is all about the honor of being in “the band”, but I know somewhere in the middle of it, a mind is being shaped.

 

The Book Awareness Week has started! If you are in the community and would like to donate books, don’t be shy and ask any of the local schools. Some have small libraries and they would love to receive donations. Or go to Parque Omar on Saturday, as they are collecting books to distribute to schools and use in their art workshops.

 

US Market Crushes… Panama Market Raises?

Panama, Casco Viejo
Casco Antiguo, San Felipe

Last week the world went bananas on the trade market. A rollercoaster that has more than one at the edge of a heart attack, it has been really worrysome for all of us to see gigants fall and take with them everything they can. Markets in Asia, Japan and Europe have been affected. As a journalist said, “when the US sneezes, the world catches a cold”. 

In Panama, however, things have been slightly different. The week closed at our very petit trade market with earnings. Banks have become more conservative and strict on their analysis of their clients, but they where very conservative from the beginning, so there wasn´t much of a surprise here. And even more surprisingly, according to today´s La Prensa article by Raul Bernal, the public trust on Panamanian economy has raised to 101.8 points, 11.9 points over last July, and between the bonus payments (in Panama you get 3 bonuses throughout the year) and the upcoming holidays, they expect the indicators to raise or at least keep the same level.

When addressing the “trust” issue on a radio program last week, Felipe Chapman, one of the most balanced economist I know in Panama and  vice-president of Panama’s stock and bond exchange, said that it is the basis of the entire economic pyramid. Without it, there is nothing, and where there was something, they just ignore it by putting everyone on the same basket. The public is untrustful of all these companies who have taken too much risks with their money. In some cases, they are completely right: some companies (and some clients!) where cowboys. But in others, as an analyst friend of mine pointed out, the market is punishing some companies that have performed very well, but since there is so much fear, they rather take everyone down. “And here is where I buy” he said. Why? because the fundamental value of the business is still there, it never changed. They´ll weather the storm and will still be there when everything corrects. And I will enjoy my earnings. And so he should: his vision was never fogged by general panic. With a cold mind, he disects companies into fundamentals (that include human behavior and economic analysis), take the noise out, the panic, emotions, and looks at logical future scenarios. And looks at what is really there now (which is equally important). Then, he makes a decision and buys.

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a client who rushed in absolute panic about the markets. Asking me a thousand questions about what to do with his property (he bought a very nice property which he intends to open commercially) and if I thought he would succeed.  And here is where I remember my analytical friend and mr. Chapman.  It is the same as analyzing a company in the stock market. Where and what are the fundamentals? of the country, of your particular business? why would Panama, the particular property you own and your business be still on the right side of the street, even when the world has dark clouds all over?

I told him, “look… I am not saying Panama won´t be touched by this economic disaster. What I trully believe is that Panama is a micro niche, and as so, the hurricane will be felt a little less here. This is where you are going to weather the storm better. Why? you have fundamentals here that are strong and very particular events that are lifting this economy and will continue to do so at least on the next 5 to 10 years.”.

One of the important things that Felipe Chapman pointed out in the radio program is that Panama never invested in the US subprime, nor on its mortgage packages. I guess because we are such a small country, or maybe because our internal market for mortgages is so strong, Panamanian banks just never did. Therefore, it won´t affect directly the Panamanian Banking system like it has happened in Europe and Asia.  Just there, you have a hugh advantage. We will be affected by a slowness in consumption from US and European clients. Or maybe with the weakening dollar, some other markets will open.

But even if those fail, we have two big elements doing the heavy lifting for the next 5 to 10 years: the Panama Canal Expansion is a reality and it is atracting a lot of people to relocate here to work in every level. The works are supposed to be done in 8 years, this country being Panama it will be 10.  We have also the oil refinery project in Puerto Armuelles, with almost double the investment of the Panama Canal Expansion. The second element is the relocation of regional headquarters of very important companies and institutions such as Dell, Caterpillar, Maersk, Procter and Gamble, Aventis, UNICEF, United Nation´s Food Programmee between others. Those guys move a lot of executives around the region and they are based in Panama.

If you think those three elements shouldn´t be enough to lift an economy, remember this: Panama has only 3 million habitants in the entire country. Probably the capital is a million! And growing, since we are receiving a lot of Venezuelans, which are relocating with their families and businesses. Just as it happened a 100 years ago when the Panama Canal was getting built, all the people relocating (not just “passing through”) will inject energy and resources into the country in order not only to survive but to make good living.

Going back to my friend with his property in Casco Viejo. If Panama as a country is one of your best bets to weather the storm, Casco Viejo within Panama (and I would almost say the region) is your best bet… period. If you have something unique, you are in far better position than having something “copy/paste”.  Unique, beautiful, historic, and in a site that invites to consumption as the ambiance is just delicious and full of textures.  Conveniently located 10 minutes away from the modern Panama City and 6 minutes away from the ex “Canal Zone” it is the best position to benefit from the Panama Canal Expansion, the tourism (internal or external) of Panama City. It is already the second tourism destination within the city (the first one is the Panama Canal) and the logic party and entertainment point for all those executives and families that have moved and continue to move down here. And since his business includes a lot of beer… my logical conclusion is that he´ll be just fine!

Traveling to Panama at the ends of September, beginnings of October?

Panama, Casco Viejo – Casco Antiguo, San Felipe

All events are free… Enjoy! … Check out our Full Casco Viejo Event Calendar Here!

2do. FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE LA CANCIÓN DE AUTOR – PANAMÁ 2008

 

P R O G R A M A C I Ó N

 Exposición “…Y la palabra se hizo música”
Carátulas de álbumes de cantautores latinoamericanos y españoles – España
Casa Góngora, San Felipe
Hasta el 3 de octubre
Horario: De 10:00 a.m. a 10:00 p.m. (de lunes a sábados) y los domingos hasta las 5:00 p.m.

 

CONCIERTOS

Casa Góngora, San Felipe 7:00 p.m.

 24 de septiembre
CHAD VALDÉS – Panamá
JUAN sin TIERRA – Panamá

 1 de octubre
ALCIDES FUENTES – Chiriquí
YIGO SUGASTI – Panamá
JESÚS GARRIGA – España

 TEATRO NACIONAL, San Felipe 7:00 p.m.  Where is this? Virtual Tour HERE

29 de septiembre
KARLA LAMBOGLIA – Panamá
RÓMULO CASTRO – Panamá
HORACIO VALDÉS – Panamá
JESÚS GARRIGA – España

 PLAZA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA, San Felipe 7:00 p.m.  Where is this? Virtual Tour HERE

4 de octubre
EVELYN CABALLERO – Veraguas
CARLOS MÉNDEZ – Panamá
JUAN sin TIERRA – Panamá
ALEJANDRO LAGROTTA – Panamá
ALFREDO HIDROVO – Panamá
JESÚS GARRIGA – España
HORACIO VALDÉS – Panamá
ALEJANDRO FILIO – México

 TODOS LOS EVENTOS del 2do. FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL de la CANCIÓN de AUTOR PANAMÁ 2008 son de entrada libre y gratuita.

 

World Food Scarcity vs Urban Agriculture: The Casco Antiguo Green Attempt

 Panama, Casco Antiguo

Casco Viejo, San Felipe

 

 

Casco Antiguo Panama

 

 

When Al Gore launched his “ Inconvenient Truth” he touched many nerves world wide. Liked it or not, people reacted in such a way that has forced all relevant presidential candidates (Barak Obama, John Mccain … I wished I could add any of the running Panamanian candidates to the list, but so far they haven´t shown much interest. Panamanians on the other hand, have become increasingly active!) to take note of these issues seriously. Just today (and to make things worst) I opened the newspaper and read how hurricane Ike has at least a dozen of refineries closed in the United States. In Panama, we aren´t exposed to hurricanes, but we are certainly sensible to the repercusions of oil price fluctuations, just like anywhere else. Repercusions are endless. The energy crisis is real. But what about the food crisis?

 

The cost of everything is increasing worldwide. What can we do? We ride more buses, use less cars, it’s logical. But what about food? Should I just buy less of what I need?  One of the answers could be, grow it yourself.

 

This isn’t a crazy idea just out of the hat, nor it will solve the problem by itself. Or maybe it can if its done well.  Many are doing it, with great results. All around Europe, there is not a single free space near the neighborhood parks that isn’t somehow used for urban agriculture. And it works from many angles. It generates food from land that would usually not be used for anything in particular other than simple “enjoyment” (in the case of plazas, for example). But also, since those gardens are maintained by retirees and children, they give a sense of purpose to the first and teach the right lessons to the second. It also rounds up calories and proteins, and helps us get through this crisis in a better shape. When well done, it even gives us certain independence from the fluctuating prices.

 

In Panama, more specifically in Casco Antiguo (or Casco Viejo, as many Panamanians refer to it) we are already doing it.   My balcony alone, has at least 4 producing tomato plants (right now I have about 10 tomatoes ripening), 2 producing eggplants, several spices (basil, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, between others), a curry tree, 2 types of spinach, a huge lemon grass pot (love tea! And good to cook chicken as well), a zucchini, passion fruit, a tilo plant (also for tea) and some stuff I don’t even know what they are since they are growing directly from my composter and they need to grow a bit more to be identified. Starting is as easy as throwing your organic garbage into a pot with dirt and steering it from time to time. You’ll reduce waste and suddenly discover that some of the seeds (probably tomatoes will go first) will start growing.

 

Get some inspiration from who made it possible in Casco Viejo: Anthrome Project.  Here you’ll find endless knowledge about all sort of tropical trees, plants and the most bizarre fruits you’ve ever seen. The chronics say that when the Spanish came to America, the Indians had tons of different plants and fruits they didn´t even know. After the success of crops like corn, potatoes and tomatoes, many of these plants where left aside. Very nutritious options once common and well known have fallen into oblivion, either by ignorance or because they where genetically mixed to produce more resistant variations.

 

I think it is time to bring all of them back. And where else if not in your own backyard!

 

 

Panama News: World Bank announces $400 Million Dollar Financing for the Panama Canal Expansion

Panama, Casco Viejo
Casco Antiguo, San Felipe

The World Bank is investing heavily in Panama. Yesterday, they announced that they are considering a $400 million dollar financing for the Panama Canal Expansion project.   The project is currently budgeted at $5,250 million dollars. So many zeros in those numbers I don´t even know what it means anymore. However, according to the note at La Prensa, the announcement was made in Washington by the President of the World Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno, during the visit of the President of Panama, Martin Torrijos.

The Panama Canal Expansion has a list of exclusive investors such as: the European Investment Bank (who has offered $700 million dollars) and the Corporacion Andina de Fomento (who has put $500 in the pot). I guess we have another $4,050 million dollars to go! should we organize a TShirt sale or a theatre night to raise funds?

Travel Vacation: Panama´s Most Romantic Getaway Trip

Panama, Casco Antiguo -  Casco Viejo, San Felipe

Casco Antiguo Love!

It is so hard to combine experiences in a vacation trip. You want it all, and you only have a week (or less). So you can´t take chances, you want everything to be just right. While there is no way this is a foolproof combination, I think this combination is my favorite. You can do it all in a week or less, it depends on how much you want to learn and experience.

It all starts and ends in Panama City, and nowhere else but in our romantic Casco Antiguo. It is the perfect place for afternoon strolling, hand by hand with your beloved best half. Even when it rains is romantic. Each building tells a story of beauty, as I recently read in a book called “The architecture of happiness” (which by the way is not a self help book, is an architecture and philosophy book) there is a very human relationship between emotions and forms, where we as humans translate an emotion into certain types of shapes. If that is so, each building in Casco truly “speaks” to you of happiness, poetry and personality. Every plaza, every tree. But lets get to concrete stuff.

#1 How to get the best out of Casco Viejo while you are here on vacations? Your romantic getaway in Panama must start by staying at an apartment or a hotel in Casco Antiguo. There are very few, so be sure to book in advance. If you really want to impress your girl, go for the Canal House Panama . You may also rent short term rental apartments like Café de Asis or Los 4 Tulipanes. Romantic backpackers might stay at Hostal San Felipe or Luna’s Castle. Romance comes in every budget!

The best of Casco are mornings and evenings. Midday in Panama in general tends to be really hot, so be prepared with hats and sunscreen lotion. Evenings especially, have a rhythm of their own. Strolling is the local prefered activity .Have an ice cream at Grandclement in Calle 3era and A Avenue and check out if there is anything going on that afternoon at Casa Gongora or at the National Theatre. Then walk under the bougainvilleas at Calle 1era and go all around Las Bovedas. You’ll see the entrance of the Panama Canal and the ships in line to cross it.

When it comes to activities, there is always something going on in Casco Viejo, although it is very uncommon to have a thousand things at the same time. We take it easy here…. But there are some steady nights: Wednesdays and Fridays are jazz and bolero nights at Gongora. If you are here in a weekend, after dinner you should head to Platea. They usually have live bands from Thursdays to Saturdays. Jazz on Thursdays, salsa on Fridays, and rock on Saturdays. For more bohemian souls, then La Casona might be your best spot, at Plaza Herrera.

Cocktail time is my personal favorite, when the sun goes down. Check out the different restaurants at Plaza Bolivar. Nothing like having a mojito and mixed ceviche at Ego. You can choose to have tapas all night under the stars or walk to another restaurant to have dinner. There are at least eight restaurants in the area, ranging from Spanish to Brazilian. Al fresco or not, your choice!. Check out my reviews here for most of them.

# 2 But the best of Casco Viejo is that is the perfect base to visit the rest of the country. Feel free to explore the mountains, the beaches, the islands. The local airport is 15 minutes away from Casco, which means Chiriquí “sweater weather” is an hour away, Bocas del Toro white beach sands are also an hour away and the Kuna Indians at San Blas islands are … well, in fact, they are right outside your door, as they are always selling their best crafts in the Casco. Here are my personal romantic picks throughout the country:

Bocas del Toro: All Natural in Bastimentos. At night, don´t miss the fluorescent weed in the ocean. At night, when there isn´t full moon, the sky is an explosion of stars. But then, as you sit on their dock, take a flashlight and point it out to the water. You´ll see how the water responds in a bunch of little stars of its own!  Tip: if you don´t mind cold water (skinny dipping allowed!) go into the water with a snorkel and a mask. If someone flashes from outside, you´ll see yourself surrounded by tons of little bright dots!

Bastimentos is an island a bit away from Isla Colon (Boca Town) where the action is. You can combine staying a night or two at the town so you can party and then go to All Natural to relax. My heart is with Om Cafe for indian food. Those breakfasts are good.

Chiriqui:  if in Boquete, I would stay at a coffee farm. My best pick: go hiking at La Amistad park. It is great weather and if you are quiet and lucky enough, you´ll see the Quetzal. But even if you don´t see them, you can enjoy hearing them: they have a distinctinve flute sound. You´ll be in the middle of the cloud forest surrounded by flutes. Especially in October, when they mate. Go to Volcan or Cerro Punta and have strawberries with cream. There is a spa called Los Quetzales with an outdoor jacuzzi. You can arrange a great massage and use their installations.

Note: the road from Chiriquí to Bocas is one of the most beautiful trips in Panama. However, notice buses between the two provinces drive like crazy, so be careful. You can see the transition between wonderful cloud forest (mountain) to fully tropical rainforest in less than 2 hours.

San Blas: Haven´t been there in a while, but wherever you go make sure you hire a boat to go “island hopping”. You should not miss Isla Tigre, as it is the more traditional one, a splash of mola and color. If you go during Carnivals (which I did many years ago) it is fantastic, they have their own version and is great.

You can do as much or as little as you want. Panama’s beautiful diversity is at your reach.  On your way back, be sure to have a reservation for a massage at the Canal House in Casco Antiguo. Without rushing, without hurrying, unless you want to. And don´t worry if you can´t do it all in one trip!

Travel New York Times Features Casco Viejo Panama and Canal House Hotel

Panama, Casco Viejo
Casco Antiguo, San Felipe

“A Cultural Cornerstone” is today´s New York Times travel article about Casco Viejo, Panama, featuring our favorite hotel Canal House Panama as editor´s pick and businesses like Karavan Gallery and Indigo Restaurant. Check out the article HERE . 

I believe travel journalists in New York Times understand very well today´s traveler who looks for an authentic place, an experience that has both a level of sophistication but yet is at the same time unpolished. Just like the article cites Cuba, Casco Antiguo in Panama shares common architectural styles and cultural characteristics. Plus… it is legal! and for real estate, it is cheaper than any of its revitalized peers in the region.

But frankly, the best is to live here. Why? the international airport is 20 minutes away and COPA is a fantastic airline that takes me to most destinations I want to go to. Internet connection is great, the neighborhood is beautiful, cost of living is better than in the States so I can afford a maid (I´m sure others would include a cook and or a chofer) and the community is interesting. You can make a positive impact here. On the weather, Casco Viejo´s old stones receive sun all year round and rain half of the year but only for an hour at a time and once a day. At night, I walk out to have good dinner and / or have a Zacapa rhum at one of the neighborhood bars. Or if there´s an event going on, I just walk there and back. Like last night, there was a rock concert at Plaza Herrera, 7 minutes away by feet. And if I want more of a modern city flavor… well, I just get my car and drive less than 15 minutes. I´m right into Panama´s nightlife district. Although I have to warn you, as a friend told me last night: why would I ever leave Casco Viejo? everything happens right here…  

Casco Antiguo Music Concert at Plaza Herrera