Casco Antiguo Back to the Future

Living in Casco Viejo is like living in a time machine, but one that goes back to go forward. Weirdly enough, that is exactly what we do here!  The fun thing is that, depending on how deep you dig, you can find that the same questions may have had different answers, depending on when it was asked. Yes, it sounds too much like today´s economic policies, I agree! but here is an example…

The first one is La Merced Church.  It used to be the land door to enter Casco Viejo into the town of San Felipe.  As the area developed later on, the wall was taken down and replaced with beautiful homes and thriving commerce, which is only now being restored.

The light blue building you see there is called Montefiori, which is at Plaza Herrera, historically called Plaza del Triunfo. In colonial days, as in most plazas, it used to be a bull fight ring.  You see here the photo of the building at the very corner. Then a photo of it about 4 years ago, and a brand new restoration (which today hosts a restaurant that opens to the plaza and residential on the top).

Conde Nast Traveler and Budget Traveler feature Panama

Why Travel to Panama in 2009? Budget Traveler magazine quotes “Panama has led tourism growth in Central and South American countries for two years running, posting back-to-back 20 and 30 percent gains in 2007 and 2008, respectively”. At its Top 10 Destinations for 200

Casco Antiguo Views

9 article, Budget Traveler magazine mentions between its memorable moments the filming of Daniel Craig´s Quantum of Solace in Casco Viejo (also known as Casco Antiguo, Panama´s colonial district which featured as Bolivia).

Conde Nast Traveler Magazine also featured Panama at its top picks for 2009. Featuring position No. 12 and next to countries like Canada and Scotland, it also mentions Casco Antiguo as one of the “must visit” in Panama City.

Summer Romance takes over Casco Viejo, Panama

Saturday, love was in the air. Music from the jazz fest concert at Plaza Catedral filled every street around. Plaza Francia at Las Bovedas was packed with children, romantic couples kissing or hugging, dogs (like Chispas) running at the park, the raspao guy giving crushed ice with sugary red stuff on the top to everyone. An art auction going on at Plaza Bolivar. What a great weekend! everyone had a smile on. This is what I love the most about Casco Viejo:  weekends are truly a time to relax and enjoy.

I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy it as much as I did. If not, we still have another two months of summer left! pack your stuff now...

Art Event at Panama City´s Historic District

Art Event in Casco Viejo, Panama

 

If you are travelling to Panama this weekend, don´t miss the art auction at Plaza Bolivar, Casco Viejo.

About Cats And Dogs in Casco Antiguo

When I was little I had dogs, cats a rabbit and even a hen. But I lived in a house in the suburbs, and pets where the “must do” of the area. When I moved to Casco Viejo, one of the things I never imagined having, as I´m living in an apartment, was to have a pet. But last week, my husband and I bumped into the sweetest pair of dogs: father and son running up the Administration Building´s stairs. When inquired, the proud owner told us they still had a baby girl, so this Saturday she came home with us.

And suddenly, a new dimension opens and you start to really ask yourself: is Casco Viejo pet friendly?Full story here.

Live Art Show at Panama´s Jazz Fest and Important Announcement for Musicians

Jazz Fest in Casco Antiguo is a celebration of summer. This year, and for the first time,  artists will be painting live at Plaza Bolivar, in an interesting event coordinated by young expat Kristin Dove. A silent auction will be held in the afternoon (around 4 p.m.) and 50% of the proceeds will go to the Danilo Perez Foundation which is the NGO running all the music workshops for students and scholarships during the Jazz Fest.

Many don´t know this about the Panama Jazz Fest.  It is not only a music festival with international artists.  It is really about bringing the best teachers to Panama in order to raise the bar in music education in the country.  Every year, groups of young students attend these workshops, an exposure and learning could have never gotten the opportunity otherwise.  Several scholarships are also given to the most talented students.

On its 6th edition, an important announcement will be made: finally a dream come true as Danilo Perez will be able to have a full time music school in Panama. And not only in Panama, but in Casco Viejo, and right in the building where he himself learned to play piano: the old music Conservatory.

This is dream has finally come true because of the meeting of minds and hearts of one of the main developers in Casco Antiguo (Conservatorio S.A.) and the Danilo Perez Foundation.  Conservatorio S.A. owns the building of the former school and as part of their holistic approach into revitalizing the area they have agreed to donate space for the school to run long term.

The official announcement will be made this Friday! stay tooned….

The Panama Kiss

From January 8th to the 23rd, Carlos Weil Art Gallery will host an art show featuring their best antiques of the Canal times: bonds, paintings, photographies and even music scores. The event will be held at Las Bovedas art gallery in Casco Viejo, from January 8th to the 23rd.

Carlo´s gallery is known in Panama for his fine work with the indigenous, where his good eye for art mixes well with their skills for wood work, weave and tagua sculpture. His store is always filled with original and sophisticated pieces of furniture, paintings and even jewelry made out of the tropical and ever lasting tagua nut.

A history aficionado, and should I say apasionado, his collection always bring a fresh eye into Panama´s history, portraying unusual pieces that range from the very formal (like the Canal Bonds) to the very sensual (check out his “Kiss Between the Seas” collection)

So don´t miss it if you are in town!

Inspirational thought to start new year 2009.

When thinking on our corporate Christmas present, I came to the conclusion (pretty obvious) that this wasn´t just any cheery Christmas, but a very sensitive one.  Looking around, I found this phrase that suddenly clicked in my mind as the correct one:

“Like a great poet, nature is capable of producing the most stunning effects with the smallest means”.

Also, we decided not to do it as a Christmas present, but as a New Year one, under the premise that people don´t really stop to meditate, as they are busy on other things.  We hope this present carries a true message of hope for 2009.