Panama Casco Viejo

March 31, 2009

Panama Events: Fashion Fest in Casco Viejo gathers great food and good looking girls!

I was just starving.  My stomach was begging for food.  I left running from my meeting to Plaza Catedral, to check out the very announced Fashion Festival. My first stop: at the Sabores de Mi Barrio stand at the corner in front of the Canal Museum. Wao! those girls know how to cook!!!! the smell of carne en palito was killing me, but they also had yumi stuff like shrimp brochetas and something that looked like the Dominican “mofongo” but was so much better: a plantain puree with onions. Don’t make faces… believe me, the contrast was fantastic! I ate it all in a second.

With renewed energy, I went on to check out the event. I always like the contrast between modern and old. They had set up the runway right in front of the Catedral, a vip room next to it. I kept wondering, why a vip room? Everyone can see the event pretty comfortably, even from the gazebo. Well… who knows. I guess it is part of the fashion world!

Walking a bit further there where Fashion Fest Casco Antiguo Fashion Fest Casco Antiguo some lateral stands with makeup artists, beer sale (Heineken, of course!) and miscellaneous stuff.

But also, at the gazebo, there was a special showing of Gustavo Araujo´s photographies. Gustavo was by far one of the most beloved artists of my time. Known virtually by everyone who put as much as a toe into the small Panamanian art world or fashion world. He died tragically last December: a drunk driver rolled over him near new years while he was just trying to cross the road. Everyone went on in shock. Since then, he has gotten mentions in the papers showing his work both in photography and painting, but above all, talking about his generous soul and talented eye. To have him present at this festival was exactly what he would have wanted, especially because it took place in Casco Viejo, one of his favorite places in Panama

March 26, 2009

Cheap, Fun and Eco Friendly: Nature trips in Panama with Local Clubs

Who said you have to pay gazillion dollars to enjoy nature? One of the things I enjoy living here is that I can choose from a range of activities, joining local clubs that regularly go to the unexplored corners of Panama, just for fun. The charge is usually to cover the guide and gas. Each case is different, so call, write & ask.

The best way to enjoy these things is to stay in Casco Antiguo, since is 15 minutes away from the ex Canal Zone (meaning 15 minutes away from Gatun Lake where you can go fishing or Parque Soberanía and Metropolitano, which are primary and secundary forests). Also you are very close to rappel sites like Calzada Larga or simply to the interior if you are planning to hike Chame or Capira. Also, we are 15 minutes away from the Panama´s internal airport, so flying to Chiriquí is an easy ride to the airport and an hour flight to the far corner of the country.

And when you come back, you have all the charm of the colonial city where you can rest and recover!

Since most of these activities are organized locally, most of them don´t have emails. Remember that to call Panama, you must dial 507 if you are outside. Once you are in Panama, it isn´t necessary.

Rappel at Calzada Larga:
Sunday March 29th. At Arco Rocoso. Cost $40. Call 6687-2047

Trip to Coiba Island:
March 4 and 5th. There are only 5 spaces left! Hour: 7 a.m. More info at: www.panamaoutdoors.com

Kayak tour at Chagres River:
March 5th. 7 a.m. Information: 261-5043

Trip to Pearl Islands:
April 2nd to 5th. From Club Excursionistas del Istmo. Call: 393-8956

Cayuco Race, Ocean to Ocean:
April 3, 4, 5th by the Club de Remos Balboa. Email them at: creba.office@cayucorace.org

Trip to Baru Volcano:
(this is one I´ve been longing to do myself!)
April 10th to 12th. $65 at Chiriquí. Call 6524-2802

March 24, 2009

Meaningful Traveling: Bring Hope to the places you Visit

To leave a place better than when you arrived. For most travelers, the goal is to enjoy stress free vacations. Most of them look for an adventure, something new, with content.  Panama is the place where they can find all these things, as it hasn´t developed fully its tourism industry.

In Casco Viejo, Panama´s colocial city, they´ll find content around each corner. There is excitement over its revitalization, the vibrant mixed community that is organically growing. But there is also something more; there is a community fighting to break the cycle of poverty, and travelers can help out.

Fundación Calicanto and Aprojusan (Asociación Pro Juventud de San Felipe) are two NGO´s devoted to this goal. Aprojusan deals mostly with children, providing art workshops as the honey to atract them, but in reality they end up participating in a complementary afterschool program that includes medical check ups, lunch, close following ups with each subject and their teachers at school. But most of all, they are offered a safe place, where they are respected and cared for. The program just got their new headquarters, a space donated by Conservatorio S.A. at the heart of the historic district. For the next two years, Aprojusan´s goals will include fundraising to build their own headquarters within the historic district.

Fundación Calicanto might be one of the oldest NGO´s working in the area. They support all activities from Aprojusan and run programs like CAPTA, which is hotel trainning for local women. Focusing on mothers and their children is the only proven way to break the cycle of poverty effectively, forever. Women from CAPTA attend to a two month intense trainning that includes not only technical trainning but also self esteem and even household administration. 80% of the women in this course end up with a steady job. From living on less than 5$ a day, now graduates have not only means to raise their family properly but they can think about their own education. In less than two years, goal have changed from survival to study English. Next year, they´ll be able to apply to credit to buy their own home.

When visiting Casco Viejo think about this. It is the axis of a mixed community that lives in harmony. Your trip can help sustain these programs with simple donations. Consider this: sending a woman to a hotel trainning course and changing forever the life of her family (probably includes 5 to 6 members) takes only $300 a year. Every contribution is able to build a better future for the entire area. When talking about investments and multiplying effects, most news today focus on pesimistic information. It is good to know beforehand your vacations in Panama can have such a positive impact with so little.

For donations write hvasquez@hacheuve.com or patrizia@arcoproperties.com

March 23, 2009

Traveling to Panama soon?

Finding out what to do in Panama during your vacations might take an effort in putting together the pieces, as there isAdd an Image no common forum where to post events. So if you are planning to travel soon, take notice of the following events at Panama´s colonial quarter (Casco Antiguo), courtesy of the Oficina del Casco Antiguo:

Concierto de piano a 4 manos/ Piano concert 4 hands

Pianistas: Melisande Chauveau (París, Francia) Suzanne Fournier (Rimouski Canada)
Repertorio de música de Francia y de países francófonos: Poulenc, Franck, Debussy, Fauré, Satie

Fecha29 Mar 2009
Horario7:00 pm
LugarTeatro Nacional
BoleteríaEntrada libre
OrganizanEmbajada de Canadá, Embajada de Francia, Alianza Francesa, Oficina del Casco Antiguo


Jornada de sensibilización sobre danza contemporánea:  Dance Event. Time to be confirmed.  Colegio del Cuerpo is a fantastic troop from Cartagena, don´t miss it!

Realizadas por el Colegio del Cuerpo de Cartagena de Indias

Fecha01 Abr 2009
HorarioPendiente por definir
LugarBaluarte Mano de Tigre


Jornada de sensibilización sobre danza contemporánea: Dance Event by Colegio del Cuerpo

Realizadas por el Colegio del Cuerpo de Cartagena de Indias

Fecha02 Abr 2009
HorarioPendiente por definir
LugarBaluarte Mano de Tigre


Presentación de El Colegio del Cuerpo de Cartagena de Indias

Fecha03 Abr 2009
HorarioPendiente por definir
LugarTeatro Nacional


Teatro en los balcones:  Theatre on Balconies at Plaza Herrera

Versión libre de Ubu Rey

Fecha04 Abr 2009
Horario7:00 pm
LugarBaluarte Mano de Tigre


Mercado de las Pulgas.  Flea Market!

Fecha05 Abr 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral


Teatro en los balcones

Versión libre de Ubu Rey

Fecha11 Abr 2009
Horario7:00 pm
LugarBaluarte Mano de Tigre


Teatro en los balcones

Versión libre de Ubu Rey

Fecha18 Abr 2009
Horario7:00 pm
LugarBaluarte Mano de Tigre


Teatro en los balcones

Versión libre de Ubu Rey

Fecha25 Abr 2009
Horario7:00 pm
LugarBaluarte Mano de Tigre


Mercado de las Pulgas; Flee Market at Plaza Catedral

Fecha03 May 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral


Taller de Ilusionismo. Eric Chartiot.   Magic Workshop by Alliance Francaise Panama

Técnicas de ilusionismo que exigen un profundo conocimiento del control de la atención del público.

Fecha06 May 2009
HorarioPendiente por definir
LugarTeatro Anita Villalaz
BoleteríaEntrada libre
OrganizanAlianza Francesa, Oficina del Casco Antiguo


Pachito Alonso en concierto, invitada especial, Yomira John.  Music Concert by Pachito Alonso and Yomira John.

Fecha16 May 2009
Horario6:00 pm
LugarÁrea del antiguo mercado público


Mercado de las Pulgas

Fecha07 Jun 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral


Fiesta de la Música, distintos géneros musicales con artistas locales e internacionales.  Music Fest!

Fecha21 Jun 2009
HorarioPendiente por definir
LugarTeatros Nacional y Anita Villalaz, y espacios públicos del Casco Antiguo
BoleteríaEntrada libre
OrganizanAlianza Francesa, Oficina del Casco Antiguo y patrocinadores


Festival de largometraje.  Panamanian Film Festival

Fecha21 Jun 2009
HorarioPendiente por definir
LugarPor definir


Mercado de las Pulgas

Fecha05 Jul 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral


Mercado de las Pulgas

Fecha02 Ago 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral


“El viento entre los álamos”, obra de teatro. Theatre Play.

Fecha06 Sep 2009
HorarioPendiente por definir
LugarTeatro Nacional
BoleteríaEntrada libre
OrganizanAlianza Francesa, Oficina del Casco Antiguo y patrocinadores


Mercado de las Pulgas

Fecha06 Sep 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral


Eric Truffaz (París), world music

Fecha21 Sep 2009
HorarioPendiente por definir
LugarTeatro Nacional
BoleteríaEntrada libre
OrganizanAlianza Francesa, Oficina del Casco Antiguo y patrocinadores


Mercado de las Pulgas

Fecha04 Oct 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral


Mercado de las Pulgas

Fecha01 Nov 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral


Mercado de las Pulgas

Fecha06 Dic 2009
Horario9:00 am a 4:00 pm
LugarPlaza de la Catedral

March 19, 2009

From Green to Green: Military Base at Panama Turned Into International Business Park

Filed under: Casco Antiguo, Casco Viejo, Investment, Know Panama, Panama, Real Estate Panama, Travel — panamacascoviejo @ 1:52 pm

What do you do when you inherit thousands of square meters all of a sudden? Panama has strugled with this idea for a while, when if finally got hold of the Canal Zone previously run by the United States.  Several military bases along with infrastructure and services where handed over by the Torrijos- Carter Treaty in year 2000.

So what have they done with them? City of Knowledge (at Clayton base) has turned exactly into that: a technologic park with space for universities and innovation. And now, it is the turn for Howard airforce base.

The goal: to generate about fourty thousand jobs, build 20 thousand homes and about a million square meters (multiply by 11 to get ft2) of commercial space. Sounds crazy, but is already happening at Howard, one of the old US military bases that where transfered back to Panama in 2000.

The new buildings are hosting already important regional headquarters for companies such as Dell. A long term project run by Londong & Regional, will be developed through the next 40 years. Alreayd 18 companies have signed up to move into this “business city”.  Caterpillar, 3M, 3PL Panamericana, Howard Kids Academy, IP leather, Magen David Academy, MEC Repairs, North American Aricraft Services Panama, River Latinoamerica Industrial, Technologic University of Panama, Radio Holland Group, Panama Aerospace Engineering, Accel, Cabo Drilling Corp, Giangranco Agency and Outsourcing S.A. among others, whose businesses run from education to airplaine and ship maintenance.  “The facilities we are providing plus the tax incentives for exporting are attracting businesses as ours” said Marvin Castillo from MEC Repairs.

This year will be full of activities. They expect to have ready by August most of the storage space and for November all the office buildings. The estimated cost of the entire project is 705 million dollars from which a 100 will be executed this year. And all of this only 15 minutes away from Panama´s second touristic attraction: Casco Viejo. Suddenly, Panama´s old quarter will be positioned equidistant from “modern Panama City” and this upcoming multimillion international business park. For a world that is actively looking for places with good fundamentals to invest, this might be an important opportunity to think about.

March 16, 2009

Friday Fun for Free at Panama (or almost!)

Fridays are my favorite party days at Casco Viejo. Everything seems to come together beautifully, and while it might start with drinking a mojito at Havana Caffé the next stop is at Casa Gongora where they usually have a fun (and free!) concert on the first floor. From romantic bolero to hot latin salsa or just plain fun Panamanian murga, Casa Gongora is a great hanging out place. They even let you bring your own booze…

March 13, 2009

Casco Viejo Community Has New Website

We waited a long time, but it was well worth it! The Oficina del Casco Antiguo, a government office which serves as a link between UNESCO and all government and private entities finally has a website that shows all the good work they are doing. The website is a reflection of everything Casco Antiguo is: a mixed, vibrant community. Full of art, color and flavor. Congratulations!!! Also, a big hurray for Clara Hardin, our associate who appears at “Mi Barrio” (“our neighborhood”), where they posted interviews with several people from the neighborhood, from the local school teacher to entrepreneurs (like us!) and philantropists.

March 10, 2009

Feminas at Casco Viejo!

This post is only for women with good sense of humor!

In celebration of Women´s Day (or week… or should we make it a year?) a friend just sent me one of these forwards with feminist jokes (which I happened to enjoy a lot by the way!)  to give a laugh at the eternal extremes of the “battle of the sexes”. In Casco Viejo, however, we celebrated with a significant event. Probably for the first time (at least since I´ve been here) an event gathered women artists to show their craft. It took place last Friday at La Casona, and it showed photography, dance, handcrafts, dsc01143painting and performance.  A big congratulations to Blanca and Yiyi for organizing it!

And by the way, here are some of the jokes I enjoyed…. don´t feel offended! smile!

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his
> Sweat-
> Shirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to
> me, ‘What setting do I use on the washing machine?’
> ‘It depends,’ I replied. ‘What does it say on your shirt?’
> He yelled back, ‘ Liverpool ‘
> And they say blondes are dumb…

_ .._

> ‘It’s just too hot to wear clothes today,’ Jack says as he stepped out
> of the shower, ‘honey, what do you think the neighbours would think if
> I mowed the lawn like this?’
> ‘Probably that I married you for your money,’ she replied.

March 5, 2009

Young Crowd hitting Panama for affordable lifestyle

Laid back lifestyle

Laid back lifestyle

Last Saturday, a group of friends had a barbeque at one of Panama City´s Old Quarter (called Casco Antiguo) waterview roof terraces. We enjoyed a beautiful summer sunset with a deliciously marinated tuna (lime, garlic and spices!) and beer enough for seven people, all for less than $40.

And suddenly I thought how important it is in these times to be able to do just that: share with family and friends and even start a new business without investing millions.

For some of the young professionals at that barbeque, Panama was a two year adventure, a strategy to wait until things get settled. And within Panama, Casco Viejo ranked the highest on lifestyle and opportunities.Whereas leaving forever the place they´ve been at for a long time and where their family and most of their friends where was quite a scary thought,  planning for a one or two year adventure in a cosmotropical country (where they can come and visit) was a totally different thing.

Why not? Casco Viejo is a growing place with hotels, restaurants and bars opening or under construction… that still had space for them. And even in a world where there are no guarantees anymore, it seems that their only big risk could be to fall in love and stay.

Not bad at all!

So, how to get started?

Rent for a year or two, learn Spanish, hike the jungle, go to the beach, & wait it out… 

Don´t know much about the area?

Here is a bit of recent press   Star Telegraph, GQ and Times Magazine

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