I am not a great photographer. But it was very difficult to miss at this wonderful tower. You could see all of Casco Antiguo and Panama´s modern city at its left. The breeze crossing from window to window, I had to climb a lot of steep stairs! but it was worth it.
With participants from at least seven different countries (USA, Italy, Germany, Norway, Poland, Netherlands, Panama, England and others), last Sunday, Casco Viejo inagurated its first professional golf competition.
Brand new professional equipment and first class catering, the carefully prepared landscape complied with the most strict international standars. Followed by a red carpet water view party, it was the clear reflection of the luxurious lifestyle Casco Viejo offers to its priviledge habitants.
See HERE : More lifestyle news… Surf, skating, beisball and other sports in Casco Viejo.
The
Music Festival Alfredo Saint Malo, this year will be held from May 28th to June 7th in Casco Viejo. Most Concerts at the National Theatre, but some other events will be at the Museum Reina Torres de Arauz at Curundu and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Learn more about the Alfredo Saint Malo organization HERE
Don´t know what to do or where to go in Panama? Check HERE
| MAY 2009 | ||
| THURSDAY 28 | ||
| 8 PM Teatro Nacional |
Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Panamá Jorge Ledezma Bradley, director David Viscoli, piano María Cecilia Prado, mezzo soprano Coro Músic Viva – Misa No. 2 en Sol Mayor, D.167 Arias Interlude Concierto para piano No. 3 en Do menor, Op. 37 |
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| FRIDAY 29 | ||
| 8 PM Teatro Nacional |
Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Istmeña Samuel Robles, director César Castillo Thompson, director Graciela Núñez, violin Romanza y Danza Panameña para violín y orquesta (1967), Symphonie Espagnole para violín y orquesta en re menor, Op.21 Interlude Sinfonía No. 7 en La Mayor, Op. 92 |
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| SATURDAY 30 | ||
| 1 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: |
Orquesta Infantil Aguas del Chorrillo | |
| 2 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: |
Orquesta de Iniciación de la Escuela Juvenil de Música | |
| 3 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: |
Orquesta del Instituto Episcopal San Cristóbal | |
| 8 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) |
Grupo Mixturas Grupo Vivace |
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| SUNDAY 31 | ||
| 1 – 6 PM Parque Catedral, Casco Antiguo Cost: |
National Bands Day Banda de Concierto de la Universidad Nacional de Panamá Banda Republicana Banda Municipal Banda de los Bomberos Banda del Instituto Moisés Castillo Banda Pedro Pablo Sánchez Banda del Instituto Episcopal San Cristóbal |
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| TBA | Ensamble XXI flute oboe clarinet Jorge Espinoz, bassoon french horn |
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| 8 PM Teatro Anita Villalaz |
Chamber Orchestra of Guatemala Conservatory Dario Ntaca, director |
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| JUNE 2009 | ||
| MONDAY 1 | ||
| 8 PM Teatro Nacional |
La Grande Música del Cinema Italiano Mauro Maur, thrombus Françoise de Clossey, pianoforte E. MORRICONE (1928) P. PICCIONI (1920-2004) N. ROTA (1911-1979) |
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| TUESDAY 2 | ||
| 8 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) |
YOA Chamber Groups – brass quintet and string quartet Lacey Haysn, trumpet Mikki Skinner, trumpet Isaac Casal, cello |
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| WEDNESDAY 3 | ||
| 8 PM Teatro Anita Villalaz |
Gala Concert José Aurelio Castillo, violin Mary Ann Mumm, violin Craig Mumm, viola Keith Robinson, viola Quinteto para 2 violines, 2 violas y cello No. 1 en Si b mayor, K. 174 Interlude Cuarteto de Cuerdas en si menor |
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| THURSDAY 4 | ||
| 8 PM Museo de Arte Contemporáneo |
Tanya Aparicio, piano Ingrith Saavedra, tuba |
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| FRIDAY 5 | ||
| 8 PM Teatro Nacional |
Luis and Margarita Troesch, piano duo
Fuga en Sol K 401 (1782) Andante y 5 Variaciones en Sol K.501 (1786) Tema y 6 variaciones Ich denke dein (Yo pienso en ti) en Re, WoO 74 Andante y 8 Variaciones en Si bemol, Op. 83ª Interlude Estampas Populares Jarabe Tapatío Guacamaya Tico tico Tres Estampas Venezolanas Tres Estampas para dos pianos (1961) |
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| SATURDAY 6 | ||
| 1 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: |
Zephyr | |
| 2 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: |
Grupo Mixturas | |
| 3 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: |
Grupo Vivace |  |
| 4 PM Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz (MARTA) Cost: |
Big Band – Vitín Paz | |
| 8 PM Teatro Nacional |
Orquesta del Festival Alfredo de Saint Malo 2009 Darío Ntaca, director Keith Robinson, cello Concierto para violonchelo y orquesta en Do Mayor, Hob.VIIb No.5 Interlude Sinfonía No.4, Op.36 |
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| SUNDAY 7 | ||
| 8 PM Teatro Nacional |
Asociación Nacional de Conciertos presents Brasil Guitar Duo |
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No reason to rush… at all.
Tuesday night after Panama´s Presidential election: bars are open, business back to normal. We had such a mellow time under the stars at Plaza Bolivar. Had great gnocci and some vodka pesto pasta at Narciso. Some of our Australian friends who just came back from a surf weekend at Bocas del Toro where at the table next to us. Jorge, the owner came out to say hi and chat about the latest neighborhood news. Some French bohemian musicians passed by with their flutes and played for a couple of minutes. White and red wine… and ready to go back home! As we strolled back, we played with our dog in one of the small parks.
Casco Antiguo relaxing evening
Casco Antiguo lifestyle is just like that. And we love it.
In many countries, Presidential elections tend to be crazy. Here, it is the most boring day of the year (well… ever since we got our democracy back in 1989). The fun part is the days before it. This year, it fell coincidentally on a long weekend, as May 1st was Friday… but because of the elections, sales and consumption of alcohol was going to be restricted for both Saturday and Sunday. So every street in Casco Viejo had something going on Friday.
It was also the first true winter weekend, a lot of rain poured, so thousands and thousands of bugs, crazy size ants (queens and males finally coming out of the ground to mate and die the next morning) made their annual appearance, announcing the change of the season. Birds went nuts feeding on them, we even saw a big hawk standing at one of the balconies choosing its next meal, Casco Viejo “other neighbors” where feeling the call of nature. It was fascinating, like being in a jungle!
Well, not too far away, political party flags where hung on balconies, people woke up really early on Sunday dressed either with their best dresses or with political TShirts. I thought this also ressembled nature´s dance, as often birds and other animals change color to attract their mates. Like bees, everone went to the schools to vote. Unlike other countries, everyone in Panama votes. Election day is always a Sunday, and the political parties usually help with transportation. Especially in the interior of the country, transportation is arranged. On election sunday, every bus, taxi, canue and mule is hired to get people to vote. This year, they made it possible for Panamanians abroad to vote and also for people in jail. Last elections 76% of Panamanians with right to vote, voted. Not sure what the number is for this year, but probably will be more.
The process is so easy and fluent, people tend to be really nice and take their task seriously. I was glad to see so many people from the neighborhood taking their role with total devotion.
Our elections are not done electronically. Privacy during the elections is considered sacred, and our only weapon in times of need. We won´t even use electronic devices for our Lottery. That too falls into the sacred category, by the way. Usually they give you four papers in order to vote for each category, and they are counted manually. The judges, with witnesses from every party, count at the end and they write down the results in an Acta. Then, in front of everyone, they burn the papers at the school patios. So there is no re count possibilites. “Back in the days” (meaning in the Noriega times and even before) here was where the action happened. The votes where “stolen” …. literally. In order to protect the votes, the boxes with the papers inside where carried outside the school into people´s homes to protect it, as it was a normal cheating strategy to count “incorrectly” and put whatever number at the Acta. Even though times have changed, the seriousness in the faces of those who have the responsibility of guarding our votes tell me there must be a memory of those times somewhere ingrained in their brains.
In Panama, you only have a chance to vote until 4 p.m. Results are known around 6 p.m. but they confirm it no later than 7 p.m. Definately you know who won before 8 p.m.
This year, and for the first time after the invasion, a candidate won for over 50%. Ricardo Martinelly won with a very big 60% product of his tenacity (he has run in two different campaigns now), his marketing (his slogan “Los Locos somos Más” was a bit unorthodox, but catchy) and the political alliance he was able to put together with the other oposition parties. But I feel most people, after the scandals of corruption and missmanagement of the current government, just aligned themselves against it, and Martinelli was the candidate that had the most chance of winning. Therefore, Balbina Herrera, the candidate for the government party (PRD) lost with a 37%.
So, what should be expected from Martinelli? If anything, Martinelli´s campaign has shown a creative team, capable of thinking outside the box and being able to work with competitors for a goal. If Ricardo Martinelli keeps these qualities during his government, then we should be on a good track. Buy only time will tell.
