meaning making
The Bridge of the Americas spans the Panamá Canal on the Pacific side. Ancon Hill, is the green hump rising above on the far side of the canal in this picture. Casco Antiguo (the colonial quarter) on the upper right, with the Cinta Costera highway curving into the bay of Panamá and encircling this historical… Continue reading Bridge of the Americas
In Panamá, “pushbuttons” are motels that rent rooms by the hour. You pull into an open single-car garage, press a button to close the door (and conceal your vehicle), and enter the connecting room. All transactions (eg., room charge, drink orders) occur through privacy-ensured sliding openings so the staff can’t see you. Rooms look similar… Continue reading Happy Valentine’s Hour
Found my childhood stamp collection! Here’re some Canal Zone stamps. Heroes commemorated include: President Teddy Roosevelt, who championed the building of the Panamá Canal as a national security necessity. Dr Gorgas who discovered the source of Yellow Fever, which killed workers by the hundreds. Canal construction stopped for a year while they worked to eradicate… Continue reading Canal Zone: Stamps of a Forgotten American Colony
Pandemic art.
One cannot have all the lives one desires. A choice is always necessary. ~ Saru Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 Episode 1: "Kobayashi Maru"
First, some context. Taxi drivers complained and raised a ruckus to prevent Uber from bringing disruption to Panamá. Other than airport taxis, where fares are regulated, there are no set fares and taxis don’t have meters. If you flag a taxi on the street, you should negotiate price up front. And have in mind what… Continue reading How to Haggle with a Panamanian Taxi Driver
Taboga is a small island on the Pacific side of Panamá. It’s a forty-five minute ferry ride from the Amador Causeway, in Panamá City. I hadn’t been to the island since I was a kid growing on the Isthmus. But it came to mind as I planned my first trip in two years to check… Continue reading Dispatches from Taboga
How to receive a random act of kindness.
“Life Is Like Riding a Bicycle. To Keep Your Balance You Must Keep Moving.”~ Albert Einstein, from a letter Einstein wrote to his son Eduard dated February 5, 1930 Low 60s, 45% humidity. Gorgeous morning in Austin!
“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken”. ~ Oscar Wilde