The Passion of Panama - Panama Redux

           Ten days in a country, especially when I’m hitting mostly the typical tourist spots, admittedly make it difficult to understand the life force of a nation’s citizenry. I was a good tourist: I saw the ruins of Panama Viejo, the rainforest of Boquete, and stayed a weekend at an all-inclusive resort. However, I feel that Panama is a much younger country than its history indicates. This is because it’s life source, the Panama Canal, is still very young for the Panamanians – they’ve only controlled it and the accompanying Canal Zone since 1999. This newfound control, which finally came after years of bargaining, and Panama’s success in operating and profiting from the canal has proven to the world and, most importantly Panama itself, that the still young nation can be a hub of business and industry and can be a global nation.

            Panama’s new national motto is Pro Mundi Beneficio, “For the Benefit of the World” and the country is taking an amazing collective step to grow into that model. With the exception of Dubai in the UAE, I’ve never seen a city and skyline under with more scaffolding and under more construction than Panama City. When I first flew in to the country at night, I didn’t see the scaffolding but only the skyline lights and the city looked completely finished. When I woke the next morning at Luna’s Castle and walked out to the hostel balcony, I was surprised to see that the lit-at-night Panama skyline was less than half completed. The city and the country are under construction and modernizing at each moment and yet unlike Dubai, nothing is unnecessarily or absurdly extravagant. The buildings being built are economically responsible and there are no foolish attempts to build just for publicity. While the global economic crisis grips the world, Panama is still booming. When we visited the Panama Canal, the employees their felt enormous pride in the nation’s role and the whole atmosphere seemed one of limitless potential as the canal was preparing for a planned massive expansion to the locks.

            A week ago we took a bus from our hostel in Panama City to the Breezes resort outside on the beach about two hours away and on the way, the people with the bus company, young Panamanians that were about 25, were beaming about their country. They told us proudly about the success that Panama was having in operating the canal and that there was a very short learning curve – the transition from American to Panamanian control of this vital economic resource was very smooth but of utmost importance to Panama. They also echoed what we learned at the canal itself and told us how excited they were about the planned expansion of the locks in the canal. This was going to help the nation even more. At all times, however, Panama is aware of its role as a major facilitator of trade. It strives to live and operate its canal and its nation for the good of the rest of the world.

            When the VGs first decided that they’d traveled to Panama, I was skeptical. I’d heard that central America was beautiful and I’d heard about Honduras and Costa Rica but I’d never thought of Panama as a tourist destination. I knew them for Teddy Roosevelt and his canal and for some good baseball players. Panama does not get the attention of Costa Rica from tourists but this is actually very beneficial for the tourists that do travel to Panama – it is amazingly inexpensive to live and get around there. $1 cab rides became an expectation. (Wayne, Tre, John and I were upset that we could only negotiate a cross-city airport to airport cab ride down to $25 for the four of us). Hostels are commonly found for $10 to maybe $13 a night if you get there really late without reservations. And the service and the feel of the country is really welcoming.

            Of course, there are parts of the city that you don’t want to enter, and these parts seem to be getting left behind. The affectionately named “kill zone” behind our hostel was one such area. We were frankly warned not to wander in their at night, and never to go their alone. And yet, when we did travel through, there were citizens living and shopping and working and playing. There were more national flags out in these areas than anywhere else in Panama.

            The Passion of Panamanians is Pride – pride in their ability to successfully operate the important Panama Canal and confidence and excitement in Panama’s future as a truly global nation, which aims to work for and with the rest of the world. I certainly will make every effort to come back to Panama in the future because I want to see where this determined and beautiful nation will go and where it’s pride will take it next.