Panama City

After a long delay at the Miami airport (somewhere around five hours waiting my hour flight to Panama) I realized that I was nervous about arriving. Maybe it was because I thought that I forgot how to get into the "right frame of mind" that prepares you to be in Latin America. Because in all reality you have to change your mind set and put everything on Panama time. But as soon as I got into Casco Veijo I realized how beautiful this part of the city is compared to the rest of Panama city.

This growing city is under constant construction, the stench of pollution and humidity is so intense there were times yesterday when I was walking around the "main part of Panama City" that I thought I could not breathe. Leaving me feeling badly for the people who have to work in this mess all the time. There are pictures of the plans of the buildings throughout the city. Huge buildings that intend to go up as I write this. All of it seems very unplanned, and still half of the city is pitch black at night.

Casco Veijo is very different, seems to be the best plan for a city in the tropics. Everything is very open, music blares through every window. Some blocks show the rough side of this part of the city, areas are still very unsafe. I am writing this at my friends hostel he just opened up called Luna's Castle. An very old building, three levels holding a kitchen, bedrooms, and reading area. It's interesting being back in the backpacker scene, and yes it is quite the scene. I enjoy most of it getting to know people from all over the world and why they wanted to explore Panama. Dan (one of the owners of the hostel) at lunch today was telling that the block that the hostel is on is pretty safe because one of the richest men in Panama has a apartment across the street and he has security guards but then Dan changed his tone and pointed to an old falling down building and said "see that building, thats where the roughest gang in Panama lives, I am still trying to figure out if they like us cause we are on their block or if they are going to kill us, haha"
Most people from Panama won't wonder these streets. But that is mostly hype. I have never put myself in a situation where I felt unsafe here.

There is feeling of change happening everywhere this mixture of old Panama with a new yuppie/indie feel. Hidden art shows, a Rasta club open all hours of the night next to a heavy metal garage band.
But even as all of these sounds bounce from building to building there is still the content beat of latin american music...

Yesterday, I was able to check out two of Spencer's gardens. One of the gardens is located behind his apartment, the other is in an abandoned building. Both are amazing, he has collected some of the most rarest herbs and plants from around the world and now is growing them in the city.
I am taking many notes on how this all works and am excited about learning about what he is doing, and why it is so sustainable. As of right now, it is raining, first real rain of the "rainy season" putting my rain boots on and going to go check out more plants....

Arrived in Panama City