Panama

Traveling During Covid · Got a full body cavity scan at Sea-Tac airport · Flight from Seattle to Miami delayed by 30 minutes due to a de-ice truck breaking down · Miami to Panama City flight cancelled after arriving in Miami (26 people on standby for next flight) · Flight to Panama City aborted its landing at last second – plane’s engines roared back to life · Plane delayed at gate due to pushback tractor breaking down in front of gate · Flight from Panama City to Miami cancelled - called American Airlines at 2AM on New Year’s Day – was in an Uber an hour later to catch a 7AM flight · Woke up at 4AM the next morning to catch flight from Dallas to Seattle

Confusing Covid Rules · Panama does not require a covid test for vaccinated travelers · However, when checking into my flight in Seattle, the airline agent said I needed a negative covid test to enter Panama o Said I could get a test at the airport o All my research suggested this was not the case o Turns out I did not need to take a covid test · Used a home covid test to get back into the United States · When checking in during my flight, the airline agent seemed indecisive on whether to accept my covid test result o This home test kid is officially approved by the US government o It shouldn’t even be open to debate – it is an officially approved covid test result

Tour Guides

· All of my tours were private – it was just me and the private tour guide · The tours were on average $200, which included the private vehicle and guide · I was supposed to have three different private tour guides, but one of them cancelled at the last minute o I fortunately was able to book another tour with the tour guide I used on the first day · The first tour guide was born in Vietnam, raised in Montreal, and now lives in Panama (as of six years ago) o He knows four languages – his wife in Panamanian · The second tour guide was born in Venezuela, but fled due to government corruption about six years ago

Economic Impact of Covid · Covid has had a severe impact on central and south America o Uber driver had lost his business due to Pandemic o People from surrounding countries coming to Panama for better opportunities o Tour companies are at 10% of normal business – many tour guides lost jobs o One of my tour guides had no income last year – fortunately his wife still had job o Another of my tour guides fled Venezuela due to government corruption o Taxi drivers at airport most aggressive I have seen Money Laundering · Ever wonder why so many of the sky rise windows are dark? · Ever wonder why so many hotel permits are approved? · One of my tour guide’s wife is a banking compliance offer…

Watermelon War · Panama is a country of strategic importance · US in the 1900s used Panama to move from one coast more easily to other during the gold rush · Panamanians at the time struggling for independence from Columbia · But Panamanians also began suspecting the U.S. had their eye on taking over Panama as well · So, this started Anti-American sentiment – and is what fueled the Watermelon War · Watermelon episode – American guy drunk. Refused to pay for watermelon. Started fight. Many Americans and Panamanians fight. Five dead. Why so much tension? ·

Panama Canal History · Idea started in Spanish colonization – wild jungles made the job difficult · French engineer who built the Suez Canal failed to build the Panama Canal o 20,000+ workers died from tropic disease, landslides, etc. · Another French engineer argued that the plan would fail – and it did after 7 years · This French engineer did not want the Panama Canal to fail · He convinced Americans (Theo Roosevelt) to give up effort in Nicaragua · However, Columbia refused to give American’s permission · French engineer convinced Americans to help Panamanians with independence · French engineer (also the ambassador to newly created country of Panama) struck a deal with Americans – Americans would be granted permission to build the canal o But no Panamanians agreed to deal – didn’t like this fact · 34 years – diff cultures and countries – 28K died – the canal was this important · Biggest engineering – so simple and so amazing – gates triangular – no pumping system – amazing mules – o

Panama Canal Zone · Student riots in 1960s protested Canal zone treaty · This land is actually ours – rose up against occupation · Why did students come? US approved a law to Panamanian flag · Treated signed to give sovereignty to Panama · Americans did not assimilate. Instead, isolated themselves into an American community. · Unable to travel via the canal zone (although US offered to open to Panamanians, but Panama government declined)

Political Climate · Pension funds have mysteriously dwindled · Public vs private – private schools tend to be better (although wide array of them) · Same with private hospitals · Two main parties (like united states) · Panamanians always unhappy with government · No unemployment insurance or welfare · There were “gold” and “silver” standards for people based on education (effectively along racial lines) · Descendants of canal works think they should get free services. Lot of drinking, babies, drugs · Cruise ship corruption – some cruise ships have arrangements · Corruption – no open bidding process · Everyone has a price

Misc. · Did Uber everywhere · Fewer Panamanians know English then do people in the Philippines · I got the impression there are more friendly people in the Philippines · Even hotel staff not always speak English very well · Panama much more modern. Country of contrasts. Little bit of everything. Want modern city. Mountains. Islands.

• Tourism industry hit extremely hard – only at around 10% of peak • Most impressive thing about canal – the thought to connect two oceans • Pacific Ocean tides 10-18 feet while Atlantic 10-18 inches • Usually see USA protecting self-interest – schools and other such services for Americans • Jimmy Carter said colonization bad, but canal also not profitable. No workers to support • USA/Panama – love/hate relationship • Fumigation, water, etc. • Students wanted flag USA school. Governor approved • Watermelon episode – American guy drunk. Refused to pay for watermelon. Started fight. Many Americans and Panamanians fight. Five dead. Why so much tension? • Latinos complaining instead of doing something • Islands – San Blas – no resorts – Indian reservation • Contadora – your gesture • Diff in languages and accents. Food differences. Only Mexico eats tacos. Music diff. How you answer to “Gracias” is also different. Some is “OK”. Others are “much gusto”. Etc. • Dictatorship – 6 million people have left Venezuela • Red frog resort • Bocas Del Boro • Empty buildings and large number of hotel permits approved – money laundering • El Tranche • Grandoo. Rice. Add coconut milk. • White fish. Skin is crisply • Panama much more modern. Country of contrasts. Little bit of everything. Want modern city. Mountains. Islands. • Sav vals or san bals • Unable to travel via the canal zone (although US offered to open to Panamanians, but Panama government declined) • Pearl island – contadora – season of survival – can take ferry or plane • Going to Amadora Island now • Restaurant consulting – not interesting

From https://d.docs.live.net/ab5d0ae5d8bc9ff3/Documents/_travel/panama/Panama_notes.docx

Panama - Story of cities #16: how the US-run Canal Zone divided Panama for a century | Cities | The Guardian