Chorrera and Chitre October 29-30, 2018

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October 29, 2018

Before leaving Panama City this morning we visited El Chorrillo Neighborhood. It is well known in Panama for an incident the Panamanians call Black Christmas. In 1989, the United States invaded Panama in an attempt to overthrow military dictator Manuel Noriega, who had been indicted in the US on drug trafficking charges and was accused of suppressing democracy in Panama and endangering US nationals. Noriega’s headquarters were situated in the middle of this neighbourhood. On December 20, 1989, 4 days before Xmas, the US bombed Noriega’s headquarters. But of course, being in the middle of a crowded neighbourhood there were a lot of civilian casualties. There is a painted sign on a wall that says « Santa Claus brought bombs, this Christmas, to avenue A, December 20, 1989. »

We then proceeded out of Panama City to the town of Chorrera. First to explore a local produce market in search a fruit and vegetables before taking part in cooking lesson using the produce we bought. Our tour director separated us into 4 groups and gave each group a list of fruit and vegetables to buy along with $5. We then proceeded to a family’s home for lunch. They hosted 24 of us. We learned how to cook plantain, which was very delicious.

Afterwards, we continued to the town of Chitre, one of Panama’s oldest communities, and checked in the very charming hotel called la Cubita.

October 30, 2018

Today was a busy day. We left early this morning to visit Sarigua National Park also known as Sarigua desert. The site was once forested until colonizers in the second half of the 20th century clear-cut all the vegetation. In the last 20 years, because of shrimping activities, the vegetation is slowly growing back. We went early mornings because it gets very hot later in the day.

We also visited a man who makes ceramic pots. He does everything by hand no turning wheel. These pots are about a meter high. He sells them for $18 painted. The picture shows an unpainted pot.

We then visited a Pollera shop. A “Pollera” is a traditional costume of Panama worn by women. It is basically a blouse and a white two-tiered skirt, that are hand embroidered with exquisite details which in Panama acquired its own characteristics, differiating itself from Spanish dress and other Latin American dresses of Spanish origin. I went on the internet to check the origin of this dress but I like our tour director’s explanation better. Here it is. It is a dress that was worn by the slaves. They would fan out the dress to gather the chicken. That is where the name comes from. In spanish chicken is pollo, so the dress became pollera. The rich ladies found these dresses very beautiful and started wearing them also. Of course their dresses were made with finer material. This shop we visited is actually in a couple’s home. The dress is made entirely by hand by 25 to 30 artisans. The price for an adult dress is between $8,000 and $10,000. Not for your average Panamanian. There are cheaper versions.

We are having a great time here in Panama. The food is good, the Panamanian are very hospitable. Our tour group is great, everyone gets along. There are two many stories to tell, I would be writing all night. It is very hot and very humid. We have been lucky with the weather. Although rain is predicted every day, it has been overcast with a few sunny periods. It only rained once when we were at our home-hosted lunch.

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Photos

Cooking plantain
Ripe plantains are cut up and deep fried.

Cooking plantain 2
Unripe plantain are harder to cook. You must deep fry them twice. Cut them up fry rhem. Then squish them with this wooden plate and fry them again.

Comments

[Lyla]

Cooooool!
National park and cooking plantains! That is right up me alley. Looks like you are having a great time!