Panama Day Two

Whew.
This is going to go as quickly as possible since I didn't get my siesta today.
After breakfast this morning we headed out to tour Panama. We first stopped by old U.S. government offices that oversaw the canal. It had a spectacular view of the hub of the loading docks. Afterwards we headed to a memorial site for people killed that began a revolt due to the mistreatment they received as Panamanians, all inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Afterwards we headed out to Isla Flamenco where many of the citizens house their boats. It had a couple of restaurants over looking the Pacific Ocean that looked nice. On the way back to main land we passed a crazy building, soon to be a BioMuseum.
From there we headed to a local fish market and watched a group of Panamanian police hop out of a caged pick-up to arrest a man. Everywhere I got there is trouble! There have been police everywhere, but other than this occurence, they have done little other than simply be present. Panama apparently has very little crime outside the slums. The people of the slums are directed back to their neighborhood if caught outside at night to keep crime down, especially for tourists. Panama has even enacted complimentary medical insurance for foreigners traveling to the country for up to 30 days.
I feel as if my attitude towards the slums has changed. Especially after visitng Old Colonial Panama. The homes were very old and at one point in time, abandoned and destined to become slums. However, Panama has taken over to refurbish the homes and move out the slum inhabitants unless they work in the area. At first I was torn between pushing them out because they do not work or deciding if it was right to do that to the poor.
Now, I understand that Panama is working hard to ensure the many businesses that have come there remain socially responsible.
One of the hotels we toured today was The Canal House. It only had three rooms and we even got to see the medium sized room. The hotel kept to its original infrastructure, but the inside was absolutely beautiful and slightly modern. Ironically the hotel was attached to a building that was clearly not refurbished and seemed to house the previous slum's inhabitants. Just a block over were very nice resaurants and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The area reminded me a lot of New Orleans with its character and building designs. The Canal House is my favorite for combining the beauty of the past and present. Also, it is boutique which I am very interested in. Most of all, I am trying to find a way for Hospitality to bring more socially responsible habitats into the properties.
The Canal House is doing just that through fundacion calicanto.
They work with the Panama International Hotel School to first take women in the slums and send them through pyschology to help build their slef esteem, showing them that they are capable of changing their own lives and giving them the empowerment tools necessary to do so. Then the Hotel school trains them for a very minimal price that many get scholarships for to make beds and other housekeeping necessities, both mechanical and social. This is also a skill that they take to their homes. Once they are done with their year, many are hired out through the school. The Canal House and their other boutique property both hire out through the school to work with these women through their first jobs. Many of the women are ecstatic to be paying their mortage and even having the money just to paint their house.
I take way too much for granted.
That is such a beautiful thing to give. I felt nudged a little in that direction today, but who knows what will come.
Afterwards we headed to hotel Mirarmar, an IHG property. The exterior, lobby, and pool seemed nice, but the restaurant was lacking. Not in service or the food (dessert was awesome), but the look appeared like that of some grandmother's kitchen. Not even my grandmother's are lame enough to decorate like that. Google it sometime.
We headed through downtown panama afterwards to explore all the condo's going up. Many of which are already sold. Our tour guide's condo cost around $50,000 a couple of years ago and is worth around $150,000 now. He only pays $100, which includes utilities, a month toward home owner association fees. He also owns a condo that is nearer to the beach that he bought for $47,000 and is worth around $120,000. He rents it out a makes around $1,000 a month, which definitely helps to pay the bills. The condo's seem to be springing up everywhere. And with a very modern look which makes me wonder how long it will last.
My favorite's were The Bellagio Condo's.
Don't forget my birthday is coming up, ha!
We also got the chance to check out Panama's first man made island communities which will be completed in a couple years. Expect great prices, I mean, things.
Our last stop was to Manray Hotel. A new modern hotel in downtown Panama which has DJ parties that people wait forever to get into on their rooftop next to their super cool pool.
By the end of this hot day in the sun I was grateful for the cool breeze that blew through the van and the pool that awaited me. After a swim a couple of us roamed through the City of Knowledge, realizing what a legit community it is when we stumbled upon a huge and very active park area.
Well, that about does it!