Casco Viejo (Old Town) Panama City

I want to jump right in and tell you all about the Panama Canal Museum.  But, I can't (besides it's not in my nature).  It is still all a little surreal and I feel as if I have to build up the story (just a little bit).

**Side note **
One of the really unbelievable technological advances, that we have in 2013, is BY FAR Google Maps.  It's really hard to imagine that one can simply pull out their mobile phone and at any time know exactly (I mean GPS exact) where one is at.

My first stop in the Dominican Republic (even while still inside the airport) was the Orange mobile telephone shop to by a prepaid SIM card for my cheap, unlocked, android phone (the phone that is always on the ready for the Philippines).  I dished out a mere $3 for the SIM card and another $5 for the prepaid balance, sent a quick text and I was on the internet surfing by the time I left the airport.

Now Panama wasn't quite that easy, only because I arrived at 3am.  But after a very short rest, I was up and out of the hotel by 9am and had a SIM card and was internet surfing by 9:10am!  Seriously, it took me less than 10 minutes and I was yet once again internet surfing on my phone.  $1.50 for a SIM card in Panama, my only decision was which carrier I needed to choose.  Of course, I told the Pharmacist (yes, they sell SIM cards in the pharmacies in Panama) that I wanted whichever one has the fastest internet connection.

I really did zero preparation for Panama, and Google Maps saved SO MUCH time and effort.  I remember the days of running around with maps, in hand, trying to figure out which way to go.  Walking for blocks and then realizing that it was the wrong direction.  Now, nobody has a clue what your doing on your phone, they automatically assume your sending a text message or something else.  The places that I tend to visit are generally not very "friendly" to tourists waving maps around.  Don't get me wrong, I visit those places too.  One of my greatest success, in foreign travel, has always been the ability to blend in and not draw too much attention to myself.

OK, now the Canal Museum.

It's a little surreal to try and back track and relive the anticipation I had while walking to the Panama Canal Museum.  Ever since 4th or 5th Grade I have dreamed of visiting this place.  I remember back(even at 10yo), President Carter signing the Panama Canal Treaty.  This was a big deal for a 4th or 5th grader and I remember drawing a map where the Panama was located.  Now 35 years later, I am here.  Albeit not at the canal (just yet), but at the Museum of the Canal.

There is no possible way that I can adequately describe the Museum.  It is a must see for every American.  The involvement that we had in this endeavor, clearly makes it a full circle for me.  Sadly, photos were not allowed inside the museum.  However, it had an absolutely unbelievable amount of artifacts, original documents, media, print, everything.  The museum was in Spanish.  However, there was an audio tour in English.  Thank heavens, cause I would have still been there reading every display (and there is a lot of them).

It really did a fantastic job at describing the trials and tribulations of the French and then Americans.

I really am at a loss for words to describe the museum, incredible.  Located in Casco Viejo, right off Plaza De La Independencia, the building housing that houses the museum has a tremendous amount of history itself!  It was created in the late 1800's, and served as the former French Canal Company offices, U.S. Isthmian Canal Commission, then a local Post Office.  In 1997, The Museum took it back over and have done an unbelievable job.

PLEASE, if you have the inclination to visit, do not wait as long as I did.  It is absolutely impressive!

"Heaven" at Arts Park in Hollywood, FL

 

When traveling, I absolutely love the unplanned and unintended surprises that come with being in the right place at the right time.

I had been lounging, drinking Starbucks coffee, and pretending I was someone else for a couple of hours (OK, maybe a little longer) in Hollywood Beach, FL.  It was one of those days where I convinced myself that if I waited just a little longer, the next "adventure" would catch in my sail....  I walk outside and BAM... it hit me... Heaven!

Food Truck Heaven!

There are a few things that I get really excited about and one of those just happens to be Food Trucks!

I totally love the entrepreneurial spirit and the passion that each truck delivers.  The food is almost always pretty damn good too.  Needless to say, I was in food truck heaven.

Local governments that wish to curtail, excessively regulate, limit and dampen this spirit... Please don't.

 

Decisions, decisions, decisions !!

I can only be in one location and be forced to make this choice. Yes.. you guessed it.

The Everglades.

I know you want me (Calle Ocho)...

Little Havana

Maybe some of you haven't heard of Pitbull and one of his most popular songs, "I know you want me (Calle Ocho)?   But, since I've made a reference to Calle Ocho in one of my previous blog entries, I thought maybe I should share a little about Calle 8 and my visits over the past 25 years.

My first visit to Calle Ocho was in late 1988 (or very early 1989), while serving in the Navy and stationed aboard the Battleship Wisconsin.  We pulled into Fort Lauderdale for a short 3 or 4 day visit and  I was invited to go on liberty call with some Puerto Rican shipmates.  We headed straight for Little Havana (I guess it was the only thing they knew?).  Anyway, it was complete and total culture shock, but in a very good way.  We spent the day there, enjoying ourselves like sailors do.  Fortunately for us, there was a street event happening that weekend with A LOT of people, fantastic food and wonderful music.

My memories of that first trip down Calle Ocho will never be forgotten.  It was sensory overload in every good way imaginable.

Sadly, Little Havana is no longer the mega center of the Cuban immigrant population.  Now, it seems like every Central American country has and equal representation there.  One thing that does remain is Domino Park, aka "Maximo Gomez Park".  This has been (and continues to be) the place where the remaining retired Cuban Americans come to play dominoes and chess daily.

Don't get me wrong.. Calle Ocho still has it's charm.  Maybe, and just perhaps, it is me that has "matured" over the last 25.  Nevertheless, without doubt, it certainly still has the best cup of double espresso (Cafe Cubano) anywhere in Miami.

Until the next time.. A dios Calle Ocho!

Hasta la proxima vez SDQ....

Hmmmm..... How does one "end" a blog of their 10 day trip to Santo Domingo??  I have no clue!

Well, perhaps I should try and answer the question (and the reason) why I returned to Santo Domingo in the first place?   You remember, the tipping point, wanting to see the changes, etc...

Well, I can honestly say that I have no clue which way the city has gone.   Like all places, it has changed.   Some for the good and some not so great.  I guess for a city that has been around for 500+ years, I may have been expecting a little too much?

But I do know one thing... I will return.

...and I've figured out how to "end" my blog of SDQ, with more Photos (but of course) !

Columbus Alcazar

Monasterio de San Francisco

Hechos A Mano

I have to admit, I was totally and completely ignorant about Cigars.  The first (and only) time I ever tried to smoke a stogie, turned in to an extremely unpleasant experience (yeah, the whole dizziness and whatnot).  Never did I want to subject myself to that unpleasant experience again.  

I have walked past this local cigar shop many many times and it always calls out to me.  The allure factor is huge, it's  sophisticated.  Not a big shop and has a small window in which you can peer in and see the same guy rolling cigars by hand.  I have often wondered if he is blind.  He does it by instinct and never seems to be watching his hands while rolling the cigars.

So now that Kuya Rich has taken up cigar smoking on Sundays with Kuya Rob.... I finally have my reason to go inside!  I was very pleasantly surprised, and it ended up being a really good and educational experience.  Samuel, the younger Dominican sales guy, was very upfront and direct with all my questions.  This, in itself, is a rare treat when traveling overseas.  Samuel told me that all the tobacco used by Caoba is grown on their own plantations, unlike many others which are simply buyers and resellers of Cigars.  The Caoba plantation is located (just North of Santiago).  The aging and soaking (I'm sure that's not their term) of Caoba's platinum Cigars is done in Cognac.

Needless to say, this was a really great experience.  I'll forever have a better appreciation while watching Cigars "hecho a mano".

(Yes, that's him.)

The Cathedral of America

(official name: Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary of the America's First Ecarnación)

Nothing more needs to be said.  But, it's the oldest cathedral in the Americas.  Consecrated by Pope Julius II in 1504 and head Archdiocese of Santo Domingo.  The construction began in 1512 and was finished in 1541.

And here's the front of the Cathedral..

 

Churches are incredibly easy to photograph.  Somewhat boring (unless perhaps you're maybe Catholic)?  But, be it a wall, a painting, a statue or whatever.. Anything that is 500+ years old is just damn impressive.

For me, I immediately think of Bill Maher's movie "Religulous".  Nevertheless, whatever churches mean to you, being the first in the Americas is just damn cool.  Besides, it serves as the backdrop for Columbus Park, a place where I go to start my day by drinking a couple cups of Cafe Americano.  Which I am about to go do now :)

Hasta la proxima vez...

Hawaii FIVE-O ?

My day long "walking tour" and my quest to locate Santo Domingo's new Metro Line #2, didn't always have me in the "worst of the worst" parts of Santo Domingo (as you can see above).  I've traveled past the National Palace many times before, but never stopped to get a picture of it.  The Executive Branch Government offices are located here.  A little FYI, The National Palace stands on the grounds of the former Presidential Mansion that the US Military built during our occupation of the Dominican Republic from 1916-1924 (not when we later occupied this country in 65-66).

Today's blog entry was not intended to be about Neoclassical architecture in Santo Domingo, but what the hey, roll with it.  If the National Palace is #1 the Palace of Fine Arts is certainly #2 on the aesthetic scale.   Another gorgeous building built under the horrific dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.

Although I am staying less than two blocks from the Museum of the Dominican Resistance, I don't plan to revisit the museum on this trip.  But, I really really enjoyed my previous visit to the museum and it was incredibly informative (maybe horrifically shocking is a better word to describe Trujillo).  If anyone is ever in Santo Domingo, this museum is a must see. http://www.museodelaresistencia.org

Lots more to say about Santo Domingo, but it would be hard to compete with the best (architecture) and the worst (Trujillo), so until manana...

PS.  The stray dog "factor" in Santo Domingo is almost ZERO.  I only say this because of having feared for my life while chased by a pack of wild stray dogs in Colombia, it's important stuff !

Circa 1492, Christopher Columbus and his 3rd landfall

You know the story.. in 1492, the Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria set sail and the subsequent discovery of the new world... I haven't been (as of today) to the first two landfalls, but I certainly can say that I've been to the 3rd.  Actually, I've been here before and recent as just two short years ago.

So why return to Dominican Republic so soon (I'm sure everyone is thinking it)?  Last time, I really felt like the capital city was on the verge of a tipping point, one direction or the other.. and I wasn't sure which way it would go.  So, curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to see the changes of the last two years.

I can firmly say after 3 days, I'm still not sure.  Maybe I was expecting to see the night and day differences that I witnessed in Vietnam in the early 1990's?  I'm not sure, but I walked through some of the most dangerous barrios in Santo Domingo yesterday (in my quest to find the newly opened line #2 of the Metro system which opened a just couple of months ago) and I survived and I am alive today to write about it.  Maybe I should just stop looking for the obvious and call it good?  I'm pretty sure I could not have done that "walking tour" two years ago.

Oh, by the way, I never did find Line #2.

Key West. Key West.. Oh... Key West

This Southernmost point buoy has been on my "radar" for easily the last 25 years.  Every time I see a picture of it, a reference to it, anything that looks like it.... I tell myself, I must see it.

Well, the moment was right and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I saw it!  Now, I am asking myself why?  Why in the world haven't I been down to Key West before 2013?  What an AMAZING city!  Drop whatever is holding you back and GO. Go, just as I should have done 25 years ago.

Key West reminds me a lot of the Virgin Islands.  It certainly doesn't seem like a part of the US.  There is money, lots of money, here in Key West.  An amazing job at preserving the buildings, churches, and culture here.  Any words that I try and come up with will really not do Key West justice.  It's simply gorgeous, just go!

There were three stops that I knew I had to make, and I am so glad this was one of them.  Incredibly informative staff, amazingly preserved, certainly THE GEM OF FLORIDA.  The mere idea that so much of our US history was made here, is just too much to fathom.  From it's Military Headquarters, Thomas Edison, President Truman, General Eisenhower,  President JFK here after the Cuban Missile Crisis, Peace Summits, the list goes on (and on)...  This is one of those kind of places that catch you off guard, really off guard, in a really good way.  Powerful, very powerful.

Thank you Key West for being everything that I thought it would be and MORE! Oh, SO MUCH MORE !

So, until the next stop, on this train ... Here's to a fabulous Florida sunset !

Art Deco.. South Beach (Miami) and the likes...

I really can't think of a better place in the lower 48 to recharge ones batteries.  South Beach is an incredibly amazing place.  Having been here before, OK... many times before, I can never get enough of SoBe (and Miami in general).  I feel as if every aspect of its attraction speaks directly to me. The heartbeats of the people, amazing foods, incredible Art Deco architecture, ocean smells.

Needless to say, perfection.

Miami Design Preservation League does a fantastic Art Deco walking tour, take it.  The welcome center is a must for learning about the history and development of Miami Beach.

For now, I'm off to Calle 8, aka "Little Havana".. I'm feeling the need for some cafe con leche, No, the REAL cafe con leche. Tomorrow, I'll tell more about my first trip to Key West.

Legislative Session? What 77th Legislative Session?  It really seems like a lost memory at this point.  Needless to say, I'm recharged and ready to travel.  Next stop? Santo Domingo on Thursday.  Yes, it's Santo Domingo again.

(Thanks Tom for keeping me honest.)

Neil Sedaka - One way ticket (to the blues) - 1959

Simply incredible timing for this song to appear... 

I have purchased a "one way ticket" to Miami, FL on Friday, June 7th.  I have no plan, no agenda, no clue where I will end up.  100% Serious.  I will try and make it down to Panama City to see the Panama Canal.  Something that I have wanted to see for a very long time.  Stay tuned....