Earlier this week, a friend picked me up and told me that we were going to go to buy tomatoes (she knows that I like to dry them and therefore need a lot...a kilo produces only a small zip lock bagful). We drove out of El Valle, up a mountain road (but a good road!), and saw tomatoes growing up the sides of the mountains. We stopped at a local farm, and the farmer took us up to the tomato-growing area. We had to walk on narrow little paths, which went up and down, around, and over streams; it was perhaps a 15 minute hike to reach the tomato plants. Oh, and were they healthy and lush! I was grateful to be living in macho land, because after the tomatoes were picked (50 kilos or so), the MEN carried the buckets down to our car and all I had to do was concentrate on not falling. I remember when we were driving through Guatemala, seeing corn planted up the mountainsides and realizing that, in North America, corn is only planted in flat areas because of the mechanized state of agriculture. And I guess the same could be said of tomatoes; I was so impressed to see that all the mountainsides were green with tomatoes.
We also have a local organic farmer here in El Valle. His lettuces are beautiful, as are the few other vegetables he has. We have all started buying our special seeds for him, so that we can expand his produce line. Yesterday I gave him spinach seeds because I have the hardest time finding spinach here. Funny, the things one misses.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Carnaval, February 1-4, 2008
Carnaval in Panama! What a riot! Carnaval is sacred here, and celebrated all over although a handful of towns are famous for the quality of celebrations.
In those towns, there are queens of Calle Arriba and Calle Bajo, and the courts of the two queens are great rivals. Apparently, each court makes up songs (derogatory) about the other court. The costumes are themed and not the skimpy Rio-type costumes.
Crowds gather in the streets to dance and enjoy. And the big event is when the water is turned on and people get wet. Days before carnaval, towns brag that they have plenty of water this year.
Up here in El Valle, there were no parades although we were told that last year there were parades. There was plenty of water throwing and water balloons. I was doused several times while riding my bike by two boys in the back of a truck. They had a barrel of water with a hose and were having a great time. I didn't mind getting wet; all in good fun!
In those towns, there are queens of Calle Arriba and Calle Bajo, and the courts of the two queens are great rivals. Apparently, each court makes up songs (derogatory) about the other court. The costumes are themed and not the skimpy Rio-type costumes.
Crowds gather in the streets to dance and enjoy. And the big event is when the water is turned on and people get wet. Days before carnaval, towns brag that they have plenty of water this year.
Up here in El Valle, there were no parades although we were told that last year there were parades. There was plenty of water throwing and water balloons. I was doused several times while riding my bike by two boys in the back of a truck. They had a barrel of water with a hose and were having a great time. I didn't mind getting wet; all in good fun!
Jazz Festival, January 21-26, 2008
The Panama Jazz Festival is a week-long event, with the first several days being devoted to workshops and teaching. The public music events were on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We went to them all!
Thursday and Friday were in the convention center. We had great seats and the acoustics were good. However, Thursday was a real disappointment with mediocre music (Tia Fuller and Catherine Russell, both from the US). Neither bothered to speak one word of Spanish, and their music couldn't hold the audience. A big disappointment.
But Friday made up for it! We started with the Dave Samuels Caribbean Jazz Project; they had lots of energy. Then along came the Stanley Jordan Trio. Stanley Jordan, an American jazz guitarist, spoke entirely in Spanish but mostly played heavenly music and mostly without the other guys. And then he sat down at the piano and played a duet with himself: one hand playing the guitar and one hand playing the piano. Two sounds coming through one body was magical. Tommy was hoping for a one-man trio; why couldn't he play the sax as well?
Saturday was a free concert in the cathedral plaza in Casco Viejo (old town). The concert was two hours late starting but we enjoyed watching the audience assemble (everyone else seemed to realize that the concert would start late). We did stay for two hours of music but were tired and ready to call it a weekend, so we left mid-afternoon. We understand that the event went on til 11 at night, ending again with Stanley Jordan.
Next year we'd like to get a hotel in the Casco Viejo area for Saturday night. Casco Viejo is an area in transition; it is mostly terribly run down and very down market. In the rebuilt areas, it is beautiful and reminds us a lot of New Orleans. Anyway, to get to the cathedral grounds, you have to walk quite a few blocks through not nice areas (the taxis aren't allowed through). There are police everywhere so probably nothing bad will happen, but next year we'd like to stay til the end and only have a couple of blocks to walk.
Anyway, the jazz festival is really great and well worth going to. And yes Wilson, we did buy the t-shirt.
Thursday and Friday were in the convention center. We had great seats and the acoustics were good. However, Thursday was a real disappointment with mediocre music (Tia Fuller and Catherine Russell, both from the US). Neither bothered to speak one word of Spanish, and their music couldn't hold the audience. A big disappointment.
But Friday made up for it! We started with the Dave Samuels Caribbean Jazz Project; they had lots of energy. Then along came the Stanley Jordan Trio. Stanley Jordan, an American jazz guitarist, spoke entirely in Spanish but mostly played heavenly music and mostly without the other guys. And then he sat down at the piano and played a duet with himself: one hand playing the guitar and one hand playing the piano. Two sounds coming through one body was magical. Tommy was hoping for a one-man trio; why couldn't he play the sax as well?
Saturday was a free concert in the cathedral plaza in Casco Viejo (old town). The concert was two hours late starting but we enjoyed watching the audience assemble (everyone else seemed to realize that the concert would start late). We did stay for two hours of music but were tired and ready to call it a weekend, so we left mid-afternoon. We understand that the event went on til 11 at night, ending again with Stanley Jordan.
Next year we'd like to get a hotel in the Casco Viejo area for Saturday night. Casco Viejo is an area in transition; it is mostly terribly run down and very down market. In the rebuilt areas, it is beautiful and reminds us a lot of New Orleans. Anyway, to get to the cathedral grounds, you have to walk quite a few blocks through not nice areas (the taxis aren't allowed through). There are police everywhere so probably nothing bad will happen, but next year we'd like to stay til the end and only have a couple of blocks to walk.
Anyway, the jazz festival is really great and well worth going to. And yes Wilson, we did buy the t-shirt.
Health Update, February 13, 2008
We just learned that there was a rumor going around the Algarve, saying that Tommy had died. NO WAY! He is alive and well, and was just told by the doctors that the chemo seems to have cleared all the cancer in his esophagus and bones. He'll start radiation therapy soon: scheduled for five weeks, five days a week.
Since this radiation will be in Panama City, we are looking into a short-term apartment rental or an aparthotel. It might be fun to spend a bit more time in Panama City.
Tommy's body is starting to recover from the brutal chemo sessions. He has regained his energy, and some weight, and his hair is coming back -- black, not red! And he has eyebrows again, so he doesn't look sick. So, sorry we didn't post this good news earlier.
Take care. Kill those rumors!
Since this radiation will be in Panama City, we are looking into a short-term apartment rental or an aparthotel. It might be fun to spend a bit more time in Panama City.
Tommy's body is starting to recover from the brutal chemo sessions. He has regained his energy, and some weight, and his hair is coming back -- black, not red! And he has eyebrows again, so he doesn't look sick. So, sorry we didn't post this good news earlier.
Take care. Kill those rumors!
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