Day to day life in the City

I now settled in for my 2 weeks in Panama City.  Life settled into a routine. I learned that because of the excessive heat and humidity that I would go out in the morning and be back in the air conditioning by noon.  Each morning I walked the beach picking up sea glass, shells and pottery pieces.  But I always carried my camera.  There are areas under homes that homeless people would make into sleeping areas while the tide is out. They lay down pieces of cardboard and covered up with anything they can find.  I watched one man settle in and make his "nest" .  He took great care in making sure that everything was just right even going so far as to line up his shoes side by side before laying down.  He went to sleep ocean breezes blowing and dreaming of life that existed outside poverty.
On other days I watched men working out - having the solitude yet beauty of their own personal beach for that day.  Ooccasionally I was joined by other "tourists" picking up those special pieces of sea glass to take home as treasures.  Even though walked in the morning by the time I had spent walking to the end of the beach and back I was drenched in sweat and ready for the coolness of the apartment.  I did learn that returning and then taking a shower did no good - I had to take the time to let my body cool down completely of the sweat just continued to come out of me.  I would drink lots of water and relax for at least an hour then get cleaned up.
In the afternoon I would walk the streets learning about each corner and alleyway.  Living in Casco Viejo I found that many streets had their own feel.  There was the poverty of alleys where they pulled benches out on to the sidewalks and even the streets to find what breezes did blow thru.  The one street seemed to have all the musicians that all came to life after 5.  The  shops varied from one of a kind artwork to the usual tourist items.  Restaurants were fancy gourmet fare to street side vendors making breakfast sandwiches, snow cones and even children selling pieces of candy.
I loved the iron work in the doors, windows and railings, most old and some new but reproduced to look old.  Casco is going under renovations it has become the new "hot spot"  for renovations- which  means taking old shells of buildings and making homes and businesses.  Even the streets are being replaced which will be great in the long run but causes constant traffic problems, many streets closed as renovations take place causing even more traffic problems, remember the streets are barely the width of one car, and most are one way. Which also means that car horns are constantly blowing, trucks are rumbling down the streets, you have back ground noise of jack hammers and large equipment.  What it really means is that I could not wait until evening when once again the peace and quiet surrounded me. By late afternoon it was back to the rooftop for the gentle ocean  breezes and the calm. 
One evening was a special treat as the night sky was lit up with fireworks as part of Carnival. Other nights was the background music of various outdoor restaurants, but always the beauty of the city skyline and the quiet of the canal.

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