In most children’s lives the most important day, one they will never forget, was their first visit to a circus. In small rural towns, the circus parade announcing the coming of a circus, was the event of the day in the vicinity. Everybody came out to the dirt road to see the spectacular parade of clowns, acrobats, elephants, camels, horses, and what have you.
Unfortunately, where I lived—in a banana plantation in Bocas del Toro—there were no circus parades. There were no circuses. Period. My first encounter with a circus was at age 33. I have to confess, I wasn’t impressed. Of course I wasn’t a kid then.
Recently, a Mexican circus came to town and made camp a few blocks from our house. Everyday I drive my wife to work, I see several cars parked outside the circus with parents taking their kids to watch the circus animals. There are camels, elephants, horses, llamas, burros and zebras. You should see the eyes of the kids on the other side of the fence—big as a silver dollar.
I had to take the advantage of this visit and capture the scene with my Birthday digital camera. This is what the nestlings saw at the other side of the fence. Here we go.
Entrance of the Mexican circus which recently visited Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
This is the ticket booth where you buy the tickets. It's swarmed with parents and kids during the weekends. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
Below are the admittance prices:
- Bleachers: $10.00
- Stalls: $15.00
- Balconies: $20.00
- Children between two and eight years pay $2.00 each no matter where they seat.
From Monday thru Friday there’s only one show at 7:30 p.m. On Saturdays: Two shows at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Sundays there are three shows: 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
Photograph of a small circus worker taking a break during the morning. There is evidence he likes to drink Coca Cola. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
A veteran elephant takes his daily break before the show starts during the evenings. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
Photograph of a couple of Arabian camels who turned their backs on us. Poor manners. (Smile) (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
A hungry zebra scratches the ground in search of a patch of hay or grass. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
I can image the struggle going on in many Panama homes between broke parents and their children trying to collect a couple of elusive dollars to take their kids to the circus. The persistence of children is legendary. Good Day.
