During my last photo walk to Casco Viejo, I was summoned by a very extroverted waiter to visit a cafeteria which had been recently renovated. From the outside it was no big deal. But once you got in, everything was delicate and exquisite.
The owner had restored the whole building and decorated the cafeteria with nostalgia in mind. One of the walls was covered with newspapers of yesteryear. There was a big black and white photograph of a Panamanian President. It think it was Justo Arosemena.
At the bar sitting 0n tall stools, were a few customers talking actively while sipping black steaming coffee. From the nearby large windows, I noticed bright rays of light shyly filtering into the semidark room. I’m sure Rembrandt would have loved to capture this timid light in one of his paintings.
Once in the cafeteria, I was met with a lively employee and assistant who bent themselves backwards showing me the place. They almost begged me to go to the terrace to take pictures and enjoy the morning breeze. It was roughly seven o’clock in the morning. They also suggested I visit a garden inside the building.
A garden inside a house at Casco Viejo? Come on, you’re pulling my leg. No, it was true. Inside the regal old building, I was absorbed into this beautiful tropical garden with graceful chairs, tables, lamps and a modern wooded floor. The scene was extracted from a deluxe magazine like Vogue, Architectural Digest, House & Garden or Condé Nast. The scene was absolutely adorable and certainly raised my eyebrows. I knew then and there, it was a perfect opportunity to freeze this scene in time. And I did!
This is the enticing tropical garden inside a regal Casco Viejo building one lazy Sunday morning. Enjoy.
View of the lush tropical garden inside the hotel. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
A chick set of table and chairs decorated the tropical garden. The wooden floor looked like a million bucks. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Photograph of a banana plant inside a tropical garden at a Casco Viejo apartment hotel. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Close your eyes and imagine having an evening meal with blanc de blanc Champagne in a place like this. The ambience truly reflects the French expression "Joie de Vivre." Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Oh, before I forget. The name of this wonderful place is Las Clementinas, Chambers, Cafe & Bar in the nostalgic neighborhood of the one and only one Panama Casco Viejo. Ah! It feels so good to be alive. Au revoir!
Hidden gardens are a delight. As you walk around the French Quarter in New Orleans you pass a lot of walls reminiscent, I think, of old areas of Europe. Most tourists have no idea that the battered doors lead into wonderful courtyards filled with flowers, fountains and other goodies hidden away from the world. In Panama City there is an Italian restaurant, Caffe Pomodoro that has outside dining amidst trees and flowers and is completely hidden from people walking down the street.
Hi Richard:
I had no idea this enticing garden was inside this small apartment hotel. It was a pleasant experience.
Never heard of the Pomodoro Restaurant, but promise will investigate.
Regards,
Omar.-
It looks like and sounds like you are getting out and breaking wind more than you had in the past. From your excellent writing and your beautiful photographs I thoroughly enjoyed the post. I have only a few fleeting memories of walled gardens but the ones in Arizona were especially nice to see, for me, and I enjoyed the plants and statues found inside them. The others were in Japan and without any doubts contained a new level of design that mimics nature in ways I had not seen before. Lots of raked gravel to simulate water and large stones placed in strategic places to remind you of an island. I really thought they were the best I had seen.
Hi Abe:
There is so much to see out there, and so little time to see it all. I’m enjoying the journey with a new set of eyes. Reality under the lens of a camera is much different than from what you can see with the naked eye.
Thank you for your encouraging remarks.
Regards,
Omar.-
What a beautiful place, and such lovely photographs! I do love enclosed/hidden gardens. The first which came to mind were those mentioned by Richard – in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Here, everything is more open – lots of chairs and tables in front of restaurants.
I have a friend in England who’s created an utterly gorgeous courtyard garden in a space about the size of my living room – what amazes me most is how much work it takes. I sometimes think working in a smaller space is harder than in a larger!
Hello Linda:
I had no idea there was such a lush tropical garden inside the small hotel. The wooden floor plus the metallic tables and chairs made it nice and cozy.
Panama is working very hard to attract tourists; so far the flow has been increasing year-to-year.
I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures.
Regards,
Omar.-