Welcome to the Panama Metro

Computer-generated picture depicting a small boy before the Panama Metro sometime in the future when the transportation project is operating. This is how one of the stations will look like. Picture courtesy of Metro de Panamá.

If are a regular reader of Lingua Franca, you probably know that I’ve followed the Panama Metro like a laser beam.  I want to know everything that happens with this landmark public transportation project.  It will be the next big thing in Panama after the expansion of the Panama Canal.

Recently, watching the news, I found out that a real scale model of a subway car was going to be exhibited at the XXI version of EXPOCOMER 2013 organized by the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.  EXPOCOMER is the largest commercial fair in Latin America.  More than 36 countries show their products to potential customers for three days.  According to a representative of EXPOCOMER, Panama´s economy was injected with $35 million during the event (hotel reservations, restaurants, taxi fares, shopping, tourist tours, souvenirs sales and so on and so forth and such like) and more than $80 million were generated in sales for same period.  Each passing year the numbers grow like mushrooms in a forest.

At midday on Saturday, April 20, 2013 I dashed over to EXPOCOMER to see how the Metro car looked like.  The real scale model represented one half of the real size of car, measuring about 9 meters long by 2.7 meters wide.  I was jumping out of my skin to shoot my pictures of this baby.

Before I insert the pictures taken, I would like to include a brief description of this mega-project for your ready reference.

EL METRO DE PANAMÁ

The first subway in Panama will have 19 trains hauling three passenger coaches each with a capacity to transport safely and reliably, initially up to 15,000 passengers per hour in each direction.  The mass transportation system is designed to carry up to 40,000 users per hour in each direction when it’s in full operation. The first of three branches is built on the route with the most demand for public transportation within the metropolis.

The first phase of Metro Line 1 will have 19 trains with a total of 57 cars, with a maximum capacity of 250 people per car, at a rate of 8 persons per square meter.  At full capacity Line 1 of the Panama Metro will have a fleet of 42 trains of 5 cars per train, which will allow the system to meet the transportation demand for that moment.  The first Panama Metro trains will be arriving about June 2013.

The Panama Metro is a mass transportation public project which consists of twelve stations; seven will be underground and five above ground.  The planned route is 14 kilometers long and should be completed in a time frame of about 23 minutes.  The designers of the system claim that there will be a train crossing the route every three minutes carrying a total of 15,000 passengers in each direction, (e.g., North and South).

The mega-project of Line One of the Panama Metro was awarded to Odebrecht of Brazil and Spanish FCC (Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas).  The trains were designed by the prestigious French corporation Alstom, focused on the business of manufacturing trains.

The above-ground or viaduct of the subway initiates at the Los Andes shopping center and concludes at Plaza Agora, where the trains descends into a tunnel until it reaches its destination at the Albrook Grand Terminal.  This raised section is 5.12 kilometers long with five passenger stations in strategic locations with a high flow of users.

The under-ground part of the subway begins from Plaza Agora, continues through Fernández de Córdoba Avenue, Justo Arosemena Avenue, Plaza 5 de Mayo and the DIJ.  This part of the subway is 6.7 kilometers long.  There is an extra stretch of 1.88 kilometers until the infrastructure reaches Albrook Station  where it connects with a main transportation terminal through a special walkway.

The average speed of the subway will be 80 kilometers per hour.  Transportation service will be from 5:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. every day of the year.  It is estimated that the Panama Metro will begin its operations during the first quarter of 2014.  The project has a total cost of $1.5 billion which is significant for a small country like Panama with limited financial resources.  Work has already begun on feasibility studies for a second line which will be carried out by the next administration.

Passenger Stations of the Panama Metro:

1.  Los Andes
2. Pan de Azúcar
3. San Miguelito
4. Pueblo Nuevo
5. Doce de Octubre
6. Vía Fernández de Córdoba
7. Vía Argentina
8. Iglesia del Carmen
9. Hospital Santo Tomás
10. Lotería Nacional de Beneficiencia
11. Plaza 5 de Mayo
12. Albrook Terminal

PICTURE GALLERY

Snapshot of the white tent which housed the real scale model of a subway car on exhibition at EXPOCOMER. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the Panama subway exhibited at the XXI version of EXPOCOMER in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the driver’s cabin depicting a small computer screen a several operating buttons. Everything is computerized in this mass public transportation project. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A close up picture of the dashboard of the subway. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A digital indicator of the different stations of the subway. As soon as the train reaches a particular station, a light will show the arrival of the train on the wall. Very easy to find yourself around if you are a newcomer to the subway. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of one of the beautiful guides posing for the camera. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of three enthusiastic guests at the subway posing for the camera. Their friendly smiles is contagious. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Yours Truly taking a picture of the subway car through a large mirror on one of walls of the structure. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

To end this fascinating tour to the Panama Metro, I thought it would be interesting to insert a YouTube video of the project.  Even though the video is in Spanish, I’m sure you will understand the concept of the transportation project.  Please stay tuned, there will be more pictures about this project in the future.  You can bet on it. Keep your eyes open.  Good Day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3BTs71TtvY

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Exhibition of Paul Gauguin’s Paintings in Panama

Snapshot of a street promotion poster announcing an art exhibition of Paul Gauguin’s paintings, “The Dream of Panama”, at Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá during December 7, 2012-March 10, 2013. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist who was not well appreciated until after his death.  His work was influential to the French avant-garde and many modern artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Gauguin’s art became popular after his death and many of his paintings were in the possession of Russian collector Sergei Shchukin.

Paul Gauguin experienced many bouts of depression and at one time attempted suicide. He traveled to Martinique in search of an idyllic landscape and worked as a laborer on the Panama Canal construction; he was dismissed from his job after only two weeks.  He also stayed in Taboga Island on the Pacific side of Panama where he painted for a short time. In 1891, Gauguin sailed to French Polynesia to escape European civilization and “everything that is artificial and conventional”.

Paul Gauguin lived on Taboga Island twice when he was out of money working for the French attempt of the Panama Canal. When Gauguin moved on to French Martinique and then Tahiti, most feel that his work was a result of his time spent on Taboga.  Painter Charles Laval lived in Taboga (the island of flowers) as well.

Photograph of El Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá located inside the Old Shell of Panama City (Casco Antiguo, San Felipe). Photograph courtesy of http://www.viajes.net.

The Inter-Oceanic Panama Canal Museum is housed in a fine antique building that was once the Gran Hotel and later the French canal headquarters. This is the best museum in Panama City and a mandatory stop for every traveler. The museum is a study of the Panama isthmus—from pre-Columbian times, to the arrival of the Spanish, to the French and the American canal-building efforts, through the present day.

The museum gives you a good understanding of the Isthmus of Panama as the center of world trade.  It also provides (somewhat subjectively) an explanation of the effect of the isthmus and the canal on the Panamanian idiosyncrasy. Historical documents here include the Torrijos-Carter Treaty that turned over control of the international waterway to Panama, multimedia and interactive exhibits, mock-household exhibits of everyday life during the history of the canal, a register of the U.S. Senate votes approving the canal, and a floor of old coins and stamps, including the famous Nicaragua stamp with an erupting volcano that was sent to senators to sway them from choosing that country to build a canal. There are no earthquakes in this area of the country.

This is an impeccable museum, with interpretive information in both Spanish and English and on-site guides who provide excellent bilingual tours. The museum is wheelchair accessible. You can easily spend a full hour here.

• Visiting Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
• Location:     Avenida Central at Plaza Independencia, Casco Viejo, San Felipe
• Phone:  228-6231
• Web site:     http://www.sinfo.net/pcmuseum
• Admission Prices:  $2.00 (£1.00) for adults
• Closed:     Closed on national holidays

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Peddling “Churros” at the Air Show

Snapshot of a women selling “churros” during an air show in Panama City, Panama. She made a killing that day, selling “churros” to the visitors. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

If you are unfamiliar with the word “churros” please let me explain the term.  Churros are sausage-shaped, deep-fried doughnuts, dusted or sprayed with sugar.  Similar to a cruller, this Spanish and Mexican specialty consists of a sweet-dough spiral that is deep-fried and eaten like a doughnut.

Churros are usually coated with a mixture of cinnamon and confectioners’ (or granulated) sugar.  The snack gets its name from its shape, which resembles the horns of the Churro breed of sheep reared in the Spanish grasslands of Castile.

They are highly popular in Latin America, Spain, France, Portugal, the United States, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands.  In Panama, they are so popular that they can disappear from a churro’s cafeteria faster than the thawing of the polar caps.

The Twisters emptied our pockets requesting a large stock of these goodies.  Cokes were also added to the list.  We gently consented.  Good Day.

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The Workhorse of the American Farmer

“The marvels of daily life are so exciting; no movie director can arrange the unexpected that you find in the street.”—Robert Doisneau

The colonization of Cape Cod and the signing of the Mayflower Compact was the seed of American democracy and has been called the world’s first written constitution.  This is how Wikipedia Encyclopedia documents the historic event of the landing of the American pilgrims in Cape Cod:

“Land was sighted on November 9, 1620. The passengers who had endured miserable conditions for about sixty-five days were led by William Brewster in Psalm 100 as a prayer of thanksgiving. It was confirmed that the area was Cape Cod, within the New England territory recommended by Weston.

An attempt was made to sail the ship around the cape towards the Hudson River, also within the New England grant area, but they encountered shoals and difficult currents around Malabar (a land mass that formerly existed in the vicinity of present-day Monomoy).  

It was decided to turn around, and by November 11/November 21 the ship was anchored in what is today known as Provincetown Harbor.”

Stripped of material riches, but with abundant dreams in their heads and hearts, the American Pilgrims set out to build a new beginning in a foreign land.  Based on high ideals, honest hard work and a rock solid determination, they built the greatest nation the world has ever known.

To tame the land, they first used their muscles (muscle power), then horses and mules (horse power and mule power), and much later trucks (truck power) and tractors (machine power).  Thus a great nation was born and bloomed.  The contribution to the building of the nation was in part due to heavy work of mules and horses.  This brings me to the role of the Clydesdale horse in the building of America.

The Clydesdale was originally used for agriculture, hauling coal and heavy hauling.  Clydesdales are still used for draught purposes, including agriculture, logging, driving, pulling commercial wagons and military artillery.  These strong horses were brought to Scotland in the 15th century and were excellent for plowing the fields of Scotland, Australia and New Zealand.

Traditionally used for heavy labor, the Clydesdale horse breed has been mostly replaced by tractors, trucks, and other machinery except by farmers who reject the industrial way of life and on eco-friendly farms, as well as in some remaining logging operation.

As the horses gave way to agricultural machines; trucks and tractors invaded the American farm.  Rugged trucks were used for just about everything in the farms, specially in remote areas where strong vehicles were needed to get the job done.  The sturdy trucks became the workhorse of the American farmer.  Some of them are still around and exhibited throughout the United States and other countries, such as Panama.

Below are several pictures of American trucks which are still wagging their tails after challenging the path of time.  After the tear and wear of time, they are still showing their colors.  I tip my hat to these champions of the farmlands around the globe.  Here we go.

Snapshot of two rugged American trucks displayed at an Antique Car Show in Panama City, Panama in a tourist area known as "Calzada de Amador" at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of an impressive black Chevrolet truck on display at a car show in Panama City. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

With these pictures, I close the collection of antique cars exhibited at the Calzada de Amador on a burning Sunday morning.  Tomorrow I will move on to other exciting topics in this vibrating part of the world where two continents and great oceans meet.  As some Texans say, “Let’s kick our heels and join in the barbeque.”  Good Day.

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A Peek Inside a Killer

“Photography is about making connections with the viewer and helping them see the world in a way they never have before.”—Stuart Sipahigil

During the last few days I’ve been posting pictures of gorgeous classic cars with all kinds of exterior characteristics like; bright colors, external spare-tire mounted on the rear bumper of the vehicle, streamlined bodies, white banded tires, convertible tops and a whole lot more of creative auto designs.  Now it’s time to glance inside one of these beauties and see how a driver might feel inside one of these dazzling cars.

This is how a classic car looks like from the outside looking in.  Everything inside looks new, as if time stood still and the car never got old.  The love of these car hobbyists is beyond words.

Snapshot of the insides of an antique sports car displayed at a car show in Panama City, Panama. Even the smell inside the car was similar to that of a new auto. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A closer view of the dashboard of a sports car on display at an antique car show at the Calzada de Amador in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Hot Wheels in Panama

I’ve noticed a trend in Panama to restore antique automobiles and display them in several areas of Panama City, specially at the Amador Causeway.  Antique motorcycles and automobiles also participate in the Christmas Parade for the delight of those who love these category of cars.

Another social activity where these gorgeous cars are used for, is to drive them through the Coastal Strip—Cinta Costera— with children having terminal illnesses.  These kids are fascinated to be taken around the city for a ride.  I think it’s a good idea to alleviate the pain of these young sick patients making them VIPs during this annual event.

The amount of money and dedication to restore these vehicles to their previous days of glory is absolutely incredible.  The love for antique cars has taken the city by storm.  Today I will share with you four classic cars famous for their streamlined designs.  I hope you will enjoy this unique selection of restored hot wheels of the past.  Here we go.

Snapshot of a restored fast speed Toyota vehicle, recently displayed during a car show at the Calzada de Amador in Panama City, Panama. That Sunday morning, the site was packed with adults and children having a good time enjoying the view of these cars of the past in shining armor. They looked brilliant under the warm Panama sun. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

In the United States, an antique car is generally defined as a car over 45 years of age, this being the definition used by the Antique Automobile Club of America. However, the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely. The antique car era includes the veteran car era and the brass car era which is from the beginning of the automobile up to the 1930s.

In original or originally restored condition antiques are very valuable and are usually either protected and stored or exhibited in car shows but are very rarely driven.  This is the case in Panama—they are rarely driven—and on those rare events when they are released into the wild, the general public goes bananas.  Good Day.

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The 1956 “Continental Style” Ford Thunderbird

The Thunderbird (“T-Bird”), is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005. When introduced, it created the market niche eventually known as the personal luxury car.  Like the Corvette, the Thunderbird had a two-seat coupe/convertible layout.

Though inspired by, and positioned directly against, the Corvette, Ford billed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car, putting a greater emphasis on the car’s comfort and convenience features rather than its inherent sportiness.  Designations aside, the Thunderbird sold exceptionally well in its first year.

In 1956 Ford came up with a Thunderbird model with an external spare-tire mounted on the rear bumper in an effort to allow more trunk spare.  This design was observed by Edsel Ford while visiting Europe and decided to bring it home.  The public liked it and sales soared.

“In the late Thirties, Edsel Ford had taken a trip to Europe. He noticed sports cars with external spare-tires mounted on their rear bumpers, done so to allow more trunk space. Upon returning to the States, he asked Lincoln’s chief stylist to incorporate this design into the new Lincoln Continentals. Years later, Ford stylists designed a similar “Continental style” spare tire kit for the 1956 Thunderbird.”  (Source:  Wikipedia Encyclopedia)

Snapshot of a 1956 "Continental Style" Ford Thunderbird being exhibited on an antique car show in Panama City, Panama (Calzada de Amador). If you look closely you will find the external spare-tire mounted on the rear bumper of the vehicle. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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“Driving Miss Daisy”

“The best camera is the one that’s with you.”—Chase Jarvis.

In my CV there’s an empty space of more than ten years.  This empty space represents the time I was unemployed.  To make ends meet I had to work as a Customer Support Operator at a local call center earning $500.00 a month.  It wasn’t much, but at least I could pay some bills.  My wife paid for most of our expenses.  She worked in a small restaurant as a waiter.  Those were tough years, but finally we got safely to the other side after both of us were pensioned by the Panama Social Security.

During those cash-strapped years, we had to cancel our TV cable subscription, as well as many other modern-day goodies.  Since then we never went back to paid TV.  I currently get my news watching Internet TV stations such as CNN, BBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Aljazeera, Bloomberg and C-Span.  For movies I depend on a Netflix monthly subscription for which I pay only $7.99.  For that humble amount, I can watch all the movies my eyes can stand.  Most of the motion pictures are spoken in English with Spanish sub-titles—the best of best worlds.

Two days ago I viewed the 1989 motion picture, “Driving Miss Daisy” brilliantly played by Dan Aykroyd, Morgan Freeman, and Jessica Tandy.  It was the second time I’ve enjoyed this Oscar-winning picture.  Probably would see it again if the opportunity arises.  Besides depicting the morphing of a deep friendship between two contrasting characters in more ways than one, the picture displayed automobiles from the late forties to the 70′s.  Most of the cars used to drive Miss Daisy around Atlanta were Cadillacs.  But I think I recognized either a black Ford or a black Chevy amongst the vehicles chauffeured by Morgan Freeman in the picture.  I’m not absolutely sure.  Anyway, they were big, elegant and powerful.

“Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Alfred Uhry, Driving Miss Daisy affectionately covers the 25-year relationship between a wealthy, strong-willed Southern matron (Jessica Tandy) and her equally indomitable Black chauffeur, Hoke (Morgan Freeman).

Both employer and employee are outsiders, Hoke because of the color of his skin, Miss Daisy because she is Jewish in a WASP-dominated society. At the same time, Hoke cannot fathom Miss Daisy’s cloistered inability to grasp the social changes that are sweeping the South in the 1960s. Nor can Miss Daisy understand why Hoke’s ‘people’ are so indignant. It is only when Hoke is retired and Miss Daisy is confined to a home for the elderly, that the two fully realize that they’ve been friends and kindred spirits all along.

The supporting cast includes Esther Rolle as Miss Daisy’s housekeeper and Dan Aykroyd as Miss Daisy’s son, Boolie (reportedly, playwright Uhry based the character upon himself). Driving Miss Daisy won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actress (Jessica Tandy), Best Screenplay (Uhry), and Best Makeup (Manlio Rochetti).” ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While combing the area of a car show at the Calzada de Amador, I saw an automobile very similar to the one used to transport Miss Daisy through the enticing city of Atlanta.  I captured this magnificent specimen to share with y’all.  I could envision the love of Miss Daisy and Hoke all over the polished metallic surface of this graceful automobile of the late forties.

This is the vehicle that reminded me of the movie, “Driving Miss Daisy”.  Take a look.

Snapshot of an antique Chevrolet automobile displayed at a car show in Panama City, Panama. Notice the beautiful patch of tropical flowers behind the vehicle. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Nostalgia For the Cars of Yesterday

Breathtaking picture of an antique automobile on display at the Calzada de Amador in Panama City, Panama. I'll bet Al Capone would have liked to own a car like this. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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A Car Pulled Out of the Scenes of “Fast and Furious”

During a recent foray into the Calzada de Amador’s territory, I stumbled upon an antique auto show.  It was an outdoors museum displaying dazzling cars from the thirties, forties, fifties and sixties.  For a car die-hard fan, this would have been a passage to Nirvana.

The picture below depicts a small kid concentrated on a yellow sports car on the background and his dad on the foreground busy taking a picture with his cellphone.  The vehicle could easily have popped out of the movie “Fast and Furious”.  Take a look.

Snapshot of a kid and his dad admiring a sports car at Amador's Causeway during a sizzling summer day in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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