Habanera

Snapshot of a building with gravitas which houses the Ministry of Public Security in the old section of Panama City, commonly known as “Casco Viejo” which translate to Old Shell in English. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

I decided to process this snapshot in black and white since it reminded me of Habana, Cuba; thus the title of the blog post. The city is the center of the Cuban Government, and home to various ministries, headquarters of businesses and over 90 diplomatic offices.

The name Habana could be based upon the name of a local Taíno chief Habaguanex. An alternate theory is that Habana is derived from the Middle Dutch word havene, referring to a harbor.

The hands of the clock stopped on January 1, 1959 when bearded soldiers rolled down into the city from the Sierra Maestra.   On January 8, 1959, Castro’s army entered Habana; proclaiming himself Representative of the Rebel Armed Forces of the Presidency, Castro—along with close aides and family members—set up home and office in the penthouse of the Havana Hilton Hotel, meeting with journalists, foreign visitors and government ministers.  The rest is history.

Since then, nothing has changed. We can still see 1950s Fords, Studebakers, Chevys, or DeSotos cruising through the streets of Havana.  It’s like looking at a MGM movie studio in Hollywood and stumbling into Al Pacino while he was working on the motion picture The Godfather.  Time is frozen in Cuba as well as in the old section of Panama City, Panama as these pictures eloquently express.

An invisible wall was erected by Fidel Castro and his cronies to hold Freedom hostage.  I know someday this wall will crumble down following the path of the Berlin wall in 1989.  You can bet your bird that this day will come and Cuba will again be a free country as it was meant to be.

I can almost see the gleefulness radiating on José Martí and Yoani Sánchez’s face, author of the blog Generación Y, as well as on the faces of millions and millions of free Cubans when this day finally arrives.  Free at Last! Viva Cuba Libre!  Good Day.

Original version of the photograph shown above in black and white. I’m sure you will agree me that the nostalgic spirit of Havana hovers above this scene. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Purple

Snapshot of a cute Afro-Caribbean wooden house in exhibition at Mi Pueblito. The Afro-Caribbean community was crucial in the construction of the Panama Canal. Without them the international waterway would not have been possible. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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El Tribunal Electoral

After a long winter of 21 years under a military regime that almost destroyed our democratic system, we are currently blooming under a new and modern representative democracy.  Since the toppling of General Noriega in 1989, we have had three free elections, all supervised and organized by the Panama Tribunal Electoral.  All three events were true examples of democracy in action.

We are getting ready for our next national elections to be held on May 4, 2014.  The Tribunal Electoral is also planning to move to a new building before the political event takes place.  I was recently at the construction site and took a few shots of this large and elegant building.  It was designed to blend perfectly with the American built edifices in the late Panama Canal Zone.

The official creation of el Tribunal Electoral is October 24, 1956, even though it has been involved in political elections since January 5, 1904 with the birth of the republic.  El Tribunal Electoral has three magistrates (all lawyers) which will serve for a term of ten years.  We depend of this significant institution to guarantee fair and free democratic elections every five years.

Our current three magistrates appointed for a period of ten years are:

1. Erasmo Pinilla Castillero
2. Eduardo Valdés Escoffery
3. Heriberto Arazúz Sánchez

As you can see in the pictures below, the building is still under construction.  It is scheduled to be ready before May 2014, just in time for our next national elections.

Notice of the building which will house el Tribunal de Elecciones of Panama sometime in 2014. It follows the architectural design of the Administration Building built by the Panama Canal Commission for the operation of the Panama Canal. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

I love the six impressive columns at the entrance of the regal building. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

The way I see it, this building will last at least a thousand years. It looks rock solid. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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A House of God

Snapshot of Episcopalian St. Luke’s Cathedral built in 1922 in the former Panama Canal Zone. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Yesterday morning, my wife and I drove over to the former Panama Canal Zone to hunt for subjects to capture with our cameras.  We were short of pictures and we needed a refill badly.  There were three subjects I was interested in shooting.  The first one was a rotunda being built on Avenida de los Mártires with a four-lane tunnel; the second was a majestic building which will house el Tribunal Electoral and third one is the building that houses the Panama Supreme Court.  All three subjects are impressive sites and depict the flourishing modernization of the city.

Even though a church was not on my schedule, as soon as I laid my eyes on this enticing building, I knew it had to be captured with my Birthday Camera (Canon PowerShot A720 IS).  It is a building that seemed to be extracted from the Florence of the XV century during the splendor of the de’ Medici’s dynasty (Giovanni Medici, Cosimo Medici, and Lorenzo Medici “il Magnífico”).  Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.

In the picture above, you can enjoy the beauty of the Renaissance by observing the eight Roman columns at the entrance of the edifice and the splendid tower of  toward your left.

When I studied art and history in college in Costa Rica, I was infatuated with the dome of Florence’s cathedral.  The man who would build the elusive structure was Fillipo Brunelleschi.  He based his work on Ancient Rome—The Pantheon.  It was one of the most fascinating buildings in the collective imagination of the Western world for a long time.  In 1436 the dome was finally completed.  The greatest architectural feat of the Western world.

The cathedral, topped by Brunelleschi’s dome, dominates the Florentine skyline. The Florentines decided to start building it— late in the 13th century, without a design for the dome. The project proposed by Brunelleschi in the 14th century was the largest ever built at the time, and the first major dome built in Europe since the two great domes of Roman times—the Pantheon in Rome, and Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.

Orbiting like planets around the sun, inside my head, were the grandiose sculptures and paintings of Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci, and  Botticelli.  The compositions and music of Alexander Agricola, Johannes Ghiselin, and Heinrich Isaac added to my recollections of the Renaissance in Flornce.

Snapshot of the entire building including the magnificent tower on your left. When I was there they were celebrating a Sunday service at the church. Even though it was built in 1922, the building is extremely well preserved. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

The area of the former Panama Canal Zone is home to many beautiful churches on both the Pacific and Atlantic Side.  All of them are in top shape and in full operation to serve our Lord.

During the upcoming days I’ll include pictures of my sojourn to the sites mentioned in preceding paragraphs.  Keep your eyes open. Good Day.

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Construction of a Subway Passenger Station in Panama

The subway project is moving full speed ahead as scheduled.  The underground tunnels are completed as well as the above ground railway platforms.  They are now laying the rails and building the subway stations.  As you will see in the next set of pictures, the architecture is very modern and will enhance the glamour of this vibrant metropolis in the middle of the world.  I’m sure this structure will be visited and photographed by thousands of foreign and local visitors alike when it’s finished sometime next year.

This is how the subway stations look like, albeit they are still under construction.  Can’t wait to see them totally built.  For sure I’ll share them with you at Lingua Franca.  While I write blog post, this is their current appearance.  Enjoy.

Snapshot of the above-ground section of the Panama subway with a passenger’s station under construction in the background. This shot was taken on the Transisthmian Highway in Panama City, Panama last Sunday, April 7, 2013. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A close up view of the roof of the subway’s station in Panama City, Panama. Notice the modern architecture of the structure very much in style with the vibrating spirit of this cosmopolitan metropolis. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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The Construction of a Subway in Panama

If you are a regular reader of Lingua Franca, you are already aware that Panama is in the midst of an important public works to improve its mass transportation system.  I’m referring to the Panama subway or metro as we prefer to call it down here.  The project consist of three branches connecting the metropolis to populations living in the north, east and west.  They are currently working in the northern branch which should be completed during the first half of 2014.

I’ve been taking pictures of this important project to capture its progress for historical purposes.  It’s surprising how fast we tend to forget things.  Here are the latest pictures taken of this fascinating subject.

Snapshot of the Panama Metro at the intersection of the Transisthmian Highway and Tocumen Highway in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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The Panama Subway in Black and White

One of the most important public works of Ricardo Martinelli’s administration is the construction of the first phase of a subway network in Panama City.  Two additional branches are scheduled for construction in the future.  When the entire subway network is finished, Panama City will have a subway system with three branches carrying passengers to the metropolis from the north, east and west.

It’s a visionary project which will place Martinelli as one of the most energetic and productive presidents in the history of our young nation.

Below are several pictures of the Panama subway under construction in black and white.  One day people will look back at these pictures and remember how the city was before this wonderful structure was accomplished.  Even as we speak, history is being made.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

More pictures of this exceptional structure are in the works.  If this is your cup of tea, please return tomorrow for more images of the subway in full color.  Good Day.

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Highways in the Sky

Snapshot of the silhouette of the Panama subway at the crack of dawn on a lazy Sunday morning. At that early hour of the day, men were working on the structure. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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El Carmen Church in Panama

Snapshot of la Iglesia del Carmen in Panama City, Panama following the Gothic architectural style. It is one of the most beautiful churches in Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Panama is predominantly a Roman Catholic country.  It is estimated that 75 to 85 percent of the population identifies itself as Roman Catholic and 15 to 25 percent as evangelical Christian.  The Roman Catholic religion came from Spain, which was the superpower of the XVIth century which colonized the country and the rest of Central and South America with the exception of Brazil.  Brazil was colonized by Portugal.

La Iglesia del Carmen is one of the most beautiful and most visited church in Panama by international tourists.  It is often confused with the Metropolitan cathedral which is another impressive building.

The name of this church is Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen (Church of our Lady of Mount Caramel).  It is in the heart of Panama City, and considered by many as one of the most treasured religious icons in Panama inspired by medieval Gothic architecture.  As its name indicates, the church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Mount Caramel (or Carmen).  This  church  is the only Gothic architectural style building in the country.

This structure was built by the congregation of the Carmelites which have been in Panama since 1940.  The first stone was placed on July 7, 1947 and the church was inaugurated on July 16, 1953, even though the termination of the building was two years later when the two imposing towers were finished.

La Iglesia del Carmen is an imitation of the Gothic architectural style which flourished during the Middle Ages, and is perhaps the most beautiful architecture style conceived for sacred art.

The structure includes two slender and elaborated towers which stretches upwards towards the sky with the purpose of elevating to heavens the prayers of the people.  It symbolizes the extended hands of a man to embrace God.  According to architect Alberto Arosemena, the Iglesia del Carmen was inspired on the Gothic style of the late XIV century representative of Toledo, Spain.

If you love architecture and have the opportunity of living in Panama or in transit through the country, I fully recommend you to plan a visit to this wonderful example of Gothic architecture.  It really gives you a feeling of humbleness badly needed in present times of excess of arrogance.  Good Day.

Note:  I apologize for the strange inclination of the structure.  I tried to correct this defect, but no joy.  I guess it was the way I positioned my camera in a slanted manner.  I’m sorry.

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Hotel El Panama

When I first came to Panama City in 1962, the best hotel in town was the Panama Hilton.  It was an impressive snow-white structure nestled on a knoll surrounded by lush tropical gardens.  The hotel was operated by Hilton Hotels & Resorts, the most recognized name in the industry.  Later, the glamorous hotel was sold by Conrad Hilton and that started the down slide of the prestige of the once Panama icon.  Its lush tropical gardens were lost when real estate was sold to investors interested in building shabby-looking malls and other mediocre buildings.

The former luster is now gone, even though the hotel keeps operating, trying to attract tourists using the famous brand name of Hotel El Panama.

Below are several pictures of this regal hotel which was once the crown jewel of the hotel industry in Panama.

Snapshot of Hotel El Panama taken on February 13, 2009 and digitally edited by Michael Moore, a professional photographer from Dallas, Texas.

Photograph of the exterior of the Panama Hilton Hotel designed by Edward D. Stone in 1951. Photo taken by Ralph Crane.

Snapshot of Hotel El Panama taken on the morning of March 29, 2013 (Good Friday) while exploring the city for interesting shots. The picture was edited with PicMonkey suggested to me by blogger Linda Leinen author of the blog “The Task at Hand”. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

With the tourist boom taking place in Panama even as we speak, I hope the hotel will shape up and return to its former glory.  This is an icon we should keep as part of the personality of our metropolis.  The mojo is still there; it only requires a few touches of class.  Good Day.

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