Panama Update #138
Februry 24, 2009
The school where I work is closed this week for the Carnival activities. It has been very pleasant in the city, at least in the area where we live. There is a lot less traffic and noise in the night, although last night we heard fireworks in the distance for a few minutes. We are told that a lot of the people travel to the interior of the country for all the parties, so that is why the city has a quieter feeling to it. Even thought the Carnival is a Federal holiday and many of the stores are closed, etc., Nikki went out into the field for a long day's research excursion with some people from her office group. When she came back she reported that she saw a lot of people celebrating the Carnival holiday. She was in a remote rural area and they had huge tents set up and a lot of people had arrived by bus. She said people were standing and partying in the river and drinking. They were spraying each other with water. There is probably more to it than that, but that is what she observed. I guess they do that type of thing all over the country.
Tomorrow I am supposed to get my Canal ID badge so I can accompany Nikki into that area when she needs someone to go with her.
