Culture and money, for some reason they are not always perceived as close relatives. Culture and social change seem like cousins, but somehow not necesarily people think they go to the same parties. However, it is through culture that we generate tourism and many other activities... and it so happens that as a tool for change is quite a bomb on its own. And that bomb has started to catch a bit of fire in Casco Viejo.

Most of Casco Viejo´s government buildings where designed by Italians. Today, the Italian influence is everywhere, from our President to restaurants and even hospitals. La Dolce Vita and Panama´s Caribbean style have proved to be a great combination! La maggior parte degli edifici publici del Casco Viejo furono disegnati da italiani. Oggi, l'influenza italiana è ovunque, dal nostro Presidente a ristoranti e persino ospedali. La Dolce Vita e lo stile dei Caraibi -Panama hanno dimostrato di essere una bella combinazione!

I know this month is ALL about the soccer World Cup. However... we do have other things going on! (which won´t compete with your ability to see the games).

The Panama Canal Zone was name given to the area surrounding the Panama Canal that was considered US territory within the terms of the initial Canal treaty. It was given back to Panama in the year 2000 as per the Torrijos- Carter treaty in the 70´s. While it generated controversy throughout its life, it also defined generations of Panamanians and Americans.

It will be a boring day, as you are not allowed to leave home until you are "counted". Ideas: Plan a party for two! rent a video! Also, you might find some of the questions shocking. But please don´t, they are normal here. Keep reading!

Mediterranean food with a Lebanese touch. I hope eventually they´ll decide more for Lebanese, as I´m a big fan. Check out Casco Antiguo´s new restaurant: Antar!

Some say Panama is Hong Kong meeting Costa Rica. Panama´s depth is there for the curious soul, but is also a place with a guilt free laid back culture that allows you to disconnect from the world if that is your choice. White beaches or history? why choose?

Have you ever gone into a public office in Panama? they take themselves quite seriously. But somehow, this "official communication" made me smile...

You can´t believe how easy it is to jump in a plane in Panama to go anywhere. New York is only 5 hours away. Somehow, both cities seem to like each other...

2009 Latino Center Awards have been given to five outstanding Panamanians... three of them Casconians. Hurray!!!!

Her name and her work are legendary...

Direct flight from Panama to Amsterdam: ten hours (and a half) later I had passed from full tropical weather to Amsterdam´s chilli autum, and eating dutch pancakes wrapped in four layers of clothing. Being from Panama, for me, cold is an exotic destination. But really, While I can take a plane at night and be in cold weather the next morning eating pancakes, anyone in Amsterdam can do the same and be on a boat at the Panama Canal lake in the afternoon watching monkeys or even hiking at one of our 15 minute away national parks and discover what the rainforest is all about.

Casco Viejo community woke up early this Sunday. Their goal: clean one of Casco´s most recognizable beaches, but also create awareness about garbage disposal in the old quarter.

Culture is hardly ever thought as an economic engine. But it is! and as a secondary effect, it also raises the lifestyle of the society as a whole (or was it all the way around?). Join hands and contribute to Casco Viejo´s cultural future...

EPA Español in Panama is offering Spanish conversational lessons in Casco Viejo starting on August 31st...

This has been an intense week for international piano star Danilo Perez and his wife and music therapist Patricia Perez. Fundación Danilo Perez has not only launched the next Panama Jazz Festival 2010, but also announced their program Music For Change.

Starting August 3rd of 2009, the museums that are part of the National Institute of Culture (INAC) will be open every day...

More about the Fundación Danilo Pérez...

Last Friday, it was the Golden Cup for what in Panama we call "Futbol" and in USA is called soccer. Super Gourmet at Casco Viejo was packed with Panamanians and Americans. Everyone staring at the TV...

In our culture, we are not used to buy things of second hand, this Sunday in Plaza Cathedral we will have experts in antiques... come and bring yours!!!

Sunday of Flea Market in Casco Antiguo! Don´t miss this event next Sunday, July 5th in Plaza Catedral.

Which NGO´s and charitable foundations work in Casco? this posting is part of a six-posting series. Here you´ll find who/what and how to participate of: DANILO PEREZ FOUNDATION

Starting this June 4th you will value an exhibition of art and poetry created by Marta Sanchez and his friends.

Obama is lifting finally parts of the Cuban embargo. While you are thinking on traveling to Cuba, read this first....

Banco General, one of the biggest Panamanian banks announced 58% growth for 2008. What will 2009 bring in terms of world wide economy is hard to tell. But it is nevertheless something to consider seriously, and if fundamentals are good, give it a try.

Carlos Weil Art Gallery and the Ministry of Culture will present Jazz and Canal, a collective art show of antiques related to the Panama Canal: original bonds, photographies, paintings and even music scores. We have known Carlos for many years, and I have to say his collection is always intriguing and brings something different to the table. So don´t miss this opportunity! It will be at Las Bovedas Gallery in Plaza Francia.

After a year of several shocks, ups and downs in value, and true uncertainty regarding the future, we wanted to start fresh this new year with an inspirational thought

Just came back from Miami Art Basel. These fairs are great because it is like an open discussion not only on social issues but on what beauty is for each one. Casco Antiguo has beautiful buildings, parks and scenes, it is true... but nothing beats the beauty of its people. And not beauty in the conventional magazine-model type but on the beauty of feeling just great even if you are wearing hair rolls that are twice the size of your head. And orange.

One of the well known tactics to attract children anywhere is to have them make fun stuff. Aprojusan, a local ngo, uses art as honey to get local children to assist to their center. While they are there, they receive help with homework, basic healthcare and emotional support. Now, while we where trying to have a serious conversation... check out the madness around us! I was about to skip office to join them...

Cities are a reflection of the people who lived and built them. There is no doubt about that, as architecture is made to our own meassure and that of our dreams and comforts. Here is an interesting article by journalist David Kaufman at the Financial Times which compares the eclectic styles of Tel Aviv to Panama´s Casco Antiguo.

Last night (finally!) I went to see Quantum of Solace.I was incredibly pleased to discover how Casco Viejo looked under Marc Forster´s eye: it was very raw but also mixed with elegant and a lot of texture. Find out what they think about filming in Panama!

A pioneer program at Casco Antiguo is changing the lives of underprivileged residents.

Planning your vacations to Panama and don’t have much time? If you like nature, history, big machinery, culture and architecture, then there are only 2 destinations within Panama City that can offer all this in a compact, yet authentic experience: the Panama Canal and Casco Viejo.

Last night, a group of friends organized a tapas night at Canal House in Casco Viejo with Argimiro, a Panamanian young chef who studied in Spain and even did his professional practice at the famous El Bulli Restaurant (Ferrán Adriá, 2 and 3 Michelin stars!). When Argimiro returned to Panama, he fell in love with Casco Viejo and I have to say we fell in love with his food, so anytime he organizes a party or just a tapas night we are more than thrilled. And last night we had a treat.

Many historic centers in Latin America have been the focus of government and private initiatives seeking to rehabilitate the building stock and position the areas to serve the tourism industry. In most cases these efforts have led to the displacement of lowincome residents or of residential activities altogether, due to gentrification and commercialization of the district. This article seeks to advance this discussion based on the experience in Panama City’s historic center, “Casco Antiguo.” It describes some recent, innovative policies that have explored the intersections of tourism, affordable housing, employment, and culture in a historical context, and draws some general insights and lessons.

The 6th edition of the Panama Jazz Fest in 2009 is already on its way. Music, workshops, scholarships and a new music school in Panama by the Foundation Danilo Perez. Where? when?

I first visited Havana Vieja in Cuba around 1996. It was a very interesting trip from which I learned a lot about our common roots, despite our different current political lives. Culture and architecture reflects our spirits...

Ever since the slavery trade times, African traditional religions have been concealed by their followers under Cristianity... for obvious reasons. Today, many, many years later, the reminiscents are still there. And in Casco Viejo, very much alive!

When Al Gore launched his “ Inconvenient Truth” he touched many nerves world wide. Liked it or not, people reacted in such a way that has forced all relevant presidential candidates ( like Barak Obama and John Mccain) to take note of these issues seriously. The energy crisis is real. Just today (and to make things worst) I opened the newspaper and read how hurricane Ike has at least a dozen of refineries closed in the United States. Food crisis is coming up next. What can we do?

An ambitious project is being announced: the World Bank and the Office of Casco Antiguo will invest close to $2M to promote cultural industries in the historic city. Here is the article in Spanish, by La Prensa...

Ke Sopa? Priti! …. No, you are not in some weird and lost island in the Pacific, you are in Panama, where Caribbean culture meets… well… everybody. Like chameleons, we love copying words and accents, especially English, since it sounds cool. So here is the basic phrases you need to take with you while traveling to Panama, especially in the city and in Casco Viejo, where you’ll probably use them the most as some of the local “bien cuidaos” are Afroantillian descendants and still speak English.

The good news: my eggplant just gave two little and beautiful "berenjenas". The bad - ugly news: somehow it just got a horrible pest!!! help!!!

Last night, the United Nations Environmental Programee inaugurated at the National Theatre in Casco Antiguo their "For the Earth" Festival. It will last a month, with several activities withing Casco Antiguo, ranging from poetry to rock concerts. Most of the activities will be held at

Multiple websites and adds mention Panama as Paradise. Is it really? what about Casco Viejo?

Panama´s National Theatre was literally born with the Republic. The need to build it was at the first Gacetas Oficiales in 1903 - 1904 along with main stuff like a Presidential Palace and public bathrooms. It was the heart of social life and culture. Today, we celebrate its 100 year anniversary with a bit of history and wonderful events in August and October.

Ciudad del Saber or City of Knowledge is literally a city within one of the former US military bases called Clayton. One of the most visionary compounds in Panama, it has become a technopark that holds universities, laboratories, incubators for young entrepreneurs and just all sorts of new stuff. If it is revolutionary, ground breaking, you can get in and benefit from a wide platform of incentives. So who is there and what is it exactly that they do? for example,

Ah! La Bella Roma! From the cradle of Western civilization to a huge melting pot, for those who have visited or lived in Rome it blows your mind away and steals a piece of your heart. But if you actually want to own a piece of Rome, you’d better be prepared to give also your kidney away (the good one), an eye and seriously consider adding up one of your lungs to sweeten the deal. Wao. The incredible thing isn’t that prices are astronomically high; it is that at over $20,000 US dollars per mt2 or $2,000 per ft2 people are still buying.

Sometimes the world´s problems overwhealm you: politicians are doing their best to make your life worst, news of contamination, low education in the new generations, Dooms Day. But sometimes we are reminded that we do have the power to change things around. We actually excersice that power every day... That is one of the many things I like about Casco Viejo. Small projects have a huge impact... check this out and get inspired.

The Cinta Costera (coast strip) at Panama´s Balboa Avenue is moving forward and fast. Regardless of the many comments regarding the percentage of actual green area vs cement and plazas or the origin of the funding for the huge work, I have to say that Odebrecht has done a great job getting things done on record time.

A wonderful vacation on Europe gave me a refreshing view of what life and lifestyle is in the old continent. There is so much to learn! Starting to get my thoughts organized...

A wonderful vacation on Europe gave me a refreshing view of what life and lifestyle is in the old continent. There is so much to learn! Starting to get my thoughts organized...

Every year, around September, a group of artists present their work at the Contemporary Art Museum. This year, several "Casco Addicts" are competing: film directors Abner Benhaim and Enrique Castro Ríos. Other years have had photographer Rachelle Mozman, who is also a Casco resident

Back in 1998 things where quite different in Casco Viejo. It was more Viejo than Casco. It was a fragile, run down, un protected site most people in Panama (government and not) had "written off". Back then, a group of passionate profesionals stood up and basically made it happen: brought the attention of UNESCO and worked until this endangered species was protected for life. Today, they run life changing programs in the Casco Viejo community. Check it out!

For those who wondered what was the last plant, here is the answer:

These graffitti pictures were done also by Cisco and Above. I didn´t realize they went into the Santa Familia building, which we are turning into a huge nursery for our urban agriculture project in Casco Antiguo.

Diversity is Panama´s strongest feature. We have so many cultural influences! and not all of them are properly celebrated. So we are very glad to announce the openning of a special gallery where you can acquire art from Portobelo, which is located in our Caribbean Coast at Colón Province. These pieces where done by local artists lead by Panamanian photographer Sandra Eleta...

In the heavily regulated external skin of Casco Viejo there is little space for this rebelious behavior. But inside it... surprises may pop up! as we have always said, this is a live, young city... even if it has hundreds of years!

All I actually knew about the pedestrian mall on Avenida Central was "Don´t take anything valuable there!". So I avoided going. I´m ashamed, embarrassed, and am making amends. The day I visited...

Where to eat, where to stay and what to do in Casco Viejo, Panama. Restaurants, bars, theatres and more

You read our newsletter and our blog and you think you like the place, but still not sure if Casco is right for you? This short list can help you out.

Since Casco Antiguo doesn´t have formal hotels yet, finding accomodation might take some planning ahead. Check our short list so you can be ready for your next trip.

Casco is getting ready for some major filming: the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. Now, the trivia test for both panamanian and foreigners: why would the producers of James Bond choose Panama (and Casco Viejo) for their film?

More summer activities! this time organized by the National Institute of Culture (Inac). From art courses for children to journalism workshops. A theatre festival from February 8th to the 14th and another scenic art festival from April 1st to the 6th! check out when and where are these events happening..

This is one of the things I enjoy most of living in Casco Viejo: there is always an interesting cultural event going on. Last sunday it was Drum Fest... a loud but very enjoyable (somehow) event where hearts pumped at the drums of all sorts of musicians. Preparing for Jazz Fest?

Panama Art. The Dance Festival finally inaugurates featuring seasoned troupes from France, Colombia .... and Casco Viejo! Greyskull Castle opens it´s doors to the secret life of pandilleros, or maybe giving us a mirror where to recognize our own culture.

November has arrived, Panama´s holiday month. A good time to relax and meditate about the beginnings of our country and what makes it and us so special. The answer might be really simple, but powerful...