In Panama City there was much beauty, some of which I’ve already shared – the modern high-rise buildings, the historical buildings in the French Quarter. It is, as I’ve said, a city of extremes.
The beauty
It’s as if you enter a tunnel from the beautiful side
and when you exit the tunnel, you find a more dubious side.
You turn the corner and you find the beast of the city
where those who are allowed to enter the modern, wealthier part of the city only if they are working there, have their homes. Where they undoubtedly struggle to survive and hope for better lives for their children. How cruel it must be to spend your working day in the lives of the wealthy, seeing how many of them waste more of the necessary things in one day than you have for your family for a week. Knowing that your government views you as a low-class, not-very-important part of society.
Yes, there is much beauty. Yes, I am happy I had that experience. But it is not a country that I would wish to visit again.
Wanderings of an Elusive Mind 
Thank you for sharing this, Carol. It is hard to see such a blatant dichotomy which places a human being’s worth on the amount of his income. I read recently that the United States has turned the corner and is more of an oligarchy than a democracy. Owned by the wealthy, government controlled by corporations that are doing away with any regulations that would interfere with their business, no matter how many little lives are ruined, no matter the cost to the environment, without any regard for the future. I think the US is heading in that direction, and it terrifies me.
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I agree, Naomi. There is much about the direction of our country that frightens me. What is worse is that I see no solution in the near future.
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I thought about not looking at the beast, but I followed through. Sometimes not knowing is easier, especially when you don’t feel like you can do anything.
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That is sad. I’ve thought the same thing of Mexican resorts.
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Carol, I agree with you completely. There is nothing wrong with the “beast” side (not the gun-toting security which is possibly as ugly as humanity can get, but the dirty, dilapidated blocks) – that’s what makes it human and not just an antiseptic canvas picture. My country is exactly like that, and I find a lot more humanity on the “beast” side than the “beauty” side of my city.
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A terrifying look at the underbelly of humanity.
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Reminds me of the Dominican Republic when I visited La Ramona. We flew over a village of shanties. Those were the homes of the resort workers. It sure makes you think. We truly are rich where we live. Thanks for sharing the beauty too.
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My daughter and her husband honeymooned in Panama and she would totally agree with you.
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How in the world did I miss this post? These are fabulous shots. I love the building exterior ones…almost as much as the flowers!
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That’s really sad about the dubious part of the city, and the less fortunate who are so brazenly excluded from partaking in what wealth there is in the city. A sobering post, Carol.
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