It seems like everywhere you look something is being built or remodeled. One of the biggest projects is the Federal Mall currently under construction. It is being done by the same people who did Albrook Mall in Panama City and it’s going to be huge. We have been watching it since they first started moving dirt around, and it was a lot of dirt! The site is so big and involved flattening out a large area and removing rocks as big as a small house.
Work stalled for a while. I heard while they were getting permits and permissions and when it restarted, things progressed quickly. After all the intense music practice and successful launch, I am reclaiming other parts of my life like riding my bike. Last week I took a couple rides over to the construction site to see what was going on.
I’m not sure about the bus terminal however. I thought there was also going to be a new terminal next to the mall, and the workers I’ve talked with on the site say this is so. People in my neighborhood, however, say no. The terminal is staying where it is. I found this video that shows plans for a new terminal on the current site but it’s over two years old and who knows if plans have changed.
I guess time will tell. Remodeling the current terminal sounds like a huge disruption. It’s in a busy, congested part of town, and what are they going to do with bus traffic while it is underway? But if it ends up like the video it would be really nice. As they say, not my circus, not my monkeys. I only stand by as an interested observer.
There has also been a huge remodeling project going on for some time at the ball stadium. When it started I had no idea it would be so extensive!
And, speaking of the music, as most of you know I worked hard to learn to play bass to help out my husband’s rock band. We have five gigs under out belts now and it’s going better than I ever dared imagine. Last Sunday we played at the Boquete Brewery, a place owned by a couple working rock musicians and frequented by many young Panamanians. One of the owners was there and this week we were moved to Saturday when there is a much bigger crowd, and the owner even sat in and played drums on a couple songs. It was awesome! Next week we play on Friday because we are already booked on Saturday at the mostly gringo place, where they also booked us for more gigs when they first heard us.
If someone told me I’d be playing Judas Priest songs to an enthusiastic bunch of Panamanians in my retirement…. ha! You just never know where the road leads if you keep your options open.
The Panama Adventure 
Hola Kris,
Looks like the state bird of Chiriqui is the Tower Crane! Since construction in Panama City has slowed, the bird has found a new home in the West.
The location of the old bus terminal is convenient to David but way overdue for a remodel. The advantage to keeping it there benefits those hauling “stuff” on the bus back to David from Panama City. I have seen some amazing cargo appear from under those buses. The new location at the mall would bring traffic to the mall and would reduce the taxi crush in David somewhat.
Perhaps the old terminal will be remodeled to handle a city bus service something like the new bus system in Panama City. David never had the elaborate Diablo Rojos, they mostly used the coaster types, if memory serves. But then, David was not a major metro center like it has become since 1999. David seems so congested nowadays.
Nena says to be safe on your bike trips. I explained that you are an expert rider but she counters with, “pero, uno nunca sabe”. Hard to argue with that! 🙂
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Hola Kris, again,
Nena had an observation on the bus terminal; if the owners are banking on customers from Costa Rica, they will want to arrive and depart at the mall. And if that works well, Paso Canoas is going to need more manpower.
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I was also thinking the current bus terminal would be good for local busses and those coming from other cities could go to the mall, but we will have to wait and see what develops. There would be the problem of transferring between stations though if they do that. I didn’t think about Paso Canoas which is already jammed up at times.
Tell Nena I ride mostly back roads and stay out of traffic as much as possible, and I’m dressed in bright colors that almost glow in the dark. Maybe the benefits of exercise outweigh the risk of getting creamed on the road. In five years I’ve never had a problem though.
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