What I like about Central America

Posted: Wednesday Jul 9th, 2008 04:19 pm Quote Reply Written on another forum related to Panama.

I write alot on this forum about Central America, not just Panama. I have always been interested in the rest of Central America besides only Panama. Not many people I know actually connected with the rest of Central America besides Panama and Costa Rica. Low laying buildings in these earthquake prone cities. Small town look, very cheap food, and fruits. I am attracted to the way Central America looks on a map. I like the way the mountains run throughout all of these countries. I like the microclimates in these countries. Not weather effected by fronts or seasons but rather altitude. I like the different versions of money. I like the way HONDURAS displays a Mayan indian in their money with COPAN in the back of it. I like the way they name their exchange. Lempira, Cordova, Colones, Balboa, Quetzales, Pesos. I also like the way they name their towns. Chinandega, Managua, Volcan, Puerto Cortez, Quetzaltenango. I like the way you can go into any place and order a beer without it being a big deal in either cost, size, or how many you drink. I like the way I convert in my mind how much my food cost and beer and it comes out to only a couple of bucks. No cops hovering outside to bust you for a DWI because chances are, you are mostly on foot, riding taxis or public transit. I like the way youths hang around in a table, smoking cigarrettes, laughing, enjoying their companions over coffee or beer in a little establishment diner. I like the way you can order an ice cream from a paletero pushing his cart in the hot tropical sun. I like the way they display their markets with plenty of interesting atresians and or exotic tropical fruits. I like the way people act, they seem joyful and laid back. They like the night life as they fashion themeselves with simple clothing such as a guyabera or something more eccentric. I like the way the ladies dress. I like the humbleness of the people, the politeness and sincereity in the air. I like the way people pay their respects when they drive by a church by rendering the Holy Trinity. I like the liveliness of Central America, the structures, the easiness of getting food and drink, the topography of the country. I like to buy newspapers from street vendors as they show you the headlines. I like to listen to the musical tones the people have when they try to make a sale. They differ from place to place but its really the same song and dance for the Peso, Quetzal, Lepira, Colon or Balboa. I like the smell of wood and grass burning on the side of the mountain as you are driving in places such as Chiriqui. I like the cloud cover and clouds hovering over the higher elevations. I like the plume of smoke rising over a beautiful conical shaped volcano. I like the old Spanish laid brick stones of Antigua Guatemala with its surrounding volcanos. Volcan de Agua, Volcan Pacaya, Volcan de Fuego. I like those Mayan ruins you see all throughout the Yucatan and into Guatemala and Honduras. I like those parks you pay little to enter as you climb ancient ruins in steps. I like the resorts of Mexico and the first class treatment in their hotels with very happy atmosphere and outstanding views. I like the Caribbean coast of Honduras with its GARIFUNA population and interesting parties, old Spanish forts such as FORTALEZA SANTA BARBARA, you see all throughout the Spanish Main. My mind doesn't seem to go through a boring moment. I seem to be always entertained. From horses pulling carriges in a Managua street to the hussle and bussle in Panama City and their traffic jams in the city that has grown skyward. The Spanish look is always there, the "REJAS" on windows to keep thieves at bay, the broken glass on walls to keep theives from climbing inside your lot, barracaded homes with super locks and watch dogs. Then the tropical down pour comes but its usually not that cold of a rain in Panama City but it can be in San Jose. The rain brings on a beautiful greeness to everything. I suppose you can include Mexico into this region, maybe even South America. Central America is a neat place, close to get to from me and each of the countries has its own beauty. I never feel out of place in either because, I guess I understand 95 percent of what its all about. That's alot of positive percentages for only a hop and a skip into Central America