Pinch me
Okay, so this is outside where I live…this pink carpet….I walk through it to get to my car… and the other morning, when I went out to tend to my laundry…I had to stop because a giant hummingbird with a long, curved beak was hovering in my path. As I paused, I noticed movement in […]
Life well-lived
We met Eli Kalko at a potluck here in Gamboa last month. We sat on the couch and she talked for a long time about her work. She was talking a mile a minute, clicking through images and videos on her field laptop. We were discussing how we might tell the story of her work […]
Agua Salud Project–Panama
The view from a hilltop in the Agua Salud project. It’s a dynamic, living experiment to research land use, carbon, water runoff, and biodiversity in the tropical forest. Ecology, hydrology, geology, biology…it’s hard to find an elevator speech for this one, even if we’re headed up the Sears tower. Fascinating work. Check it out: AGUA […]
Young scientist
From the table of a visiting young scientist at the field station (house) for Agua Salud project. Studying the soil and root length density.
Rooted
Principal Investigator on Agua Salud, project leader, great story-teller, forest ecologist: Jefferson Hall “He is responsible for the overall vision, leadership, technical guidance, and direction in the development and performance of research and management of the Agua Salud project.” He has the uncanny ability of driving up treacherous, rain-soaked back roads, tottering on the edge […]
Orange Weir
I believe this weir is on the Rio Mendosa below a Teak plot. There’s a lot of soil in the river…but a smaller weir, just downstream was much clearer water. Erosion? The soil here is bright orange from a high content of potassium and aluminum. This is Michiel van Breugel washing off his boots in […]
End of the day
After tromping around the Agua Salud site… 4-wheel drive is imperative here. Boots are imperative for possible snakes and for chigger control.
Diablo Rojo
Famous for being totally dangerous, these tricked-out former Florida school buses have been public transit in Panama for ages. They are run by independent “companies” and the drivers are notorious for being “medicinally-aided” drivers (according to some). The paintings and the decorative aspects of these buses is amazing on some and underwhelming on others. They […]
Panama Poetry
There is so much to experience in Panama, but the canal is a bright spot for me. Each year, over 14,000 vessels pass through, with the average toll at $54,000.00 (depending on who you talk to). 26,700,000 gallons of water are used to get a ship across the canal. This water comes from Lake Gatun. […]
Engineering Exhibit
Spent the evening (again) at the Miraflores Locks, drinking G&Ts and marveling at the ships moving up and down, back and forth through the locks. The fact that 5% of the world’s trade rolls through there, 24/7 is amazing, let alone in 1914 when the supertanker lanes are done. It is sustainability on a large […]
Hangout
This is it. The Indian restaurant hangout. Their Aloo Gobi and Chicken Curry are great, the Naan is as well…They have a killer mango-yogurt drink called a “mango lassi”. We sit out on the patio and watch Bollywood videos. We showed up one night and the whole neighborhood was dark due a power outage in […]
Isthman
Scientist, geologist, isthmus expert Tony Coates. He uses Cuban cigars for relaxation therapy, and always prefers to be in the driver’s seat. Fearless with a proposal, he now also knows a bit about how to build a website. Google him for endless interesting information. Science rockstar.
Saturday night in El Dorado
We were having some very fresh shrimp scampi that evening, purchased at the newly renovated city fish market. Apparently, there is a water-backup problem at the market, so it’s advised to wear waterproof shoes. The garlic crusher was a rock that was given to NT by an elder woman while she was visiting Chiriqui Province […]
Friday night in PC
This is the view from the bellydance class. Once again, protecting the innocent. The instructor, Mascha makes incredible shiny costumes. It’s like a little-girl’s princess dreams on sultry steroids. Princess suits for BIG GIRLS. Who are also still little girls. You can see the incredible obelisks and basalt-like towers in the background. Many remain in […]
Sacred space
Lower level of a Catholic church in Panama Cuidad. There were short aisles of crypts with myriad of decorations, messages, and offerings.
Rainy season
Headed into the city today, a black cloud descended just as we entered the health food store. Major lighting strikes near us. Sheets of rain continued for about 20-30 minutes. We loaded up Anandita’s truck and turned further into the city and found this scene. Choosing not to engage in the fun, we turned and […]
Panabellydance
While protecting the identities of the innocent, I am compelled to report the bellydancing classes in the city each week. Sometimes you go and are so tired at the end of the work day that you have trouble keeping arms in the air. Other days, it flies past way too quickly. Either way, the end […]