Getting to Know my Province, Chiriqui, Panama
Following on the success of last year’s school trip to Panama City, the Morro Negrito Foundation took the island children on another outing, this time to their own province of Chiriqui. Panamanians have a strong sense of pride for their provinces, and the Foundation thought this would be an opportunity for the children to see some important parts of Chiriqui. Led by camp manager, Jeff Healion, ten children and nine parents enjoyed a two day excursion of learning, fun, and exploration set to the theme of “Getting to Know my Province.”
Traveling by boat and bus, the trip included visits to the mountain town of Boquete and the provincial capital, David. The first stop was Paradise Gardens, an animal sanctuary and refuge in the cool highlands of Boquete, a thriving hub of coffee production and nationally famous for its coffee and flower fair. Here, we enjoyed interactive tours of monkeys, exotic birds, endangered mammals, and an enclosed butterfly park. Most all the animals at Paradise Gardens have been rescued and are awaiting release back into the jungle.
After a picnic lunch in Boquete’s main plaza, it was down to the warmer climes of David, Panama’s thriving western hub of agriculture, business, and tourism. The group visited Culturama, a historical and cultural society located in one of the oldest buildings in Chiriqui. We learned about local history and were treated to entertaining stories by one of the area’s best storytellers.
What is a field trip without a little down time, so we headed over to the theater and caught the new Disney holiday movie Enchanted followed by a stop at MacDonald’s. After dinner we went to see David’s new million-dollar plaza, probably the nicest plaza in Panama, if not Central America. The fountains and manicured gardens are beautifully lit at night. Just by luck, a local philanthropic organization was presenting a Christmas performance of dance, music, and holiday dramas in the park’s amphitheater. It was a lovely tropical evening and we enjoyed the festivities besides being tired from a day of busy events. Finally, we made it to a comfortable night’s sleep at Hotel Toledo.
Day two began with a fun breakfast at a popular downtown cafeteria where we were treated to a private reception room. From the restaurant we walked to the Sevillana Bakery where we enjoyed a full tour of the bakery’s back kitchens. In Panama, as in much of Latin America, the bakery still plays a major role in people’s daily lives. At Sevillan, fresh bread slides out of the ovens nearly all day.
A short walk from the bakery we stopped at city’s main fire station. Here we had a full tour of the facilities and then were treated to a simulated emergency call. We watched the firemen slide down the poles, put their suits on, and then leave the firehouse. Out in the driveway they stopped and started the hoses. The children loved the excitement and show. After some fun pictures with the firehouse staff, we were on our way to our final destination.
David’s International Airport is the second largest in Panama and Aeroperlas, the regional carrier, had invited us to board one of their planes as it was being prepared for a flight. Probably not something we could have done in many countries, we all boarded the plane, visited the cockpit, and then relaxed in the cabin seats while the flight attendants answered questions from the children. After our brief “flight” on the ground, the staff took us safely to the gate. Wow, what a thrill for the children.
With just a few hours left before we needed to begin our journey back to camp, we spent a few hours looking around the busy commercial district of David, bustling with holiday activity. In Latin America, so much of the activity begins out in front of the stores so just walking around the streets is fascinating.
It is hard to imagine how our trip could have been more fun, rewarding, or educational. Sure we arrived back at the island tired, but the children were still buzzing with excitement from the events and what they had experienced. If you could have seen the smiles and eyes during the two days, you would all know how rewarding it is to share with those that are less fortunate. During the holiday time, it was especially rewarding for us to share a magical treat with the children from our island. We would like to thank all of you who have helped with the Morro Negrito Foundation. Your caring made this wonderful trip possible. Thank you.
This entry was posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 6:07 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can also leave a response or trackback from your own site.
1 Response to “Getting to Know my Province, Chiriqui, Panama”
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Kathryn Rossi says:
May 6, 2008, 10:21 am
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it. I can see the beautiful faces of these children in my mind. Part of the joy of coming to camp is being able to look into the stunning faces of the children. They are so beautiful.
Jeff, you are extraordinary!
Hugs,
Kathryn — (Santa Bob’s Sister)