Hey Hombres,
Does anyone know if it is a waste of time to go to Panama during their independance celebration, Nov 3 and 4? I was planning on stopping over there for 4 days during this time, but someone there told me all the businesses are closed and the city basically shuts down. If there are no good lookin chicas available, since they all left for the interior to see auntie ismarelda, please someone help me! If this is the case I will reschedule,
Ty

Although I wasn't there during Independence day, I was there last year when they had presidential elections. On election day, most, if not all, the clubs were closed, including Goldentime. But freelancers were available as were outcalls. I'd avoid Panama during the holidays if possible.

November is a BIG holiday month in Panama. A lot of things shut down, but there is still fun to be had. The city does shut down for Independence but the clubs are JUMPING and there are chicas ready to make a few dollars without their jefes trying to undermine them. Everyone is off of work and there is plenty to do. You just have to hook up with a Panamanian and have them show you the way.

Hard2no,
What do you think about this place, Bolero? Think that will be open, as well as all the usual haunts like GT, Oasis, Miami and the like?
Ty

Steve,

I think Bolero will be open. I'm not sure about GT, Oasis and Miami. The my first visit to Panama 3 years ago was during this time and I had not found about Club Hombre nor the massage parlors. I know that I found several University girls and the prettiest freak I've ever met. She took me around to clubs and I met many of her University friends...nice times I had then.

The other November months that I have been there I haven't been during Independence, but during the other holidays and everything was open.

I'll check with one of my current amigas and they will tell me if the massages are open.

(Message edited by hard2no on October 14, 2005)

I walked into Bolero for the first time about a month a ago on a friday night 11/11:30 , sitting at the bar as you walk in were sitting 6 beautiful Colombianas. Ever one give me the eye as I walked pasted.
...I took out a cute blond for $80 for two hours.........

I am going back to Panama City on Tuesday, Oct 18th to move there permanently from Las Vegas. This will be my 7th trip there this year. I have never heard of this place Bolero, but I want to go there. Is this a new place? Where is it located?

Okay hombres, I am in Panama during what they call the 3 and 4 of Noverbiere(sp?), and there are some caveats to mention.

In a nutshell, if you are well versed enough with Panama city, know your way around walking and know which "haunts" to hit, you will be okay around here during this and other holidays soon to follow on Nov. 10. November is celebration time here in Panama, and when I got here it was a bit challenging to get around since Via Espana was TOTALLY closed for around 5 hours of parading. Seems these Panamanians love to march............and fuck (maybe not at the same time, unless of course you have a chica marching on your member).

I would not suggest coming to Panama in November for your first trip. The weather is not the greatest (been here 48 hours and have yet to see the sun), although it is warm and anything is better than the progessively colder North Eastern usa. The area has an "air" of time off about it. When I first arrived, only the restuarants were open, and begrudged employees comprising skeleton crews seemed overworked and quite busy, as well as annoyed to have to work while everyone else was off.

I went to the Oasis since it is right down the street, only it took me 10 minutes to cross Via Espana next to McDonalds due to the crowds and parade. When I entered Oasis there were NO GIRLS SITTING ANYWHERE! The guy yelled back for Marcela to come forth, a nice looking Colombiana who I think I woke up. After a while of haggling about doing CIM and BBBJ, which she refused to do, we began to hit it off and actually had a decent time.

Got my nards satisfied for a while and went off to do some business before I called to see where an old flame was. I was either going to spend the night with her, or head over to Miami. She actually showed up promptly after I called her (another miracle for a Panamanian chica!), and wound up screwing the rest of the day and night away at my room. Then went out with her and it was pretty much the GFE from there on. Sent her home in a cab to go out with a local guy buddy and talk more business here in Panama.

Although I will be seeing my GF again tonight (its just too damn good to resist - believe me I try!), I will do my best to get up to Miami and GT and see what the deal is up there. Since I have the connections with people and places I do here, this holiday thing has not made much of a difference for me. Bolero is open and rocking after midnight, as my buddy went there last evening and said there were many columbianas hot for the picking (mostly semi-pros I would imagine). I hope to make it there with him again to give a more full report.

So, if mongering is what you are in for, it is still happening during this holiday, BUT it might be interrupted for a few hours here and there. I noticed some of the more popular girls coming back into the Oasis as I was leaving, and Marcela told me that many would be back to work this evening anyway.

The late evening mongering life seems to be unaltered, HOWEVER, there are COPS EVERYWHERE, giving you that Evil Eye for the Gringo Guy as they usually do. If you are going to talk to a street girl (scant as far as I could tell around Via Espana anyway), be sure they are not looking at you. I spoke to one of the bellmen who told me the best place for good looking SG's is Calendonia (thanks Alecjamer), and you should cruise around there with a cabbie or your own car rental to find the one you like. He did not suggest walking around the Calendonia area, especially deep into it, as Gringos frequently get mugged there late night.

There is also a new casino/resort going up across from Manolos resturant which look like something you would see in Vegas. Man, Panama city is getting built up! Could become the next Rio over the following decade.

More later............ta luego
Steve

Continuing on;

So then, Panama City is pretty clear now that the parades have stopped and all moved to Colon and other parts of the country. It is back to mongering as usual here.

Miami and GT are all open, however there were not as many chicas in either of these places. It seems that even the Columbianas take some time off around November, however good looking the ones that remain are, and they are good loooking. Bolero's was hoppin as usual and filled with chicas last evening. Many ripe for the picking as usual.

It is a bright sunny day here and it seems the rains have ended, although it poured during the main parades yesterday. A GF told me that September and October are heavy rain months, and November starts to ease up on it as December and January are terrific.

I suppose that is it for right now. Heading to the interior (Santiago) for a real estate deal and will most likely be there a few days. I have never mongered in Santiago, but have heard from several contacts that the pickings are good there as well. Aparantly many students from the local colleges need some extra cash.

Ta luego, Steve

Now that I am home, one other thing you guys should know about.

The holiday thing really is no big deal. You can still have a very decent time. What was a TOTAL PAIN IN THE ASS WAS BUSH! He made my dating life a living hell this past trip!

When I am in Panama I generally rent a car and drive around to pick up my GF, go shopping, eat, movies at Albrook............you know the deal. Pretty easy thing if you know your way around. Now add to the equation a disliked world dictator like Bush and you get mega police stops and checks, and closures of major roads. Corredor Sur was closed on and off for days when Bush and his skanky wife decided to go travel here and to. Had to take Punta Pacifica and you know how that is in the middle of the day if you want to take it all the way to Los Pueblos or Tucamen. Totally sucked! Balboa ave was even closed because they decided to shop at the MultiCentral! Jese louise! You should have seen the traffic mess that jammed up with everyone trying to get around the hospital.

If you know any person such as this is going to be around Panama, the police will be in full force, guns drawn. Every tenth of a mile there was an armed guard on Corredor Sur when it was open.....possibly even Corredor Norte but I can not verify that.

I did try to get to Santiago on Business, and every time I go if I get stopped and asked for ID my drivers liscense has always sufficed. Got stopped coming back from Isla Grande with my GF one time just out of Colon by 8 sub machine gun dudes. I flashed them my liscense and all was cool.......but not this time. All I was doing was traveling in an SUV this time down the Panamerican HWY, and the third stop there was a cop I could not bribe since his buddies were all around. He asked for my passport and I had left it in my room..........I have been to Panama 12 times and I have never carried my passport! This fuck told me to pull over and refused me travel to Santiago as a result of not having my passport. Had to phone my friend in Santiago (thank god I rented that cell phone), he had to take one of those hot sweaty busses up to where I was to drive my car since he is a Panamanian. This guy was being a real dick, but what are you going to do?

almost 4 hours later he gets there and the day is now gone. We have to go back to Panama City.................Oh well, just gave me another excuse to go back for some excellent lovin! I will return in January which is an excellent month in Panama for everything.

So the moral of the story is always carry your passport. You never know.

P.S. - Big sign by the Universidad next to the church - TERRORISTA BUSH GO BACK HOME - particularly thought this was amusing!

Steve

One other thing...........

My buddy from Texas met me there, and told me he tried to get in touch with Latinoqlion, who actually did get back to him but apparently had no good girls to send over. Oh well, all good things must end. I don't even think Latino is in Panama City anymore........moved away maybe since business was bad? Not enough pimpin available!? Steve

Stevepenmen -

Too bad about the hassle with the cops. I too used to run around without my passport and never was stopped. Then I ran in to an expat who told me about the nightmare I would endure if I didn't minimally have a photocopy of my passport. He told me exactly what happened to you.

Next trip I photocopied my passport 5 or 6 times...put a copy in my wallet, money belt, suitcase, glove compartment in the car and another spare with my real passport in the hotel lock box. Then I took a trip to one of the beaches West of PC. Sure shit...the cop pulled me over. He wanted to see my passport! I gave him the photocopy and he was satisfied...lucky me.

Sometimes taking a little extra effort, like photocopying your passport, will save you from a nightmare of red tape.

Helpful hint...build yourself a personal checklist of things you need to take well in advance of your next mongering trip. Keep the list handy and update it as you think of things to add. Don't put this off to the last minute because undoubtedly the lightbulb in your head will click-on just as you are fastening your seat belt in the airplane.

Normally a few days before my departure I'll pull-out my checklist and do what I need to do to get ready. Then when I start my journey my mind is pretty much at peace.

AJ

Steve - I live in Panama City...What nights were you hitting Bolero, and at what times? Maybe I am just going at the wrong time?

You gotta go after midnight, usually any night is good but the weekends are best. Has it been nada for you there? If so I have yet to hear that about Bolero.
Steve

AJ or anyone else in the know:

Can you go over those November Panama holidays with everyone once again? Hope you get this. I am planning on a visit at the beginning of November and I hear most of the holidays (and thus traffic) are toward the end. I was there last year at the beginning of December around the Panamanian mother's day (Dec 8) and the traffic was absolutely a nightmare. Barely made it to the airport and I have never seen it that bad.

Elim

Elim -

Here are some dates I found...you'll need to check the calendar for Ash Wed & Easter...but I think I covered all you seek for Nov & Dec.

I haven't heard when Carnival is in 08. Anybody?

AJ



Children's Day Nov 1
All Souls' Day Nov 2
Anniv of Sep from Colombia Nov 3
Flag Day Nov 4
Colon Day (Colon only) Nov 5
Anniv 1st Call for Independence Nov 10
Anniv Independence from Spain Nov 28
Mother's Day Dec 8
Christmas Eve Dec 24
Christmas Day Dec 25
New Year's Eve Dec 31
New Year's Day Jan 1
Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos Jan 6
Martyr's Day Jan 9
Carnival Varies Feb/Mar?
Ash Wednesday Varies
Dia de los Maestros Mar 11
Good Friday Varies
Easter Varies
Labor Day May 1
Dia del Padre Jun 16
Anniv Founding of Panama City Aug 15

Ash Wednesday is early this year, February 6, and Easter is March 23. The earliest it falls for awhile. That means Carnivale would start sometime after January 30. It would get going in earnest on the weekend and finish up on the 5th.

Question on Martyrs Day. Is that equivalent to Memorial Day in the U.S. where they remember the war dead? I think I was in PTY during that holiday last year. EVERY bar and restaurant shuts down as Midnight the night before and may reopen the following Midnight. Most do not reopen until the following night. It is absolutely dead during the day. Even had difficulty getting food at the hotel.

Kahuna Bill -

Martyr's Day came about back in 1964 or thereabouts when Panama City high school/grade school kids marched into the US controlled Panama Canal Zone (10-mile strip on either side of the Panama Canal was considered US territory...protected by the US Army).

These protesting kids attempted to raise the Panamanian flag and either take down the US flag, or at least lower it to the Panamanian flag at the US run Balboa High School.

I've heard the stories...very few white gringo kids were actually in attendance at the US controlled Balboa High School back then...most kids were mixed or full-blooded Panamanians that also happened to enjoy dual US citizenship...therefore, they were considered priviledged...yet very few had actually stepped foot in the USA.

Anyway, Balboa High School students poured out of school to confront the protesters...a fight broke-out and several of the Panamanian kids who marched on Balboa High School got killed. I was told by an eye witness that he saw brown and dark skinned kids fighting...no gringo white kids. As he told me the story, he said the Panamanian kids were killed by fellow Panamanian kids who just happened to hold dual (US) citizenship. Yet, Panamanians who were not there will say the killers were white US gringo kids...whatever.

Riots in the city then broke-out with an anti-American sediment. US Army soldiers from Ft. Clayton were mobilized...skirmishes happened and more Panamanians were killed by the US soldiers. I'm not sure if any US soldiers were killed...perhaps a few.

IMHO, before 2000 whenever Panamanians had a problem, they liked to blame the US and the US bases. Now that these bases closed as part of the turn-over of the Panama Canal in 2000...they really can't blame the US for their problems. But, some still do out of old habit.

Anyway, Martyr's Day is not a day to be running around wearing red white and blue in Panama and declaring to everyone that you are from the United States. Yet, I doubt anyone will hassle you just because you are an American...just tend to your own business and avoid rallies, marches or gatherings of any sort on the 9th of January.

The Balboa area is pretty safe all other days of the year...there is a memorial statue depicting the event...something to see on your next trip.

AJ

Thanks Alec. That is interesting. I will take a look around for that statue. Interesting stuff.

My observation on that date was really around how boring it can be then. I had a novia at the time, so I was occupied. But if you are there on a mongering trip, beware. You will have over 24 hours of down time.

I also don't think Carnivale is a good time to be there if you are looking for P4P. However I had great success the day after. Got a tip from the bartenders at Bodeguita. The girla are all in need of money. They spent it all partying during Carnivale.