PANAMA: LAND WITH A GREAT FUTURE AND A DUTCH PAST
25.11.2009 :: Archivado en California, Costa Rica, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Estados Unidos, Madrid, España, Madrid, Spain, Noticias y Artículos VLP, Panama, Panamá, Sotogrande, España, United States, VLP News & Articles
Many times I publicly expressed that I like Panama a lot. I think it is a great country, in many ways, also to visit it just as a tourist. I have told this over the years to many people, trying to convince them to book a holiday trip to Panama and giving them guidelines to discover its unique variety in flora and fauna.
Panamá land of nature to be discovered
Breathtaking contrasts within only few miles of distance
Few people know that Panama offers probably our world’s biggest concentration in vegetation varieties. Travelling through Panama is indeed one big discovery tour. And the nice thing is that it is a relatively small country and therefore you can do and see lots of different things and sides in only a couple of days.
What to say for example about flying in the morning from the Miami-style City to the Unesco World Heritage sides at “Bocas del Toro” and than coming back in the evening to continue with a vibrating City-night. It is one of the most extreme contrasts one can wish to experiment.
But of course I should talk here also about all the other aspects of Panama, like the stable political climate, the many years of being one of the worlds most important finance centers. And who can talk about Panama without mentioning the Canal, and the importance of Colon, competing with Hong Kong for the number one container position in the world?
The Canal: the spine of Panama
Panama’s economy keeps on growing and all over the country you notice this in new real estate developments and new infrastructures, bringing national and international people together on a prosperous way to the future.
A future where I, as Dutchman, look at with special feelings. I tell you why. In fact I discovered something of our Dutch history in Panama that I was not aware of till I visited the (old) minister of Tourism Mr. Ruben Blades in his office.
Mr Ruben Blades, Mr. Zósimo Guardia Varela and Adrian van Loon in the office of Mr. Blades
When I told Mr. Blades that I also wanted to go to the archipelago of “San Blas”, he started laughing and said to me: so let us see if you will come from there. When I asked him why, he told me that the Dutch have a long history in that part of Panama, going back to our golden seventieth century, and that still one part of San Blas is called “the Dutch quays” (de Hollandse kaden). Can you imagine my worry? Especially with my surname “van Loon”, a name with centuries of marine history in worldwide trading and with as landmark of this global-past the Van Loon museum in Amsterdam
As you can see, I came back and was allowed to discover one of the most paradisiacal parts of our planet and to make good friends. San Blas is unbelievably beautiful with very nice and friendly people and with traditions to absolutely admire and respect (see my photos).
On my way to traditions and education I admire.
Lots to learn about other cultures!
There are moments that the most beautiful words cannot express.
If you feel challenged just let me know!
And now you will ask why all this nostalgia and all these words? All this came all up last week when more than fifty businessmen from the Dutch building industry brought a work visit to Panama. What a pity that I could not join them at that moment. It would have been not only a good opportunity to offer them my know-how and contacts, but also to say hello to my many friends in Panama. But I am sure that we will meet soon at another visit, because the Panamanians and the Dutch have everything to continue what already brought us centuries ago together: the future!
Welcome!
