9 days with WorldBeatCenter
May 3rd - May 13th
Panama City Panama City
. The union at the center of the continent. The division of Mother Earth or the joint of Las Americas? Pa' na 'ma.
Panama
. History will reveal itself. Nearby, the town of
Portobello
celebrates a major fiesta once a year for El Negro Cristo, The Black Christ.
Panama
at a glance, is a Black Nation. Indeed, Black Ancestry flows through the blood of all her people. Right outside of the city, We visit the
Blue Mountains
at the center of the continent with a simultaneous view of the
Caribbean
and
Pacific
Sea
! Waterfalls, Natural Swimming Pools and wildlife abound. We then take a short flight, fly to our island paradise . . .
Days 2-5: Island of Bastimentos and the Archipelago de Bocas
del
Toro: Getting to the islands of Bocas del Toro, we cross the through the major
port
of
Almirante
. Serving primarily as a banana port and center for regional transportation, Almirante begins our short over water trip. This is the same port Marcus Garvey docked boats from the Black Star Line and organized the African descendent communities around the idea of self-determination and an economic model that would support a return through the Middle Passage back to
Africa
. The beauty is immense in the large open waters and through the mangroves. In our twin 150hp engine boat, pass Indian fisherman and board houses on stilts in the situated in the mangroves, in the naturally protected waters of the Archipelago.
We change boats in Bocas del Toro into a dug out "panga" for our final short leg by water. Lle
gamos en 10 minutos. “Wi soon reach,” Enrique, our host assures us as we sail along the calm waters aside sand Cayes and clear blue translucent waters. Cumulous clouds hang beneath the mountains, the Archipelago of islands bath in the sun and clarity. Beautiful wood houses with white sand beaches for their front yard.
We cross the channel where members once stood dockside on their way to port, perhaps sailing from Limon or any of the Afro-Mundo regions of the
Caribbean
. You look to the North into the mouth of the
Caribbean Sea
, imagining
Jamaica
a short two-day sail away. Limon, half day and
Bluefield
’
Nicaragua
a two day sail. The black exchange of the Black Star Line and the people of the region were the pride of Pan-Africanism and in the late 1800’s they new it. The sea air delivers the spirit. The WBC team pays tribute in silence. Pirates of the
Caribbean
could never feel so real and our history so strong. The next days we will snorkel, swim, surf, fish, listen and learn. Old School. Roots. In the "Rundon" on the water's edge.
Arriving in Bastimentos, Old Bank, the Calypso and musica typica
del
region comes from the wooden houses in the distance as we near the protected bay of the serene small village of “Old Bank”. The blues are going from dark to light, clarity and stillness, brighter, the greens vivid with all shades of life. The houses of the village are bright vivid colors of the rainbow, fresh like the air and spirit. Siempre Domingos.
Bastimento and
Camp
Natural
Mystic: During your stay we have time to enjoy the “plentitude” which Bastimento was named for. Named “land of plenty” by Christopher Combusus, visitors enjoy in all the natural resources and beauty of the Caribbean Island Life in the day and at night. Nights are filled with stars and
Caribbean
rythyms float over the water. Weather your walking any of the majestic beaches with your lover or friend, or boating around the mangroves watching the dolphins play in protection – one thing for sure, you have found the “Little Island where God sleeps.” More on Bastimento, go to www.RootsTravelEd.net
Traveling from
Panama
to Limon: Have we gone ba-na-nas? True life and struggle of our relations. On calm seas, a one-hour boat ride would take us from the roads end of southern Limon to
Panama
. Fishing families are doted along this non-road accessible coast. Our team takes the road route along the base of the large mountainous spine of Mother Earth, La Madre Cordillera Talamanca. The road takes the WBC Crew through the one of the largest banana plantations in the world. Mostly worked by Indian and Mestizo Ticos, the plantations seem endless. We cross a heavy flowing river at the border town of
Changinola
to
Costa Rica
.
Winding through the hills, the radio plays distinctive Cumbia rhythms, the perfect harmonization of Afro-Indigenous expression. Crossing the border it is noticeable we are not in
Costa Rica
anymore. This is the land that Ruben Blades nearly won the presidency, one of the only countries that were able to say good by to
U.S.
military. This is the bridge of the
Americas
. The land isthmus runs east and west; a canal connects the two oceans. Ahhh
Panama
. Some say
Panama
means butterfly in a native dialect. Feeling the spirit and geography it could possibly the best parenting union of the
Americas
-- Pa n’ama.
Day 5-7: Puerto Viejo and the Southern villages of Coastal Limon: Before the United Fruit Company, African descendents of
Jamaica
and Indigenous people were lucrative in Chocolate production and commercial exports. Bananas, Tourism and most recently Oil have replaced the direction of society and Limon’s situation of Globalization. Since the glory days of the Black Star Line, Nestle and Chiquita, among others, carved out their economic plan. This has often threatened this area of the richest resources.
Bordering
Panama
, southern Limon’s Talamanca’s lush rainforest mountains descend quickly to the coast; nestling the blue
Caribbean
waters, providing a wonderful crisp climate. 20 years ago there was no road going south; everything was transported along the waters on dug out canoes. Today, tourists find their way to the “
Old
Port
” by rent-a-cars and “quaint” European café’s and restaurants buffer the local Afro-Caribena dishes.
Delegation is led through the beautiful landscape by local young woman, descendent of Afro-Jamaican, Indigenous, and a little German (resulting from early 1900’s Nestle explorers). In the old days her grandfather walked from
Atlantic
to
Pacific
Coast
and learned all the trails, living harmoniously with the Indigenous people and speaking Spanish, Bribi (native language) and English. One of the last fruit farmers to walk his fruit into town on a mule, her grandfather saw major changes in Limon rural life. Tourism has lead the changes, negative and positives show themselves. In this modern time, many youth have no alternatives to tourism activities.
IAM Meditation at Casa Amma Along the black sands of Puerto Viejo in the abundant coconut palms, monkeys, wild flowers and fruits, our team meditates on the spirits of Afro-Indigenous-Limoneses. Reggae music plays out of houses, restaurants and bars. Women sell Jamaican Paties. Our team will tour the villages, beaches and feel the irie vibes of the numerous reggae reef-side open-air bars under the full moon. We rest at Casa Amma, Jai Ma. We participate in the IAM Meditation Swami as we prepare for Ammas visit in 2005.
Day 8
Puerto Limon
,
Costa Rica
: Port of Call. The call of Marcus Mosiah Garvey. A nations history and wealth. The
Caribbean
people power.
Caribbean
City
Life 2003. City Tour. A revitalized Limon puts Afro-Caribenos on the map, in the legislature and in the groove. How we are all related. WBC stops to visit with The "Forgotten Ones", at Casa de Ancianos. A retired home for seniors, live history books reveal Afro-Jamaican migration and history as it unfolded in Limon. Members of the UNIA relate the story of Black Self-Determination, commerce and equity.
Among many great things, Limon is known in
Costa Rica
for producing the best athletes, tastiest and spiciest food and music, and a small island that claims fame as one Cristobal Colon’s first steps on Central American tierra.
For the African in the
Americas
series visit WorldBeatCenter.org/wbcmundo
For all Latin American travel, world culture, stay logged into RootstraveEd.net
Excursion Options:
Tortugero, Limon: Boat and canal tour. Aint no Disney. The wild. The colorful. Those of the water, land, and air. Inhale. Take a breath of what is real. Life. More natural life.
Archipelago
de San Blas
,
Panama
:Our story. Our culture. Our Island.Cuna Indians, Indigenous people of the area. An autonomy, a self-determination with color and pride. Snorkel.Walk.Listen.Learn.Our past, our present, our future.
Portobelo/Isla Grande,
Panama
: The
New World
History. Spanish Galleons. Spanish Ruins.
Colonial
Church
. Pirates fighting over gold, land and labor. Old pirates yes they rob I . Homage to The Black Christ. El Cristo Negro. Milagros. Espritu. Our Story.
For more exciting and educating itineraries come with us again -- more Roots Travel, Culture, Truth. September 2003.
RootsTravelEd.net
OPTIN: San Jose/Arrival: Por Siempre?
Central America
in transition. Nesteled in a fertile valley, surrounded by dormant and not-so dormant Volcanoes, “Chepe” is the central axis of Government, Transportation and Commerce. Temps range from brisk to vary warm. “The Switzerland of Latin America” Arriving at
7:30am
, our WBC team heads east, directly for Limon. Our bus ride will take us through the
High Cloud
Rain Forest
and waterfalls before dropping down to the
Caribbean
Coast