#1: From Chiriqui Chatter: The Vote for the Big Dig

The vote is today for the expansion of the Canal. Voting in Panama is a very serious thing both for referendums such as today’s and for governmental offices. All sides fiercely try to get their vote out. It is interesting that they shut down all alcohol sales midnight before
the voting offices open. No alcohol will be sold all day.
My expectation is for the “Yes” vote to carry. I think expanding the Canal is something that should happen, but I am not sure that all costs
are accurately forecast or all ecological effects are understood.Continue reading…

#2: Quitenle la Camara presents a pictorial review of the people who voted NO for the Referendum: Los que dicen NO! Do not miss up this very impressive report infused with questions, tears and death.

#3: From JArango.com: Some Thoughts on The Panama Canal Expansion Project

I’m very proud of my country tonight. Once again, we have proven capable of taking a major national decision via democratic vote, peacefully and in a very organized manner.

I’ve always thought the phrase “Panama Canal” its a bit of a misnomer. It was US capital, know-how, engineering, equipment, and leadership that built the Canal. (Perhaps a more fitting name would be “The US Canal through Panama”.) As a matter of fact, Panama owes its independence to the fact that Colombia (of which Panama was a province) was hesitant to allow the Americans to build the Canal. Read more…

#4: From Publius Pundit: World Watches Panama Amid Big Victory for Trade

…Everyone in the world who trades is watching Panama today. If Panama passes the referendum, whole new trading opportunities will spring forward. All of those ports will benefit. Shipping costs will fall, more nations will be able to participate, and living standards will rise – around the world. Walmart prices will get still lower, countries like India and Senegal will be able to get deeper footholds into world trading, energy supplies will become more abundant – the possibilities are endless – and they are all good. Read the complete post…

#5: From Colteryhan.com:  Ocu, Festival del Manito

I was caught in this young girl’s gaze.  The waiting was over, and the drums had come to life at the rear of her delegation.  The girls’ polleras (folkloric dress) swayed in rhythm, while the boys, in their montunos (folkloric outfit) danced in place.  The young girl had stood motionless up to that moment, and with her friends anxiously waiting, her dress slowly started to move back and forth.  Then, with some gentle prodding and a big burst of laughter from all the children, the delegation from the Corregimiento de Los Llanos (a district in this rural area) marched their way into the 35th annual Festival del Manito. Continue reading and enjoy the amazing photography!

#6:  From Heidibella in the Tropics:  Handed Down from the Angels, Angel Food Cake!

There is nothing more light and fluffy and delicious than an Angel Food Cake. Adding lemon curd between the layers makes it a DIVINE experience. Sure, you can buy an angel food cake, and you can buy lemon curd. But this is so easy to do that there is no reason for storebought when you can control the quality of the ingredients by making it yourself, as I did today. Get cooking…

#7: From Martin's Panama Weblog: Casco Viejo

On sunday morning (honestly it was 12am ;-) we took the Diablo Rojo to Downtown Panama to visit Casco Viejo which is the second oldest part of
Panama (after Panama Viejo). Casco Viejo is a nice place with lots of old buildings and the Canal Museum. It is surrounded with the not so nice parts of Panama City ("no-go" areas) and is thus heavily patrolled by a special Tourist Police (very friendly guys) who keep telling you where it is not a good idea to go. Nevertheless, Casco Viejo has the presidential palace, the canal museum, national theatre, the French embassy, and many more old buildings. It's quite interesting that this (rather important) part of Panama City is surrounded by completely run-down areas.  Read more…