Downstairs, kids watch a pinguin movie at the computer lab. Normally, during their vacations they would have been roaming the streets with only mischief in their minds. Upstairs, a journalist defends freedom while downstairs freedom is created in the minds of local women who are breaking the cycle of poverty. Welcome to Santa Familia.

This growth rate is higher than expected, but economic performance in the region is very diverse. Stated CEPAL Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena. How is Panama doing?

Simply incredible. Overnight, the Cinta Costera had grass, trees and connected to San Felipe´s ramp! Still not clear though how traffic will work, especially the access to the "underground parking".

Most of Casco Viejo´s government buildings where designed by Italians. Today, the Italian influence is everywhere, from our President to restaurants and even hospitals. La Dolce Vita and Panama´s Caribbean style have proved to be a great combination! La maggior parte degli edifici publici del Casco Viejo furono disegnati da italiani. Oggi, l'influenza italiana è ovunque, dal nostro Presidente a ristoranti e persino ospedali. La Dolce Vita e lo stile dei Caraibi -Panama hanno dimostrato di essere una bella combinazione!

A while ago I wrote in one of our brochures regarding a property at Plaza Catedral something like "Plaza Catedral is where everything happens. From the jazz festival to political demonstrations".

Some projects take a long time, this one started in 2006. However, it is crucial for Panama not only because it reorganizes the sewage system but because it is crucial to recover what is mainly our trademark: our oceans and rivers.

Panama seems to be strenghtening its ties with Italy. From art exhibits to a visit of President Berlusconi himself, Casco Viejo seems to be the place where everything happens.

Hurrays at todays La Prensa: Panama made it to BBB ratings! Our gang now includes Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Peru. The official press conference and details will be on March 24th. If you would like to participate, here is the info.

The "little devils" at Diablo Rosso are organizing a series of talks about Patrimony. They´ll promise a lot of quality information and no "bla bla bla"... straight to the point! Whether you are interested in the technical part of restoration, or in the legal basis, or how Patrimony works around the world and compare it to Casco, this is a series you can´t miss.

The boys at Relic really know how to throw a party!!! everyone shows up, including President Ricardo Martinelli.

Hotel Central: You could start pointing fingers right left and center. But really, who is to blame?

Every day, people bring hope. And that is the real beauty of the fight.

2009 was an "interesting" year for business and the market in general. How did the financial crisis affected Casco Viejo? How was 2009 in terms of Real Estate, investment, community? How is 2010 looking like?

In the last 8 years, Panama has had an incredible growth. Tourism, construction, the Panama Canal, banking, every area seemed to be thriving, and got the country to touch amazing growing rates comparable only with China (9% - 10%). But there was an area that was left behind: public transportation. Today, we got good news about it.

Last week the Economist ran an in-depth article regarding the impact of the Panama Canal expansion on the Panamanian economy. The article is a must read for anyone who is or is thinking about living or investing in Panama. It gives one of the best overviews of Panama's economy and the reasoning behind the expansion that I have seen.

Casco Viejo is more than ever connected to the rest of Panama City thanks to the Cinta Costera. The original plans, however, included a piece that would literally connect Terraplen and somehow it didn´t get done during the past administration. A controversial project from the start! We finally have the plans.

During this world wide financial crisis, many countries have suffered and Panama, which had a growth up to 11% slowed down. But, somehow, it has kept its head up reporting growth even this year and making it into the international lists where keeps the good company of far bigger countries.

It is official: the Gaceta Oficial de Panamá published the authorization to continue the Cinta Costera by Terraplen into the dock´s area where the Public Market used to be.

2009 points out to be an intense year: the works for the Panama Canal Expansion will start, the new transportation system Secretary will need to show some concrete actions, big companies like Chevron are raising their capabilites and Panamanian banks try to keep leading the region.

Culture is hardly ever thought as an economic engine. But it is! and as a secondary effect, it also raises the lifestyle of the society as a whole (or was it all the way around?). Join hands and contribute to Casco Viejo´s cultural future...

Great news at today´s La Prensa: the Panama Canal Authority will be opening envelopes tomorrow and evaluating the proposals on the bidding for the Panama Canal Expansion. Who is bidding?

After the Election Craziness, learn which politicians can affect Casco Viejo directly.

Panama´s National Comptroller Office had announced a growth of 3% for 2009. How is the country doing so far?

Yesterday, the Residents and Friends of Casco Antiguo Association (Asociación de Vecinos y Amigos del Casco Antiguo)hit town!

Developers of the residential building are taking fire for violating regulations in the area.

By means of Executive Decree No. 26 of March 2, 2009, the Government of Panama significantly reduced from US$615,000 to US$260,000 the bank time deposit at the National Bank of Panama required to qualify for a Second Passport.

By Friday, Plaza Catedral (known also as Plaza Independencia) had "new residents"... tents started to pop out, artists and hippies Woodstock style camped along with the Naso to support their cause. By Sunday, they had a small concert organized taking advantage that the Flea Market was going on.

This past month, we have seen two iconic cases gone to the papers provoking scandal among all who care and love our Cathedral Plaza: the overbuilding of PH Independencia and the falling of Hotel Central´s lateral calicanto wall. On both cases, the chapter of ICOMOS in Panama (a technical advisor to the UNESCO) has gone out to demand attention and to make sure political corruption won´t be an obstacle in the process.

What a weekend! Panama´s Presidential Election, How does it work? who won? what to expect?

It was about time! residents and business owners of Casco Antiguo are coming together to help Casco Antiguo develop the best way possible. AVACA for its name in Spanish, is open to everyone: residents, owners, business owners and Casco Antiguo fans.

Obama is lifting finally parts of the Cuban embargo. While you are thinking on traveling to Cuba, read this first....

Emerging artists, locals, investors, art, music and criollo food. Casco Viejo has become Panama´s reference for cultural events. But there is more to it than meets the eye...

With a diversified economy and a strong, conservative, banking system, Panama is on the move to protect the country as much as possible from the current economic crisis. For the last three years, Panama positioned itself as one of the fastest growing economies in the region, with numbers as far as 10% a growth reached only by countries such as China.Worldwide, this year has been very different for everyone. But Panama’s advantage over the region may survive ...

I am not joking when I say I have never seen anything move so fast in this country. I don´t know if it is because the Presidential Elections are so close now (in May)...

These past two weeks have been a frenzy for Ariel Espino and his team at Oficina del Casco Antiguo. Not only he was running business as usual with all the social programs the OCA has and building renovations that range from social housing within Casco Viejo to the rescue of old ruins and turning them into beautiful public spaces, but he was also - and for the first time at that office - launching an ambitious website, and even more, hosting a special UNESCO delegation that arrived to check on how things where going down here due to some letters they have gotten that the Casco was in danger.

Many historic centers in Latin America have been the focus of government and private initiatives seeking to rehabilitate the building stock and position the areas to serve the tourism industry. In most cases these efforts have led to the displacement of lowincome residents or of residential activities altogether, due to gentrification and commercialization of the district. This article seeks to advance this discussion based on the experience in Panama City’s historic center, “Casco Antiguo.” It describes some recent, innovative policies that have explored the intersections of tourism, affordable housing, employment, and culture in a historical context, and draws some general insights and lessons.

The World Bank is investing heavily in Panama. Yesterday, they announced that they are considering a $400 million dollar financing for the Panama Canal Expansion project.

I suddenly realized Casco Viejo might be in the middle of the most important Presidential Campaign of our times: John McCain vs Barak Obama. How?