Crack Town

Since we are in the city of David, Panama tonight and since my favorite 14 (almost 15) year old son is named David I took some photos. 'Welcome to David' and 'David is your home, recycle to keep it clean'


La Virgen to Cahuita - 150 miles

We went East toward the Costa Rica coast yesterday. (Blog entries reversed. The one below should be above). As we left the rainforests we noticed the landscape and habitations becoming seedy and poorly maintained. We reached the Carribean at the portcity of Limon. The area is populated with blacks decended from slaves and Jamaicans with some black Columbians. We stayed at a really lovely hotel/oasis called La Suiza Loca(the crazy Swiss). Inside her compound was lovely. The sea here is also beautiful. The town is miserable. The streets are dirt, the shops shabby and the people shady. Mac, Jeff and I went into town for dinner. We ate in an open air restaurant run by an impressive lady. She came from Columbia 6 years ago and bought the restaurant 5 years ago. It supports her, three sons, a daughter-in-law and a grandchild. Not well but adaquately. Everyone but the infant works there. The owner had us join her table. There were no other customers. I asked her many questions. It turns out that there is a big drug problem there. Pot is prevelent and crack too. We were approached y drug dealers several times in our three block walk, bums begging also. We stayed together. We went to the adjacent bar after dinner and listened to the live band. There were so many drugged out people I suggested we go back to the hotel, pronto. It was sad see such obvious despair and drug use in a tropical, seaside town that should be able to do better. My slides tonight are of the hotel enclave of the crazy Swiss.