Entre los monzones
Rainy season lasts from mid-April to mid-December in Panama. It is typical for rain to come in large bursts in the afternoon to early evening, but typically the mornings are clear. The weather can change at the blink of an eye, but the people of Panama have grown accustomed to the rain and don’t seem to mind when it does come.
This is evident within Casco Viejo, Panama City’s “Old Town” and known simply as “Casco” to the locals. Casco is a bustling neighborhood, touristy at times, but also a frequent for locals for its nightlife and fine dining.
As I strolled the streets of Casco after a particularly violent rainfall, I spoke with a father and his two boys who joyously played with a soccer ball in the rain. I asked to take their photo and the father asked if I had experienced anything like the monsoons. He chuckled when I said the rain seemed angry because of its thunderous roar, then smiled, “For me? This is normal. You can’t just live between the monsoons, so you make life work with them.”
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On assignment for Journalism 210 at UC Berkeley School of Journalism.
