Arcane Candy

Friday, July 21, 2017
Downtown Panama City, Panama

There’s a lady who knows all that glitters is gold, and she’s climbing a skyscraper to Heaven. Downtown Panama City, Panama.

Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday, July 20, 2017
Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama

A t-shirt seat cover in a taxi in Panama City, Panama.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama

The Cafe Coca-Cola in Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama

The Biomuseo designed by Frank Gehry in Panama City, Panama.

Read the rest of this entry »

Monday, July 17, 2017
Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama

La Iglesia de la Merced in Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sunday, July 16, 2017
Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama

A Red Devil bus trails my taxi cab on the way from Tocumen Airport to Panama City.

“Panama is a country in Central America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia (in South America) to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The capital and largest city is Panama City, whose metropolitan area is home to nearly half of the country’s four million people.

Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the Is This the Isthmus? Tour, my first jaunt through Central America and Mexico. From July 16 to October 22, 2017, I backpacked through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico to experience the insanely creative music, art, food and architecture of those countries. I hope you enjoy the stories and photos from one of the best times of my life.

Panama

Panama Part 1 – Heading into Panama City.
Panama Part 2 – La Iglesia de la Merced, street art in Panama City.
Panama Part 3 – Biomuseo, Amador Causeway in Panama City.
Panama Part 4 – Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Central Avenue in Panama City.
Panama Part 5 – Parque Natural Metropolitano in Panama City.
Panama Part 6 – Downtown Panama City skyscrapers.
Panama Part 7 – Panama Canal.
Panama Part 8 – Leaving Panama City.
Panama Part 9 – Arriving in Bocas del Toro.
Panama Part 10 – Bocas del Toro island tour.
Panama Part 11 – Bocas del Toro bicycle ride.
Panama Part 12 – Leaving Bocas del Toro, arriving in David.
Panama Part 13 – Los Cangilones de Gualaca.

Is This the Isthmus? Tour: Panama Video

Costa Rica

Costa Part 1 – Leaving David, Panama, arriving in Puerto Jimenez.
Costa Part 2 – A day off in Puerto Jimenez.
Costa Part 3 – A day off in Puerto Jimenez.
Costa Part 4 – A day off in Puerto Jimenez.
Costa Part 5 – Booking a tour to Corcovado National Park.
Costa Part 6 – Corcovado National Park.
Costa Part 7 – A day off in Puerto Jimenez.
Costa Part 8 – Leaving Puerto Jimemez, arriving in Quepos.
Costa Part 9 – Manuel Antonio National Park near Quepos.
Costa Part 10 – A day off in Quepos.
Costa Part 11 – Leaving Quepos, arriving in San Jose.
Costa Part 12 – Street art in San Jose.
Costa Part 13 – Street art in San Jose.
Costa Part 14 – Jade Museum in San Jose.
Costa Part 15 – Leaving San Jose, arriving in Liberia.
Costa Part 16 – A day off in Liberia.

Is This the Isthmus? Tour: Costa Rica Video

Nicaragua

Nicaragua Part 1 – Leaving Liberia, Costa Rica, arriving in Moyogalpa, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua.
Nicaragua Part 2 – San Ramon Waterfalls on Isla de Ometepe,
Nicaragua Part 3 – A day off in Moyogalpa, Isla de Ometepe.
Nicaragua Part 4 – Museo el Ceibo on Isla de Ometepe.
Nicaragua Part 5 – A horseback ride in Moyogalpa, Isla de Ometepe.
Nicaragua Part 6 – Charco Verde on Isla de Ometepe.
Nicaragua Part 7 – A day off in Moyogalpa, Isla de Ometepe.
Nicaragua Part 8 – Leaving Isla de Ometepe, arriving in Granada.
Nicaragua Part 9 – Choco Museo, Iglesia de Xalteva in Granada.
Nicaragua Part 10 – Iglesia San Francisco in Granada.
Nicaragua Part 11 – Las Isletas boat tour near Granada.
Nicaragua Part 12 – Cementerio de Granada.
Nicaragua Part 13 – Leaving Granada, arriving in Leon.
Nicaragua Part 14 – Cathedral of Leon.
Nicaragua Part 15 – Iglesia El Calvario, Cathedral rooftop in Leon.
Nicaragua Part 16 – Volcano boarding at Cerro Negro.
Nicaragua Part 17 – A day off in Leon.
Nicaragua Part 18 – Museo de Arte Fundacion Ortiz-Gurdian in Leon, Las Penitas.

Is This the Isthmus? Tour: Nicaragua Video

Guatemala

Guatemala Part 1 – Leaving Leon, Nicaragua, arriving in Antigua, Guatemala.
Guatemala Part 2 – Iglesia La Merced, Santa Catalina Arch in Antigua.
Guatemala Part 3 – Cerro de la Cruz, Iglesia San Francisco in Antigua.
Guatemala Part 4 – Pacaya Volcano.
Guatemala Part 5 – La Antigua Galerie de Arte, Museo Santiago de los Caballeros in Antigua.
Guatemala Part 6 – Leaving Antigua, arriving in Panajachel, Lago de Atitlan.
Guatemala Part 7 – A walk around Panajachel, Lago de Atitlan.
Guatemala Part 8 – Indian’s Nose near Lago de Atitlan.
Guatemala Part 9 – Leaving Panajachel, arriving in San Pedro, Lago de Atitlan.
Guatemala Part 10 – A horseback ride in San Pedro, Lago de Atitlan.
Guatemala Part 11 – Leaving San Pedro, arriving in Panajachel, Lago de Atitlan.
Guatemala Part 12 – Leaving Panajachel, arriving in Lanquin.
Guatemala Part 13 – A walk around Lanquin.
Guatemala Part 14 – Semuc Champey.
Guatemala Part 15 – A day off in Lanquin.
Guatemala Part 16 – Leaving Lanquin, arriving in Flores.
Guatemala Part 17 – A day off in Flores.
Guatemala Part 18 – Cuevas de Actún Kan near Flores.
Guatemala Part 19 – Tikal.
Guatemala Part 20 – A day off in Flores.
Guatemala Part 21 – A day off in Flores.
Guatemala Part 22 – A day off in Flores.
Guatemala Part 23 – A day off in Flores.

Belize

Belize Part 1 – Leaving Flores, Guatemala, arriving Caye Caulker, Belize.
Belize Part 2 – Snorkeling tour around Caye Caulker.
Belize Part 3 – A day off in Caye Caulker.
Belize Part 4 – A day off in Caye Caulker.

Is This the Isthmus? Tour: Belize (Caye Cauker) Video

Mexico

Mexico Part 1 – Leaving Caye Caulker, Belize, arriving in Tulum, Mexico.
Mexico Part 2 – A bicycle ride around Tulum, Flamenco dancers.
Mexico Part 3 – Tulum temple ruins.
Mexico Part 4 – Leaving Tulum, arriving in Valladolid.
Mexico Part 5 – Chichen Itza.
Mexico Part 6 – Leaving Valladolid, arriving in Merida.
Mexico Part 7 – Museo de Arte Popular de Yucatan in Merida.
Mexico Part 8 – Pink Cactus walking tour of Merida.
Mexico Part 9 – Leaving Merida, arriving in Palenque.
Mexico Part 10 – Palenque ruins.
Mexico Part 11 – Leaving Palenque, arriving in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
Mexico Part 12 – Leaving Tuxtla Gutierrez, arriving in Oaxaca City.
Mexico Part 13 – A walk around Oaxaca City.
Mexico Part 14 – Catedral de Nuestra Señora De La Asunción, the Zocalo in Oaxaca City.
Mexico Part 15 – Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Oaxaca, Museo Textil Oaxaca in Oaxaca City.
Mexico Part 16 – A day off in Oaxaca City.
Mexico Part 17 – Casa de Juarez, Museo Rufino Tamayo, wedding in Oaxaca City.
Mexico Part 18 – Leaving Oaxaca City, arriving in Mexico City.
Mexico Part 19 – Catedral Metropolitana de Mexico, Sagrario Metropolitano, Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City.
Mexico Part 20 – Museo Templo Mayor in Mexico City.
Mexico Part 21 – Palacio Nacional in Mexico City.
Mexico Part 22 – Museo de Arte Popular, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
Mexico Part 23 – Frida Kahlo Museum, Paseo de la Reforma, El Ángel de la Independencia in Mexico City.
Mexico Part 24 – Aztec dancers, Museo de la Estampa in Mexico City.
Mexico Part 25 – Tlatelolco, Teotihuacán, Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe near Mexico City.

Is This the Isthmus? Tour: Mexico Video 1
Is This the Isthmus? Tour: Mexico Video 2

First of all, let’s just get this out of the way: I really love the name of this band! Crystal Mooncone sounds like a name Stevie Nicks could have given her cat back in 1976 while Fleetwood Mac was recording Rumors up in the fence post-hippie environs of Marin County, California. But, she couldn’t do that, because she was too busy snorting cocaine in the hot tub and fighting with Lindsey Buckingham. Oh, well! Instead of a feline Crystal Mooncone, we eventually got a human one three decades later, which probably turned out for the best. I mean, hell, we got Listening Beam Five out of the deal, which contains “Fossil Tears,” and that’s all that matters!

Read the rest of this entry »