Is Panama City dirty?

vicki · 06-16-2008

I just had some friends return, and they told me that the city was very dirty, and the coast was littered with garbage.

Is this true? I have traveled extensively thru Mexico, and this is a huge problem, but I thought Panama was different.

GordonS · 06-16-2008

Hi Vicki,

It's a city. The city is clean but the people in it are like most people everywhere who drop their Big Mac containers whenever and wherever it's empty. Who dump their disgusting cigarette butts out of their cars to "keep their cars clean". Who spit on the streets, who sit there and whine because no one follows them picking up their garbage. "This city is sooooo dirty" they say as they drop their chewing gum wrapper on the ground.

Panama City is the same as New York City, San Francisco, Orlando, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Karachi, Kabul, Santo Domingo, Mexico City, San José, and every other city that I've been in. People everywhere are the same...

It's always someone else who disfigures it. "Not me"

twocents · 06-16-2008

Its about as dirty as Chicago is, and I mean more the South side of Chicago where the street cleaners only come through once a month if they remember, not downtown where the same cleaner goes around and around the same city block all day so that there is never a piece of garbage on the floor for more than thirty minutes.

It is a city, there are a lot of people. There are lots of people that do not clean up after themselves.

vicki · 06-17-2008

Ok, thank you. I have been to towns in Mexico where the square is nothing but a huge trash can. I live in the Houston area, and you are right, people dont care, it does not matter where you go.

My husband and I will be travelling to Panama this fall/winter. We are interested in relocating, and the outside countryside of the city looks beautiful.

Thanks for your info!

GeekZ · 06-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GordonS

Hi Vicki,

It's a city. The city is clean but the people in it are like most people everywhere who drop their Big Mac containers whenever and wherever it's empty. Who dump their disgusting cigarette butts out of their cars to "keep their cars clean". Who spit on the streets, who sit there and whine because no one follows them picking up their garbage. "This city is sooooo dirty" they say as they drop their chewing gum wrapper on the ground.

Panama City is the same as New York City, San Francisco, Orlando, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Karachi, Kabul, Santo Domingo, Mexico City, San José, and every other city that I've been in. People everywhere are the same...

It's always someone else who disfigures it. "Not me"

I have to admit, thats a real politician like crappy answer. You really never answered the orrigianal posters question.

ph178 · 06-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekZ

I have to admit, thats a real politician like crappy answer. You really never answered the orrigianal posters question.

I think he did answer the question by not denying that Panama City is dirty.

GordonS · 06-17-2008

GeekZ: Perhaps then you'd like to tell us what the original question was and give the correct answer. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekZ

I have to admit, thats a real politician like crappy answer. You really never answered the orrigianal posters question.

GeekZ · 06-18-2008

The question was how dirty.....and the answer is????

GordonS · 06-18-2008

GeekZ: Apparently you don't have too much to do with your time do you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekZ

The question was how dirty.....and the answer is????

GeekZ · 06-19-2008

You still have not answered the question... but have now decided to question my charector.

But no - I don't have a lot of time, I run a buisness.

Panamax · 06-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicki

I just had some friends return, and they told me that the city was very dirty, and the coast was littered with garbage.

Is this true? I have traveled extensively thru Mexico, and this is a huge problem, but I thought Panama was different.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekZ

I have to admit, thats a real politician like crappy answer. You really never answered the orrigianal posters question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekZ

The question was how dirty.....and the answer is????

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekZ

You still have not answered the question... but have now decided to question my charector.

But no - I don't have a lot of time, I run a buisness.

I'll answer your question: Panama City - like any other major urban environment on the planet - is dirty at one time or another, in one area or another until it's cleaned and the cycle repeats itself. Not exactly news.

GeekZ · 06-25-2008

How often is it dirty?

Panamax · 06-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekZ

How often is it dirty?

I'll answer that question with another: How often do objects accumulate dust?

Panamax · 06-25-2008

This is an attempt - futile or not - to answer the above question and close this topic/thread once and for all. All solid matter accumulates dirt over time and remains dirty until or unless cleaned. When or if cleaned, it accumulates dirt all over again, thereby prompting a repetetive cycle.

Panama City does not have a monopoly on dirt, nor does it accumulate more uncollected trash longer than other cities of comparable size. It's uncollected trash at any given time or area is not disproportionate to it's size. In short, Panama City is not known for it's squalor, but for the most spectacular skyline in all of Latin America.

GordonS · 06-26-2008

Hi Panamax,

I see in another post that you left Panama in 1969. What do you see as the major changes socially, culturally and infrastructure-wise? Are there some areas of improvement? Before my visit 2 months ago, the previous time I was there was in 1966. For me this time, I feel that the country certainly improved the road network but the overall feel of Panama was the same.

I look forward to your observations on changes in those years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panamax

This is an attempt - futile or not - to answer the above question and close this topic/thread once and for all. All solid matter accumulates dirt over time and remains dirty until or unless cleaned. When or if cleaned, it accumulates dirt all over again, thereby prompting a repetetive cycle.

Panama City does not have a monopoly on dirt, nor does it accumulate more uncollected trash longer than other cities of comparable size. It's uncollected trash at any given time or area is not disproportionate to it's size. In short, Panama City is not known for it's squalor, but for the most spectacular skyline in all of Latin America.

Panamax · 06-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GordonS

Hi Panamax,

I see in another post that you left Panama in 1969. What do you see as the major changes socially, culturally and infrastructure-wise? Are there some areas of improvement? Before my visit 2 months ago, the previous time I was there was in 1966. For me this time, I feel that the country certainly improved the road network but the overall feel of Panama was the same.

I look forward to your observations on changes in those years.

Socially or culturally I have not been able to discern any differences. The typical "metropolitan" (city dweller) panamanian has always been urbane, sharp and sophisticated, which hasn't changed over the years. In terms of infrastructure, I emphasize the structure suffix of that word. Upon every return to Panama, one of my obligatory spots to visit is the "Las Bóvedas" seawall prominade. There I like to gaze at the city skyline and discover new structures already complete or in varied stages of construction. The crane-filled skyline is in a constant state of flux, wich gains in density each time I visit.

The most significant areas of improvement since 1969 is Panama's sovreignty over all it's land, sole possession of it's canal and the restoration of political stability. When I left, the Panama was under military dictatorship, in a constant state of unrest and Uncle Sam still had his mighty boot on the the country's neck. Today's political climate has lead to one of the most stable and prosperous economies in Latin America and the operation of the Panama Canal has never been more efficient.

GeekZ · 06-26-2008

I think by dirty the OP was refering to litter and trash.

Panamax · 06-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekZ

I think by dirty the OP was refering to litter and trash.

Thanks for steering the thread back on topic...

Ajay · 07-16-2008

I recall in the 1950's I think, in the U.S. there was a big push to eliminate litter. That was the first time cars started carrying litter bags, and after ten or fifteen years of hard marketing, most Americans had learned that it's not cool to throw your trash into the street.
Panama has never learned this lesson, and although there are occasional half-hearted efforts to educate the public, I'd say 80% of Panamanians think nothing of tossing their coke can or their Mcdonald's bag out the window and into the street.
They DO have the "hormiguitas" - the ladies dressed in yellow overalls busily sweeping up the trash all over the city. But they can barely keep up with the volume.