November is their biggest month of holidays, even more than in December.
For reasons to long to include here, they celebrate 3 independence days. (Like our 4th of July) Many nations have had their fingers into Panama. And there is a Labor day thrown in.
Wednesday through Friday, the whole town will be in fiesta with most businesses and all government offices closed. Later in the month there are a couple more days like this.
As gringos say, it is drum season. Endless drumming. Endless parades with drumming. Most streets closed for the drumming parades. Large crowds standing around waiting to drum.
You get the picture...mucho noise.
Late in November, Boquete has a national drum competition, just to cap the month off with The Big Drumming.
Panamanians love this time of year, maybe more than the Christmas-New Years period.
We have a make up Spanish lesson today because we will miss so many classes during the holidays.
I made sure I went to the bank yesterday to get money for the week because there will be no banks open until Saturday, then for only half a day.
The bank was crazy with people in preparation for the holidays. For the first time in Boquete, I used my Jubilado card (Retirement status) to get into the short line so I didn't have to wait for an hour or 2.
Retirees get privileges that include a special line at banks and many other places. I normally don't use it because I am physically able to stand in line and I don't want to be the Ugly American.
But I used the short line yesterday.
Bank lines are extremely long. Much business is conducted at the bank. It is not like the US where we use the mail for most transactions. When I want to pay the electric bill and the internet invoice I have to go to the bank and stand in line.
Businesses sent people to the bank with multiple transactions, requests for cash and other business. This can clog up the line for an hour or 2. Not fun.
Anyway, we are all set for the holidays! Let the party begin!
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