lifestyle

Hold the superlatives here. In fact, I have heard some complaints that would be well-based in fact --- but about something that usually doesn't bother me.

Restaurante Tradiciones de Mi Tierra is a little Interiorano-style place dug into a hillside on the south side of the Pan-American Highway, in San Carlos roughly opposite the entrance to El Guayabito, near the last bus stop / pedestrian overpass before you get to the town of San Carlos if you are westbound. At certain times --- like at times when the Transito cops aren't letting trucks across the bridges over the canal --- it can take on the function of a truck stop. It's a small business, and when it's crowded it's understaffed so you will wait awhile before being served.

Now were my brain and body cycles adjusted to another time and place --- a situation in which time is equated with money --- that might upset me. Some people, once indoctrinated, never get over it. But me? I grew up in the jungle and any and all efforts at getting me to think in terms of "billable hours" failed miserably. Time is not money, it's just time and unless there is an urgent appointment, I don't get too upset about a wait at a restaurant. If you are retired down here, or on vacation, what's your hurry? Readjust your internal clock to a Panamanian standard and reduce the stress in your life.

Or else go to this restaurant outside their busiest hours.

If the speed of service is laid back, so is the atmosphere. They're not going to blast you out with hip hop here. If you go with a small party of family or friends to the Tradiciones de Mi Tierra and have to wait a bit, it's a place where you can carry on a conversation.

This is a small-menu, traditionally Panamanian place, quite modestly priced. For me, it's full of temptations that could lead to a gout attack. Liver and onions? Maybe next time. Rice with seafood? Couldn't resist, and I wasn't hobbling the next day, after all.

But maybe you will want some chicken, chuletas, churrasco or a piece of fish. Patacones or rice with that? Or maybe some yucca? It's basic Panamanian Interior fare, and if you're a Colon buay like me, they'll provide a bottle of D'Elida's yellow aji chombo sauce to make the proper adjustment.

No superlatives here, but I like this place, have been back and will be back again. If ever those towers at Vista Mar fill up they would be a natural source of regulars and the walk to this place would be good exercise but less than a round of golf.

Also in this section:
Neglected Santo Tomas gardens, historic structure to be trashed
Restaurante Tradiciones de Mi Tierra
Notice Regarding the 2012 Diversity US Visa Program
Strong coffee?
Tropical cloudburst in Panama Bay
Cinta Costera maintenance
Smithsonian Latino Center: Panama as a crossroad
Building close to the water
The corruption chic
José Ponce's Panama scenes
Wendy Reaman visits the International Azuero Fair
The Espacio Comun scene

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