A Holiday Weekend and No Time Change

November is a busy month for Panama. Not only does it mark the time for snowbirds to come make their way down (snowbirds are people who live here during the winter), but it is also is when holidays begin. This weekend kicks off the holiday season.

Here is a list of the holidays this month:

Nov 2-Dia de los Muertos

Nov 3-Separation from Colombia Day. Gringos tend to call it an independence day, but it isn't. Panama was never ruled by Colombia

Nov 4-Flag Day

Nov 5-Colón Day. When the townspeople of Colón stopped Colombian troops from marching into Panama City (celebrated more in Colón than the rest of the country).

Nov 10-Shout to Villa de Los Santos. The start of the revolution against Spain

Nov 28-Independance from Spain

The explanations of these are fairly watered down, but I imagine you get the gist. Most of these are paid holidays as well. It is my understanding that Panamanians get something like 30 paid holidays each year, plus a month's vacation. Not bad, huh?

This weekend normally results in busy beaches filled with people and blasting music until wee hours of the morning (welcome to Panama). Not this weekend! It has been relatively rainy and kind of on the cold side, resulting in fewer people on the beaches. 

We went shopping a few days before the rush started. You have to otherwise lines rival Black Friday lines in the US. Buying milk and butter can result in you standing in a line for over 2 hours. Thanks, but no thanks.

Most of the world also changed their clocks today. Living in Arizona got me spoiled by not having to do this. Panama also does not change their clocks. How cool! We are now in the same timezone as the East Coast of the US, still 2 hours ahead of Arizona, and now 3 hours ahead of Pacific (Oregon/California) time. 

No pictures in this post. Kind of boring, I know. I have nothing to post! Robert and I have been hunkered inside. Take care and be safe!