The Chiva

Getting people to go to bed early is definitely not our specialty here at Luna’s Castle. On the contrary, we got breakfast going till noon because we know partying is our forté.

Tuesday nights in Panama City are not particularly the best days to go clubbing. However, here at Luna’s we always got a trick up our sleeve: The Chiva Parrandera.

Especially popular for Panamanian Birthday and graduation celebrations, Chivas in Panama are nothing like the ones a few other countries have. Panamanian chivas have evolved passed the original concept of musicians playing tipico music on an open air bus.

The Chiva of today is a mobile capsule of electronic music, reggaeton, and other modern beats. With an open bar inside that keeps on flowing, air-conditioning so that the hot and humid nights don’t interfere with the raucous, laser lights to accompany the fascinating view of Panama city’s skyline, and stripper poles because you gotta grab onto something when your dancing on a moving bus.

Our bus is open to all travelers and Panamanians alike who don’t want to have to wait for a friends birthday to get down like they should.

Is it Tuesday? Come to reception, reserve, and enjoy!

Casco Viejo, A Place of Extremes

More than the fascination provoked by its walls, balconies, and coastline, Casco Viejo shows her visitors the distant poles of the multicultural city of Panama. There is no exception. Casco has it all.

From the maximum security provided by the presidential police (officers in the dark grey uniforms with red berets), to the dangers of the neighboring districts of Chorillo and Santa Ana, the Casco is north and south in itself, where people breath a different breeze from that of the noisy financial center. The Casco doesn’t leave anyone out: foreign investors, descendants of the original residents, intruders, diplomats, artists, and of course backpackers.

Only Luna’s Castle is a microcosm of this mosaic; through the breakfast table window one can observe two contrasting scenes, to the left there is the luxurious hotel Las clemintinas and in the other corner our neighbors: a run down building habitated by 3 generations of Panamanians who love salsa music, el vallenato, birthday parties, and are always ready to scream “Goooooooooooooooooooool” if the particular Panamanian or favorite Spanish league football team allows the opportunity. Meanwhile just in front of the hostel the Panamanian and united kingdom flags wave above the luxurious Meredith Mansion, which used to be a cemetery and catholic convent.

And ao this general pattern of social classes repeats itself street by street in the Casco. All the contrasting human ecosystems living together in a harmony that took quite some time to achieve, and now is the overall attraction of the area.

In the same manner, the neighborhood cuisine is a loyal representative of those who inhabit it. The options are just as varied in price, and they don’t disappoint regardless of how expensive. For example, the abundant Avenida central, just 2 blocks from the hostel we find this place where the porsions of food are massive for around $1.75. On the other hand, just a jog across the street, in Puerta de Tierra a dinner can cost $175 if you get a bit carried away with the wine.

Ceviche for $10.00 in plaza Bolivar, ceviche for a dollar at the fish market.

The Casco is everything bundled into one.

-Por Horhei

The Lunas Receptionist

The only thing clear about your plan up to this moment is that you want to have a good time with no strings attached.  Its your vacation, the trip of a lifetime, the adventure after military service, or perhaps either your first or last stop in central America.

All kinds of questions pop into your head… you need someone to give you a little push, you look around and there they are, sitting behind the reception desk.  They like to travel just like you, they welcomed you in, and now they are going to help you resolve any pending details about your stay in Panama.  The Luna’s Castle Receptionist, a walking book.

Even in a castle the receptionists try to have a response to any possible question you might have.  Here in panama the answers generally have to be reinvented on a daily basis.  No other city in Central America changes constantly like ours does, at least not at the same rate as the last 10 years.

Even though the city continuously grows, as Panamanians, we maintain a few traditions; something remarkable for example is that our addresses are always based on points of reference: A building (which may or may not still exist), a store, a tree, or even a particular incident that occurred in the location your trying to explain.  Very few streets are marked with signs.  Thus, don’t be surprised when the directions to our nearest supermarket also mention three other places before arriving at your destination (while completely excluding all building numbers and street names).

In addition, even though the climate has some consistancies in the city, it changes, and can even be a bit deceiving.  For that reason, a weather related question is one of the most difficult for us to answer.

“I’m Going to San Blas.  How will the weather be?”

Its been more than once that we look the weather up on the internet only to find something entirely different than reality.

“When does the bus leave for the airport?”

“Weeeellll… the city bus routes have no schedule but there should be one passing every 40 minutes or so.”

“What nightclub is good to go to on a Tuesday night?”

“Besides our very own Relic Bar? Well, you could walk along Calle Uruguay to see what you find”

Panamanian nightlife is just as unpredictable as the weather, with the exception being the days surrounding payday.

So while on occasion we won’t have all the answers to what seem like simple and reasonable questions. We will always be happy to help you decipher the secret codes of our city.  And of course we will always give you that extra piece of advice (warning, map, note, etc.) that can complete your adventure.
-Horhei

Lunas Castle in the New York Times!!!

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/travel/21panama-headsup.html

Lunas Castle Guests got talent….

Click here to experience the harmony

The Aussies at it again in Luna’s Castle

A classic Luna’s Castle meets Australia tale… http://premiumjam.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-best-if-i-never-leave-room-7-ricky.html

Getting plugged

Lunas Castle recently featured in the Daily Candy Panama best list.  Follow this link to read the whole article…

http://www.dailycandy.com/all-cities/article/85938/DailyCandy-Goes-to-Panama-City

Happy Australia Day!

The Aussies in the hostel are celebrating Australia Day by doing the following: they bought green and yellow gym shorts, a green and yellow table cloth, painted stripes on their face with green and yellow face paint, and are now downing copious amounts of varying types of alcohol in the terrace downstairs. Their shouts of success and merriment echo into the dinning room, shenanigans have started and it’s only 3 in the afternoon. Happy Australia Day!

Panamanian Jail and the 7′oclock News

An old, wise man once whispered the adage, “all press is good press.” In the vast majority of cases,  I’m a serious believer. Britney Spears gets busted for drunk driving. What happens the next day? Her disc sales soar to levels not seen in months. Oh, so you’re the girl caught on camera sleeping with the married Senator? Allow us to punish you with a six figure offer to pose as a Playboy centerfold.  Let’s just hope the same rings true with hostels and their more “adventurous” guests. Recently, The Panama America placed our own  in the limelight. Who knows, maybe we’ll see a spike in bookings and he’ll get his first book deal. Read below:

Panama America – In an evident state of drunkenness a man of French nationality was arrested by units of the National Police when he tried to jump from the roof of the old Hotel Central in Casco Viejo. At the time of his arrest the Frenchman said he just wanted to see the sunrise, but he became aggressive towards journalists, cameramen, and photographers who were in the area. The man was arrested and taken to the headquarters of the Tourist Police in San Felipe.

Ping Pong Pangs

Losing sucks. Always has. Always will. Twenty-two did tonight. One didn’t. Luna’s Castle Ping Pong Championships 2009. Needless to say, we’re not the most intelligent bunch. We spent as much time trying to create a workable bracket for the ping-pong tourney as we did actually playing the matches. Nevertheless, we took a typical, dull Wednesday night and kicked it in the ass. It might as well have been a Friday – ping pong balls whizzing at high velocity in every direction, sore losers rolling around on the floor, victory dances on the tabletops. It’s cool to see something created out of nothing. No expectations. No preparations. I suppose that’s the essence of a hostel…unexpected events at unexpected times. Cheers to Wednesday night and a tiny white ball.