Although Ropa Vieja is considered to be the national dish of Cuba, it is also something that is popular in Panama and we saw it on several menus during our trip there. We are always on the lookout for meals that we can slow cook and this was a delicious weeknight dinner. The meat was very tender and the spices subtle, but still very flavorful. It is a simple recipe to make and works great for a large party, although we made it just for the two of us.
Fresh Ingredients
INGREDIENTS
1 lb Chuck Roast
2 tsp Ground Cumin
2 tsp Ground Coriander
1/2 medium Red Onion – sliced
1 small Green Bell Pepper – sliced
1 Poblano Pepper – seeded and diced
3 cloves Garlic – finely chopped
4 cups Chicken Stock
1/3 cup Golden Raisins
2 tbsp Capers
1/4 cup Fresh Lime Juice
2 to 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Parsley or Cilantro for garnish
White Rice
Browning the Roast
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine the coriander, cumin, salt and pepper in a small bowl and then thoroughly rub the roast with the spice mixture. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Simmer the roast on all sides until the meat is browned, about 8 minutes total. Move the meat to the slow cooker and then add the onion, bell pepper, and poblano pepper. Cook until the vegetables are soft, approximately 4 minutes, and add the garlic and cook for a minute or two more. Transfer the vegetables and any remaining oil to the slow cooker and cover with the chicken stock. Add the raisins, capers, lime juice, and cover. Cook for 6 hours on low heat. Cook the rice to the package directions. When the roast is done cooking, use a fork to shred the meat, and then use a slotted spoon to the finished Ropa Vieja over the rice and serve.
Panama is such a beautiful country with many wonderful sites to visit and growing ecotourism opportunities. It is a narrow country with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Pacific on the other, making it a strategic location that has been sought over by various countries throughout history. Today, it has its own independence and the people are very proud of their heritage and mindful of their history. Panama City is surrounded by jungles and mountains with strict restrictions on where populations can reside, so it is a city that is growing higher rather than growing wider. It is the perfect location to stay and to take advantage of all of the opportunities to take day trips to see the amazing locations that the country has to offer. These are the places that we visited and things that we did during our one week trip to Panama a little over a year ago.
Ruins of Fort San Lorenzo
Fort San Lorenzo – One of the most famous historical sites in Panama, Fort San Lorenzo is certainly a must to see when going to Panama City. It will bring visions of swashbuckling pirates when the ships travelled through the region loaded with riches. You also travel through a national forest on your way to visit the fort with plenty of wildlife to be found.
Cargo Ships Waiting to Enter the Locks
The Locks of the Panama Canal – The canal is still the greatest source of income for the country of Panama, but ecotourism is certainly on the rise. Watching the giant ships maneuver through the enormous locks as water rises or lowers to allow them to get from one ocean to the other is truly amazing. It is also important to understand the impact of building the canal on the country’s history and its people.
Beautiful Streets of Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo – If you go to Panama City, it is important that you take time to visit Casco Viejo, which is the historic district in the city. Originally established in 1673 by the Spanish, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a variety of historic buildings, churches, restaurants, shops, and hotels. As you walk the streets of Casco Viejo you will find a wonderful mix of architecture that spans the almost 350 years of its history.
Adorable Baby Monkey
Monkey Island(s) – Located on Lake Gutan, which was created by damming the river to allow the large ships to make their way to the canal, are a series of islands that were created as a result of the flooding. The small monkeys were trapped on these tiny islands that were at one time just hilltops in the jungle. Although we generally don’t agree with humans feeding wild animals, it is actually the only way that these monkeys can survive. But make no mistake, they are still wild and can be unpredictable.
Traditional Dance and Music in the Emberá Village
An Emberá Village – Visiting an indigenous village is always fascinating and if you go to Panama City there are tours that will take you to an Emberá village. The Emberá people are tribes that live in the Panama rainforest and still keep their traditional lifestyle. They make a living by hosting tour groups and selling their native crafts which include wood carvings, basket weaving, and jewelry. You can find these crafts being sold in Panama City, but purchasing them in the village will ensure that the money spent goes directly to the families that created them. They are very proud of their traditions and are happy to share them with the people who visit their villages.
The Trail in the Metropolitan National Park Takes You Above the Canopy
The Metropolitan National Park – Located within the city limits of Panama City, the Metropolitan National Park is a wonderful way to escape into nature without having to go far. After spending several days on boats going from one region of Panama to another, visiting the park was a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon. In addition to seeing various wildlife, you will also have the opportunity to see amazing views of the city itself.
Mixed Seafood in a Curry Sauce
The Food of Panama – As one can imagine, seafood is an abundant option since the country sits between two oceans and the Caribbean sea. The food has also been influenced by the Spanish people who occupied the country, the French who started to engineer the canal, and obviously the United States as well. There are many wonderful restaurants to choose from throughout Panama City, but especially within Casco Viejo.
There are certainly other places to see during a trip to Panama, but these locations will give you an interesting sense of the entire country. The culture, history, and natural beauty of Panama are truly fascinating. Although we spent a week in Panama, it is certainly worth more time if you have the opportunity.
With the world seemingly shrinking on a continual basis, the ability to see native or indigenous people is becoming more and more rare. Obviously, visiting a village that caters to tourists visiting them to learn about their culture and see the way that they have lived for centuries isn’t truly the same as seeing a culture that has been untouched be external forces. In this day and age, it is probably the closest that most people will ever get to having that experience. Visiting one of these villages is still better than going to a place that attempts to reenact what life would have been like during the time of their origins, but both serve their own purpose.
Children in the Emberá Village
We have had a variety of different opportunities to see people living much as they always have as well as places that depict the life of their ancestors. There is much to learn about a culture either way, but certainly interacting with actual indigenous people is a fascinating experience. Here a few of our favorite experiences, but we look forward to having new opportunities in the future.
Traditional Dance and Music in the Emberá Village
An Emberá Village in Panama – During our trip to Panama City, we had the opportunity to take a canoe trip into the jungle to visit one of the many different Emberá villages. Our guide took us to one of the villages that didn’t receive many visitors and we were the only ones there during our time there, making the interaction more unique.
Looking Down at One of the Houses in India
DakshinaChitra Cultural Living Museum in India – Meant to be a representation of all of the cultures of Southern India. It features 18 authentic historical houses that were deconstructed from their original region and then reconstructed by artisans from the region on the grounds of the museum.
Traditional Dance Ritual in Ecuador
Amazonian Village in Napo, Ecuador – Located in the Yasuni National Park in Ecuador is the Napo Wildlife Center, which is run by a local Amazonian tribe. As part of staying at the ecolodge you get the opportunity to visit their village and see how they live. They strive to keep their lives as close to their ancestors as possible.
Viking Wardrobe
Settlement Centre in Borgarnes, Iceland – Learning about the Vikings that settled Iceland was certainly a fascinating experience. We took a tour through the museum, which consisted of two thirty-minute audio tours that covered the history of how the Vikings first came to populate Iceland as well as their turbulent history once they arrived.
One of the Few Remaining People in Chimboata
Chimboata, Bolivia – We had the opportunity to see several small villages in the Bolivian countryside, but seeing the “ghost town” of Chimboata was very enlightening. It gave us an opportunity to see how people were moving on from their rural lives to try and better themselves and the impact it had on this historic town.
One of the Displays in Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle in England – With wax statues throughout the mansion depicting daily life at the turn of the 19th century, this is a very typical display meant to provide historical and cultural context. We have seen many such places in various countries, some of them using live actors like in Jamestown, Virginia, but Warwick Castle was certainly interesting in its own way.
Regardless of where we travel, we are always interested in learning as much about the culture and history of the people that live in that country or region. It is a balancing act for countries to grow and become more and more modern while at the same time keeping their history alive and accessible to those who visit them.
