Sun Dec 1

Rocking and Unlocking Panama ^Featured

Written by Jason Feinberg
Published in Travel Articles
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It couldn’t have been scripted better. Here I am on my way to Panama when Van Halen’s ‘Panama’ starts playing on the radio like background music in a movie. But this trip wouldn’t be about movies; it was about being a rock star. I was going to be rocking it out at the Hard Rock Hotel Panama Megapolis.

As we approached Panama City, a sprawling urban landscape appeared in the distance, something I hadn’t expected.

The city has seen an economic boom in recent years and is undergoing a major transformation from small city to central economic hub with skyscraping architectural masterpieces.

As we pulled up to the 60-plus-floor hotel, our tour guide, Violet, said, “I have to warn you, yesterday there were 1,000 screaming girls out front.” Well, I must say that I was flattered and hoped they weren’t too disappointed that I was arriving today instead of the day before, but then Violet brought me back to reality: “Justin Bieber is staying here this weekend.” I’m convinced it was just a coincidence.

Over the years, I’ve become very familiar with the Hard Rock brand having had the opportunity at one time to interview Max Osceola, Jr. of the Seminole Indian Tribe regarding their acquisition of the Hard Rock business in 2006. To stay at a Hard Rock Hotel or dine at a Hard Rock Café is a transformation into rock’n’roll history. The Hard Rock has arguably one of the largest collections of music memorabilia in the world and it’s proudly displayed all over the hotel property. In the lobby you’re greeted by Gene Simmons’ Axe bass as well as one of the cars that hung above the stage from U2’s Zooropa tour. As you continue through the lobby and lounge areas, you see clothing worn by famous musicians encased in glass and you realize this is more of a museum than a mere hotel.

The hotel has a fun, trendy and contemporary vibe with great restaurants, bars and of course, music. I entered my very spacious and comfortable suite with a balcony overlooking the city landscape and the ocean, where large ships were anchored, patiently waiting in line for their turn to journey down the famous Panama Canal a short distance away.

Usually when you stay at a hotel, there are just enough amenities to keep you satisfied while in the room, with the goal to get you out of the room, but not when you have the opportunity to be a rock star. Coupled with the spectacular views and entertainment system, the Hard Rock has a few amenities that no other hotel offers, amenities that will transform you from sitting in the front row to being on the stage.

Admit it: we’ve all done it, maybe privately or just hanging out with friends. That one song comes on and everyone becomes an air guitar sensation. Well, at the Hard Rock you can order up a real guitar to your room. Aptly named Picks, the service is a luxury experience that only this music venue can provide. Guests have a choice of 20 Fender guitars (and basses) to choose from and oh yeah, even the famed Stratocaster. This unique room service includes a floor amp with headphones so you can stay in your own sound studio and play to your heart’s content. And best of all, its free. Yes … free!

In addition to Picks, there’s an offering called Tracks. This is a (once again) free program that allows a guest to download song playlists that have been curated by music pros and superstars. When you’re living the rock’n’roll lifestyle you need a soundtrack, so when you check in, you are given a code that allows you a choice of three different themed playlists to download and serve as your personal musical backdrop. Tracks very much enhances your Hard Rock Hotel experience.

When you do decide to leave the room and it’s time to feed that rocker in you, the hotel boasts a number of great restaurants that include Soy, serving Pan-Asian delicacies; Taruo, which serves up signature steaks and market fresh fish; Bazaar, a buffet style all-you-can-eat restaurant, and Ciao for light tapas and pizza. You may have noticed there is no mention of a Hard Rock Café. When the hotel was built, there was a Hard Rock Café next door but unfortunately, it has since closed.

Your rock’n’roll experiences aren’t limited to staying indoors, however. With a complete concierge service, the Hard Rock can help plan an adventurous itinerary. After all, this is Panama. We headed over to Anton Valley for some ziplining, ATVing and horseback riding; Anton Valley is the site of an extinct volcano with hidden waterfalls, hot springs and picturesque jungles.

Just a short distance away is the famous Panama Canal, a true modern marvel. The operation hasn’t changed much since its inception. The canal is still operated by the original manual control system. However, the cost of transit has gone up. The cost range to transit through the locks can be as little as $800 for a small vessel (up to 50 feet) to near $400,000 for container ships.

Up close the canal does not look very wide so it’s fascinating to watch the enormous cruise and cargo ships that just barely fit through. For almost a century, the canal has dictated the beam of ships being built that would need to transit through the isthmus. But that will be changing as a newer, wider, canal is being built next to the original.

On the way back to the Hard Rock, we made a stop at Casco Viejo, an old city that looks virtually untouched since it was settled in 1673. This beautiful World Heritage site is surrounded by brick and concrete buildings, some only shells of what once was, while others have seen a complete restoration. Casco Viejo is bustling with markets, restaurants and nightlife. That evening we sat outside in the town square and dined at Ego y Narciso. The atmosphere was just perfect, as was the food.

After dinner it was back to being a rock star. As you would expect, one thing the Hard Rock does not lack is nightlife. On the roof of the hotel (under the helipad) is BITS (Bar in the Sky). With a feel like South Beach and views only a rock star can afford, BITS is the place to hang out for a cocktail or two before you head down to Bling, the hotel’s nightclub. And this is where we come full circle to the beginning of the story.

Bling can hold its own against any nightclub in Manhattan. Being given the VIP treatment, we were also given our own VIP section and concierge service. I took a break and was relaxing when something caught my eye. Staff was setting up tables next to me in an area that was secluded behind the bar. I thought this was an odd location to set up VIP tables but that’s when I noticed the VIP they were setting up for. Standing next to me was the reason for the thousand screaming girls. Yup, it was Justin Bieber. Now if it were Mick Jagger or Eddie Van Halen, I would have acted like a screaming teenager myself, but in this instance my excitement was far more subdued. (I went on the assumption that the Biebs heard I was going to be there that night.) After a couple of minutes, he was surrounded by his security detail and disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared. But that didn’t stop the crowd from having a great time. The dancing went on all night and the drinks continued flowing.

I can honestly say I was exhausted. I felt like I was headlining a concert tour. But like all great adventures, this too would have to come to an end and it was time to head back home. As I headed out, I took one last look at all the memorabilia from people who have shaped our lives through music, and wondering when and if I’d be back, I thought to myself, I guess it’s true: ‘You can check out anytime you’d like but…’ well, you know the rest.