What would you think if someone told you that you can escape to Colon Province and taste all the delicacies of Afro-Caribbean food without leaving home, and in quarantine!
This adventure is possible when you participate in one of “Jenny’s Trip” tours. A virtual experience, accompanied by a clever “delivery”, which is delivered to you fresh, to enjoy at home.
Two Professions, One Passion
Jenny Ceballos is a young entrepreneur who combines two passions, Electronic Engineering, with Alternative Tourism.
During her university days, she loved being in contact with nature, practicing hiking and exploring corners and places throughout the country. Jenny managed to be certified as a Tourist Guide by Panamá Tourism Authority. And so, sharing time between her career as an Engineer and the weekends as a tour guide, she shaped her second profession.
Free Walking Tours, Before the Pandemic
The Alternative Tourism modality consisted that at the end of the tour through some Panama City area, which is generally done walking, the tourist gives a voluntary payment that they feel appropriate as a tip. This is known as “Free Walking Tours”. As a registered Agency, Jenny also offers more distant paid destinations such as San Blas, Cerro Trinidad at Capira, Campana, La Yeguada at Veraguas, among others, where she always takes her travelers through experiences close to the life of locals. From enjoying meals, to small “souvenirs” that she gives them.
Pandemic and Tourism Without Leaving Home
April 2020 arrived. Curfews and mobility restrictions. Jenny thought about how she could give a light of hope and encourage both Panamanians and foreigners to do something different. Like for many, Zoom Vídeo came to the rescue. The consummate engineer and hiker, collected her photos and prepared two virtual presentations. One called “Colon Food Experience” and the other, “Casco Antiguo Free Walking Tour”.
Colon “Food Experience”
For this experience,Jenny invited Lissy Murillo, Chef and owner of “Oceanía” Restaurant at Colon Province, to cook typical samples foods of Colonial cuisine as “souvenirs”, and packed them in a warm presentation to reach virtual tourists (each one at their home ) before starting the video experience. Who writes this was invited to enjoy that experience with people from different nationalities: Italy, Venezuela, Mexico and Panama. Previously, we were all introduced in a WhatsApp group that Jenny created, and were able to shared pictures of the exquisite “souvenir”. Two boxes for each one that contained unique and nostalgic delicacies that are only found at Colon: Plantain Tart, an empanada made from ripe banana and natural red coloring, the famous Paties or spicy meat empanadas, cod pancakes, ceviche octopus and fish, a Saril and ginger-based sauce to dip the empanadas that caused curiosity and applause, as well as a sample of the well packed Spicy “Doña Traviesa” Sauce. creation of the Entrepreneur, Miriam Salazar and her family.
The virtual tour consists of photos of the places where food is eaten, anecdotes were told along with history of Colon City, which Jenny manages to perfection, since Colón is the land where she was born. The Oceania restaurant chef, narrated intimacies of the recipes and her family’s traditions. We learned about Miriam Salazar plans, creator of the Spicy “Doña Traviesa”; as if we were sitting around the same table, forgetting the limitations of Technology.
Old Town “Free Walking Tour”
If you think you know this part of the city, this experience will enrich you even more and will show you Colonial and Republican history, as well as a look at the recently remodeled National Theater among others. An experience that allows you to share and make new friends, among the people who participate.
Soon…
Soon, a new project called the “Experience Club” is being created for those who want a more formal knowledge of the history and singularities of Panama. Always aiming to celebrate the diversity of races that has given our country the particularity that everyone who arrives feels at home.
For more information contact:
info@eltripdejenny.com
Mobile +507 6676-2005
Instagram: @tripdejenny
http://www.eltripdejenny.com