Diablos Rojos

My first real taste of Panama came when leaving the airport - out in the distance, I caught a giant neon red object coming straight for our car. Nothing to be afraid of, said my driver, just a giant Red Devil. It was one of the country's notorious Diablos Rojos - Panama's ingenious blend of neon art, American pop culture and.... public transportation.

Old school buses from the U.S. make their way down the Central American highway and get a huge facelift here in Panama. Bus drivers take immense pride in adorning their buses with the most colorful and interesting graphic arts and accessories. If you've never seen a bus with a fishtail, well you aren't missing too much, but watching one cruise the streets always brings a smile.

Yesterday, I caught a glimpse of my favorite- on the side of an '82 Blue Bird were bright airbrushed renditions of Wolverine, Tweetie Bird and Godzilla. For some reason, Latins love Tweetie and the Taz. I'll do some more research to figure out exactly why.

At night, these roving Saturday Morning Cartoons are resplendent in bright neon lights covering the entire front and sides. I'll try to get some shots and post them soon.