Confessions of a Hotel Bartender, Vol 1: Trump Panama

Where: Calle Punta Col�n, Panama, Panama, 0833-00321

March 12, 2013 at 9:32 AM | by ASchechter | Comments (0)

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We recently saddled up to Cava 15 at the Trump Ocean Club in Panama. While sipping on a (what else?) Panama beer, we struck up a conversation with the bartender, who went by Jack the Ripper. Out chat went something like this�

HotelChatter: So, being a hotel bartender and all, we're guessing you like to drink?

Jack the Ripper: Yes, but I don't like to overdo it. I only drink to enjoy.

HC: That's very wise. When did you decide that?

JTR: Well, I used to work on cruise ships, quite far from Panama, far from my country. I'd be gone eight months at a time, and when I came home, I discovered that after two or three drinks, I didn't want anymore. My body rejected it, you know? So I said, 'No more. I feel disgusting, I feel heavy.' Two or three drinks, and that's it.

HC: Which cruise line did you work for?

JTR: Costa. It's an Italian cruise line

HC: Isn't that the one that capsized near Tuscany last year?

JTR: Yes.

Continue reading after the jump!

HC: You weren't on that ship, were you?

JTR: I was working on it one year before the accident.

HC: Did you have friends on the ship?

JTR: Yes! But they were ok. The last ship I was working on, I met a guy who told me what happened.

HC: What did he say?

JTR: The captain was having fun when it happened. He was 'fixing' a woman! The other officers didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to do. So when it crashed, he was one of the first ones to leave the ship. Now, he's in jail, in Italy, in his house. He can't leave his house.

HC: What a disaster.

JTR: The problem was they were too near the coast, and they hit the rocks, and started to sink. They said no more than 50 people died.

HC: That's a lot.

JTR: The capacity of the ship was 5,000 people�1,500 crew, plus 3,500 passengers.

HC: And that's how many people you used to bartend for?

JTR: Yeah, every night. We used to finish around 1:30am.

HC: So, would you work on cruises again, or are you done?

JTR: I stopped in October. I said to myself, 'No more, man.'

HC: Did something happen?

JTR: No, I just wanted to stay home and lead a normal life. I did it for 17 years.

HC: 17? How old are you?

JTR: I knew you were going to ask that! I'm 47.

HC: 47?! Wow. You look younger than me!

JTR: [laughter] Thank you.

[Photo: HotelChatter]

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