“Push Buttons” and Love Motels Posted on June 7th
Wow, that sounds dirty… the “love motel.” These establishments have been in Panama for as far back as the 60’s, primarily for american soldiers who wanted a place to take their catch of the night without having to go to their barracks. Nowadays they’re some of the most lucrative businesses in Panama, yet they have a rather shitty reputation for some people. I’ve heard people say, and I’m paraphrasing here, that push buttons are places “only for dirty old men to take their mistresses so they can cheat on their wives.” To this, I wholeheartedly disagree.
Look, we live in an inescapably Latino culture. That means that it’s not uncommon to see 40-year old men still living with their parents. Hell, half of the men and women over 30 living with their parents still are because their parents don’t want them to leave. For foreigners this concept is a total shock and I don’t blame them; when you come from a culture where you’re usually living on your own by the time you’re 18, to see that a guy old enough to be your dad is still living with his parents is a little difficult to swallow. Here, women wait until they get married to move out. A lot of them do, and even though that backwards concept has slowly been eroding there are certain factors too strong to go away when you’re dealing with this kind of situation. Seriously, think about it: you have someone to cook, clean and tend for you when you’re sick; you don’t have to cover all of the bills running a house implies, utilities and the like and it’s always great to come back home from work and have hot food on the table, a tucked-in bed and the love only a mother could provide.
Except the love you get when you have sex.
A primal need for any human being, the necessity of being close to someone is one that cannot be ignored. But the concept of “having sex just for having sex” completely mindfucks the Panamanian populace, and when it does happen (somehow it’s rare, and those who do are segregated into their own subgroup it seems) it’s frowned upon… for Panamanians, you can’t have the nookie without some feeling behind it. This rule doesn’t apply to foreigners, though, since Panamanians wrongly believe that every foreigner (specially those who don’t speak Spanish) are either crazy or dumb or both, having seen one too many “Wild On” episodes, and automatically believe that they can get in their pants (in the case of women) if they talk gibberish in Spanish to get them wet. When it’s women going after foreign men, since they’re foreign (another wrong assumption… it doesn’t matter if they’re foreign or not. They’re men. Hell, be hot and give me 5 minutes of attention and I’d be fucking the air you breathe) and will probably not be in the country more than 6 months they can swoop them away and give them some Latin salsa. For some reason, a Panamanian male would rather have sex with an open-minded foreigner than an open-minded Panamanian girl because it’s easier to get in their pants, according to them and their encyclopedic knowledge on the subject, mostly unfounded. Of course there are other factors to consider, like the fact that Panama is a matchbox where everyone knows everyone and if you do sleep with whoever you want to sleep with just because you want to, then everyone will think you’re a bitch or a dog. IIIIIII don’t get it, either. For Panamanians it’s a lot more complicated to score sex without “feelings” behind it because of this fairy tale perception of what the whole thing should be, and this is inherently tied up with the fact that Panamanians love themselves some drama.
Coming back to my point, since these men have needs, yet don’t have a pad where they can’t try out those Kama Sutra positions her read about on the Internet then there has to be a place where he can take his catch and give her the cock punishment for a couple of hours without consequence: enter the “Push Buttons.” These love motels are called that way because when you park your vehicle inside the garage of the room (imagine a whole yard filled with garages set up one right next to the other) you will see 2 buttons: one that closes the garage door and another that says “bell,” who calls in the maid that will sanitize your room before entering. Discretion is the name of the game for these places; they knock on your door so you can deposit the money for the room (anywhere between $8 and $25, depending on several factors I will get into in a moment) and they’ll call you when your time is up (usually 2 hours worth). They even have menus where you can order drinks, food and condoms if you need them. These are delivered via a special compartment next to the service door: they drop off the order, knock your door and close theirs so you can pick up your order, deposit the money, knock on their door and close yours. Phone line, bathroom with shower, TV with cable AND your special porn feeds… it’s just like a regular hotel room… but better.
Each one of these yards (there are several all over the country) have their own niches, but they have the most sexually-charged rooms ever, with stuff you’d never seen in person and, better yet, actually use while having sex: mirrors in the ceilings, wall-tall mirrors on the sides, sex chairs, massage chairs, love swings, handcuffs, bar handles, lube, tissues so you can pick up after yourself, mints on the way out and many more toys in rooms with tropical, winter, Asian, Caribbean, Hindu themes and much more. You can let the inner dirtyness in you go wild, make as much noise as you want since the walls between rooms are sound-proof (even though the service halls that intertwine the rooms to get to hear the action as it happens). It’s cheesy, decadent and absolutely awesome. The rooms are cleaned and sanitized after every satisfied customer leaves the room, leaving no trace of anyone being there to the new temporary tennants.
Of course, if your feeble mind doesn’t like the idea of taking your partner to one of these you have the regular motels, littered across the city. Personally I believe these are much sleazier that the push buttons, since they operate like a hotel with a reception, key registry and everything. $15 for the night, and you get everything you would in a push, except for those wonderful toys. Also, since it is a hotel, you’ll see husbands kicked out of their homes, businessmen just passing by and looking for a good time, the cheating husbands with their mistresses some people freak out so much about and all of them can see you and you can see them as you all go to your respective rooms and engage in some dirtyness.
So, for someone in a society who likes to keep a goody two-shoes look in front of their fellow man he’d rather boycot the privacy of these push buttons and go to the love hotels where everyone can seehim as he goes into a hotel room to fuck those two crack whores and the tranny he picked up at the 4 de Julio on the way over. Bad form, bad form… it looks like we’re socially retarded in regards to sex as well. And not only that, but the principle of the word “bitch” is misused in this country… I dunno, correct me if I’m wrong but last I checked, my definition of a bitch is someone who’s stuck up, conceited and a douche bag… in other words, a “bitch.” A girl who fucks with anything that moves is a “whore.” And any girl comfortable with her sexuality enough to go get what she wants is what I call “my kind of woman.” Unfortunately though, the society and retarted culture Panama has in regards to their own seriously puts a clog on the intents of a man or woman who wants to do whatever they wants in regards to the subject… well, maybe with women; men, not so much. Yes, I take that back: this is a macho-driven society where men are encouraged to sleep around. I guess it’s not as uncommon all over the world since this is more of an ego issue than a cultural one but here it’s more defined, like putting notches on your shoulder because of your conquests and bragging about them later to anyone willing to listen so you can boost your ego. Personally, I believe that’s funny… whenever I hear about a guy bragging about how he slept with this girl and that girl so loosely that tells me a couple of things: 1) these men are usually shitty in bed. I know this because I’ve been told by many women, and I think this is a general perception in regards to these type of men, something pretty hurtful when you’re in a society as small as this one when you’re being as public about your conquests, or about anything in general. People who brag and boast are usually scum bags and 2) Pampering your ego is great, but that says a lot about a person’s self-esteem. I bet that if you bruise this person’s ego by calling him out on his shit or ridiculing him in front of people will send him in a fit of anger. It’s fun to watch. So, what’s my conclusion? Beware of douche bags. There seems to be a lot of them roaming around. And ultimately, for places as helpful and practical as these, bringing together thousands of drunk and/or horny couple and groups daily, they sure as hell get a bad rap. And in case you didn’t notice, yes I do believe these places are brilliant.
Tags: Articles, culture, how to guide, love motel, men in panama, Panama, panama history, panama tourist guide, Panamanians, push button, rants, Rob Rivera, sex, sex in panama, society, women in panama
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Well dude……I have to agree that the “PUSH BUTTONS” are so damn cool to explore your deepest sexual desires. WHY you ask?………Well because it’s a place where you know that nobody will see you and you can do as you please. For me it is quite exhilirating since girls kind of get loose in these places. Their shyness disappears and they start to scream their head-off…….(Deep Inhale)……I am getting excited just talking about it……jajajajajaja
Seriously…….these places are cool.
I am a person that likes to explore my sexuality, I am one of those that are constantly reading “Cosmopolitan”, buying different “Kamasutra” books, practicing new tricks, improving my endurance, buying toys…….I am your typical open-minded sex freak……jajajajajajajaja…..but you know what, this actually spikes up a relationship and it even makes one-night stands better. But you know…..I have found out that I am not the only one that likes this………girls do also, some might not accpet this……but it is true. The dirtyness of going into a push, excites them, same as doing in the car, pool, kitchen, breakfast table, living room, apartment stairs, in a bathroom, in the beach, rooftop, dads car, push botton, at a friends house, at your girlfriends house (while the neighbors hear her moan)…………..anything that is out of the ordinary (BEDROOM) excites WOMEN. It’s the nature of SEX. You have to spike things up, or your sexual part of the relation will die…..it is that simple……then the cheating starts. = )
I wish that other would also reply to my comment…..I would like to know what women think and other men. (Specially women).
P.S.: Hey Rob, you should share your ideas about this topic (About exploring your sex life).
Commented Fulxier on June 9th, 2006.Hell, I just might; That IS a great topic. And I’m just as curious to see who speaks up and talks about this too, because it takes a special kind of Panamanian to even say the word “push button” without feeling dirty, for some reason.
Commented Rob on June 9th, 2006.Push button…. There, I said it… hehe. I don’t feel dirty…. And I do, in fact, agree with you that “push buttons” do us all a favor and are not the epitomy of all that is evil in our society.
The only difference with your perception that I would like to point out is that most people here would enjoy going to a push button and do enjoy sex and do enjoy being dirty BUT they prefer to be all hypocritical and act all puritany when they hear about anything to do with sex. I think it’s all due to the fact that we live in a small country and everyone knows each other like you often say.
Anyway, good job man. I like your writing.
Commented Antonio on July 27th, 2006.I’m glad you like the site. And I have to agree with you; Panama does tend to be hypocritical when it comes to judging themselves, the dirty fuckers. Imagine within 30 years or so when the city expands to much that the outskirts will be somewhere around Santiago… would we still have this problem? Food for thought…
Commented Rob on July 27th, 2006.Great article. I’ve always been fascinated about all the functions the push take care off in Panama. It’s not just sex either, it’s also teenage drinking parties and other stuff you might have difficulty doing without your own apartment.
Commented Pelle on September 10th, 2006.Interesting article. I’m an expat living in Panama and had heard about push bottons and appreciate getting some insight into their place in the Panamanian culture. Some friends of mine (other expats) want to have a little party (no sex) at a push botton just for kicks and to see what they’re like. Would love any recommendations, e.g., what are the kinkiest rooms, most crazily decorated … Any experts out there?
Commented Michelle on September 23rd, 2006.Why do you talk with so much comtempt about us panamanians.I remind you live in MY country.You should be ashamed of
being living in a foreign country like Panama and talking crap about Panama.
I respect more panamanian men who live with their parents because they still have familiar values,thing that you americans have lost long ago.
I also respect panamanian women who still live with their parents.They prove
they have morals and family values and
a 90% chance that she is still virgin.
I woule rather say in Panamanian culture a girl of 22 who leaves her family house to live with her living -in boyfriend or any older guy without being married in this country is considered a PUTA (unshamed dity slut).
If you want to live in Panama and assimilitate..not just live in the expat bubble,begin by RESPECTING THE CULTURE IN THE COUNTRY YOU ARE LIVING IN or you will be behaving exactly the same way illegal mexicans are doing in the US.
You’ re no better than them.
Commented ProudPanamanian on October 5th, 2006.What I like about this Proud Panamanian guy is that he assumes I’m an ex-pat and that I’m talking shit about the country. This particular Panamanian apparently can’t read well.
I’m not ashamed to point out my society’s ills. Panajane’s right: I did strike a nerve. In fact, I’m talking about you today. And to grant you a point, I do like to make tacos and burritos so I DO in fact share similarities with the mexicans who cross the U.S border who you’ve never met and are crossing their country to live and work in another one that doesn’t want them Seriously, though… how’s the collection going? I wanna know when you can get my “ugly american” (even though I’m Panamanian) ass out of my country. Pretty please?
Commented Rob on October 6th, 2006.Ok ProudPanamanian is busting my balls. Listen, who said that if a girl is 22 and lives with their parents 90% she is a virgin? IN WHAT WORLD ARE YOU LIVING… I know girls that live with their parents and are sluttier and dirtier than dirt itself. What you don’t like is independence of your own. Your still a mommy and daddy child from the context of your post. Do you know how much I would like to move out by myself so that I can do whatever I want with my life? If I move out of my house, and live alone, does that make me a male whore? OF COURSE NOT! Oh, and mexicans actually have their own subculture in the states, and they respect that country, cuz as a matter of fact, they might get deported to the US. How many mexican kds born in the US only talk english and no spanish? Even though their parents only talk Spanish? And as a matter of fact, you are so retarded that you think a girl moves in with her boyfriend is considered a puta? How old are you? 17? no… 15 years old?? Here is a link for you so you can visit. Click here
Commented Bastardizer on October 6th, 2006.I want to visit the best push-button motels in Panama. Please let me know the names of the best ones and if they have a web page.
Thank you.
Commented Sergio on October 22nd, 2006.I can say it without feeling dirty, naughty maybe…PUSH BUTTON, there you go, I said it…LOL
BTW, virginity is too damn overrated, in this times…it’s better for a girl to get to marriage knowing what she’s doing rather than having her not know what she’s getting into.
Commented Juan Manuel on December 19th, 2006.[…] hell as it was happening… ironically, it has nothing to do with […] In light of the Push Buttons article I posted today, I remembered what happened to me one night that pretty much set the tone […]
Commented Memoirs: Quick Escapes — Rob Rivera - First World Mentality in a Third World Country Archive on June 20th, 2007.[…] who doesn’t know what a push button is in Panama, El Rob does a very detailed account in this posting he created last year. To summarize, these are places where people in Panama go to have sex discreetly. If you live with […]
Commented Rants, Dreams & Aspirations » Push Buttons and Whore Houses - The saga continues... on July 13th, 2007.What a Jerk. I personally believe that the author of this “article” should give it a try with something else before stepping on and drawing conclusions of a Country´s culture just for its “occasion” 2 hour motels.
Just to remind you, in MY “retard” Panama we haven’t had any shootouts in schools carried out by teenage kids which are victims of their own system and/or parents (which might be paying more attention to an internet blog than to their own education), nor we have daily drive-by´s by our local Courts houses. We don’t even know the term “postal”; which is so SAD to have a common rage against the country (which set people to go around the street and randomly shoot people), that they´ve set a term for it. What a shame, we deport almost DAILY pedophiles from your country!
Next time you chose to point out a “retard cultured country” with a “macho-driven society”, remember where you come from, a country that sends kids (women and children) to the other side of the world and get them killed in a war that isn’t and will not pay shit for you (Great use of your taxes!).
We like to live plain and simple here, if you didn´t like our country just keep your negative comments out of the web. You are just helping yourself to look more like a moron writing this kind of crap.
-El autor de esta respuesta es 200% Panameño. Si por alguna desgracia cayeron en este articulo y tuvieron la DESGRACIA de leer las atorrancias de este pendejo, cójanlo con calma que los que tenemos la educación apropiada sabemos como son las cosas acá .
VIVA PANAMA!
Commented Pancho on September 30th, 2007.Aww man, I love people like you.
Primero que todo, buenas tardes. Segundo, no soy ni “gringo” ni “maricon,” pues soy de madre Colonensa y padre Bocatoreño y cédula 8; si se hubiera dado el tiempo para navegar mi espacio en internet se habría dado cuenta de ello. Si quiere mas credenciales de mi Panameñismo (pues aparentemente, según su criterio, uno para poder quejarse tiene que ser oriundo del país en donde vive, aunque su forma de como tilda a los americanos en su babosada de comentario de psicópatas paranoicos esta haciendo exactamente lo que yo aquí. Lo que pasa es que yo lo hago con propiedad) le digo que he vivido en Panama toda mi vida, me gusta el arroz con pollo y es muy probable que haya conocido mas de Panama que usted, debido a que soy parte de AlmanaqueAzul.org.
Ya que no soy gringo, vaya a quejarse a otro lado. Y si no le gusta la realidad de nuestro país, pues haga algo al respecto. Estoy deacuerdo, que viva Panama, es un pais hermoso, pero ninguno es perfecto. Vivo ejemplo de esto es usted, su ignorancia, y el panameñismo efervecente que lo ciega.
Francamente espero que lea esto y regrese, pues me gusta mucho discutir con individuos como usted. Ta cool que crea (erróneamente) que era americano; eso significa que mi ingles es bueno. Gracias!
Commented Rob on October 2nd, 2007.push-buttons: my favorite push-button story comes from a real prude-y church-lady gringa who no longer lives here. all her known friends were out of town; she’d had more than enough of days and days without power and water in almirante, she’d had it with no hot water and no bathtub, she was hot flashing so horribly even on HRT’s that she was so miserable without water, a flushing commode, a breeze, a restaurant, power, lights, books, phones–the typical almirante day in diablo chiquitaville–so she made two trips out when there was enough power to go to the atm and fill the car with diesel–and took off for the first push-button she found…there she spent a day! in cool and quiet, with water, soap, power, and blessed solitude. we were all shocked she knew what push buttons were and that she’d go to one! i admire her creativity….i love the push-buttons; they are too fun. i think the next one should go in on the road from almirante to c’ola–when the trucks fall over, fall apart, or crash into people and homes, all of us waiting in our cars for hours until we can get through/by could take a break in the local p-b. that’s my fantasy anyway.
oonagh+
Commented oonagh+ on November 25th, 2007.Interesting info. Visit PTY 2-3 times a year, Push Buttons cropping up every where.
Commented Don Richardson on December 4th, 2007.Saw new ones in Santago, Penonome, East of Coranado and so on. Keep the info coming.
The positive benefits of push-buttons are many. They provide a safe place for young dating people who live at home to meet up. Bosses and their secretaries are some of the most frequent customers. There is considerable closeted same sex population in Panama City and push buttons help that crowd keep safe cover. Visiting businessmen use push-buttons to keep the playtime activities away from the prying eyes(and the occasional extortionist). Married couples can get away from the kids and play as loud and wild as they want. Then there are the high-libido middle age women whose husband don’t service them enough because their mistresses and rum leave them incapable(there are plenty of young studs for those gals…talk about great no strings sex). Does it not seem there is a lot of cultural benefit delivered by push-buttons?
Commented Alfonso on January 14th, 2008.Man I lived in Panama for 3 years! I slept with different beautiful women 3-7 times a week. I loved the clubs and the attitude of the women. I was a young african american with underworld ties. The ladies treated me like 50 Cent!!! I had’em young, old and everywhere in between. If she was presentable and I was actually interested in spending a few days with her I’d get a room at El Panama, Caesars Park, or the Marriot in El Dorado, attached to the T.G.I.Fridays. If she was just a jumpoff or a friend or relative of one my regular “girlfriends”, …to the pushbutton we’d go! Man, my heart would race faster and faster as we got closer and closer. See the thing about the push that I don’t believe anyone else has mentioned is this: IT IS NATIONALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ONLY REASON TO GO THERE IS FOR S.E.X.!!!! Nothing more, nothing less. So going to the push wasn’t like a regular hotel, where you might watch t.v. or talk. Or going out to dinner, where you might eat or talk. By the time you were on the way to the push all the talking was over! And it’s so straight to the point because when you pay by the hour time is money. Your lady friend is fully aware and in agreement with you paying for an hour or so, screwing her brains out, washing up and dropping her off at the bus stop in about a two hour time span! I’m not talking about crack whores. I’m talking about P.C.C. students, waitresses, regular chicks. Some of them see it like this: If he’s gonna pay $150 for a hotel room, he can just take me to the push, pay $20, give me $50 for my pocket and he’ll love me for the good time I’ll show him and saving him 80 bucks! It’s a win, win situation. I could talk about the push all night. But I have a question for you Panamaniacs. Are any of you familiar with the “Three Floors of Whores” between Calidonia and Central near the bus terminal?
Commented gabriel castro on April 28th, 2008.If you had 2 nights in PTY, to meet women; working girls one night (other than a casino) and local girls another night (local girls at a dance club), where would you go?
Commented Roman on June 18th, 2008.Dance Club? GURU takes the cake at the moment. The girls are beautiful. But, I’ll do you one better and tell you of a place where you can meet working girls that are NOT on the job when they go there: HABANERO’S BAR, in front of the Marriott Hotel smack dab in the middle of the city. It’s a discrete cigar bar where they seem to congregate, and you can talk to them like they were regular girls.
I’ve heard of dads that take their sons there so that they can polish their game without fear of rejection. I believe it, as they’re really friendly and you can talk to them about basically anything. Whores are people, too!
Commented Rob on June 19th, 2008.