Written by Robin
A hunky American in the Peace Corps told us to go to Red Frog beach after our discouraging search on our first day…it turns out most of the good beaches you can only get to by boat (we should really buy a Lonely Planet). So, Cailey, and an English, Irish girl and I hopped on one of the many boats that are always waiting to take people to the main island and asked him to take us to Red Frog. Read more »
Filed under: Country Guide, Reviews on May 16th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by Pascale Schwander
You could call her Superwoman, but her real name is Ana Reyes. She’s from Panama, raised by a Panamanian father and a Bolivian mother. She has worked for the Panama Canal for 14 years. A year ago, a friend of hers living in Shanghai offered to help her start a little business importing silk embroidered bags from China.
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Filed under: Business on May 16th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by Robin
Aqua Lounge, Bar, Hostel- Bocas del Toro
How often can you say that the sparkling blue water of the Caribbean Coast can be seen through the floor boards of your hostel? Ummmm hmm? Never. In many a hostel I have stayed, and this was magical to say the least. The Aqua Lounge in Bocas del Toro, a funky hostel built above the water, is part hostel, part bar, part water park. Read more »
Filed under: Country Guide, Reviews on May 15th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by halloranc
Snorkeling off Isla Iguana near Pedasi, Panama
Lately, there has been plenty of discussion about Panama and its potential for tourism. Ruben Blades and IPAT are unveiling their “tourism master plan”, hotel projects are in the works all over the country and the real estate market is booming. Despite all the talk, hope and speculation, Panama has little history of tourism success and no clear plan for success. Success is defined differently by many involved in these discussions, but more worrisome is that few agree on what defines failure.
Here are the Five Deadly Sins of Tourism that Panama must avoid: Read more »
Filed under: Business, Politics on May 14th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by PanaMatt
It was one of my first trips ever to a supermarket, as a toddler, that I distinctly remember a woman of middle age taking a donut from the fresh pastry case and eating it there on the spot. The woman made a great impression on me and, at the age of four, I recollect clearly thinking the donut aisle was where I wanted to spend the rest of my days.
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Filed under: Food on May 13th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Written by PanaMatt
Presenter and model Brianna Meighan, has recently landed a contract with one of Latin America’s hottest cable networks:
E! Entertainment Television.
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Filed under: Culture on May 12th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by cailey
New Phone Companies Open in Panama
I’ve spent the last few weeks in Costa Rica, and while I love it here, there are little annoyances which make living here frustrating. My favorite being: the impossible task of getting a telephone line. Why? Because there is only one government run telephone company, ICE. This is NOT the case in Panama. Read more »
Filed under: News on May 8th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by admin
Panama Presidential Elections- May 2009
With all the hubub about the U.S. election up North, it’s easy to forget that Panama will soon be changing head of state as well. The election season is just getting underway and several hopefuls are establishing themselves as front runners. The Presidential election takes place in May of 2009, but that hasn’t stopped the following candidates from campaigning early. This is a list of leading candidates based on a recent local poll. Party affiliations are indicated in ( ) with the following abbreviations: Read more »
Filed under: News, Politics on May 8th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Written by PanaMatt
Searching for a job in Panama, the common foreigner is destined to feel out of place. If applying for work in a Panamanian company, there will undoubtedly be lingual, cultural, and skill-related barriers that set you apart from your co-workers.
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Filed under: Culture on May 8th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Written by admin
Mistake #1: Your real estate agent tells you financing will be no problem or your friend who just got a mortgage a year ago says not to worry.
Solution - Don’t accept banking advice from anyone other than a bank representative: Chances are the advice your getting on mortgages is not valid or up to date due to ulterior motives or outdated experiences. Over the past years, banks have changed their policies and what could once be financed up to 95% is now a totally different ball game. Panama Mortgage information should be considered on an individual basis and be dealt directly with a bank rep.
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Filed under: Real Estate on May 6th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by admin
The restricted flow of honest real estate information in Panama is turning heads. In a developing investors industry, many foreigners are finding good information the hardest deal to come by. So, according to readers, here are the top 7 most useful and informative real estate resources on the web in Panama. Read more »
Filed under: Real Estate on May 5th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by PanaMatt
Keenan arrived in Panama knowing only the word for bellybutton. We were visiting Panama City’s immigration headquarters where he used the time standing in line to memorize the list of prohibited things one might act out in the government office. “No ombligo afuera.” I heard him repeating to himself. No exposed bellybuttons allowed. It was a useful first sentence for maybe a prison guard, but for Keenan it became more of a motto.
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Filed under: Culture on May 3rd, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Written by PanaMatt
Panama has been touted as a tropical yet familiar place for retirement or investment, especially for those from the United States where the real estate market is roughly as stable as the local psychiatric ward. And while sanitary gated communities and sleek high rises in Panama are no doubt luring comfort-seekers south, other, more alternative neighborhoods in Panama City are having similarly fulfilling effects.
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Filed under: Country Guide, Real Estate on April 30th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by PanaMatt
“Now remember” Mr. Sundquist lectured before we de-boarded the tour bus. “The moment you step on that sidewalk, you are all ambassadors of Princeton High School, every single one of you. Everything you say and everything you do will represent Princeton High so…so don’t go around making fools of yourselves.” It was the heart of winter in St. Petersburg, Russia and despite the warnings, as a tenth grader all I wanted to do was get out and pee in the snow.
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Filed under: Culture on April 30th, 2008 | No Comments »
Written by halloranc
Panama Flag- Panama Political Parties
Politics in Panama can be highly confusing to outisders. I’m still just learning my way through the variety of parties, their nicknames, their former names and what the heck is Left vs. Right. Here’s a primer on the backgrounds of the major parties in Panama today.
The Democratic Revolutionary Party “PRD” (Spanish: Partido Revolucionario Democrático, or PRD) was founded in 1979 by Omar Torrijos, and is generally described as a party of the centre-left of the political spectrum.
This party was associated since its creation with the military regime that ruled Panama since the military coup of 1968. With the death of Omar Torrijos, the situation in the country deteriorated under the rule of Manuel Noriega until the U.S. military invasion in December 20, 1989. Read more »
Filed under: Politics on April 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
