DangerMan Tribute- (Photo Courtesy of The Gallery, Panama)
1. Poisonous Insects - Poisonous toads, spiders, scorpions and killer bees all exist here in Panama.  Sadly, just a few days ago, on Feb. 25th,  a man was killed in prison when African killer bees stung him.

Filed under: News on February 29th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

This will no doubt draw some attacks.
Certainly some scholars with more information at hand are capable of more astute observations.  But I’m simply going to discuss common sense.  First, let’s lay out some facts…
Fact 1: Panama’s economy grew at an astonishing 11.2% in 2007.  This outpaced the rest of Latin America, which averaged 5% growth, according [...]

Filed under: News on February 29th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Last night I had the pleasure of dining at Twist.
Steps up to the restaurant are lit with tiny candles on each side of the staircase. Little touches such as this are notable throughout the restaurant and definitely add to the mellow and dimly lit ambiance. Twist would be the perfect place for [...]

Filed under: Reviews on February 29th, 2008 | No Comments »

Recent headlines confirmed what most of us residing in Panama already knew: the local economy is “en fuego”.  Construction grew by 25%.  Economic officials this week declared a 11.2% GDP increase in 2007.  That’s an astronomical figure.  To put that into perspective, China, the media’s sweetheart and crowned king of economic expansion, grew at an estimated 11.4% and [...]

Filed under: News on February 29th, 2008 | No Comments »

Located on the Carribean side of the Panama Canal, and opened for business in 1948, the Panama Free Zone is the world’s second largest free trade zone, after Hong Kong. The Zone itself is a massive 400 hectare area within the city of Colón, Panama.

Filed under: History on February 29th, 2008 | 4 Comments »

I had heard about Sushi House on my favorite radio station, 98.9 Ultra Stereo one morning. The gang on this gringo radio show have a way of making things sound good and when they described the food at this specific establishment as “great rolls of sushi that they cut up into little pieces”, I felt [...]

Filed under: Reviews on February 29th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Not until living in Panama did I realize the importance of the Panama Canal. Seeing massive ships line up in the Amador Causeway to pass through the canal is certainly a sight to behold.

Filed under: History on February 28th, 2008 | No Comments »

It’s true.  John McCain was not born in the U.S.  But whether or not that will negate his run for President of the United States is not yet clear.  McCain was born in the Canal Zone of Panama, a U.S. territory in 1936 while his father served in the military.
This recent news about McCain’s birthright [...]

Filed under: News on February 28th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

1. French restaurant La Maison for wine and hors d’oeuvres. Sit out on the patio and sample their gigantic plate of delicious cheeses.
2. Ego in Casco Viejo. The tuna is amazing and the dim lighting on the cobble stoned streets will make you feel warm and fuzzy.

Filed under: Country Guide on February 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

After receiving an angry phone call, I have decided to edit my former blog and repost.
I am an extra in the new _____ movie, being filmed here in Panama. Today, I don’t feel very Hollywood glamorous after working into the wee hours of the morning. We wrapped up the night around 4 am, we [...]

Filed under: News on February 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

For the past couple of weekends Cailey and I rehashed our youth, spending hours walking the Multiplaza Mall in Punta Pacifica looking at things we couldn’t afford to buy. Apparently this Multiplaza is a big improvement over Costa Rica’s, with bigger walkways, high-end restaurants, and more shops and cafes.

Filed under: Country Guide, Reviews on February 28th, 2008 | No Comments »

Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale - photo from TimeInc.net 
Panama made recent international headlines as the set location of the upcoming chapter in the James Bond film franchise.  Ironically, Panama’s backdrop is serving only to play the role of Bolivia, the supposed locale where the scenes are taking place.  This speaks volumes about the international conception of [...]

Filed under: Culture on February 28th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

The following list is in no particular order, because we all have reasons dearest to our hearts:

Filed under: News on February 27th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Greenhouse Restaurant is literally shaped like a Greenhouse, which is fun and pretty, but ironically it is a freezer box of AC in there. Plants would grow icicles it is so cold. Ok, that is my only complaint. I love Greenhouse!

Filed under: Reviews on February 27th, 2008 | No Comments »

It was not long ago that I started eating clams again. I had a bad run-in with a clam in my late teens at the local Italian food joint; an experience which discouraged me from approaching bi-valves for nearly a decade.

Filed under: Food on February 27th, 2008 | No Comments »