You have to admit, there’s something magical about being first.  I’m not talking about finishing first, as a type A first-class sore loser, that’s understood.  I’m talking about doing something, finding something or arriving somewhere before anybody else.  Whether it’s a rock band you knew before they got big or enjoying a struggling chef’s food [...]

Filed under: Country Guide on February 26th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

The western province of Panama, the highland region of Chiriqui has some of the best coffee estates in the world. The area has the ideal environment for growing coffee beans: fertile volcanic soil, light rain and wind from the north, producing the best and highest ranking coffees in the world.

Filed under: News on February 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

Reprinted Article- By Phil Shapiro
Many canoeists think paddling across the Panama Canal is a piece of cake, but that’s just not true. To successfully cross from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic in a canoe requires planning.
First you’ll need a laptop with wireless Internet to carry along in your canoe. Why? So you can communicate [...]

Filed under: Country Guide on February 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

Living in El Cangrejo definitely has its benefits, one of which is the abundance of good restaurants. Harder to find, however, are breakfast joints. When I first moved here my favorite place to go on a weekend was NY Bagel. It’s always interesting to see the crowd of weird expats hanging out and mingling. Recently, [...]

Filed under: Reviews on February 25th, 2008 | No Comments »

At a faux party scene in a crumbled mossy building frame, lit with romantic white lanterns in Casco Viejo, the trendy but dangerous antique section of Panama City…750 extras wait to make their debut into film in _______.

Filed under: News on February 25th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

NY Bagel Cafe has a funky, cozy atmosphere and is mostly populated with ex pats on Saturday morning, lounging on the comfy couches and drinking coffee from over-sized mugs.
The nostalgia for the states in me loves going for a weekend bagel, but there are some serious flaws at this so-called bagel café.

Filed under: Reviews on February 25th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Friday, February 22nd 2008, the Municipal Council of Pedasí asked ANAM, the National Authority of the Atmosphere to suspend the effects of Resolution N° 0034, established this January.  The resolution has hurt local fisherman who make their living off of the now protected ocean area around Pedasi and Isla Iguana.  The council has also asked [...]

Filed under: News on February 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »

I am strange.
Those who know me can cite endless evidence to support that statement, but what may be most obviously weird is my living situation. I have no home. Or rather, I have two homes. Most business men who travel for a living call one place home and merely pay visits to [...]

Filed under: Culture on February 22nd, 2008 | 5 Comments »

I can’t lie to you…I knew better. 
But knowing better still didn’t stop me from renovating a beach house in a remote corner of Panama for use as a B&B.  Every expat seems to dream of owning a B&B near the beach.  I didn’t.  After a decade of watching investors lose their butts in the developing world, I knew the [...]

Filed under: Real Estate on February 20th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Much of the Panama real estate hype is centered around the big players in the game. Whether it’s famous developers or fully-developed communities, Panama’s real estate boom has drawn mainstream investors to places like Panama City, Boquete, and Bocas del Toro as hotbeds for development.

Filed under: Real Estate on February 18th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

If you’re sick of the city, and wondering what to do this Saturday, a breezy boat ride on the Calypso to Isla Taboga might be just the daytrip for you. Only twelve miles off the coast of Panama, the name Taboga was later adopted from the Indian term aboga, meaning “many fish.”

Filed under: Country Guide on February 15th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Panama- Construction Workers Protest (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)
Beginning in the early morning hours of February the 13th, thousands of construction workers from Panama City to Colon protested in the streets.

Filed under: News on February 14th, 2008 | No Comments »

1. Dulceria del Cangrejo- This excellent little confectionery shop makes cakes for any event.  At the counter they sell delicious slices for just 25 cents a pop.  However, the real deal is their medium sized cake, chocolate with a layer of chocolate fudge and personalized greeting for only $7.25!

Filed under: Culture on February 11th, 2008 | No Comments »

Coming from a city where on Saturdays people drink coffee to-go and write papers at cafes has brought on a Saturday Identity Crisis: we no longer have homework, and there aren’t many cafes in Panama City. Despite the helpful suggestions from our co-workers like “sneak into hotel pools and pick up girls,” we decided to investiage and compile a [...]

Filed under: Country Guide on February 11th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

 Panamanians wait their turn.
Our week at Carnival ended by standing in the boiling morning sun with 200 hungover Panamanians, waiting for the bus from Chitre to Panama City. Despite the fact that we stood for an hour without moving and I had already eaten part of the provisions Cailey’s mom packed for us for the ride [...]

Filed under: Culture on February 7th, 2008 | No Comments »