I JUST Realized This Says “Greatest Hits”

Walking around Panama’s gigantic superstore “Machetazo” one can find anything from an antique sewing machine to an aisle of masks and costumes, a full grocery store to a trophy and gun section. I was fortunate stumble upon a few random racks of CD’s that appeared sadly discarded, [...]

Filed under: Culture, Reviews on May 30th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Cailey and I were in Wendy’s (guilty) when everyone stopped, turned up the TV and watched with rapt attention the scary helicopter crash footage in Panama City, yesterday.
The helicopter, an old model from the 60s, crashed into a store, broke in half from the impact and set the building on fire.

Filed under: News on May 30th, 2008 | No Comments »

Filed under: Food, News on May 30th, 2008 | No Comments »

In college I remember watching a video about economic development in third world countries. It was a grainy video, probably from the 60s, that had decided to portray Latin America as a smoky, crowded, Spanish-speaking cesspool in which economies thrived, but only under certain circumstances.

Filed under: Culture on May 29th, 2008 | No Comments »

It was just evolving into a movement in my early teens, that large cigarette companies became pressured by health agencies and the government to stop marketing to minors. Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man were characters I had aspired to be for Halloween until I found out that endorsing them would lead to black tar [...]

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

Border Crossing Costa Rica and Panama
The thought of crossing the border had me nervous all weekend. It would be a lie to say I was too nervous to have fun in Puerto Viejo, but nonetheless “the crossing” was definitely on my mind. Turns out, it’s not so hard as I had imagined. [...]

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

Parque Omar, Panama City Panama
Today La Presna reported recent attacks in Parque Omar, my favorite park for outdoor exercise. Once a private golf course, “Altos de Golf,” and swanky hang out for the Panama elite, Parque Omar was converted and given to the public by General Omar Torrijos.

Filed under: News on May 28th, 2008 | No Comments »

The following happened to a group of European friends when they came down to visit Panama. It’s very representative of Panama and even more so of Panama tourism with its quirky glitches and underlying beauty.

Filed under: Country Guide on May 27th, 2008 | No Comments »

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, and Bocas del Toro, Panama go together rama lama lama
ke ding a de dinga a dong… (Remembered for ever like shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom). Funny, because they are located in different countries, but together, combined, they make a perfect adventure.

Filed under: Country Guide on May 27th, 2008 | No Comments »

“The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.”
–from the Bahá’í Writings.
There are more than four million of the Bahá’í around the world today, spread over 200 countries of all races and classes.
The Bahá’í believes that humanity is one single race and the time has arrived for it to become one family; that the [...]

Filed under: Country Guide, Culture, History on May 23rd, 2008 | 1 Comment »

President Martín Torrijos Announced on May 14th that he will be freeing the city of the infamous and dangerous Diablo Rojos, recycled school buses painted in bight colors, and the state will take over all public transportation.

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

I’m sort of amazed radio still exists. With all the new-fangled technology sending information via Bluetooth and portable DVD players the size of playing cards, it seems odd that an invention designed in the 1800’s, with the horse and carriage, would still play an active roll in our day to day lives, virtually the same [...]

Filed under: Culture on May 21st, 2008 | No Comments »

Red Frog Beach- Bocas del Toro, Panama
Most people would probably arrive to a place with some sort of a plan, an idea of where they might stay and what they might do, but not us.

Filed under: News on May 19th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Whilst in Bocas del Toro, Cailey and I heard that Mondo Taitu Hostel was the place to be on Tuesday (80s night!) So we ate dinner and waltzed in around 10. This was a mistake as everyone was already wasted and sweaty, wearing multicolored wigs from the “costume trunk” (shiver) and dancing around merrily in [...]

Filed under: Country Guide, Reviews on May 17th, 2008 | No Comments »

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 can only be reached by boat (we should really buy a Lonely Planet). So, Cailey, and an English, Irish girl and I hopped on one [...]

Filed under: Country Guide, Reviews on May 16th, 2008 | No Comments »