I recently had the privilege of being a guest for the weekend at one of the beachfront homes in the community of Buenaventura.  This visit was my first to Buenaventura, and after hearing both negative and positive reviews about the community, I was very curious to see and experience it with my own eyes.

Filed under: Country Guide, Living & Retirement on September 29th, 2009 | 9 Comments »

is an indoor ski resort what Panama tourism needs?
I have compared Panama to Dubai several times in previous articles, rarely intending flattery. After attending the annual AMCHAM Tourism Forum a few weeks ago (report on the way!), it became clear to me that there are two distinctive theories competing for the future direction of Panama [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics, Real Estate on September 27th, 2009 | 7 Comments »

Teeny boppers and teeny bopper mothers, get ready to scream because the Jonas Brothers are playing the Figali Convention Center in Panama City on October 28th, 2009.  AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  Regular ticket sales start today, and if these brothers are as popular as the world says, I would get your tickets fast.

Filed under: Culture, Living & Retirement on September 24th, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Sometimes as residents of foreign countries we miss out on some of the opportunities that travelers have.  Sailing from Panama to Colombia is one of these opportunities that seems to only exist within the backpacking world.  However, with increasingly expensive plane tickets to South America and the Darien Gap being too dangerous to cross, hopping [...]

Filed under: Country Guide, Living & Retirement, News on September 23rd, 2009 | No Comments »

I often forget about the Caribbean side of Panama.  When the weekend arrives and I am revving up the explorative engine, my mind always thinks Pacific.  Some of this shielded thinking comes from the fact that until fairly recently, the road from Panama City to the Colon area was AWFUL.  A trip that should normally [...]

Filed under: Country Guide on September 18th, 2009 | No Comments »

most tourists have no idea what to expect of Medellin, Colombia
YOU ARE GOING WHERE!?
When I decided to take a vacation to the unlikely destination of Medellin, Colombia, my friends back in the U.S. made the expected sarcastic comments, ranging from inferences that my trip involved finding Pablo Escobar to suspicions of my performing Internet marketing [...]

Filed under: Business on September 13th, 2009 | 7 Comments »