Panama Living Newsletter

Hike Up Volcano In Panama Turns Into A Strange Adventure

This is an interesting story of hiking to the top of Baru Volcano. My wife and boys have done this in a two day trip. It was tough going and I was happy that I had a previous engagement. If you are considering this trip you may want to read this adventure.

My father and I, in Panama for a week during Thanksgiving last year, decided to make the ascent of Volcán Barú part of our itinerary. It seemed like a snap, given our more strenuous previous excursions: hiking the Inca Trail over four days in Peru in 2004 and scaling peaks exceeding 16,000 feet in Ecuador in 2005.

Wrong.

What's up in the Azueros?

Here is a machine translation of a local article on the Pedasi area in the Azueros.

In Pedasí winds of change blow:

By the streets they are intermingled the artisan fishermen, the producers of corn and the cattle farmers with the new renters of the place. One treats, in his great majority, of Americans, Canadian French and, who got tired of the low temperatures of their countries and preferred the tropical climate located coastal district only five hours from the capital city. The foreigners are arriving in order to acquire second residence or to invest in a tourist project.

Now you don't have to learn Spanish

One of the most frustrating things is having to learn a new language after your 50 years old. Many foreigners come here fully intent on learning the language and quickly find that it is not easy and they give up. Sure, they learn how  to order food and drink, find a bathroom and other basics, but becoming fluent is not in the cards for most of us. In the hundreds of gringos I know in the area I would say only five are fluent and can carry on a casual conversation with the locals. My 6 year old speaks fluent English and Spanish and frequently translates for me, to my embarrassment. In my case I have managed to accomplish much here by learning the basic language of construction and development. I call it "industry specific" Spanish.

Now I read an article in the Economist that describes a hand held direct speech translator. Sounds like Star Trek, but apparently it is coming to a store near you in the not to distant future. That will make moving to a foreign land even easier!

Read

Soon, nothing need be lost in translation

The Washington Post asks, Is Panama the new South Beach?

With Panama's president Torrijos  in Washington with President Bush the main stream press comes out with great articles about Panama. This one is very good.

By Ceci Connolly

Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, February 18, 2007;  Page P01

 

It was sticky hot, and I was grungy after a morning exploring the cobblestone passageways of Panama City's Casco Viejo, a 300-year-old cross between the crumbling charm of Old Havana and the restored glow of New Orleans's French Quarter.

Read the complete article at ...

Broker between extremes

The Financial Times has an interesting and positive article about Panamanian President Martin Torrijos. Prima's Paul McBride is quoted as well.

Excerpt; “The flow of investment dollars into Panama continues at a breathtaking pace,” Paul McBride of the Prima Panama consultancy told the Latin Business Chronicle website.

Meanwhile, the canal project and the real estate boom will promote huge capital flows for a nation of only 3.2m inhabitants.Construction jobs, albeit low-paid, can also be expected to be created on a massive scale.

Read the entire article here...

Hot Second Home Locations Around The World

CENTRAL AMERICA: High prices in Costa Rica and Mexico have sent buyers to Panama, with Nicaragua, Honduras and Belize not far behind. Boquete, in Western Panama, has an eternal-spring climate against the backdrop of an extinct volcano and an artistic community, complete with access to the Pacific coast. A typical lot goes for about 40,000 dollars.

The above is from Playfuls.com about hot spots to buy a second home around the world. Boquete gets top honors for Central America but visitors may get upset when they find little to buy for $40k.

US Dreamland South Of Rio Grande Has Downside, Too

The tree hugging press always points the finger of guilt at developers and land promoters as taking from the locals by paying them peanuts and making a fortune off the sale and development of the land. What B.S.. The locals are selling land at prices that make them rich by any standard and they are making the choice without coercion. The developers take tremendous risk and efforts to turn jungles into and ever producing cash flow for the locals. The developments help bring the local population out of the third world with poor education, health and no opportunities into the first world with virtually no cost to them or their governments. If you want to talk of destruction of jungles, just fly over Panama and look at the trees decimated and land erosion caused by cattle ranching. This agricultural industry is completely run by locals.
From the Playfuls.com team.

North Americans robbed in Punta Pacifica

This brief story came out in the local press this weekend and goes to show that you must take precautions when moving abroad, even when there is security in a high rise tower.  We are starting to see more reports of home intrusions in Panama, especially the city. Panama still has a significantly lower crime rate than the U.S., but if North Americans are being targeted because they are percieved as beng easier targets, the crime statistics against them may be considered high. The lesson is to be careful no matter where you live. Your not in Kansas anymore!

Punta Pacifica Robbery
Eight men armed, and dress in blue, break in yesterday directly in the apartment of the North American citizen Angela Cristian Vincent, located in Punta Pacifica, where they managed to steal $1, 500 in cash and more than 27 thousand dollars in jewelery. The assault was registered in the building Bellagio Tower, located in luxurious residential area of Punta Pacifica in Paitilla, at 7: 15 in the morning, where the thieves identified with a white panel with a signboard of oats cream entered the building. (El Panama America)

YouTube Panama Video

Here is something to make you feel good. A catchy tune, great lyrics, vocals and video work You will be singing this all day.

Go'in down to Panama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzr_fJVYbg0

For more traditional Panamanian music and culture go here:

Music of Panama

My apartment in the city

As many of you know, I believe Panama City is being overbuilt and much of the building boom is being driven by speculators rather than end users. Even so, many people are buying for their own use and I am one of them. I have to travel to Panama City regularly for business and my wife likes to come to the city to shop and visit her family. We decided it was time to buy an apartment rather than staying in hotels as we have done for the last 5 years.  Even with all the speculation, I believe if I buy the right place at the right price it will be a good long term investment.

I wanted a small apartment in a good location away from the noise of the city streets. I had rented an apartment in the city when I first came to Panama in 1997 and I could hear the noise even up on the 17th floor. After a lot of research we decided on the Allure.  With all of the buildings being offered, why this one? Location, view and value. This building is to be located on the park on Balboa avenue near the Hotel Intercontinental.  It is within walking distance of dozens of great restaurants  and on the easier side of town for my travel to and from the regional airport. Along with the location it has great views that will never be blocked. The beautiful  "Central Park" cannot be sold and built on and it acts a a 500 meter wide buffer from the traffic noise on Balboa. They also include the air conditioners, stainless steel appliances and a huge list of amenities. I know this sounds like a commercial, but I can't help but sell something I am sold on. If you are considering an apartment in the city, you should look at this one and become my neighbor.