Panama Living Newsletter

Mirror of Panama

Local opinion makers have taken to comment on the recent stories in major US publications and TV networks. Interesting take on things from this side of the border.

Machine English and Spanish follows.

Panama, Saturday 24 of February of 2007

The DESCRIPTIONS Of the COUNTRY HAPPEN from DIVINE to The RIDICULOUS SITUATION. The mirror distorted in the last days have appeared different articles about panama on US media. ` cheap paradise or a poor country, but less, are some of the headlines that are repeated.

La Prensa

Some medias measure the prosperity of Panama by the buildings that are built. More cement attracts more investors.

Being in fashion has its consequences. Panama is at its best and is around the world. The main argument: the real estate boom. The distortions: many in the last weeks, prestigious medias of the United States have published articles on the country. One is a mirror to watch Panama where the image is distorted by work and grace of the media, just as sometimes narrates war from a taxi, without many elements of judgment.

Hacienda de Molinos receives praise

Local press has done a nice story an a very nice project just outside of Boquete. Hacienda De Molinos is well planned and executed and deserves the praise. Be sure to visit them if you visit and check out the bar and view. Incredible! See my photo album here...

Machine translated to English. Spanish follows
Tourism today
They remove brightness to natural treasure in Boquete The volume of the visitors comes from all parts of the world, mainly of North America and Europe. Courtesy of the Molinos ATTRACTION. In the area there are footpaths to walk towards the tube, the gorge and jardines.
813914 Mario To Muñoz andresm@prensa.com

When journeying by the way that leads to Boquete, in the province of Chiriquí, hardley anyone can notice that to two kilometers towards the northwest there is an impressive cliff. He happens inadvertent through the visitors and single some villagers know it like "the tube". In the place, the river flows between the canyon from where several cascades at rainy time arise.

Security issues in the city

I have posted several security stories in the last few months and this latest warning from the Embassy wardens office goes into detail on the tricks used by those who would break into your homes while you are there. There have been more than 20 of these incidents reported.

Date:        28 February 2007

To:          U.S. Embassy Warden System

Subject:  Security Update – Pre-operational Criminal Surveillance Prior to Home Invasion

Dear Wardens:  Please disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your area.  Thank you.

The Embassy would like to inform all members of the U.S. Citizen Community to be aware of pre-operational criminal surveillance that local law enforcement authorities have identified in Panama City in recent months.  The criminals appear to be clean cut, well dressed men.  They are believed to be Colombian or Costa Rican.   They gain entry into homes with ruses of: the word of God, sales of household cleaning supplies, carpet cleaning, etc.

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.

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)

Boquete, Champions of recycling

I always want to publicize activities by foreigners that make a positive impact on the local community and this story clearly shows an area that has benefited. Because of foreign influence and initiative, Boquete has become the premier area for recycling in Panama. This is a machine translation with the Spanish version following.

HIRIQUÍ.
More than 200 tons of garbage is generated daily in the province. Boqueteños becomes champions of the recycling While  most of the districts of Chiriquí the garbage is a problem, in Boquete takes advantage of it. In the year that is about to to finalize were managed to recycle 122 thousand pounds of garbage, that is to say, near 60 tons.

Hooters comes to Panama!

Its getting more and more American here in Panama with the arrival of Hooters restaurant and bar. Hooters has made inroads into other Latin countries but opening in Panama city certainly says the market is ripe. Here is an English translation of the article in La Prensa.

Panama, Saturday 2 of December of 2006
Hooters restaurant arrives in Panama
Raul To Bernal rbernal@prensa.com

The American chain, Hooters restaurants, famous by its attractive cheerleaders and their spicy buffalo wings, will open to its doors in Panama next 15th of December, in the old premises of Waikiki Bar, the corner of Uruguay and Calle 50.

Four Panamanian partners and a Guatemalan united efforts to bring the franchise, that counts 437 units worldwide. The rstaurant has a capacity for 250 people and will have 50 employees. "the development of Panama... the affinity of the Panamanian culture with the American, motivated the owners to open this restaurant and we hoped it is successful and is attractive for the Panamanian and the tourist", Mark Fachler said, director of Expansion of Hooters in the country.

It's not Disney, but its a great attraction!

The local press announces a $300 million tourism project by Ocean Embassy to build a Marine Park for interaction between sea life and humans. This was the much rumored "Disney" project from last year that I had dismissed as implausible. This project may be just the right type of project for Panama and the area. Last month they received a lot of negative press about the type of dolphins they were bringing as being endangered, but this article has a much more positive spin.

"Cluster of Luxury" comes to Panama

The local press announces the construction of a second phase of the MultiPlaza, the U.S, style mall in Punta Pacifica. This new section will feature a number of luxury franchises, Cartier, Bvulgari, Louis Vuitton, Channel y Ralph Lauren to name a few. I'm so glad I live out here in Boquete where my wife does not get the great shopping experiences available in the city.

Read the Spanish press release here...

Panama Republic, opportunity for investments

This press release may be a bit self serving from a real estate company but it does give accurate information about the boom going on in Panama.

Noticias.com

Recent developments have rendered Panama as a country full of great opportunities. Tourism and residential development projects offer a tremendous possible return on investment.

With the growing global recognition of Panama as a stable country with a great climate, stunning natural beauty, abundant flora and fauna and low costs of living, more and more Americans and Europeans will choose Panama as a vacation destination or as a country to retire. Of course the use of the US Dollar as the local currency makes moving to this beautiful country even more attractive.