Don't get me wrong -- there's more that do I like about Panama than not, and living here has been good for us. But once in a while the differences just rub me the wrong way. So, in the interests of full disclosure, a balanced look at the country, etc., etc., I thought I'd share some of my pet peeves. In no particular order, here are the 10 things I hate about Panama . . #1: Slash and Burn Panama is a lush, verdant country. Even in the dry arc, where we live and where rainfall is almost …
Use One Cell Phone In Two (Or More) Countries
One of the biggest issues for expats is staying connected with friends and family in both their home and new countries. I just came back from a month-long visit to the US, and I have some good news for cell phone users. Whether your preferred phone is smart or dumb, it's become super easy to use the same device as you go from country to country -- without paying extortionate roaming charges! The trick is to start with an unlocked phone. (Apple users, you'll need to jailbreak your phone if you …
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What’s New in WordPress 3.7?
WordPress has just released a new version, 3.7, also known as Basie after the jazz musician Count Basie. So what's new in WordPress 3.7? Auto Updates The biggest change in this version of WordPress is auto-updating. Make no mistake, this is a big deal. Security and maintenance updates will happen seamlessly in the background. Many WordPress updates close security holes or make your site stronger against online scammers, spammers and hackers. When you don't update your own site, you leave it …
Excellent Small Animal Veterinarian in Las Tablas, Panama
Often I'm asked questions like, "I'm bringing my dog/cat with me when I move to Panama. Is there a decent veterinarian in Las Tablas?" We moved to Las Tablas, Panama with our three dogs in the spring of 2012. Before leaving the US, they were loaded up with innoculations, exams, the whole nine yards. Since arriving in Panama, our visits to the vet have been limited. My husband stops by every couple of months to pick up heartworm medicine (no prescription necessary) and tick spray (ticks are …
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What Should I Put in my WordPress Sidebar?
Adding, moving and rearranging elements in your WordPress sidebar is easy peasy. With widgets and plugins it's simple. No sweat. But knowing what to put there? That's another story. First, understand there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Millions of different sites in tens of thousands of different categories, businesses and interest areas, need different stuff (a highly technical WordPress term!) in the sidebars. Second, your sidebar shouldn't go on . . . and on . . . and on. Scroll down …
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A Day in Penonome, Panama [video]
One recent Sunday morning, my husband and I drove from our home in Las Tablas to the city of Penome, Panama to take a look around. Penonome is located about a two-hour drive west of Panama City. It's in Cocle Province and sits right on the Pan-American highway. The highway takes a big turn at Penonome, as you can see on the map. (The Pan-American is shown in yellow.) The business district sits to the north of the highway and covers about a dozen blocks. There's a church at the central …