I moved to Panama as an expat one year ago. On March 13, 2012, I landed -- along with my mini-mountain of luggage -- at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. My first few days here were pretty stressful. I'd flown down by myself to find us a place to live. My husband and the dogs would follow once I'd accomplished that mission. I had no definite plans. I'd reserved a room at the Centrum Tower Hotel in Panama City for the first night, but everything after that was a …
Las Tablas, Panama: A New(ish) Restaurant
I've just discovered a wonderful new place to eat in Las Tablas, Panama! Apparently it's been open for six months or so but it didn't show up on my radar until last week. A few weeks back I wrote about having a fancy lunch up in Chitre. At that time I explained that there aren't many restaurants in the area to have a meal (lunch especially) that's not the tipico fare. Well, I'm pleased to say, that's no longer the case. Located in the Plaza Gringa, just a couple of blocks from the Iglesia …
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Finding a Place to Live in Panama: Reader Questions Answered
Finding a place to live in Panama's interior is very different from what you're probably used to in the US, Canada or Europe. In those places, whether you're renting or buying, there are agencies you can visit and professionals who can help. While you'll find some of those options in Panama City, when you get to the country's interior the real estate market is pretty disorganized. Finding a place to live can be challenging, but it is possible. You just have to be willing to do a lot of …
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A Fancy Lunch on Panama’s Azuero Peninsula
You can find tipico lunches everywhere -- but where on Panama's Azuero Peninsula do you go for an elegant mid-day dining experience? One choice in Chitre stands out. Every once in a while I like to take time out in the middle of my day for a nice restaurant lunch. Back in Florida I had my favorite spots -- a little French patisserie that makes the best spinach quiche I've ever had, for example. Here in Las Tablas there are plenty of places to eat tipico -- chicken or beef, rice, beans …
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Driving While Gringo in Panama
Last month I let you know about the speeding ticket my husband got while we were driving from Las Tablas to Chitre. We drove around a sweeping curve and saw the policeman right away -- talking with another driver by the side of the road. He never turned around to face us until after he pulled us over. We believed the cop couldn't possibly have clocked us, no matter what speed we were going, because he had his back to us the entire time he was within our line of sight. Nevertheless, he …
Horses and Ponies and Cows — Oh, My!
Kiddie rides. . . hot dogs on a stick. . . ice cream and cotton candy. . . cows and horses. . . farm equipment. . . furniture. . . experimental agricultural techniques. . . this fair in Los Santos, Panama has them all. It reminded me of the county fairs of my youth, with the 4-H barns and plant exhibits, the latest in combines, and lots of greasy, sugary, yummy food to settle (or unsettle) your stomach after whirling around on one scream-inducing ride after another. The Feria Internacional de …