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Advice to Anyone Moving to Panama

Here is some advice for people moving here from other countries:

The path is always easier here if you get to know people. Knowledgeable locals can give valuable advice on how best to do something, and they can also mention you to people who make a difference such that, when your situation comes up, they don't say to themselves, “Hmm, another gringo situation I can just toss into the basura,” or, “Another gringo I can exploit for a little extra...

Fresh Air, Great Climate. What's Not To Love About Boquete, Panama?

Boquete is located in the cool mountains just 45 minutes north of David, (the largest city in Chiriqui Province in the Republic of Panama.) The trade winds blow through the valley and keep pollution to a minimum. The air is fresh and it is wonderful to breath deeply, very relaxing for us.

We arrived on December 12, 2012 ready for our adventure. We rented a car in Panama City and drove to David, it took about 6 hours or so. Our first night we spent in Volcan,...

A Writer in Panamá

When I retired, I moved to France. But I found France had become – not the political entity “The United States of America”, and not part of either of the two continents by the name, but rather America – the occidental culture (or lack thereof) of hucksterism. The one that has each person pulling what he or she can out of as many other people’s pockets as possible while trying to outyell those others in a quest for attention – the culture of multinational firms that have...

My life in Panama so far...

Many, many years ago, back when they still printed Newsweek and we managed to live without iPhones, I was leading a quiet existence in Geneva, minding my own business, when my friend Dr. César Pereira Burgos introduced me to Rita, a bright young diplomat and my future Panamanian wife. César, a prominent lawyer and politician, went on to become my compadre (my son's godfather) and Panama's Supreme Court president. Love at first sight; we married a few months later. The timing was a...

The Road

Good roads leave no traces in the memory – smooth, seamless, without jarring bumps or sudden twists, they are the silent asphalt arteries that carry us from one place to another as we go about our daily lives, never calling attention to themselves. Not so with bad roads. A bad road, like a bad marriage, feels endless, terminal, and impossible to escape, even years later.

I have seen many bad roads around the world. Some in Central America are...

What it's like living in Panama

If you like warm weather and a slower pace of life then Panama is a perfect place for you.

I get tons of emails asking why I moved to Panama and what it’s like here. Pedasi, Azuero Peninsula, Panama – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

I say why not! Panama is affordable and gives me everything I need. There is so much life here! Amazing fishing, surfing, beautiful birds and flowers and the people are so nice. I am constantly greeted as I walk through my little town of Pedasi with “Buenas” (the local way...

Story of my life in Panama

Pedro Miguel Locks, Panama – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

I was born in Santo Thomas Hospital in Panama City. My parents & grandparents worked for the Panama Canal Company & we lived on the Canal Zone. From birth to age 5 (1944 - 50) we lived in the Balboa Gavlin area on Cacao Street (in the days before the bridge to our house was on Panamá Bay).

Next we moved to Balboa in "the flats" on Carr St. from 1950 - 54, in 1954 we moved to Los Rios & were the first family to occupy the house we lived...

Edesia's Revenge

Good food is like good sex – most people don’t need it every day, but life becomes drab and colorless when it disappears entirely. Here Panama ranks low (on the food index, not the sex index). Most meals in Panama, whether at home or in restaurants, consist of white rice and beans with a bit of leathery meat or chicken. Fried foods are also popular – especially hojaldra (fried bread), tortillas and other things made of corn -- with predictable results for the national body...

The Greatest Lessons Learned By Living Abroad

My family and I moved to Central American in 2000 with the idea of blue skies and sunshine. Never heard of culture shock, never imagined or dreamed there would be a problem adjusting to our surroundings because everything we had read said that we would LOVE it!!! Much to our dismay, all that we had read was not exactly accurate. While my husband was in an office that had to speak English and my boys were immersed in football where they didn't care what language was spoken, my...

When in Rome do as the Romans do

San Blas Islands, Panama – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

I have lived in four countries, Spain, Ireland, United States and Panama. My advice when moving abroad is to make sure you can adjust your self to the new culture and traditions of the country you are going to live in. Do some research, learn about the customs and traditions. Be open minded, be prepared to learn new things. Be positive, I strongly recommend you to mingle with the locals.

My own personal...