My Life In Panama

The theme of Panamá has always had worldwide importance, especially related Panamá's great importance in trade, commerce and American history.  In 2013 we commemorate our 500 year anniversary of the discovery of the isthmus and the Pacific Ocean, and also when the first Catholic community was established in the American continent, our Lady of Santa María la Antigua.  These are proud legacies from Panama to the world, not to mention the greatest project of all time: The Panama...

For 65 million years, the world has changed, and those in the human race interacted with one another.  People change where they live for convenience, and most of all, for personal choices, and to seek happiness and quality of life.

 

From personal experience, after having been an expat in the US for 23 years myself, I can surely and candidly say that moving to a different country which brings you their best and opens their doors for you is a gift.  Not everyone can...

Sometimes when people hear about Colon, Panama they quickly think "not Colon, that's not where I want to be".  That is what I thought years ago when I arrived in Panama at the Port of Colon on a cruise ship. The cruise ship posted cautions about going into the City of Colon.  The ship did offer many side-tours from the Port of Colon, however.

 

Back then on the cruise ship - 1985 if I remember correctly, all I needed to hear was one thing ... don't...

The first time I visited Panama I was on a mission to see as much of the country as I possibly could on that trip.  I was a Real Estate Broker in Las Vegas, Nevada (so I knew properties and values fairly well).

 

I found that Panama was similar in many respects to what I knew about Las Vegas.  Different areas had different values depending on various factors.   On my first trip I wanted to see the Southern Caribbean Coast as well as the rest of Panama.

 

I have been an adventurer for many years.  I sold my house and most of my stuff at age 42, bought a travel trailer and tow vehicle and traveled for three years, living in the trailer, then a 5th wheel and finally a motorhome.

 

My wife and I then formed an RV tour company which became a worldwide operation.  We sold the tour company in 2000.  I fiddled around with different things (including being a real estate broker in Las Vegas) for awhile   .... and then I...

I moved to Panama about seven years ago.  I thought differently (much differently) when I first moved to this interesting, fun filled, beautiful and different country.  When I first came to Panama, I thought like an American. 

 

I thought I could get things done like I used to in the USA.  I was wrong, very wrong back then.  I thought a lot of the laws, rules of living, customs, do's and don't's would be the same .... They aren't!  Panama is Latin America, not USA...

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...

This is a small town that you do not find in the regular tourism books or maps. It´s the town of CERMEÑO, located left, and about 15 minutes of Capira. If you´re looking for a quiet place to visit, surrounded by trees and birds, and friendly people, do not miss this place. The little town, with it´s church and little houses is worth being seen. There are no hotels or restaurants, but you´ll see some very nice "fincas" (or weekend houses).  There are facilities outside the...