I now live in Panama and sometimes I have to pinch myself to actually believe that it is real and that we really moved here, enjoy this wonderful climate every day and spend our days leaning a new culture and practicing a new language. It must have been all those Margaret Mead books I read in high school or the fact that I never got to join the peace corp and live out that dream, or the fact that I never quite lost my idealism but nevertheless here I am!
Ah, Panama a diverse country and one of many contradictions as you will see from my story. From the Caribbean shores to the cliffs of the Pacific this country is so full of diversity of climate and culture that I am amazed every day. Learning a new language is actually easier than learning a new culture as it turns out. This site will be about my journey of discovery and the the things I learn along the way from the Panamanian "kitchen rock", to the vastly different types of beaches. Here you will find my impressions of this diverse country including the tragedy and the comedy of our journey. Unfailingly though I will always recommend that you travel to Panama for a visit and see for yourself. Travel to Panama is fairly affordable from so many places and I don't think there is any place quite like this place.
I will be offering products related to travel and products that will help make your travel to Panama less expensive and more comfortable; and in the future offering Panama Travel Deals that I will have organized myself from within the country. I will be able to organize tours that will help you make the most of your vacation time here based on your travel priorities. I wish we had known early on that you did not have to travel to Panama through Panama City but that traveling through Costa Rica is a good option for travel to the Bocas and Chiriqui Provinces. Who knew?
For us when we traveled to Panama it was about looking for property to purchase and finding all the wonderful beaches.
In this tiny little country I have seen black sand beaches - bring your asbestos flip flops, rock beaches that a jeweler would envy for the colors and shimmer of the stones, beaches just covered with sea turtle nesting trails and perfect white sand beaches. Beaches where you can wade out seemingly forever, beaches with huge waves and unbelievable rip tides and beaches that can only be reached by traversing down steep rocky cliffs. From the red starfish to the hump back whales, the flying fish to the dolphins Panama is known for its diversity and time must be squandered here to get the best out of this country. Like a great piece of chocolate Panama must be savored slowly to truly appreciate it.
My mission (and I have accepted it) will be to tell you all of the "good, the bad and the ugly" about Panama. It is my mission to intrigue you enough to get you to read about Panama, travel to Panama, and eventually love Panama. For me it was love at first sight and then I woke up sober and I actually lived here! It was time to fall in love again as the magic had started to fade but there will be much more on that later as my true tale unfolds.
It is actually "our" tale as I moved to Panama with the man of my dreams who is the most supportive, easy going and wonderful partner anyone could ever wish for and I have even seen him frustrated from time to time in learning his way around this place where no one tells you the honest truth and direct answers are often considered rude - go figure? .
As a native of Upstate New York (where to the point and blunt are more the rule) I had a hard time with this one. Anyway, when I use "I or we" you will know the story is really "our" story and for my part I certainly could not be enjoying this journey alone.