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Articles
On Living & Investing Overseas In Panama
Including
Articles On Real Estate In Panama
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Living & Investing
In Panama - Find
Out About Living & Investing In Panama - As things continue
to deteriorate inside the United States intelligent people are looking
offshore for a stable relocation safe-haven - Panama has it all - Panama
is affordable - Panama is modern - Panama is two and one-half hours by
air from Florida - Panama is stable - Panama has great real estate - Panama
uses the US Dollar - Panama has almost no crime - Panama has a good climate
- Panama is enviromentally pristine - North Americans, Canadians &
Europeans are welcome in Panama - Find Out About Living & Investing
In Panama - |
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13 Not
So Conventional Reasons to Love Panama - 13
Not So Conventional Reasons to Love Panama - There is no doubt
that Panama possesses numerous advantages, including its strategic geographic
location, incentive program for retirees and a relatively low-cost of living,
amongst others. However, some of the reasons that I particularly enjoy
living in Panama are not the most obvious, such as The Canal (after showing
my 4th visitor the Miraflores Locks, the outing becomes slightly monotonous)
or its proximity to Miami (I’ve never been to Miami in my life!). Certain
pleasures can only be recognized after living in Panama as a foreigner
for some time. Apr./07
A Classroom
On The Panama Canal - Learning
about Endangered Primates In The Panama Canal Watershed ~ By Dennis
Rasmussen And Iris Broekema - I've worked professionally with Dennis Ramussen
for two years and I can tell you that he and Iris are dedicated to the
Project on Isla Tigre. Their hard work is respected by all who know them.
The islands where the Project is located are the peaks of mountains that
were flooded over and turned into Lake Gatun when the Panama Canal was
built. The primates fled up the mountains as the the Lake was being created.
If you look down into the Lake at certain points you can see the old, now
submerged, forest. One of the few places in the world where you can see
fish swimming through tree tops. March/03
A History
of Tobacco ~ Seeing
the Magic of the Cigar Rollers of La Pintada ~ By Matthew Atlee
- Tobacco is a powerful plant. It pulls hard on the nutrients in the
soil. It pulls hard on those who roll it into cigars. And those that smoke
it are pulled in by its powers of relaxation. In the central province of
Cocle, Panama there lies a small-town named La Pintada that few people
have ever heard of. And in this small-town a long tradition of making high-quality
cigars has persisted over the last two decades. If you like tobacco and
beautiful landscapes, then you should visit La Pintada. Dec./02.
A Moving
Retirement ~ In Search of the Perfect Place ~ From Western Europe to Africa
to Palm Springs to South America and back to Panama -
Retiring
Overseas - Cal Kiddy has seen the world. He's reaching retirement
age and has considered all his old stomping grounds as a place to hang
his hat for the last time. "Holland is too cold, Britain's too stuffy,
and Spain's full of British louts," he says. He tried Florida, Arizona,
and Palm Springs where he currently resides. Of all the places in Central
and South America he's visited, Panama keeps calling him back. And, there
is where he's heading. He's driving there in his trusty BMW, and he wants
advice if you have any.
A Paradise
On Water ~ Talking
With Expats In Bocas Del Toro ~ By Zvia Leibler-Danon - There has been
a lot of talk over the past few years about Bocas del Toro, located on
Panama's northeastern Caribbean coast. A number of expats are now fulfilling
their dream of living in a tropical paradise by buying property in Bocas.
Find out what it takes to make it in Bocas and what is daily life like
for expats who have made it their home. The water, the sun and the forest
are attracting people all the time. See if Bocas is a place you might want
to settle down in for a couple or years or a spot where you might want
to own some land. June/03
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A
Tale of Two Low-Cost Retirement Towns - Corozal
in Belize and Boquete in Panama - With
millions of Americans and Canadian baby boomers just a bank CD or two away
from retirement, the race to find low-cost retirement destinations is off
and running. That’s particularly true in Mexico and Central America,
where many prospective expat gringos see the potential of stretching their
dollars and living better for less than is possible back home, yet being
within two to four hours by jet from their old home towns. By Lan Sluder |
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Actualities
From International Living - Actualities
From International Living - Russian prostitutes in Paris. It has become
hard to find a good French prostitute. At least that’s what a recent article
in the Figaro tells readers. “Russian girls have flooded Paris,” reported
the headline, recalling the well-known Baptist hymn, “We’re sinking deep
in sin.” As a happily married man I cannot take on the kind
of undercover research required to verify the facts, so I have to rely
on secondhand sources. Still, I’m glad to hear about the Russian women.
They represent an extension of the division of labor and hope for the future.
Not that the local girls didn’t provide a quality product. But they couldn’t
compete with the Eastern Europeans on price. The Russians brought deflation
to an industry traditionally marked by tumescence, if not actual price
inflation. (This observation and much more)
Affordable
living in Panama’s Highlands - Where
you can rent a home for as little as $350 a month - I got off the plane
in David, Panama (well west of the capital, in the province of Chiriqui)
& drove an hour inland & up about 4,000 feet to the town of Boquete.
There I was pleasantly surprised. I hadn’t expected to like this country
so much. Panama certainly looks good on paper: the economy is growing;
inflation is holding steady at 2% (lower than in the US); the government
is democratic; offshore banking laws provide strict privacy; you pay no
tax on income derived outside the country; retirees qualify for tremendous
discounts on everything from airplane tickets to groceries; and more. Yet
I was never fully convinced that Panama was a place I’d want to live...
by
Jennifer Stevens
Alto Quiel
~ Boquete
And Isla Grande ~ by Matthew Atlee - I don’t recommend you driving
straight through from Panama City to Boquete; the drive is very difficult
and tiring and takes six-hours to complete. Fly and then rent a car. The
drive to Boquete takes you right down the spine of Panama through the most
important provincial towns in the county. One such town is Aguadulce. Aguadulce
is a small town famous for its sugarcane plantations, hot summers and summer
fairs; if you visit the town you might want to visit the saltwater tide
pools nearby. They are located nine miles from Aguadulce after the salt
flats, the place is called Las Piscinas. I’ve never been, but hope to go
soon. May/05
 Altos
del Maria - Another
Look ~ by Matthew Atlee - I recently visited Altos del Maria
and enjoyed seeing how the project is developing. As part of my visit I
was able to meet with some of the new residents of the community. All told
me they were happy to be living in Altos del Maria: clean environment,
friendly neighbors and plenty to do. If you are thinking about investing
in property overseas then Altos del Maria might be the place for you. Dec./03
Altos Del Maria: Live
In A Garden In The Mountains Of Panama - The temperature
is 75 degrees, there is no humidity, I can see for hundreds of miles, out
over the oceans, both oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific, there are flowers
and trees everywhere, two rivers, hiking trails, dozens of creeks, beautiful
houses, excellent neighbors, paved roads, electricity, telephone, internet
connections, Direct TV, pine trees, waterfalls, a heliport, and I'm 20
minutes by car from the beach and 20 minutes from a golf course. Feb/03
Amazing
Short Hops From Panama City ~ Rest
And Relax Near The City ~ By Zvia Leibler - There is a lot to see near
Panama City. You can be in the jungle in 40 minutes and out on Contadora
Island in 20 minutes. Panama is one of the few countries in North or South
America that has not systematically killed off its indigenous population.
In fact U.S. astronauts used to train with the Kuna Indians out on the
San Blas islands in order to prepare themselves for space travel. And a
visit to an indigenous community in Panama might put you in a better space,
also. May/03
An
Article on Bocas Del Toro - Get Out Of The Market Get Into Land!
- The
Best Real Estate Investment I've Seen In Twenty Years! In Bocas Del
Toro ~ Waterfront land for $5,000 per acre! Plus it has a cash-flow,
with both Noni and Teak planted on the land. If you've ever wanted
Caribbean waterfront at a bargain price, good land with exotic tropical
fruit and a five-star view, this is it! Twenty minutes from Bocas Town,
an hour and a half from Panama City. August/02.
An Interview
With John Carlson ~ Talking
With An Old Hand About Investing In Panama ~ By Matthew Atlee - John
Carlson has a lot of experience in Panama as a businessman. He came to
Panama with his father in 1953 and has stayed ever since. He offers the
potential investor in Panama some words of caution about what to look out
for if you are thinking about investing in Panama. May/03
Asset Havens
~ Panama:Still
the World’s Most Useful Asset Haven ~ By Robert
Bauman - Panama continues as one of the world’s
best tax and asset protection havens, and it also offers several options
for tax-advantaged residency. That’s a considered opinion The Sovereign
Society has espoused for several years, based on hard facts about this
strategically located central American isthmus, the so called “Land Between
the Seas,” best known for its famous canal. Sept./04
Attracted
by the idea of living and working on a Caribbean island? - Business
Boom for Bocas del Toro Panama - If you are attracted by the idea of
living and working on a Caribbean island and have a business idea that
will blend in well with the "managed community" that is the Isla Solarte
Caribbean Garden Resort, we want to hear from you. Dec./02
Bass Fishing
In Panama -Bass
Fishing In Panama - Yes, Bass Fishing In Panama. We have an article
on the upcoming Super Bowl party in Panama. The party is giving by
BetPanAm a Panama based sportsbook that is the brain child of a group of
expatriates. The Super Bowl Party includes a bass fishing tournament,
but this article is simply on bass fishing; written by one of the BetPanAm
staff. Jan/04
Bocas
Del Toro Waterfront Land ~ Waterfront
Land Plus Cashflow ~ Caribbean Land, Teak trees, an exotic tropical
fruit, waterfront property, fifteen minutes from Bocas Town, and the price
is right. My calculation a year ago is that even if the property never
made a nickel the land even by itself was a bargain. Tom took a huge
chunk of land and converted it into a Teak & Noni Plantation.
If someone would have tired to buy a few hundred acres they couldn't have
done it. It was a huge block, over a thousand acres... and while
I haven't walked all thousand acres of it, what I have walked has clearly
gone through some dramatic improvements in one years time. In the
photo below you are seeing an area that was covered with dense tropical
foliage and is now a park-like setting covered with Noni. Put a house there,
a summer retreat, a dock, a house over the water, a fishing retreat, a
survival retreat, or just camp out... When we take into consideration
the price these parcels are selling for it is difficult to ignore this
opportunity. Aug/03
California
Family of Four Follows Its Rainbow To a Remote Island in Panama - Bocas
Del Toro Panama - A Very Hip Place - The hipness of the place is phenomenal.
There is actually a restaurant, called Crawl Key Restaurant, (Or: Kraal
Cay) that is 20 minutes by boat from Bocas town, situated on the southeastern
side of Bastimentos Island, and surrounded by lush mangrove. The island
is in the middle of no place, if one ignores the fact that it is one very
exciting location. April/04
Carnaval
2003 - Hanging
In ~ By Matthew Atlee - Carnaval turned out fine this year. If you've
done a number of Carnavals then you know that sometimes things can go wrong.
This year we spent most of Carnaval in Panama at the house on Isla Grande.
Later we went to the Pacific Coast and finally ended up in Panama City.
And that old Carnaval hangover just won't go away. March/03
Carnival
2004 - Friends,
Tight Spaces And Bells Scotch ~ by Matthew Atlee - Carnival 2004 started
with an emergency operation on Friday morning that landed me in the hospital
- I didn’t have the operation. Luckily, we were able to leave the
hospital Friday night and I was able to return to my house by Saturday
morning. And so Friday night we began celebrating Carnival. This Carnival
we didn’t go anywhere, which was what we wanted. Rather, it was a Carnival
filled with hermetically sealed rooms, sick people, guests, DVDs and real
estate talk - all with very good air condtioning in the background. March/04
Casco Viejo
-
Buy Property
~ Run a Business ~ And Live In This Architectural Treasure -
The oldest city on the Pacific Coast of the Americas comes under the pen
and camera of Escape From America editor - A 300 year old city filled with
architectural treasures and picture-postcard views. Care to remodel a 300
year old building filled with history? The prices are affordable. ~ more
Case Study:
Emergency Medical Aid in a Remote Coastal Area of Panama - Case
Closed - John Anderton was sailing his way south from his home in San
Francisco Bay. Off the western coast of Panama, he was stricken with an
illness that needed immediate emergency medical care. He found it. Anderton
writes, "I had to put all my trust in the local population, and they couldn't
have treated me better. The hospital experience was a bigger ordeal than
it would have been had I been fluent in Spanish, but the doctors had all
been trained in the U.S., and the staff of the 300-bed regional facility
were excellent. The total cost for my six days in the hospital - including
IVs, 12 x-rays, an exploratory look around my insides with a camera, surgery
under anesthesia, and all medications - came to just US$390! Furthermore,
an emergency room nurse gave me a ride to the local Price Costco, so I
could use the ATM machine to get some money to pay the bill." - by John
Anderton
Cerro
Jefe ~
In An Old Cloud Forest ~ By Matthew Atlee - Up into Cerro Jefe: one
of the oldest forests in the Americas. A little history and a little on
what to see and do in Chagres National Park. You have to get up into the
forest and see what it's like and how old it feels to your eyes and other
senses. Come to Panama, rent a 4x4 and head back into the jungle and have
some fun. July/03
Coffee,
Flowers, Nature and More ~ In
The Mountains Of Chiriqui, Panama ~ by Zvia Leibler-Danon - The highlands
of Chiriqui have the cool weather of the mountains and the tropical greenery
of the jungle. And if you like flowers then this is the place to visit.
You will see flowers that you would normally buy at a shop in the U.S.
growing here in the wild. For relaxation and fresh cool air, the highlands
of Chiriqui can't be beat. Sept./03
Daytrips
In Panama ~ Looking
At Real Estate And Passing Through Colon ~ By Matthew Atlee - If you
drive around Panama you will see "For Sale" signs all over the place. There
are some great old buildings for sale in the city and in the countryside
there are lots of people selling land. Some of the land is located right
on the beach and other lots are in the mountains. If you are thinking about
moving to Panama, remember you have to have a little bit of the buccaneer
spirit to do it. Colon is a place you might want to check out if you want
to see something different; there is property in Colon City as well as
Colon Province. See you there. April/03
Deep In
Veraguas - Traveling
Down Backroads In Panama ~ By Matthew Atlee - Traveling down
the backroads of Panama is like going back in time. Panama may be one of
the least known countries in the world and that anonymity has allowed Panama
to guard its treasures well. Some of those treasures are located deep in
the province of Veraguas. Waterfalls, lost highways and hot springs are
some of the things you will find as you get lost in the depths of Veraguas.
Jan/03
Discovering
Panamania - Living On An Island In Panama - Realizing A Dream - The
Road to Taboga - Isla Taboga, like many of Panama’s islands, is a city
boy’s answer to island living. Fourteen miles off the coast of Panama
City, within sight of the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, Tabogans
are never far from the amenities and services of the most metropolitan
city in the Americas between Mexico City and Caracas, Venezuela.
It’s only a one-hour ferry ride to the city, and the boats depart the Tabogan
pier four times a day. I’m a commuter.
Discovering
The Past In Portobello ~ Pirates
And Forts ~ by Matthew Atlee - Portobello is a city that is as important
as New York City or Washington D.C. to the history of the Western Hemisphere.
You are probably saying to yourself that he can’t be right. I’ve never
heard of the place and if it’s so important why haven’t I heard about it.
Well, this article is an attempt to uncover some of the little known history
of a town that on its surface looks to be nothing more than a dot on the
Panamanian map, a town on the Caribbean coast of Panama that most people
only pass through on their way to the popular island of Isla Grande. Sept./04
Does Money
Grow on Trees? - Growing
Teak Wood In Bocas Del Toro, Panama - Panama has many advantages for
the investor who chooses trees. Land and labor costs are reasonable.
There are few, if any, property taxes to pay. Under Law 24, future
profits on logs and lumber are exonerated, as is any sales tax. Money,
perhaps, does not really grow on trees, but in Panama many investors are
already proving it comes remarkably close. June/02
El Alcazar
~ Living
In A Panamanian Beach Resort ~ by Matthew Atlee - Alcazar is the newest
project in Coronado, Panama’s best known recreational and retirement community.
Alcazar will have 70 residential deluxe condominiums that will cater to
the investor who wants to own property in Coronado without having to worry
about the cost of keeping a large home. The condominiums will be located
in a new 23-story building with state-of-the-art technology and round-the-clock-security.
The condominiums will be 265 square meters (2,852 square feet). The condominiums
are going to be built next to Coronado’s beautiful 18-hole golf course,
so you will literally be able to walk out your front door and be on the
golf course. As part of purchasing a condominium in Alcazar, the owner
will receive a lifetime membership to Coronado Country Club. Mar/05
El
Cope, Cocle ~ And
Some Other Ideas ~ By Matthew Atlee - Went in search of a very remote
place in Cocle province, Panama where you can see both the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans on a clear day. I searched and searched and was never able
to find the beautiful spot that I had visited six years before, but in
the process of looking found some nice rivers and towns that I will visit
again in the near future. Aug/03
El
Valle ~ A
Cool Weekend Escape ~ By Zvia Leibler-Danon.-
The above article takes you to the Spa town of El Valle in Cocle Province,
Panama. El Valle has long been a favorite getaway for Panamanians and it
really is a place you should check out if you want to enjoy green hills,
nice inns, waterfalls and walks in the jungle. Do go. July/03
Escape
By Sail To The San Blas Islands Of Panama ~ Among
The Kunas ~ by Malcolm Couch - The Kuna people escaped themselves to
Panama hundreds of years ago from the Spanish, and in 1938 won semi-autonomy
within a 232 mile (375km) long territory (or ‘comarca’) constituting 400
islands and a strip of mainland on the Northeast Caribbean coast of Panama
called the San Blas. Feb/04
Finding
And Eating The Best Cashews Money Can’t Buy! ~Adventures
In Panama ~ by Ernesto Mendiola - It started as an after thought. After
all, we were on our way home from visiting our future home site in Las
Brisas del Frances, Boquete, to the town of Atalaya in the Province of
Veraguas and still had several hours of driving time ahead of us.
Jan/06
Fort San
Lorenzo In Panama ~ Henry
Morgan And Other Adventures ~ by Matthew Atlee - No one knows exactly
when San Lorenzo Fort was built. Evidence shows that the fort was probably
built in the 1570s. When you arrive to the fort from the city of Colon
- it’s about a 40 minute ride, you cross through the Panama Canal to get
to San Lorenzo - you immediately understand why the fort was built by the
Spanish: it sits high up on cliffs that overlook both the Atlantic Ocean
and the entrance to Rio Chagres. In the centuries before the Panama Canal
was built the Rio Charges was a very important river because it was the
starting point from which pirates like Drake or Morgan would cross the
Isthmus of Panama from the Atlantic to the Pacific. May/04
From Roatan
to Bocas - Why
we moved from Honduras’ Bay Islands to Caribbean Panama - "Prices
in Bocas right now are below what we found in Roatan when we arrived there
in 1994. It’s a smart time to buy. We were lucky enough to have been in
Roatan for the boom there and see the same dynamic is at work here in Bocas."
From The Best Of International Living Series -
Fuerte
Amador Resort & Marina ~ Your
Sea Route To Vista Mar - Part of the Vista Mar project, the Fuerte
Amador Resort & Marina is another of the marinas that is available
to Vista Mar property owners. If you are looking for luxury properties
in Panama at prices you would have paid twenty years ago in the USA and
Europe, then you should take a close look at Vista Mar. April/04
Futuro
Forestal -
A Balance of Nature & Business - by Matthew Atlee - Futuro Forestal
is a German/Panamanian reforesting company that has been working in reforestation
projects in Panama since 1994. Futuro Forestal offers the investor the
opportunity to help contribute to reforesting Panama and at the same time
earn 8 to 12 or more percent interest on their investment. As part of your
investment, you will be eligible for residency in Panama - a $48,000 minimum
investment is needed to get residency - not only for you the investor,
but also your family. July/04
Good News
for Panama Investors - Good
News for Panama Investors - Low Tax Online NewsWire reports record
Panama Canal ship transits and a booming free trade zone in Colon. Panama's
President Mireya Moscoso has also signed into law a new e-commerce bill
believed to be the first of its kind in Central America. The canal is expected
to generate US$795.4mn in total revenues from operations during the next
fiscal year. Panama Canal Administrator Alberto Aleman also reported that
the Culebra Cut widening project remains on track and is scheduled for
completion by December this year. Foreign firms continue to invest in the
country's many free zones.
Growing
hardwood trees - Growing
hardwood trees - Whether in reforestation or plantation projects, has
always been an attractive eco-profitable business. Today in Panamá,
where the country’s Law 24 has been offering incentives in this sector
since 1992, forestry activity has been spurred to new heights as more people
discover the attractions of what this law is offering ~
Hemingway’s
Hideaway - Retiring
In Panama - We all hypothesize what a retirement paradise should be.
Realistically of course what we fancy and what we can afford is rather
discouraging. Do not feel alone. A few years ago, It all of a sudden dawned
on me that I was rapidly approaching my golden years with no firm strategy.
I needed to find some place where I could survive and still preserve my
quality of life let alone considering any fantasy. Due to the blissful
lack of concern in my earlier years, I was not financially prepared
for this traumatic event. Duh! not me. Now it was time to pay the
pauper.
Hiding
Out In Panama - The
Hotel Ideal ~ by Matthew Atlee - The Hotel Ideal – pronounced eee-dee-al
– is the best place I know of to hide out in in Panama. If you are looking
to escape from someone or you just want to become anonymous for a while
and you don’t have enough money for a more expensive place, then the Hotel
Ideal is for you. Jan/04
Horses
On The Beach And Other Tales Of Living In Paradise - Bocas
del Toro, Panama ~ by Cindy Cody - Every morning when I wake
up, there’s a different picture outside my sliding glass doors on this
lagoon in Bocas del Toro, Panamá. This morning a white mist hovers
over a pearl gray sea, like fine mesh. I feel like the Lady of the Lake,
floating on top of a cloud in my bed. Then Elvis starts barking. He’s chasing
the horses out of the yard again and sounds like he’s on doggie drugs.
His bark has the edge of hysteria: GET OUT OF MY YAR YAR YAR YAR YARD!
Mar/05
I Don’t
Wanna Leave! A
PhotoEssay of Bocas Del Toro, Panama - Mark McMahon is an award winning
photographer and writer. He is currently on an expedition driving from
Arizona to the tip of South America in a toyota 4x4! He created Filmtrips.com
to share his adventures. And he does indeed find adventure along the way!
He is in now Panama and soon will cross over into South America to
visit the Amazon , Machu Pichu, and the Galapagos Islands! Note: Images
- Slow page.
In Search Of The Scottish Colony
~ History
And Adventure In Panama ~ by Matthew Atlee - The
Scottish colony was something I read about long after I had been in Panama
and had lived in the countryside and found a job in the city and had learned
a little about city life. It was funny for me to learn about the Scottish
colony. I didn’t really know what part of Panama the colony had been founded
in; it turned out the colony was located in a place that was almost impossible
to reach by boat, air or land. Nov./05
In
The Hills Above Panama City - Cerro
Azul ~ by Zvia Leibler-Danon - Whether you are living in Panama or
are just in the city for a business trip – you may feel the need for relief
from the hot muggy weather in your free time. If so, then do what
the natives do – head for the hills. To ensure that the break you
take offers a unique and relaxing experience, as well as cooler weather,
head for Cerro Azul. April/04
Interview
With Pedro Sarasqueta ~ Answering
Questions About Investing In Panama ~ by Matthew Atlee - One of the
first persons I met after starting at the magazine was Pedro Sarasqueta.
He’s become an excellent resource for me and many expats on how and why
to invest in Panama. Pedro was the first contact for many of the expats
that now live in the residential development Altos del Maria. He is the
best I’ve seen at getting you, the expat, from A to B to Z in Panama, so
he’s someone you should talk to if you are thinking about moving to Panama
or even just visiting with an idea of staying. A little on his background:
Pedro graduated with a Master’s degree in Geology from Christian Albrecht
Universität in Kiel, Germany; he speaks fluent German and English;
he worked as a customs agent with his father when he returned to Panama
from Germany in 1984 Oct./05
Investing
in Panama - What
are the Laws? - The article by William Hemingway in the last edition
received a lot of positive feedback. In this issue Hemingway provides
those thinking of investing in Panama with resources regarding the laws
of Panama. He has a website under construction and will soon be providing
investment and retirement information on-line.
Isla Colón,
Bocas del Toro, Republic of Panama ~ Living
In Bocas ~ by Allene Blaker - A friend of ours in the States sent us
an e-mail recently asking for a one-or two-paragraph description of the
Panamanian island where my husband and I live. Seems he was planning to
send a character in his novel down here to Bocas del Toro for a while.
I wrote John back and said he would have to describe his character first
and the reason for the trip. This island can be different things to different
people, and everything to some. June/04
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Isla
Grande ~ The
Lost Sides Of Isla Grande ~ by Matthew Atlee - If you are headed to
Panama for the 100 year anniversary of the founding of Panama, then be
sure to check out Isla Grande. The island has always been a favorite vacation
spot for Panamanians and foreigners. The island has a deep history going
back to Colombus and the natural beauty and history of the island makes
it a great place to relax, have a break and just sit back and enjoy some
good clean fun. Hope you visit Isla Grande on your way through Panama.
Sept./03 |
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Isla Solarte
~ In The Bocas Del Toro Archipelago ~ Panama - Family
Living the Dream - Shephard Johnson is no ordinary, developer of dreams.
The Roseville man is taking 25 years of California real estate experience
and using it to build his dream development in Panama on an island called
Solarte. Johnson, 48, and family – wife Monte, an Encina High School teacher,
and young daughters Robin, 13, and Halley, 9 – got their feet wet in Costa
Rica, where they lived from 1992 to 1995. Isla Solarte is in the Bocas
Del Toro Archipelago on Panama's Caribbean Coast, a place where numerous
Americans and European expats are relocating.
John Wayne
Island ~ In
An Imaginary Tropical Western ~ by Matthew Atlee - It was only after
I had been in Panama for three or four years that I began to hear about
John Wayne in Panama. A friend told me that he had spent a lot of time
in Panama during the 1960s and at one point had owned an island in Panama
as well as being a part owner of a shrimp business. Apparently, Wayne liked
fishing and of course Panama has the best fishing in the world; in fact,
Panama, the word, means an abundance of fish. For years I was unable to
decipher which island John Wayne owned or where the island might be located;
it was only recently – the last year or so - that I realized that a John
Wayne Island did in fact exist and that there was a project being developed
on the island by some Austrians. Oct./04
Line Handling
on the Panama Canal - Line
Handling on the Panama Canal - Cruising yachts and pleasure craft are
crossing the Isthmus of the Americas in record numbers. The Autoridad
del Canal de Panama requires four line handlers per vessel up to 80 feet
in overall length. You can be one of those line handlers, go from
one ocean to another in twelve hours, see the Panama Canal like few people
do and make easy money doing it.Vessels that transit the Panama Canal are
always headed to another port-of-call. On the Pacific side, there
is the Galapagos
Live Tax Free and Worldwide On
A Luxury Yacht - Moving Offshore and Living Tax Free Just Got Easier
- Live
Tax Free and Worldwide On A Luxury Yacht - Exciting
Stuff! - Presented here is a whole new twist on finding absolute freedom
in a semi-free world - - including living the absolute best of lifestyles
in some of the world's most exotic safe-havens - - getting offshore residency
- - getting a second citizenship - - and doing it all free of big brother,
tax free. Revealing a proven method of exchanging your current life
of endless restrictions for a life of almost unlimited freedom the author
shows you how to attain the following in record time: 1) A luxury yacht
at a discounted price 2) a Panamanian offshore corporation 3) Panamanian
residency 4) a Panama address and phone number 5) a Panamanian private
offshore bank account 6) a Panamanian drivers license 7) Panamanian registry
and insurance for your yacht 6) the ability to live anywhere in the
world on your yacht, tax free 8) your yacht delivered in the Caribbean
or the Pacific. This is realistic stuff, it is easy to put in motion,
and it solves more problems than any other method we've heard about. Jul/05
Living
And Investing In Panama ~ What
To Look Out For ~ By Matthew Atlee - If you are thinking about moving
overseas then Panama might be the right place for you. Panama is a great
place from which to do business with other countries in Latin America:
banking, services and recreation are all things that are highly developed
in Panama. You also have the dollar and a great international airport that
can take you anywhere you want to go in South America or North America.
You should visit Panama just to see what the country has to offer. June/03
Living And Retiring In Panama
~ The
Haven Of The 21st Century ~ by Phillip Townsend - Home
to Central America's most vibrant and attractive capitals (Panama City),
Panama is slightly larger than the state of Florida. Bordered by the Caribbean
Seas and the Pacific Ocean, it is one of those places that can seduce you
through its sheer natural beauty. The seemingly endless stretches of picturesque
coastline, lush green valleys, near-perfect weather and friendly people
make it one of the most livable places in the world. If you like Florida,
the Caribbean and South America, you'll love Panama. Aug./05
Living
In Boquete, Panama ~ A
Day In Boquete ~ by Kent McNaughton - My day begins at 7am. Time to
feed the cat. OK, it really began about 6am when the sky lightened enough
to call it day and the cat knows it’s time to begin the morning badgering,
which will continue until she has been fed at 7am. Tika’s the cat’s name.
Hates everyone but me, but now and then I’ll get a snarl, a bite, or a
paw swipe, too. Jul/05
Living
On Isla Taboga: A Day in the Life ~ Including Panama City, the Old Canal
Zone, FSU Panama, Friends, Fishing, Real Estate, and much much more - Living
on Isla Taboga - Escape from America Magazine editor Charlie
McElroy tells us what a day on Taboga is like. It's not an ordinary day,
no day is an ordinary day on the Island of Flowers. Wake with him to another
brilliant sunrise and follow him throughout his day. The five pages of
this article let you get to know Taboga and Panama like you've never known
it before. Lots of images of the life of a Tabogano.
Looking
At Property On Contadora Island ~ Exploring
The History And Landscape Of An Island ~ By Matthew Atlee - The Villas
at Contadora is a great place to buy an affordable second home. The island
is peaceful and private: no hassles here. If you want a hideway in Latin
America then this is the place for you. The villas are tucked into a hillside
and surrounded by palm trees, bamboo and exotic plantings. The island has
nice restaurants and the beaches are clean and private. You want to unwind,
then you should visit the Villas At Contadora. April/03
Los
Santos ~ The
Heart Of Panamanian Carnival ~ by Matthew Atlee - Los Santos Province
is the center of Carnival in Panama. For most of the year the Province
is quiet and uneventful, but as Carnival time gets closer the people and
the atmosphere of Los Santos begin to slowly heat up and this was why I
wanted to visit Los Santos right before Carnival. The capital of Los Santos
is the small town of Las Tablas, a very traditional Spanish town with a
central plaza, the church and government buildings surrounding the small
square park where people talk and the hot breezes from the nearby countryside
blow through the large shade trees. Feb./04
Lost Valley
Of Panama ~ Agua
de Salud ~ by Matthew Atlee -The house we normally stay on in Isla
Grande had been sold and so I decided we needed another place to go for
Carnival. Our good friend Ron Keith sold his house on Isla Grande. Ron
is from Nashville and is a very well known photographer who worked with
Rolling Stone Magazine in the early and mid-80s; he also shot album covers
for artists like Ray Charles and Crystal Gale. He was nominated for a Grammy
in the 90’s for album design. Ron came to Panama in or around 1974 with
the U.S. Army; he was an MP and during his stay in Panama, traveled around
the country during his off-duty time. He spent much of his time with the
Kuna Indians. Feb/05
Master
Of Survival ~ Chief
Antonio Zarco Of The Choco Indians Of Panama ~ by R.M. Koster - Chief
Antonio Zarco is only an inch or two over five feet tall but very muscular,
with thick deltoids and powerful arms and skin the color and apparent texture
of polished mahogany. He is physically imposing well beyond his size. Dec./05
MiraMar
Offshore Convention, Panama
City, Republic of Panama, September 13 -17 - Spend a wonderful
5-day working vacation in the heart of Panama City side the Panama Canal.
Learn from the leading professionals on offshore financial planning and
international investing on how to protect your estate and earn higher interest
rates on your money than ever experienced before. This five-day getaway
is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on you. Speakers to include:
Carlos
Varela ~ Panamanian Attorney, focusing on Panamanian Corporate
Law, IBC’s, & Foundations; Richard Kilborn ~ focusing on offshore
asset protection and financial planning as well as Panamanian Residency;
Alex
De Janon ~ General Manager of Sterling Financial Group corresponded
with Bear Stearns & Company;
John Haines ~ Director of Fortress
Management discussing investment in Real estate here in Panama; Gary
Bustin ~ Canadian CPA discussing certain tax issues in Canada.
Money Maker
~ Your Ship has Come In ~ The Fantasia del Mar is Up For Sale - Fair
Winds and Following Seas - Not fit for everyone's pocket book, but
certainly everyone's dreams, the owners and general managers of Argo Tours
has put their 117 ft., steel constructed, twin screw, Detroit diesel powered,
four decker Fantasia del Mar up for sale. They're asking an unbelievably
low price for this vessel that's become the jewel of trans-isthmian waterways.
It's an unbelievable opportunity for any individual or group of like minded
entrepreneurs in search of a sound offshore investment, maritime career,
and high seas adventure at any cost savings.
More
Caribbean Plantation Opportunities On The Panama Coast - SSCI
Launches Riverwest Plantations - September 8, 2003, Panama City, Panama
– San Cristobal International (SCI), the world’s leader in developing Tropical
Working Farms, announces the expansion of its Riverwest Plantations division.
In order to meet client demand, Riverwest is opening broker offices in
Shanghai, China, Vancouver, Canada and in the U.K. These offices provide
investors with options to receive long- and short-term cash returns, and
Panamanian residency through reforestation of Emerging Growth Real Estate.
Sept./03
More On
San Cristobal - Teak & Noni Plantations - Visiting
The Bocas Del Toro Teak & Noni Plantations - Caribbean
Water Front Land In Bocas Del Toro For $6,300 An Acre That Yields A 20-30%
Cash Return. Jim Swann, Co-founder of International Real Estate Digest
visited Bocas del Toro and is favorably impressed. "Though a large portion
of the plantation land is set aside for growing crops, some of the land
can be used for buildings, including a residence. All of the plantations
in the Bocas del Toro area have waterfront." Feb./03
New Player
in Offshore E-commerce - Preventing
Taxation Before It Happens, Rather Than Hiding It After It's Levied
- How you going to keep them paying 50% of their profit out in taxes, when
they can host offshore? It may come as a wake-up call to some, but for
most of us, there is little question that
Offshore eCommerce is
the wave of the future. Playing offshore games of hide & seek is no
longer de rigor - Today's web-smart cognoscenti are turning to offshore
webhosting and offshore eCommerce. Once a thing of the future, offshore
eCommerce is now a reality in Panama, with many exciting innovations coming
online.
Offshore
Conference - The
Wealthy of the World meet in Panama-The Offshore Association
of Central America and the Caribbean (O.A.C.C.) in conjunction with Times
Publishing and Stern & Co. will host the 1st International Wealth
Conference in Panama City, Panama at the Westin Caesar Park Hotel from
March 28-30,2001. The conference will open doors and international experts
from around the world will gather in Panama to assist the delegates to
cross borders and enable them to create wealth and personal and financial
freedom in the global economy for their corporations and families alike.
The three-day event also offers workshops on E Commerce, Internet Law,
Captive Insurance Solutions, Banking and Asset Protection and well
as Investments in various industries. Well known speakers will attend.
Also present will be Republic of Panama President Mireya Moscoso and Panamanian
Economy and Finance Minister Noberto Delgado.
Offshore
Opportunities 2001 Conference ~ Panama City, Republic of Panama ~ October
3-7, 2001 -
Shhhhh,
too - International Living and The Sovereign Society have organized
this three day all inclusive conference to show you how you can manage
your money safely and privately in the Americas’ most sophisticated offshore
haven. Top legal, financial, tax, asset-protection, and real estate experts
from around the world reveal their secrets for building wealth, reducing
taxes, protecting your privacy, and living well overseas…in the Republic
of Panama. Join others in Panama and learn how you can take advantage of
this country’s sophisticated and private banking infrastructure to guard
your hard-earned wealth and reduce your tax burden.
Offshore
Stock Exchanges - Special
Feature From LowTax Online TaxWire - In an ongoing effort to provide
a cross-section of the best offshore information on the internet, EscapeArtist
seeks out the best online resources. We are really excited about a new
website and news letter called,
Low Tax Online NewsWire - In this
issue or Escape From America we present a Special Feature from the NewsWire
on Offshore Stock Exchanges. Countries such as Bermuda, Ireland, Jersey,
Cyprus (maybe), Hong Kong (already) and Mauritius are cleaning themselves
up for what could be a glittering future. This report includes some of
the offshore jurisdictions with Stock Exchanges, their Regulatory Basis
Including Listing Rules, Trading and Settlement, Costs of Listing and additional
resources.
On The
Pacific Coast Of Panama -Traveling
Through The Mountains And Beaches Of Panama ~ By Matthew Atlee
- It's Summer in Panama and everyone is headed to the beach. Very soon
Carnival will be here and people will let loose and enjoy the freedom that
comes with Carnival. The Pacific Coast is the place to go for Carnival
in Panama. If you are headed to Panama for Carnival go to Los Santos and
visit the beaches at Pedasi or Venado. Better yet, drive to the interior
of Los Santos and find a small village in which to enjoy the summer breezes
and strings of Christmas tree lights that blow across the streets of Los
Santos during Carnival nights. Anyway, enjoy. Feb./03
Opportunities
beyond real estate in Panama - Opportunities
beyond real estate in Panama - Articles and information by International
Real Estate expert Robert Fordi -
Our Experience
In Setting Up In Panama - Our
Experience In Setting Up In Panama - It was early in 2003 that
the thoughts and discussions about starting a new life matured into a decision;
what was not clear, was where? Costa Rica had been the initial location
until I came across an article in an investment magazine - If you think
of Costa Rica, have you thought of Panama? May/07
Our
Recommended Offshore Broker Is Expanding It's Products And Services Offering,
Once Again! - Latest
News from Thales Securities, SA - July/04
Out Of
The Winter Cold And Into The Tropical Heat ~
Spring
Semester At FSU-Panama - Are you a university
student who has thought about spending your Spring Semester abroad? Would
you like to go to a place with a beautiful tropical climate, flora and
fauna like no other on earth, and with one of Latin America’s most developed
business infrastructures? If you have, then you should think about spending
your Spring Semester abroad at FSU-Panama. FSU-Panama is located in Panama
City, Panama and has been in operation since 1957. The University offers
four-year programs in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Computer Science
and International Relations. The University also offers internship openings
at the United Nations office in Panama as well as UNICEF. Nov./04
Panama:
An Open Letter To Sr. Reuben Blades - Panama:
An Open Letter To Sr. Reuben Blades - The goal would be to move
enough tourists to make a large economic impact, while still maintaining
Panama’s unique culture and environment. In short, to create a tourism
destination that retains Panama’s local flavor, landscape and natural beauty:
a model that will be sustainable for the generations to come. Oct./06
Panama
- Noriega
~ by R.M. Koster - Manuel Noriega has written his memoirs with the help
of Peter Eisner. I witnessed the events their book refers to, often at
closer range than I would have liked. I took an active part in some--e.g.,
replacing the 1903 canal treaty with more equitable instruments. My wife
Otilia ran a human rights center that worked with Physicians for Human
Rights, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and similar groups documenting
and at times relieving abuses. Her work furnished a unique perspective
on General Noriega's approach to statecraft--for instance this innovation
in handling dissent: in 1988 and 1989 a number of political detainees were
raped by HIV carriers, and all were routinely threatened with it. March/04
Panama
~ Real
Estate And Prices ~ by James Hickman - What a fantastic time to buy
in Panama City. Two weeks before I had been bit by the bug again…. so I
booked my flight, contacted some developers, and headed down for a long
weekend. I kept quiet this time; I hate getting the obvious question -
“Why are you going there?” I made a tentative itinerary to meet with two
developers of new condo projects and another developer who specializes
in the renovation of colonial quarter residences…. fairly ambitious for
a short trip, but worth the rush. April/05
Panama's
100 Year Celebration ~ Frank
Robinson And San Felipe ~ by Matthew Atlee - The 100 year celebrations
of the founding of Panama were great fun. Went to the old town of Panama
and took some fun photos and then headed out to the U.S.-Panamanian baseball
game and after the game back to Panama City for the marching bands and
good times. If you are thinking about heading to Panama for your deep winter
vacation in January, February or March remember that Panama is celebrating
its centennial for at least a year after the actual date, November 3rd,
of the founding of Panama. It's like a good friend of mine in Panama; she
celebrates two birthdays each year. Nov./03
Panama's
El Camping Resort ~ Chinese
In Latin America And A Third Set Of Locks ~ by Matthew Atlee - The
idea of going to El Camping Resort was actually hatched in Hartsfield
International Airport in Atlanta and not in Panama. My wife and I were
returning to Panama from visiting my family in Pennsylvania. While we were
sitting at the departure lounge we heard a group of tourists talking about
how they were going to Panama for the first time and that they were going
to stay at El Camping Resort. When I heard the name El Camping
Resort I shook my head in disbelief and thought to myself “come again”.
Jun/05
Panama
And Costa Rica - Thoughts
On Both ~ by Matthew Atlee - One of my favorite countries to visit
is Costa Rica. It has become a favorite destination for many people: an
average of 750,000 people a year visit Costa Rica. In 1994 tourism surpassed
coffee and bananas as the biggest industry in Costa Rica: one in ten people
work in the tourist industry. Of course, this has meant that the country
sometimes feels as though it is being trampled over by tourists, and the
ugly side of tourism – prostitution and child sex – are very evident in
Costa Rica. Despite all the heavy traffic in tourists, Costa Rica still
offers the traveler some of the most incredible scenery in Latin America.
April/04
Panama
as a Tax and Investment Haven - Panama
as a Tax and Investment Haven - "Individuals can derive a special benefit
when, both Panama's tax haven qualities and its investment haven benefits,
are exploited together. Individuals in search of a tax haven or asset protection
need something in which to invest once the wealth has been secured. If
such people are not confident in traditional markets, the Republic of Panama
is ripe with opportunity to diversify internationally. " by Philip S.
LaMar, Jr., JD
Panama
During the Rainy Season - Panama
During the Rainy Season - After reading many articles on moving
to Panama, one item kept coming up. Rain. Living in Tucson, Arizona, one
is not used to daily rain. It seemed wise then to visit during the rainiest
part of the year, figuring if we liked it then, we would love it during
dry season. What we didn't count on was the cold. Apr./07
Panama:
Investment and Real Estate Update - Panama:
Investment and Real Estate Update - You’ve heard the talk. .
. Panama is investor friendly. Open for business. Economically
ripe and growing so quickly that it has generated tremendous interest in
business, investment, and real estate opportunities. Aug./06
Panama
Invitations - Panama
Invitations - The stars twinkled in the sky overhead; much like the
beads of condensation adorning the glasses of cool drinks we enjoyed as
we tried to take in all this tropical splendor. What really came
through was a feeling that any notion of a poverty struck country with
huge differences between the classes was somehow not a complete or accurate
picture. Panama enjoys a vibrant society made up largely of an industrious
and hard working middle class. by Jim Sellars May/06
Panama
Ranks High in Latin American Capital Access ~ In three subcategories, Panama
scored higher than Chile - Investing
in Panama - Panama made a splashing debut as the second-best place
in Latin America for capital access in the latest Capital Access Global
Index compiled by the Milken Institute. In three subcategories - macro-economic
environment, banking governance and advanced capital markets, Panama actually
scored higher than Chile. Thanks largely to only using the U.S. dollar
during its entire 99-year history, Panama has been able to maintain one
of the lowest inflation rates in Latin America and one that often has been
lower than that of the United States itself.
Panama
Teak Plantation Seminar Announcement - Panama Tropical Farms ~ Teak Wood
& Exotic Fruit Goes Beachfront - Teak
Wood & Exotic Fruit Goes Beachfront in Panama - The entire Bocas
del Toro Teak & Noni project is now sold out. However, Tom McMurrain
and the SCLD team have a new project. If you'd like more information
on the new project - Tom has designed an investors seminar about
his latest project. The Panama Smart Money Wealth Seminar will be held
May 21-25. Don't miss out again. Many of the original purchasers
of Teak & Noni waterfront plantations have already been offered a premium
price over the price they paid just a few months ago. It is obvious that
Tom's concept is a winner. March/03
Panama's
Coronado Golf & Beach Resort - Now Is Your Opportunity To Live In This
Multi-Faceted Resort - Coronado
Golf & Beach Resort - Now Is Your Opportunity To Live In This Multi-Faceted
Resort - Panama's Most Exclusive
Resort & Country Club Is A Fun Place To Live - The Coronado
Golf and Beach Resort has it all - Beach Club - Riding Club - Tennis -
and one of the best professional Golf Courses in Latin America, created
by the famous designers George and Tom Fazio. Add to that the fact Coronado
is in proximity to some of the best sports fishing in the world not to
mention world class diving on both coasts. (Hey, the Caribbean is
30 minutes away from the Pacific!) What a lineup: Golf - Tennis - Equestrian
- Sports Fishing - Sailing - Fine Dining - Dancing - Diving and much, much
more with reasonable lot prices means quality expatriate or retirement
living for you and your family. Time Shares available - this is your
permanent home away from home or vacation getaway. Dec./04
Panamanian Residency & Relocation
Package - Panamanian
Residency Now ! - In a hurry to get free? In a hurry for
Bona Fide residency in Panama? If you are sane, you should be looking for
alternative residency, while alternative residency is still an option.
Our years of being located in Panama has taught us that there is one law
firm in Panama that provides residency faster than anyone else in Panama.
Their fee is reasonable, their service proven, and they provide personal
attention to your needs. Additional services can be requested on a case
by case basis, such as having an apartment ready and waiting in Panama,
telephone, drivers license, and a wide range of additional services depending
on your aims. Get residency by itself, or with additional services:
you will be able to ask questions and determine what course of action is
most effective for you, including what type of visa may best suits your
needs. Having residency in Panama has no negative affect your current citizenship.
Residency ultimately leads to a Panamanian Passport, which is respected
worldwide. The Panama Passport is the best Passport in Latin America,
The price for additional relocation assistance is dependent on the services
you require but remains reasonable based on the services given, and the
hassles, frustration, and wasted time you will avoid. If you want
residency in the offshore haven of choice we urge you to act now.
Playa
Grande - The
Beauty Of A Remote Panamanian Beach ~ by Matthew Atlee - Playa Grande
is a remote beach on the Atlantic side of Panama. If you are headed to
Isla Grande be sure to check out Playa Grande; it has a lot to offer: the
beauty and remoteness of the Caribbean side of Panama, along with some
great views, wildlife and people. Be sure to bring a picnic and some firends,
you might also want to camp out. If you are a surfer then this is the place
you've been dreaming of in Panama. Enjoy. Oct./03
Real Estate
- Real
Estate - "Cheap" island property off Panama's coast
Readers
write: My
experience in Panama: the best taxi driver, worst hotel, and where I’d
choose to live - Boquete is indeed beautiful: well-forested, mountain
streams, the white water of the Chiriqui River perfect for rafting, warm
days, cool nights, and mostly friendly people. That said, what are
the problems? The biggest, in my opinion, is that unless you want to spend
your time hiking through the woods, there just isn't much to do here. Also,
I think it would be difficult to get along unless you spoke at least some
Spanish.
Relocating To Panama As A Forest
Investor ~Investment
In Tropical Timber With Visa Option - Panama
has become a new hot spot for US-citziens and expats from around the world.
With the Law 24 of 1992 called "Financial and Forestry Incentives", the
Panamanian government granted incentives for foreigners to acquire residency
by purchasing land designated for reforestation. Goal is to renovate the
once-rich natural resource of Panamas tropical forests which are decreasing
at high rates. This visa is particularly attractive for those who want
to live in Panama year round and who do not qualify for a "retiree's visa"
and want to avoid the lengthy process of obtaining an "investor's visa".
Nov./04
Replicating
Cinema Paradiso or Resurrecting Isla
Taboga's Bakery - In the previous issue of Escape From America
Magazine, I introduced our readers to Isla Taboga in two articles entitled,
The
Road to Charlie’s Houseand Discovering
Panamania - Living On An Iland In Panama - Realizing A Dream.
In review, Isla Taboga is a small island about 10 miles in circumference
located 14 miles from the Panamanian mainland and bustling Panama City.
That makes it a city boy’s dream come true – island escape within an hour’s
ferry ride to a big metropolis. The question of what to do with our property
still persists, but not because it’s hard to find an answer. The island
is still there in its pristine splendor, and we're having fun dreaming.
Here are some of our ideas....
Retiring
In Panama ~ An
Update From Hemingway's Hideaway ~ by William Hemingway - There have
been many changes since we wrote the article when we retired and as Paul
says, “here’s the rest of the story”. Okay, we’ve been retired five years,
so now what? A lot of water has passed under the bridge and we look back
to see what has occurred and what we expect to happen in and around our
beautiful highland west slope community.
Nov./04
Santa Catalina
And Coiba Prison Island ~ Little
Known Frontiers ~ by Matthew Atlee - There have been many famous prison
islands throughout history: Alcatraz Island in California, Martin Garcia
Island in Argentina, Dawson Island in Chile, Devil’s Island near French
Guyana, Sakhalin Island in Russia, and Isla Gorgona off the coast
of Peru. And Panama also had its own prison island: Coiba Island on Panama’s
Pacific coast. The penal colony on Coiba Island was established in 1912
and closed in July of 2004: the last 8 prisoners were taken from the island
in July. It’s obvious to see why the island was chosen as a penal colony;
it’s far from the mainland and the waters around the island are infamous
for aggressive sharks and strong currents. Nov./04
Simple
Steps to Buying Property in Panama - Panama
Property Easy as ABC - Our EscapeArtist friend from Volcan, Panama,
writes to us on how simple, safe, and secure it is to purchase property
in Panama. The five steps William Hemingway outlines are the basis of purchasing
property in Panama and much of the rest of the region. Volcan, Bocas del
Toro, and Boquete are featured. "The Chiriqui Provence and Bocas del Toro
Provence offer buyers the best choices in the world for beautiful, ideal
highland properties and tropical island properties," writes Hemingway.
"Anyone can buy and fully own property without being a resident of Panama.
All you have to do is show your passport upon purchase." And, your purchase
and ownership is protected.
Super Bowl
Party in Panama -
Super
Bowl Party in Panama - Yes, we're having a Super Bowl Party and it's
a good way to be introduced to Panama and it's absolutely free. Jan/04
Taboga
Island ( Isla Taboga ) & Casco Viejo Revisited - Taboga
Island ( Isla Taboga ) & Casco Viejo Revisited - Casco Viejo &
Taboga Town on Isla Taboga - The Oldest Pacific Coast Cities in the Americas
are going to be revisited in two photo-essay articles for readers. Written
by Escape From America Magazine Editor Charley McElroy, who lives on Isla
Taboga and a friend who lives a few miles from Casco Viejo. This is something
you don't want to miss!
The advantages
of Living Overseas: a
new and refreshing way to look at Offshore - Edmund J. Pankau writes
about the broader meaning of offshore, this time in terms of the real advantages
to the ordinary person seeking a lower cost of living, a better quality
of life, reasonable and fantastic real estate, lower taxes, and ground
floor business opportunities. "In recent years, Central America has become
the Florida, California and Arizona of the 1950’s. Remember when
you could buy beachfront property in Florida for a song? When prices in
California were dirt cheap? Well, those days are now in full bloom
just a little further south of the border. The slower paced climate
of Central American has awakened to the realization that is can revitalize
its economy by becoming the retirement center of the western world. All
of the things that made Florida and California boom are now happening in
Belize, Honduras and Costa Rica, as is starting to emerge, Nicaragua, Panama,
El Salvador and Guatemala."
The
Chiriqui Highlands - R&R
~
by Matthew Atlee - When you want to get away in Panama and head for the
hills to escape the heat, the sweat and the oily fumes of Panama City,
the place to visit is the Chiriqui highlands. Chiriqui is the province
that lies along the border with Costa Rica. The highlands are not only
beautiful but are in many ways the bread basket of Panama: most of the
vegetables that you buy in Panama City come from Cerro Punta and the best
coffee in the country comes from the incredibly beautiful town of Boquete.
The province of Chiriqui is different from other provinces in Panama in
that it has a history – not so strong - of wanting to have independence
from the main body of Panama, and become its own country. There is a Chiriqui
flag that you see all over the place. July/04
The Other
Side of the Gold Market - The
Other Side of the Gold Market - A friend and his family from Costa
Rica just visited us here in Panama. One of the things he mentioned
was gold. We had a long and exacting discussion about gold.
He convinced me it's about to go up. As someone who made money on
gold in the 70's I've always been a 'gold bug' but my enthusiasm
for it has waned over the years. None-the-less my friend convinced me that
it's about to make an upwards move that may send it quite high. As
it's always been a standard of value, gold is always a good thing to keep
on hand. For expatriates and escapeartists, making sure that there
is food and money stashed away for an emergency is an important subject.
We asked Mark Smalley of BullionCoin.Com to give us an article on gold
to wet our appetites on the subject. With the new millennium coming
- and potential social breakdown looming perhaps now is a good time to
stock up on a few essentials. Gold is one of them.
The Panama
Canal Silicon Valley - The
Panama Canal Silicon Valley - The law firm of Pardini and Associates
has provided a two page comprehensive report on what sort of business and
end-consumer can benefit from offshore e-commerce, different ways an e-commerce
company can experience cost savings, and why those companies should move
their activities to Panama. The answer to that why question is now,
given Panama's continental fiber-optic network links, infrastructure, and
incentives. These together with the strong recuperation of its international
banking center, the report concludes, can be seen as heralds of a second
Singapore in the middle of the American continent, a point of reference
not to be ignored in the conceptions of the new economy of the 21st century.
The
Panama Railroad ~ Panama
City To Colon ~ by Matthew Atlee - I have been on many great
train journeys – Arica to La Paz , Fort William to Mallaig and Los Angeles
to Salinas – but I had never been on a train in Panama and had not even
thought about taking the train until a friend mentioned we should go. The
train leaves Panama City at 7:00 am and arrives in Colon 54 minutes later.
The return train doesn’t leave Colon until 5:00. The train travels through
a combination of jungle and swamp and looks out over the Canal and Lake
Gatun. When we arrived at the train station we noticed that the other passengers
on the train were a combination of locals and tourists. The locals were
taking the train to work – most worked in the Colon Free Zone as traders.
June/04
The Road
To Charlie's House - Living On An Island - Isla Taboga - The
Road To Charlie's House - Sea breezes circulate through the open shutters
facing the sea. The opposite end of the house has veranda-like balconies
that hang over the street. The verandas provide a restful place to sit
and view the village with its narrow winding footpaths and colonial architecture.
The village is nestled against a lush green tropical hillside and the footpaths
meanander like a labyrinth up through the village and into the surrounding
jungle. The house also has a basement floor which leads out into a garden
at the rear of the house. In the garden there are lemon and orange
trees as well as the ancient foundations of a long forgotten structure,
the stone remains of which stick up through the riot of bougainvillea,
jasmine and wild hibiscus and give an effect like that of an abandoned
sculpture garden gone crazy with flowers.
Travel
To Bocas del Toro ~ For
The First Time ~ by Matthew Atlee - I had never visited Bocas del Toro,
though I had been invited on a number of occasions by friends who went
there just about every weekend. I don’t know why, but for some reason I
didn’t want to go and avoided any opportunities to visit. After doing some
research on the history of the Mosquito Coast of which Bocas del Toro is
the southern most point I decided I should go: the history of the place
intrigued me and so on August 13th 2004 I flew to Bocas for the first time.
Aug/04
Travel
To Nombre de Dios ~ A
Very Famous Unknown Place ~ by Matthew Atlee - Nombre de Dios is a
name that probably doesn’t ring any bells in your head; it didn’t in mine
before I arrived in Panama. If you’ve read something about the history
of Latin America you may have seen the name: all of the gold and sliver
that the Spanish mined in Peru during the 16th century passed across Panama
by mule train and then was packed onto ships in Nombre de Dios and sent
to Spain. Before the gold and silver was shipped to Spain, there was a
two to three week fair in Nombre de Dios; the fairs were famous in the
Caribbean, especially among pirates, because anyone was given free passage
in Nombre de Dios for as long as the fairs lasted. April/05
Two Days
At The Beach - Las
Lajas, Panama ~ by Kent McNaughton - On a previous trip to Las Lajas
beach in the western Chiriqui province of Panama, while trying to lay out
lines on the beach property bought by a fellow client of our real estate
agent - Miriam, we came across Pancho, the caretaker of a neighboring property.
Pancho invited us to use this place, if we wanted. We took him up on his
offer and made plans for Good Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Jan/04
Up On The
Contential Divide And Down In The Desert ~ Hiking
And Discovering Panama's Beauty ~ By Matthew Atlee - If you want to
explore the interior of Panama then you need to get up into the mountains
and down on the deserts. There is nothing as wild as the hill country of
Veraguas. You should check out the waterfalls and trails of Altos del Maria
- this a good place to begin your tour of the mountains and cloud forests
of Panama. May/03
Visiting
The Wounaan In Panama - Looking
At Panama's Pre-Modern World ~ by Malcolm Crouch - Getting to Panama
is easy, and one of the activities that you might want to consider during
a trip is a visit to one of the indigenous people who live in the rainforest.
One such people is the Wounaan. As there are now probably less than 3,000
Wounaan people following the old ways, spending a day to visit them not
only gives you exposure to living history but also allows you to help directly
without interfering with their way of life.
Dec./03
Vista
Mar - Panama - Luxury Homes At Yesterdays Prices - Vista
Mar - Panama - Luxury Homes At Yesterdays Prices - The next generation
in real estate in Panama is a big step up in luxury. If you are seeking
luxury - a home on an oceanfront eighteen hole par 72 golf course with
every detail taken into consideration, Vista Mar is for you. Wait until
you see the photos. April/04
Vista Mar
Resort ~ Living
On Panama's Pacific Coast ~ by Matthew Atlee - I visited Vista Mar
on Panama’s Pacific Coast twice. Of all the developments that I have seen
on the Pacific Coast of Panama, Vista Mar is the best. Everything is well
planned and built and the views of the Pacific Ocean are great. Michelle
Shahani, the Sales Manager and developer of Vista Mar showed me around
the resort. Michelle told me her father bought the land where Vista Mar
is being built in the early 1990s. When he bought the property, she told
me, he had had a vision of building a first rate golf course and residential
community. Aug./05
Water:
A Resource For Life - The
International Water Festival In Panama ~ Zvia Leibler-Danon - We take
the supply of water for granted, and have been doing so for a long time.
But now at the beginning of the third millennium it is critical, especially
with regard to the inequities in water distribution in the Latin American
and Caribbean region, that we change the way we manage water. We have to
become better informed and share our experiences about the present water
crisis. Above all, we have an obligation to preserve this resource and
ensure that we transmit the knowledge needed for its management to our
children - our future water consumers and environmental decision-makers.
Dec./03
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