Albrook Mall
Albrook Mall is a large, air conditioned indoor shopping center that offers a wide variety of discount stores and boutiques, as well as a food court with carousel. Be sure to check out El Costo, Oca Loca and Conway for some great deals!

These stores are magnificent for retail therapy. You can walk away with about 15 shirts for $20. Even if you wear them just once, it's a lot cheaper than Target.

Opportunities
Panama is like the Wild West of Central America. There is a huge variety of employment, business and investment opportunities just waiting to be taken advantage of.

After being in Panama for almost any extended amount of time, everyone catches the entrepreneur fever.

Slang
Though I don't make it a habit to use it in my everyday speech, I must confess that I get an absolute kick out of the Panamanians faces when they see a full fledged gringa talking like she's from the barrio.

Cable TV with ABC and CBS
All the great things of Panama fused with Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Grey's Anatomy. Does it get any better?

Taxis
Finally, inexpensive taxis! Taxis in Panama are abundant and relatively inexpensive, a fare costing from $1 to $2 to most location in Panama City. However, taxi meters are not typically used, and therefore it is recommended to negotiate the price before leaving. If you understand and speak Spanish, you can overhear and engage in a number of colorful conversations with drivers.

Cayos Zapatillas, aka. Zapatila Cay
Zapatilla Cay is a small island located about an hour boat ride from the main Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro province. Zapatilla Cay is astonishingly beautiful, including spectacular views, clear waters and white sand. Without a doubt, it is one of my favorite places in Panama.

Fireworks 
Back in the states, fireworks were reserved for the 4th of July, and some spectacles at Sea World. In Panama City, it's not bazaar to see fire works going off every night of the week. On New Years, the entire city, and I mean as far as the eye can see, ignites with the colorful flashes and flickers of thousands of fireworks.

Piropos 
What's a piropo? I have yet to find a direct translation that suits me. Some dictionaries translate it as compliment, though that is a serious understatement. Piropo is a word that stands for what men do to a pretty girl as she walks by. Flirt, not really. Torment, could be. Most Westerners would agree that this is a Latin thing. I generally can't stand it and want to flip off everybody that whistles and hisses and yells Ay mami as I stroll along. However, on days when I roll out of bed and my hair is astray, I must say that I feel less hideous as I waltz along and still get the Yeah baby. I know it is done to all women. I was in a taxi once and the driver whistled and hooted at a couple of women that looked as though they were pushing 70 years old. I'm not implying that they were not attractive, but the taxi driver was about 25! Moral of the story, it's one place to get an ego boost.

Bonus - The Finger Wag
You all know the finger wag, a way to indicate disapproval of something. The motion is generally carried out by wagging the index finger from left to right, considered by most incredibly rude and demeaning. Well, the Finger Wag is back in Panama! The best way to say no ever!

Watch Internet TV about Panama www.LatinRe.tv