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Isla Grande and a sample of its beautiful flora.

Isla Grande is a small island a half hour drive from the city of Colon, Panama. There is a small town and several resorts on the island, making it a popular weekend getaway.

Photo by artour_a.

This cute little leaf beetle (from the chrysomelidae family) seems to be having the feast of his lifetime. There are 35,000 leaf beetle species and they are one of the largest and most commonly-encountered beetles.

Photo by artour_a.

Panama City skyline with boats drifting on the ocean. The red boat makes this photograph spicy and unique.

Photo by artour_a.

Situated in the heart of Panama City, this church is one of Panama’s most beautiful. As the name indicates the church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary del Carmen.

From inside:

Photo by Photo by Gaby Maldonado.

Spectacular view… cloud forests and red flowers.

The Volcan Baru National Park is located in the province of Chiriqui and is named after the highest point in Panama, the Baru Volcano, which rises 11,400 feet above sea level (and has been dormant for thousands of years).

Photo by artour_a.

Hello fellow PanamaForum.com friends!

This is the seventh issue of the PanamaForum Newsletter.

Today I’ll be sharing some great travel quotes with you.

Here goes:

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.”
- Seneca

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
- Mark Twain

“Experience, travel - these are an education in themselves”.
- Euripides

“Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages”.
- Dave Barry (American Writer and Humorist)

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”
- Saint Augustine

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”
- Maya Angelou (American Poet)

Enjoy Panama and have fun!

Let’s get to the Panama News and Latest Threads from PanamaForum.com.

LATEST PANAMA NEWS:

• Panama backs proposal to build $40 Billion Energy Hub
  Panama is backing a private $40 billion proposal to make the country a regional energy hub, the latest in a string of similar initiatives.
• Costa Rica tie Panama
  Costa Rica continued their winless streak to seven games as they were held to a 1:1 draw against the host, Panama at the Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City.
• Panama Banana Workers Denounce Abuse
  Panamanian banana producers are waiting for authorities to process their reports of unfair practices against the US Chiquita Brands multinational company, which forces them to sell the fruit at a loss and prevents them from exporting to other markets.
• Third Week of Panama Health Strike
  Some 5,000 doctors of the Health Ministry (Minsa) and Social Security (CSS) ended outpatient consultations and surgery on November 6, demanding a 60 percent increase in their salaries.

TOP NEW PANAMA THREADS:

• The Dollar, The Euro, and Panama
  Discuss the future of the dollar, euro, balboa, and other currencies.
• Panamanian Mail Service
  Is Panamanian mail service reliable? What are other mail options? How can I best send mail and larger packages from the US and Europe to Panama?
• Is it worth living in Panama?
  Economical reasons? Warmer climate? Retirement? Different culture? Friendly people. What do you love about living in Panama?
• Great news regarding 30/90 days tourist visa
  It’s not “new” news, however some people are asking. Here on this thread you will learn all you need to know about how long you can stay in Panama and what the requirements to enter Panama are.
• Hola Amigos!
  This thread is for writing and practicing in the Spanish language. Don’t be shy… just type away.

A great macro shot of a bee sitting on a flower gathering bee pollen and a little fly sitting next to it. What a size difference!

Photo by artour_a.

Drifting along the beautiful Ipeti River in Panama. Want to cool off? Just take a plunge.

Photo bydo  artour_a.

This poor and dirty section of the city is pretty much the oppositive of what you see in the background: skyscrapers, office building and six figure apartments.

Photo by artour_a.

The queen of the Carnaval 2007 “Reina Carnaval Panama” is Kathia Real Quiroz (in pink). She likes reading, listening to music and going to the movies. To her left (and second queen) is “Reina Pueblo Nuevo” Yureika Gonzalez Regist. Her hobbies are listening to music, shopping, watching TV and chatting with friends. Third rank was achieved by “Reina Chorillo” Irelys de Leon Lawrence (to the right). She enjoys dancing, shopping und going for a walk.

Photo by Tauchgurke.