Blog.PanamaForum.com

Let’s take a beautiful walk in Boquete, in the province of Chiriqui.

Photo by Rita Willeart.

Hi there!

First off, welcome to all the new Panama Forum members that have joined us during the past few days!

Many new threads have popped up and I’ll share some of them below.

Enjoy Panama and have FUN.

TOP PANAMA THREADS:

• Embera Indian Village
  Read about encounters with the Panamanian Indian culture. Tribal dance, body paintings, handicrafts, delicious and healthy ethnic food, traditions and more. Post your photos too!
  
• Taboga Island
  Taboga Island is just 12 miles off the coast of Panama City and as these members say a sunbather’s dream come true. Have you been to Taboga Island? Share your experience here.
• Football (soccer) in Panama
  Soccer is getting more popular by the minute. Go to this thread to find out some interesting facts about it. Is Panama ready to be qualified for the world cup?
• Best Night Clubs in Panama!
  What are the best night clubs in Panama? Great links, and the thread takes an unexpected turn. Share your night club experience on this thread.
• Opening a Euro Bank Account in Panama
  Where can you open a Euro bank account in Panama?
• Do you like to go fishing!
  Where can you go fishing in Panama? Buy fishing equipment? Ask questions and give answers.
• Bird Watching
  Panama is any birdwatcher’s paradise! Some travel to Panama for the sole purpose of watching the diverse birds we have here.

PANAMA NEWS:

• Outside The Locks
  As we relaxed over drinks at Los Lagartos Restaurant at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort overlooking the Chagres River, Norma Ponce mesmerized us by recounting how she and fellow park rangers rescued an enormous crocodile in the Bay of Panama.
• Panama to deploy on Columbian border
  Panama will create an armed border protection force to combat the flow of cocaine and weapons and to catch leftist guerrillas along its jungle border with Colombia, the government said on Friday. Panama is a major transit point for South American cocaine on its way to North America and Europe, but a steep rise in drug-related violence means the force of some 200 agents is crucial, Justice Minister Daniel Delgado said.

• Earthrace through Panama Canal
  Earthrace, the self-proclaimed “eco-boat” attempting to break the Round the World Powerboat Record, has made a fast Atlantic crossing and has made it through the Panama Canal without delay. The boat, which started from Valencia, Spain, on 27 April, is a 24m tri-hull wavepiercer running on renewable biodiesel, with a claimed “net zero carbon footprint”.
• Now (At Least) Ten Running for Mayor of Panama City
  There are now ten people who aspire to be the next Mayor of Panama City as internal party primary elections approach. Panameñista Jose Terán, former Health Minister, formalized his ambitions on Saturday to preside over the Municipality of Panama City which has an annual budget of $80 million dollars. Also running for the Panameñista party are Bosco Vallarino and Pedro Collins. Luis Eduardo Camacho, who also said he intended to run, has since decided against. For the Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (Molirena) Julio Crespo, the former Representative of Bella Vista, is running.
• Martin Torrijos Shakes Up His Executive Cabinet
  Today the Presidential Secretary of Communications announced the changes to the Executive Cabinet designated by President Martin Torrijos. The newly designated ministers are; Housing Minister - Gabriel Diez, Education Minister, Salvador Rodríguez, and Minister of the Presidency, Dilio Torres.

The Panama flag and a very beautiful flowery yellow tree in the background.

Photo by Rita Willaert.

Panama City lights at night. This photograph was taken from Caso Viejo.

Photo by enaz002.

Kuna Indians frequently sell their artwork on tourist frequented streets in Panama City.

Photo by Rita Willaert.

Some Panamanians are having their lunch break in the streets of Colon.

Photo by f-sosa.

Punta Chame is a peninsula featuring about 22 miles of white sand beaches. It is only about an hour’s drive from Panama City.

Photo by Morinoko.

A mesmerizing photograph of sun rays on a landscape in Chiriqui.

Photo by 1n the mean-timee.

Hi pals and gals!

Another week has passed and we’ve installed many new features at PanamaForum.com, most notably Friends, Social Groups and Albums!

Read more and get started here.

Enjoy Panama and have FUN!

TOP PANAMA THREADS:

• Any poker players here?
  What’s the best place to play poker in Panama City? Are there get togethers or tournaments for expats living in Panama? Join in and share your knowledge.
• Residency for Investors or Businesspersons
  Any residency related questions. From the easiest, fastest to the cheapest way to get a Panama Visa. Share and learn.
• Panama’s Economic Profile
  Panamax posts an amazing YouTube video of Panama’s Economic Profile. Panama is “a major player in world commerce” and here is proof.
• Anyone been to Boquete?
  On this thread many share invaluable details on Boquete. Be sure to check it out.
• Panama sounds right for us!
  Indeed it does. Share your advise and Panama knowledge with member kidchico, who is considering moving to Panama. This thread has great information and details on living in Panama.

PANAMA NEWS:

• Visit the Panama Canal with Wilmington Recreation
  Rated as “the world’s best cruise line” by Conde Naste Traveler, Holland America is renowned for its unequaled touches of class, sophistication and service. The Wilmington Recreation Department is taking registrations for the 10-night “Panama Canal Sunfarer Cruise” aboard the MS Zuiderdam from Friday, February 27 to Monday, March 9, 2009.
• Hottest beaches of Central America
  Central America, the spindly isthmus that spans the gap from the bottom of Mexico to the top of South America, was long known as home to a handful of bucolic Banana Republics offering coffee, toucans, a famous canal and not much else.
• Balä Beach Resort on the Caribbean Coast of Panama
  Set on the Caribbean Sea just one hour from Panama City, a hidden oasis known only to a few awaits you. It is here you will find 20 acres of some of the most dramatic landscape in Panama - a place where the hills meet a calm ocean and open up to an amazing view. It is here you will find Balä Beach Resort.
• Earthrace gets the Green light in Panama
  ‘Spaceship Earthrace in Panama’ The Panama Canal Authority has just confirmed the Round the World record powerboat racer Earthrace will be starting her Canal transit at eight thirty local time. Skipper Pete Bethune commented ‘We appreciate everyone’s cooperation. It is peak season here now, and there is a huge backlog of boats waiting to get through.
• Foundations Being Poured for Los Faros de Panamá
  Engineers building the project “Los Faros de Panamá” being constructed at an estimated total cost of $600 million dollars say they have starting pouring the cement foundations, according to Julio Fábrega, the general sub-manager of Hogalia Panamá, of the Grupo Mall that is building the project. Located in the exclusive Punta Pacifica district in Panama City, the project is estimated to be completed by the first quarter of 2010.
• University Students or Vandals? Protests Leave Two Injured
  Yesterday protests by a group of students from the University of Panama finished with disturbances and confrontations with riot control units of the National Police. Classes at the university were suspended yesterday. The protests, against rising costs for food and fuel, extended until after 6:00 pm and left two students injured.

The building of the “Ministerio de Gobierno y Justicia” (Ministry of Government and Justice) in Casco Viejo - the old part of Panama City.

Photo by mario pleitez.