Mangoes are falling, ripe, to the ground. A light breeze flutters through the fruit-laden trees, and a yellow tanager takes flight. A couple passes me, wearing tank tops and shorts. I'm at one of Panama City's many parks, thinking life just doesn't get much better than this. It's warm, the sun is shining, and everything around me is dripping in rainforest green.
Oklahoma...Montana...Minnesota...Chile. Neil Sander has lived in numerous destinations, been involved in countless projects, and has had a plethora of careers...but since arriving in Panama in 2004 he has had no desire to live anywhere else. He was approached to move to this beautiful Central American country and supervise the designing and building of a retirement housing development in a virtually uninhabited area of Bocas del Toro.
We enjoy a busy social life here in Las Tablas, Panama. That’s partly because eating out is so inexpensive. We indulge several times a week and it’s easy for friends to join us. Dinner for the two of us averages about $15, and lunch can be as little as $2.50 apiece for the menú del día, which includes a soup, the main dish, and a beverage.
Picture this: You’re sitting with an iced glass of banana/mango/papaya smoothie in your hand, in a comfy chair on the terrace. A slight breeze tickles your skin as you enjoy a symphony of birdsong, the chirping of geckos on the walls, and iguanas nibbling the grass in the yard in front of you. You might even see a giant green leaf bug perched on the chaise lounge.
Claire Ross had a great idea...no experience...and a small investment. It was all she needed to set up a bar in the beach town of Coronado in Panama. "When I first moved here, there was nowhere to hang out and meet people if you were single or new in town." With new arrivals trickling in, Claire wanted to create a space where everyone would feel comfortable and embraced.
One of the most common bits of advice given to those considering a move overseas is "Rent before you buy!" In Chiriquí Province of western Panama, where I live, there's a very good reason to follow this advice...and it all has to do with the climate. You may be surprised to learn that this small area of a small country has quite a number of micro-climates.
What if you were sitting in the shade of a palm tree looking out at coral white sands on a tropical island? Yesterday, you were learning to paddleboard from a hidden cove, and tomorrow you’ll explore surfing spots farther up the mainland coast. Tonight you’ll choose from French cuisine, Italian pasta, or feast on fresh-caught tuna while watching the game at Smileys bar.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" That's how the best weekends start in Panama. Last-minute invitations are never considered rude. And I've learned they should always be accepted...especially if you want to explore the country. So the next thing I knew, I was piling into a pickup truck with two local friends and heading to the little mountain town of Cerro Azul.
Panama’s artisans are perhaps the best-kept secret in the world of handicrafts. In every region you’ll find master craftspeople quietly selling their wares in small stores and on roadsides. Little-known festivals celebrate their skills. And Panama’s oldest families pass their creations on to their children…from the fine linen and Valencian lace of the dress known as the pollera, to the instruments needed for the distinctive sounding tipico music.
To me, there's something almost magical about the beach. From the peaceful sounds of the surf breaking against the shore to the squawking of the gulls high above, it conjures up visions of simpler times when the only worry in the world was whether or not the water would wash away our sand castle.