Back home
After spending a total of nine hours on what is a three hour flight from Panama City to Orlando, I made it home last night. My mail was waiting for me...with the expected pile of bills. I was gone a full month, with one week spent in Costa Rica and three weeks in Panama.
Observations:
1) the Google Chromebook which I took along with me proved to be an invaluable tool. Internet cafes are getting hard to find, and I just don't do well trying to use my phone to do anything more than checking my email. This little device is a real workhorse.
2) Costa Rica: CR is a beautiful country. I was able to visit a coffee plantation, which despite my not drinking coffee was quite interesting. I also visited the Rio Celeste Waterfall in Tenorio Volcano National Park, which is simply stunning. On the other hand, San Jose, the Captital of CR, was far from stunning. I found the city to be dirty, disorganized, and expensive; including crooked taxi drivers using altered meters to rip off tourists. Stay clear of San Jose!
3) Panama City: I have a home in Panama City so I am naturally quite found of Panama. I saw right away that the Old Town has been renovated, which makes it wonderful for tourists to stroll along the Boardwalk, which has been cleaned up and repaired. Lots of improvement are also going on in the city itself, including the construction of a second metro (subway line) which is expected to open next year. At 35 cents per ride, you just can't beat the price! Prices are up a bit, but there are still plenty of places were you can get a full lunch: chicken and rice, salad and a beer for five bucks. Balboa is the national beer. it's not great, but a 12 pack will run you $7 in the supermarket.
I'm a fan of Panama. The people are quite friendly and they seem content. With unemployment below 3%, why shouldn't they be? The per capita GDP in Panama has been climbing steadily (now #52 in the world) and is now well ahead of Russia (#62)! The little country is poised to make a big leap from a developing to an "emerging nation", and I think they'll pull it off within the next decade.
On the whole, this was a good trip. I didn't do anything especially interesting, but I did enjoy relaxing and drinking a lot of fine Cuban Rum [:p].
Observations:
1) the Google Chromebook which I took along with me proved to be an invaluable tool. Internet cafes are getting hard to find, and I just don't do well trying to use my phone to do anything more than checking my email. This little device is a real workhorse.
2) Costa Rica: CR is a beautiful country. I was able to visit a coffee plantation, which despite my not drinking coffee was quite interesting. I also visited the Rio Celeste Waterfall in Tenorio Volcano National Park, which is simply stunning. On the other hand, San Jose, the Captital of CR, was far from stunning. I found the city to be dirty, disorganized, and expensive; including crooked taxi drivers using altered meters to rip off tourists. Stay clear of San Jose!
3) Panama City: I have a home in Panama City so I am naturally quite found of Panama. I saw right away that the Old Town has been renovated, which makes it wonderful for tourists to stroll along the Boardwalk, which has been cleaned up and repaired. Lots of improvement are also going on in the city itself, including the construction of a second metro (subway line) which is expected to open next year. At 35 cents per ride, you just can't beat the price! Prices are up a bit, but there are still plenty of places were you can get a full lunch: chicken and rice, salad and a beer for five bucks. Balboa is the national beer. it's not great, but a 12 pack will run you $7 in the supermarket.
I'm a fan of Panama. The people are quite friendly and they seem content. With unemployment below 3%, why shouldn't they be? The per capita GDP in Panama has been climbing steadily (now #52 in the world) and is now well ahead of Russia (#62)! The little country is poised to make a big leap from a developing to an "emerging nation", and I think they'll pull it off within the next decade.
On the whole, this was a good trip. I didn't do anything especially interesting, but I did enjoy relaxing and drinking a lot of fine Cuban Rum [:p].
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pissin off the porch! Culture might be something to yall, but to me it is something in a petri dish. Don 0 -
Very cool Mark! Glad you are back and safe from your travels!
A few questions for you, why such a long return flight?
Do you speak Spanish?
I have been intrigued hearing from folks that have moved to the extreme south and out of our countries bounds for their retirement.
Living now days on what is called a fixed income, I have contemplated finding a nice, safe place to explore and live a good life.
I have enjoyed reading your posts with almost drooling expectations![:p]0 -
I left my apartment at 1500 for a flight scheduled to leave at 1800. Unfortunately, the plane which I was supposed to depart on was delayed and did not even arrive in Panama until 1730! By the time it was ready to fly again, hopes of getting home at a decent hour was a lost cause.
I speak some Spanish, but not enough to do more than order a meal or carry on (very) basic conversation. There are lots of expats in Panama. In fact, in my building all of the units on my floor are owned by Americans or Spaniards. Twenty years ago, Costa Rica was the place to be, but real estate is rather pricy in CR now and Panama is the more popular choice. Panama also has the edge over CR in banking as well as medical care. I had my teeth cleaned, full x-rays and had two fillings while I was in Panama. Panama offers a number of incentives; including no property taxes for the first 20 years and no income tax on pensions or Social Security. You can check it all out online.0 -
Costa Rica likewise has a pile of ex-pats. Traveling down the west coast you see all the 'For Rent' and 'for lease' signs in English, not Spanish. Costa Rica is fully aware that Eco-tourism is a large boost to their economy and they have the infra-structure to support it. There a generally descent blacktop roads to most places if not US Interstate highways, though we have been on gravel a few times. Much of the Oso peninsula is accessible only by sea and usually requires a trip down river and around the coast. English is commonly spoken among those serving tourists, and everyone seems willing to help. I have read comments like Marks about theft and corruption especially regarding locals on the Caribbean side. While we have not experienced what Mark describes, we generally skirt San Jose, which is not after all what you fly to CR for. 0 -
I would have thought just the reverse about internet cafes. Seems like they are popping up all over. Hmm. Glad you're back safely and that you had a good trip on the whole.[:)] 0 -
You have been all over the world. Where next? 0 -
How prominent is the increased Chinese business and military presence in Panama???
To your astute American eye...
What about tourist boat tours of the canal zone lakes / area???
How much does one side vary from the other as far as pacific versus Atlantic coasts are concerned???
Tons of retired American military I assume still present...
Mike0 -
friend of mine here has a wife that lives in Costa Rica...they get together about twice a year...he met her in Panama...nice gal 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mrmike08075
How prominent is the increased Chinese business and military presence in Panama???
To your astute American eye...
What about tourist boat tours of the canal zone lakes / area???
How much does one side vary from the other as far as pacific versus Atlantic coasts are concerned???
Tons of retired American military I assume still present...
Mike
Lots of pertinent questions Mike. Exactly what I'd expect from you.
There is a HUGE Chinese presence in Panama City. In fact, I don't think that there is a convenience store in Panama that is not owned by Chinese. They also own all of the laundermats and drug stores. Plenty of tradition Chinese herbal medicine on the shelves, and the prices low.
After the US ousted our former stooge, Noriega, Panama disbanded their military and now has what is essentially a police force. No military means little chance of another general becoming a dictator. I really saw no signs of Chinese military presence, and my home is near the so called embassy section of the city. In fact the Egyptian Embassy is two blocks away and can see it from my window.
There are plenty of boat tours and fishing excursions in Gatun lake and you can also transit through two sets of locks, though not the new enlarged locks. I did the transit a few years ago and considered it to be quite a thrill:
By the way, I seem to have had my Photobucket account restored...and I didn't pay them a dime.
The Pacific coast and the Atlantic Coast are like night and day. Cruise ships stop in Colon before transiting the canal, but that city is more industrialized and has a crime problem.
Panama City, on the Pacific side, is the banking and financial center of the country (as well as Latin America) and offers far more for tourists than a day spent in the Colon tourist-trap shops near the port.0 -
quote:Originally posted by jltrent
You have been all over the world. Where next?
I have booked a seven day cruise around the Mediterranean starting and ending in Barcelona. Stops include Italy and France, followed by a 13 day crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. That is a total of 20 days afloat aboard the Norwegian Epic. That should wrap it up for 2018, but I have ideas for 2019!0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
I would have thought just the reverse about internet cafes. Seems like they are popping up all over. Hmm. Glad you're back safely and that you had a good trip on the whole.[:)]
They are much less common everywhere, everyone carries a mobile anymore and you pretty much have access all over the developed and more or less developed world. That has created less demand for internet cafes. Also many hotels have WiFi.0 -
I have retired US military family (green berets and special forces and military police) in Panama - between being stationed there or training there or serving there and being retired there since before Noriega became a dictator
I have heard some horror stories about 2ND and 3rd world countries have gendarme style paramilitary police forces but the feedback on Panama's law enforcement have been positive and I see it referred to as a French style gendarme quite often
I know that some time after the 99 year lease treaty was up and US basing and training and duty presence declined many Panamanians missed there presence as a stabilizing influence or friendly senior partnership
It is my understanding that many us retired military whom relocated have been retained to train and advise the gendarme - my father was a military police man in the army and he knows folks who did that down there and are still involved - in fact my father had such a job offer and was recruited for such a position once by people in the community
Makaila has family on the pacific coast side of southern Panama as well as some in the Easter islands and the Maldives (don't let a Brit hear you say that) and from facebook posts and online social media and what I still think is reliable foreign press there is much talk about the Chinese government buying up lane and a heavy naval presence of Chinese warships and merchant vessels that got out of hand during the Obama administration
I think of have been getting feedback that the US military is doing lots of training and has more of a presence than in the recent past and seems to be "back" in a light manner as a counter balance with much acceptance from Panama (general pop and govt)
The lock lake islands and scenery greatly interest me - some beautiful real estate that never got developed much for safety concerns - to protect the canal and shipping
This is why I like your vacation and travel posts so much - you have a good eye and situational awareness and not only can respond to the questions superbly but seem to over the decades appreciate my inquiries
Great thread - thanks.
Mike0 -
Glad to hear you had a great time, and made it home safe, Mark.[^] 0
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