Staying
busy and happy in Panama
Some
Sound Advice
Retirement
or just living in another country often presents
new challenges for people because they are confronted
with having a plethora of leisure time and the
problem of what to do to with it. As you will
see throughout this chapter, Panama is a wonderful
place to live. In addition to being relatively
inexpensive, there are many interesting activities
from which to choose.
With
coastlines on two oceans, jungles, rainforests,
and mountain ranges, Panama offers a lot for
people who are interested in the outdoors. There
is some hobby or pastime for everyone regardless
of age or interests. Even if you cannot pursue
your favorite hobbies, you can get involved
in something new and exciting. Best of all,
by participating in some of the activities in
this chapter, you will meet other people with
common interests and cultivate new friendships
in the process. You can even spend your time
continuing your education or studying Spanish
as we talk about in Chapter 7.
Most
people you meet will also be expatriates, so
you probably will not need that much Spanish
to enjoy yourself. However, the happiest expatriates
seem to be those who speak Spanish. They are
able to enjoy the culture more fully, mix with
the locals, and make new friends in the process.
Panamanian
Pastimes
Panama has a wealth of indoor and outdoor activities
designed for everyone regardless of sex, age,
personal taste or budget. All of us—Panamanians,
tourists and foreign residents—can participate
in river rafting (some of the world’s best),
camping, world class diving, dancing, sea kayaking,
weight lifting, tennis, baseball, soccer, swimming
and surfing, bicycling, horseback riding, and
sailing.
There are also
plays, ceramic classes, movies, bird watching
(some of the world’s best), clubs, art galleries,
nature tours, social clubs, museums, parks,
zoos, and more.
There is something
for everyone —so enjoy. Check the activities
section of the Panama News, or The Visitor/El
Visitante. If you speak Spanish there is a listing
in the weekend section of one of the local Spanish
language newspapers. You can find activities,
cultural events and all sorts of entertainment
listed there.
Baseball
and Boxing in Panama
Unlike the rest of Central America, baseball
and boxing are more popular in Panama than soccer.
Panama has had its share of luminaries in both
sports. Boxing has been popular since the early
1900’s. Probably the most notable exponent of
the sport is Roberto “Mano de Piedra” Durán.
Known for his versatility and tenacity, Durán
fought in several categories against some of
the best fighters of all time and had an extraordinarily
long career.
Many Panamanians
have played in the major league baseball in
the United States. Rod Carew was one of the
best hitters of all time and was inducted into
the baseball Hall of Fame. Another Panamanian,
Mariano Rivera, is considered to be one of the
best reliever in professional baseball. He currently
plays for the New York Yankees. Every Panamanian
boy dreams of following in the footsteps of
these great players. Baseball is the number
one sport played in Panama’s schools.
Golf
in Panama
Panama’s beautiful scenery and good weather
provide a perfect setting for playing golf.
Panama has the best championship golf courses
in all of Central America. Golf lovers will
find an American-style golf course and sports
club about 15-minutes from Panama City.
Most of Panama’s
golf courses have rental clubs and provide caddies.
There is sometimes a difference in green fees
if you are with a member as opposed to showing
up at the course as a walk-on. Below is a description
of some of the country’s courses.
Museums
and Art Galleries
Panama offers a variety of museums highlighting
all aspects of its colorful past. Panama City
boasts a variety of museums and art galleries.
The country’s newest and best museum is the
Museo del Canal Interoceánico. Exhibits
trace the history of the 8th wonder of this
world, the canal.
Although not
as impressive as museums in the States or Europe,
there is still a lot to see. In general, Panama’s
museums provide a good perspective on the history
and culture of the country. Here is a list of
some of the best museums:
Water
Sports and Fishing
Panama’s thousand miles of Caribbean and Pacific
coastline, hundreds of islands, lakes and rivers,
mountain streams, a combination of clear tropical
water, reefs, and white sand beaches make it
an outdoor lovers paradise.
Snorkeling and
diving are very popular. Panama offers spectacular
reefs on both the Pacific and Atlantic sides.
The Bocas del Toro archipelago, Isla Contadora,
and Isla Toboga are places to practice these
water sports. Divers will find Panama’s warm
waters teeming with an unbelievable number of
exotic fish. There are even several coral reefs
worth exploring. There are several companies
in Panama which provide lessons, equipment,
and diving tours.
Parks
for Nature Lover
Many
people consider Panama one of the best ecotourism
destinations in the world. Because of its unique
geographical location, as a narrow land bridge
between two continents, Panama has a greater
diversity of wildlife than any country in Mesoamerica.
Panama is the home to an amazing diversity of
wildlife.
Around 1,000
birds migrate through or inhabit Panama. The
country is also home to over 200 species of
mammals, 350 kinds of amphibian and reptiles
over 1,000 species of butterflies, 56 types
of freshwater fish, over 100 animal species
found nowhere else in the world and thousands
of species of orchids.
Presently, about
29% of Panama’s territory is protected in 14
national parks, more than a dozen reserves,
and 10 wildlife refuges. In fact, the Smithsonian
Institute has installed an ecological research
station where scientists from around the world
study the country’s unique biodiversity.
Where
to Make New Friends
You should have no problem making new friends
of either sex in Panama, but might have some
difficulty meeting Panamanians if you speak
little or no Spanish. However, some Panamanians
speak a little English and are dying for the
chance to perfect their English language skills
while you work on your Spanish. Perhaps you
can find someone to exchange language lessons.
This is a good way to make new acquaintances
and learn how Spanish is really spoken.
You most certainly
will find it easier to meet fellow Americans
in Panama than in the U.S., because Americans
living abroad tend to gravitate toward each
other. Newcomers only have to find an enclave
of fellow countrymen and they can make new friends.
You cannot help bumping into other Americans
since Panama is such a small country. There
are many English-speaking people working in
Panama City. In areas like Boquete and Bocas
del Toro, you will also find people who speak
English.
Another good
way of making contact with other foreign residents
is by participating in some of the activities
listed in the weekly editions of the The Panama
News and The Visitor. English publications serve
as a vital link in the foreign community, or
“Gringo Grapevine”and help to put you in touch
with a whole network of expatriates and the
services they offer.
Love
and Permanent Companionship
If
you are looking for romance, Panama might just
be the right place for you.
Men will have
no problem meeting Panamanian women. Panama’s
women seem to like older, more experienced men.
Many Latin women actually seek out relationships
with older men who are financially more secure.
It is not unusual to see a wife who is ten to
twenty years younger than her spouse. This practice
may be frowned upon in some countries but is
accepted in Central America. Many retires we
know claim to feel rejuvenated and to have a
new lease on life after becoming involved with
younger women.
A Walk
on Panama’s Wild Side
The
author of this guidebook feels it is his responsibility
to paint a realistic picture of all of the aspects
of living in Panama. He would not be doing a
service to our readers if he did not cover the
subject of prostitution. However, let it be
known that in no way does he condone the sexual
exploitation of minors. In this section he only
provides information about sexual relationships
between consenting adults.
As in the rest
of Latin America, many males have their first
sexual experience with prostitutes. In order
to control the propagation of venereal disease
and AIDS, prostitutes are required by the government
to undergo regular health checkups by the Ministry
of Health or Ministerio de Salud in order to
practice their trade legally. Most upscale brothels
make sure their employees have their health
papers and tests up to date.
Nightlife
and Entertainment
Panama City probably has the best nightlife
in Central America. Panamanians will party almost
any night of the week. There are countless bars,
dance halls, pool halls, small neighborhood
bars and discotheque all over Panama City and
in most other parts of the country. Panamanians
love to dance. Most of these nightspots will
appeal to anyone from- 16 to 50, give or take
a little for the young at heart.
No doubt when you have lived in the country
for a while, the dance bug will bite you. There
are numerous dance academies that offer classes
for all levels of experience in various styles
of Latin American dance.
Gambling
Gamblers
can even find a bit of Las Vegas in Panama.
In Panama, casinos and other games of chance
are operated both under the government and privately.
Panamanians play slots and tables (blackjack,
craps, roulette, poker). Bingo is also very
popular in Panama.
There are a number
of popular gambling houses that can be found
in downtown Panama. The three most attractive
casinos are located in the Hotel Caesar Park,
the Miramar Inter-Continental, and the Hotel
el Panama.
The most popular
form of gambling in Panama is the national lottery
or lotería. It is truly a national pastime.
Lottery is played twice weekly on Wednesdays
and Sundays. Profits from the national lottery
go to support hospitals and local charities.
The lottery is operated by the government-owned
Lotería Nacional de Beneficiencia. Tickets
are sold all over the country. Tickets are sold
by vendors who can be found hawking them in
every city and town in the country.
Movies
and Theaters in Panama
Movie
theaters are found all over the Panama City
area and in other large cities. Most of these
theaters show first-run movies usually a month
or two after they first are released in the
United States.
Fortunately,
the majority of movies are shown in English
with Spanish subtitles. The cost of a movie
is under $4.00. Just like in the U.S. to see
what’s playing look in the Spanish newspapers
under cartelera. Film buffs will be pleased
to know that classic and foreign films may be
seen at the National University.
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