Panama

Trip preparation

Panama is one of my favorites. The City is vibrant as Singapore in the Latino context. If you take the trouble of getting the Pensionado visa, you are entitled to hefty discounts as provided under the law. - Have visited many times utilizing off season charter packages offering good deals to resorts like Decameron out of Toronto. Using Decameron to motor the country. Roads are surprisingly good. Quite a few 3 star hotels are available in the city in the range of USD 45 - $65  -2PAX. You can get anywhere by taxi in P.C. for USD 2.oo - 3.00. - Men's haircut USD 3.oo and they leave your head on --German imported beer is cheaper than in Germany; but the local beer is equally good. - We had Mendoza Shiraz at USD 5.85 the bottle from at Super99.  Bottle of local rum comes UsD 5.00 or so....   Apart from Boquete in the Coffee-growing highlands, the Azuero Peninsula is most intriguing - esp the West Coast which is being developed. - Paved roads into the Peninsula but almost an empty hilly country.  - There are many fine beaches -- but also crappy ones. Do your homework on beaches. - Superb deep see fishing out of Pedasi and nearby villages. -- Overall, people are very friendly   Bocas del Toro is like Hemingway country. - It's a pleasure to put in this plug for the country esp when comparing to the overhyped neighbour to the North -- the problem may be that too many people are opting for Panama as they try to get out of the USA to have access to affordable modern medical care in Panama...  Condor starts direct service ex Frankfurt ain Fall 2010 -- go for it....l