Fruit Drinks Stand in Panama City
By The Panama Gringo | February 6, 2008
The next time you are in Panama City, treat yourself to the wonderful juice and frozen juice based drinks at one of the local stands in the City.
They are usually drive through window-based and the fruits are just INCREDIBLE.
The Panama Gringo was feeling a little too tired when he sampled a frozen fruit punch on his last trip from a little too many carnivale activities the night before to get an actual address – just ask any cabbie – they will know.
Topics: Places to eat, Places to drink, Must Do or See in Panama | No Comments »
Panama Bay is beginning to be filled in for road expansion of Balboa Ave
By The Panama Gringo | February 6, 2008
The expansion of Avenue Balboa is underway with the proceeds of the canal expansion being used to fill in some of the low tide parts of Panama Bay.
The plan is to widen Avenue Balboa to relieve some of the crushing traffic flow and to install a beautiful public park.
Panama is definitely a country in expansion mode and although the government is struggling to keep up with the rapid growth, they are doing a decent job with planning and implementation of public works. Every time I come back to the States from Panama, I have an even deeper respect for this wonderful central American country.
Here is a link to a map that fully describes the expansion.
Topics: Panama News | No Comments »
Great Find - Cristal Blu Spa and Salon
By The Panama Gringo | February 1, 2008
If you thought the days of a GREAT $45 one hour massage were over, you have got to check out Cristal Blue Spa and Salon on Pomodoro Street and Veneto – very close to the gringo central hangout of the Veneto Hotel.
Ask for Rosa – she is skilled with an ability to find just the right pressure to deliver a high quality, full 60 minute massage that will leave you relaxed and revitalized for the rest of the day.
Many other services are available. The place is s very clean and professional and they maintain a soft warm healing environment.
Please note– No English spoken so practice your Spanish.
Update: Just went on May 2, 2008 and was charged $31.50 plus tip (don’t be cheap now) for a very good one hour relaxing massage.
Topics: Uncategorized, Must Do or See in Panama | No Comments »
Carlos Aleman - Your man in Panama !!!
By The Panama Gringo | January 25, 2008
Topics: Must Do or See in Panama | 4 Comments »
lastminute.com - Panama City - Carnival in Panama
By The Panama Gringo | January 25, 2008
Women dressed up in ‘man-tumblers’, water-cannons and fat fish being buried in little coffins? It can only be the annual madness and extravagance that is… Carnavaaaal!
The most famous carnival in Panama takes place in Las Tablas, though the one in Panama City is not very far behind in terms of sheer exuberance and festive spirit. Carnival (the way it is celebrated in Panama) features certain unique elements: one is the tradition of the mojaderas, or culecos, a morning ritual where overheating celebrants are hosed down with water from passing trucks, to the shouts of ‘Agua, agua, agua!’ (’Water, water, water!’). So for an excuse to get soaking wet in public and romp around like there’s no tomorrow, you know where to head.
lastminute.com - Panama City - Carnival in Panama.
Topics: Must Do or See in Panama | No Comments »
Cool video view of canal
By The Panama Gringo | January 6, 2008
Topics: Must Do or See in Panama | 2 Comments »
2 Bedroom - 2 Bathroom - Fully furnished Apt for rent in Panama City (Punta Pacifica) - Rent by the week or month
By The Panama Gringo | January 4, 2008
The Panama Gringo has an apartment for rent on the 22nd floor of a one year old building in the Punta Pacifica area of Panama City. Great location – in the middle of nearly everything.
Here is what is included:
- 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, approx 950 sq feet condo.
- 42 inch plasma TV with over 250 channels (including English CNN, FOX and ESPN, BBC and others)
- Broadband wireless and wired connectivity
- Voip phone that can be used to call US for free (with a US phone number for incoming phone call from the states)
- Fully furnished – two couches, 2 brand new beds, all linen (2 sets) and towels
- Washer/Dryer/Refrig/Microwave/Stove
- Air conditioning in each bedroom plus master air conditioner in living room
- Small balcony with fan
- One secure parking space on the first floor
- Full time security with controlled access
- Workout facility, nice pool,
- Fantastic view of city at night
- Cleaning supplies and equipment
- View of bay from Kitchen
- Weekly maid service
- Walk to laundry, 24 hour supermarket, restaurants etc.
- One pick up and drop off at airport is included in monthly rental by Panama Gringo’s favorite guide and driver www.panamacarlos.com
- Cell phone for your use while in Panama (usage cards are available at many locations for as little as $5)
‘ target=_blank>For more images of this apt, please follow this link
Panama
Payment and Terms:
- Weekly $500 (paid in advance via Paypal or check)
- Monthly $1400 (paid in advance – 1 month limit on stay – via Paypal or Check)
For more information, please cont the Panama Gringo at gringo@thepanamagringo.com or by calling Carlos Aleman (the apartment caretaker) at 281-668-7813 (direct from US)
Topics: Gringo Owned Businesses, Must Do or See in Panama | 2 Comments »
BRAND NEW : Panama Medical Vacations
By The Panama Gringo | December 27, 2007
With today’s rising medical and health care costs, ever wondered where it will stop and how long can you, your company or your HMO can keep pace? You are not alone, the ranks are filling. Everyone wants the best when it comes to their own personal health care, but few can afford the skyrocketing costs.
Would you be willing to trade quality for price when it comes to your Health Care? Me neither. Good news is that in
Imagine old fashioned bedside manner by Doctors who care, personalized service by hospital staff in a world renown accredited state of the art medical facility. And best of all at prices your parents could appreciate.
Let Panama Medical Vacations show you options you never dreamed possible at www.panamamedicalvacations.com Why pay more than you have to?
Topics: Panama News, Gringo Owned Businesses | 1 Comment »
Christmas celebration starts early in Panama
By The Panama Gringo | December 12, 2007
The music of the marching bands filled the air for hours from the annual Christmas parade on December 9th.
Balboa Avenue was jammed with thousands of spectators as Panama welcomed the Christmas 2007 season.
The event ended with an incredible fireworks show over the city.
Topics: Panama News | No Comments »
Carlos Aleman - Your Man in Panama! Trustworthy, Dependable and Friendly
By The Panama Gringo | November 25, 2007
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Put JIMMYS on your list - best reasonable steaks and atmosphere in Panama
By The Panama Gringo | November 25, 2007
Don’t miss this place. First, you will see plenty of Gringos here for the $12 Jimmy Special - garlic infused strip steak to die for - complete with butter and chimichurri sauce. It’s huge and you will smell like a human garlic factory but the taste is to die for….
If you are not in the mood for steak, there is an extensive menu featuring many types of fish and chicken, The Gringo likes the Bolegnese Spaghetti in particular.
Tip: Order two drinks at a time if you are thirsty, drink glasses are small and when they are busy, it can take a while for refills. Also, let your waiter know when you are nearly done to get the check. As in most Latin countries, the check is not brought automatically. Don’t act like a gringo and complain - you have been warned (this for my friend Panamemo who keeps telling me how ugly North Americans are) 
Topics: Must Do or See in Panama | 2 Comments »
Bistro 10 - Gourmet Meals for Just $10 - Wonderful Place
By The Panama Gringo | November 25, 2007
Bistro Ten is one of the Panama Gringo’s favorite haunts when he visits his second home in Panama City.
It used to be a secret but not anymore - check out this article in Washington Post earlier this year. Seems everyone is on to it now.
Please click here to download their menu in excel format.
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Watch out for the PANAMA TIP shuffle….
By The Panama Gringo | September 30, 2007
This is a favorite of most restaurants in Central America and seems to be practiced to an art in Panama City in some places.
Here is how the gringo-abuse takes place:
1. You eat a fine meal. For this example, lets use Benihana as an example - it just opened in the mall and the meal was great.
2. You get the bill but ONLY in summary format (basically just the charge to sign with a space for leaving a tip).
3. At this moment, STOP EVERYTHING. Get your waiter to bring you the full detailed bill. In the case of Benihanas and many other restaurants in Panama City, it will likely have the 10% service charge already added to the bill. 10% is the customary tipping amount.
4. Put a $0.00 in the tip spot on the credit card charge slip and away you go….
I have been beat for an additional 15% many times in Panama City until Marty Monroe of Giggi Travel wised me to the scam. In the case of the Benihana bill for 8 people, it would have been a 30$ US beating.
Travel safe, travel wise and enjoy Panama !!!
Topics: Uncategorized | 8 Comments »
Stay connected CHEAPLY when you go to Panama - the real deal on the phone cards.
By The Panama Gringo | September 24, 2007
The two biggest cell phone providers in Panama are Movistar and Cable and Wireless. They both offer “cards” (more commonly known as pay as you go wireless) in multiple denominations. Here is what they look like:
Ok so you are going to Panama and want to be able to stay connected to the world (plus if you want to survive in Panama - you need a cell phone - they are everywhere). Here is the process:
1. Have your cab driver or better yet call CARLOS (driver of Panama Gringo 001-507-6645-7075) take you to a store and buy the cheapest phone you can find. It is usually about $20 or so. (In the case of Carlos, call him and tell him to have a phone fully charged and waiting for you when you arrive at airport - cmon we gringos like service and speed - why torture yourself? While he is at it - have him set all the guides and settings to ENGLISH - practicing your Spanish is better when you are not trying to make phone calls).
2. Buy a few cards (buy a few $5 cards and one $12 or $15 card.
3. Now here is the trick… Movistar and Cable and Wireless run 2x, 3x and quadruple days every month - i.e. a $15 card is worth $60 worth of minutes. If you buy right, you can get your calls down to less than 10 cents a minute. Unreal cheap, convenient and you are now a wired gringo.
4. Once you buy cards, you need to scrap off the back of card and input number into your phone.
Once your phone is active, you will get messages all the time about promos etc.
Congratulations, welcome to the 21st century and keep hunting those 4x days.
Your truly, the Panama Gringo
Topics: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
ABC News clip on Panama Real Estate
By The Panama Gringo | September 3, 2007
Topics: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
U.S. judge approves Noriega’s extradition
By The Panama Gringo | August 31, 2007
MIAMI (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday approved the extradition of former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega to face money laundering charges in France when his long Florida prison sentence for drug smuggling ends next month.
The decision by Magistrate William Turnoff followed a separate court ruling last Friday rejecting arguments from Noriega’s lawyers that his status as a “prisoner of war” under the Geneva Conventions meant he had to be immediately returned home when his U.S. sentence ends on September 9.
“This court will issue a certificate of extraditability with respect to Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega,” Turnoff said at the end of a 30-minute hearing in Miami.
Turnoff said he would issue the extradition order on Wednesday for the now 73-year-old Noriega, who was jailed in the United States almost two decades ago for drug smuggling and racketeering after he was captured by U.S. forces following the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Noriega, making his third court appearance since July 26 and clad in the uniform of a military that was unceremoniously disbanded after the U.S. invasion, showed no apparent emotion as Turnoff pronounced his ruling.
Noriega’s attorney, Frank Rubino, said his client had not yet decided whether to appeal. But if he did, he would challenge the legality of Friday’s ruling on his POW status.
In last week’s decision, U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler, who presided over Noriega’s 1992 trial, said the protections awarded him under the Geneva Conventions placed no restrictions on his possible extradition to a third country.
Rubino said France had indicated it would treat Noriega as a common criminal, and not as a prisoner of war.
“Without the POW status he could be put in the Bastille underground,” Rubino told reporters. “Maybe he would be held with people of a violent nature who could hurt him.”
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
4 Tips to Buy Real Estate in Panama
By The Panama Gringo | August 27, 2007
The purchase of real estate in Panama can be confusing and uncertain if you are not well guided, or it can be a very pleasant experience. One of the most prevalent qualms within foreigners is whether or not the asked price is fair for a particular property. Sometimes it is difficult, even for locals, to determine what the asking market price for a particular property is.
1.The easiest way to ensure that you do not pay much more for it, is requesting for an appraisal of the property. Even if none is available, the cost of having one done is minimum and possible out of pocket expenses well worth it, because it is common to see very similar properties, even located adjacently, have price variances of up to 150%.
2. Once you have decided on your dream property, it is highly recommended that a title search be completed to ensure that the property has clear title, free of any liens, liabilities or encumbrances.
3. Look for a Licensed Broker. It is necessary to have a professional capability license, issued by the Real Estate Technical Board (“Junta Tecnica de Bienes Raices”) of the Republic of Panama. Real estate agents (brokers) in Panama are trained to offer other services that go beyond the conventional real estate market, such as: property appraisals, periodic reports on concrete marketing actions, counseling on legal and financial matters, general counseling services, preparation and processing of the corresponding legal documents, procedures of negotiation, closing and post-closing of commercial transactions, i.e. collections, payments, inscriptions at the Public Registry, etc. A broker is a able to assist you in the complete purchase procedure.
4. Another secure way to ensure yourself a sound price on real estate in Panama is by purchasing your property financed. All the bank procedure and paperwork can be extremely tedious and time consuming, but you can be assured that a bank will not finance a property for more than it is actually worth and usually the bank will cover or reimburse you the cost of the appraisal.
Topics: Uncategorized | 12 Comments »
A Panama Postcard
By The Panama Gringo | August 23, 2007
Topics: Must Do or See in Panama | 1 Comment »
Carlos Aleman is your “Mr Everything” in Panama and is the personal choice of yours truly “The Panama Gringo”.
By The Panama Gringo | August 23, 2007
A little history will help set the stage:
I have been coming to Panama for almost four years now (before the rapid real estate development, before the Veneto and before it became the hot place to be). My Spanish is limited so I searched out a driver/confidant/helper/translater with whom I could partner to make my experience more pleasant. I was going to be setting up a business, buying a condo and figuring out the lay of the land and I needed someone to help me work the system. You know how we “gringos” are so inpatient.
My first attempts were not good. I tried several drivers with English skills and was severely disappointed. At first, they were all good. Then they would not show up on time, prices kept rising and ultimately, they would betray your trust.
Finally, Carlos approached me one day in the lobby of the Veneto and offered his services. He speaks 3 languages - Spanish, French (8 years in Montreal) and English (very well). He has managed businesses both in Canada and in Panama.
I can say, without qualificiation, our partnership has been very pleasant for the past two years. I have entrusted Carlos with thousands of dollars to fix my apartment, buy furniture, assist some of my clients, and generally be responsible for my life in Panama — and HE HAS NEVER FAILED TO DELIVER.
His rate is a little higher than normal ($12 to $15 an hour) but is worth every cent as he is efficient, knows how to make the system work and is very dependable and trustworthy. He has literally had $10K entrusted to him and his response was efficient service, incredible detailed book-keeping (even detailing out a 35 cent charge for key copying for condo) and well presented.
He drives a brand new KIA SORENTO which is very comfortable. He is well educated in Panama City history and conducts a great tour.
So if you are going to Panama City and you need to be hooked up with someone you can trust, someone who will take good care of you - I suggest you call Carlos at 011-507-6645-7075. Tell him Bob told you to call as he does not overbook his services so he can provide top quality execution.
In Panama, you can reach him 7 days a week at 6645-7075 His direct email is carlosctours.p@gmail.com
Topics: Must Do or See in Panama | 8 Comments »
TWO apartments for rent - BRAND NEW - Coste Del Este - $1300 a month
By The Panama Gringo | August 21, 2007
Two apartments in the new GREENBAY Condo-plex in Coste Del Este. All new appliances. Price includes gas, water, and month fees plus Internet.
Here is the view out your window of these 13th floor apts:
Here is what your pool and social area look like:
Call Phillip (Gringo speaks English from Tennessee (well sorta English :))
Call his cell right now as these apts will not last:
011-507-6728-4503
or you can reach him through his US # 281-668-7813
Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »