All Posts in Category: Culture

There are some life experiences you can only understand by experiencing them. Participating in Panama Carnival 2019 is one of those. Many people try to describe what Carnival in Panama is like. Truth is, you can’t fully appreciate it until you’ve lived it yourself. If you’re new to Panama and will be here for the first week of March, you’re in for a treat. While Rio de Janeiro often gets the credit for their Carnival, the holiday is celebrated all across Latin America. Where is the second largest celebration outside of Brazil? Panama, of course. In fact, many people who have attended Carnival in both countries prefer Panama’s celebrations. Why? Because they are less crowded (and much more affordable) to enjoy. Not only is this a celebration full of history and culture, but it’s also a lot of fun. That said, there are some definite dos and don’ts for living your best Carnival life. Read on for a bit of history on the traditions associated with Carnival. As well as some ideas about how to make the most of the holiday. Whether you choose to spend it in the city or elsewhere you’re sure to experience a one-of-a-kind cultural tradition. One you have to see to believe. Traditions of Carnival The official day of Carnival (or Mardi Gras as it’s known in the US) is the day before Ash Wednesday. In Panama, the celebrations start well before that. Carnival in Panama is spread out over the four days before Ash Wednesday. Carnival is most often in February but since it is determined using a lunar calendar the dates change every year.  For these four days, Panama City is filled with parades, music, dancing, and costumes. Carnival technically starts on Saturday, but the festivities kick off on Friday with the coronation of the Carnival queen. It then winds down late Tuesday night as the Carnival queen leads the last parade. Known as the Burial of the Sardine (“Entierro de la Sardina” in Spanish). This parade is considered a funeral procession. A symbolic sardine is carried in a tiny coffin by costumed mourners. Once the sardine is set in its burial spot, Carnival has officially come to an end. On Ash Wednesday then begins the forty days of Lent. Carnival in Panama City You can immerse yourself in the celebrations as much or as little as you choose. For those looking to be a part of the action, there is more than enough to see and do. For those who would prefer to avoid the crowds, it’s easy if you steer clear of certain parts of the city. On Saturday morning things kick off with a small parade for the Carnival queen and her court. The parade runs down Via España and then goes along the Cinta Costera along the bay. Like most parades, this features tons of music, dancing, and costumes. It’s best to get to the parade route early before things get too crowded. When you’re ready for a break, go grab some street food from the colorful street vendors. There are plenty of delicious and affordable dishes to enjoy, so come hungry. For the four days of Carnival, the celebrations do not end when the sun goes down. During Carnival, tons of bars, cantinas, hotels, and clubs keep their doors open late for people. So you can dance the night away.  If you’re looking to make the most of Carnival, though, you’ll want to rally on Sunday because there are more parades. Including the “pollera” parade where women and children dance in Panama’s national costume. Monday features more parades, but this is typically the tamest of the celebrations. As people recover from the weekend of partying and gear up for Tuesday which is the largest and most important day of Carnival. Tuesday boasts the biggest and best parades as well as a fireworks show to cap off the night. Culecos in Panama Carnival 2019 Another unique tradition to watch out for is the “culecos”. These use fire hoses to spray water on the crowds from trucks and balconies. It’s the perfect way to cool down the crowd but means that you shouldn’t bring anything out that you wouldn’t want to get wet. Given the chaos of Carnival, it’s best to leave valuables like your fancy camera and jewelry at home. You’ll also want to wear comfortable shoes as you’ll likely spend most of the day on your feet. While it might seem counterintuitive, Carnival is actually a great time to appreciate Panama City at its most quiet state. As many of the city’s inhabitants make a beeline for the parades, the rest of the city is almost empty. And many employers give Monday and Tuesday off from work. Meaning plenty of people will be using the long weekend as an excuse to travel outside the city.   You can drive around with almost no traffic and there is peace in the air (away from the parade routes, that is). Carnival Outside Panama City  Panama Carnival 2o19 In Las Tablas Carnival can be a great time to get out of the city and do some exploring in Panama’s interior. Depending on your work schedule.  That said, there are plenty of people who think the same way. If you try to leave the city on Friday afternoon, you may get stuck in a major traffic jam. If you have your heart set on a trip, it’s best to try to leave early or at least prepare yourself for a serious delay.  There are plenty of spots that are worth the trip, though. One spot that’s especially popular during Carnival is Las Tablas. The small town of Las Tablas on the Azuero Peninsula hosts the biggest Carnival celebration in Panama. That’s right, even bigger than the nation’s capital. Las Tablas is about a four-hour drive from Panama City, but considering the traffic on Carnival weekend, it could take much longer. That said, many say it’s well worth the drive. While some people…

Anyone who’s ever traveled or lived abroad knows spending time in a new country is bound to come with surprises. No matter how much you research or how much you think you know about another country, misconceptions abound. Panama is no different. Expats and tourists alike often have ideas about Panama that just aren’t true. People are quick to assume what they know about one Latin American country must apply to all of them. Or they read one article and think they understand everything there is to know about Panama. In reality, though, things are much more complicated. There are lots of subtleties and surprises to be had (both positive and negative). Below are seven of the most common misconceptions expats have about Panama. Whether you’re already here or considering the move, this is one list you don’t want to miss. 1. Panama is cheap For those coming from North America or Europe, there is a commonly held belief that everything in Panama is cheap. While there are plenty of deals to be had, this understanding is only true some of the time. Many basic purchases associated with everyday living are certainly more wallet-friendly here than they are in other countries. Going to the movies, buying local produce, and grocery items such as fresh fish can often be enjoyed at prices far lower than what you’d pay in North America. However, many food items cost about the same as you might find in a supermarket back home. And some items, like cheddar cheese or imported goods, can cost even more. Restaurants are another area where expats are sometimes surprised by the prices. There are plenty of delicious, cheap eats available if you know where to find them. That said, Panama is also home to plenty of trendy and gourmet restaurants, where you’re likely to pay comparable prices to what you would spend for a dinner out in the United States.    Finally, there are also some things that are undoubtedly more expensive in Panama than elsewhere. Furniture is one example. You aren’t likely to find the variety and number of furniture retailers here as you will in the United States. As a result, prices tend to be higher. The same goes for things like winter clothes, clothing that’s imported and baby products. Essentially, anything that’s imported, is likely to have a higher price tag than what you’re used to paying back home. (Watch the video below or read on to learn more)   2. Panama is unsafe Here’s one area where people are quick to take what they think they know about one country and apply it to a whole region. There are many Central American countries that have been plagued by violence in recent years. Luckily, Panama has largely been unaffected by large-scale organized crime and violence. So when you hear horror stories on the news about what’s going on in Central America, it isn’t fair to assume those stories are as prevalent in one nation as they are in another.   Nonetheless, Panama City is a large metropolis that requires common sense and street smarts. You don’t want to be flashy when walking around at night or go to certain areas at night on your own. That doesn’t mean, though, that you can’t wear nice clothes or drive a nice car, just that you should use your best judgment. The peace of mind residents can have while out and about in Panama City is a real luxury and one of many expats’ favorite things about living in Panama. 3. Panama is run-down This is another area where people have a tendency to generalize. Whether or not you consider Panama to be run-down is entirely relative. If you’re coming from somewhere known for cleanliness and modernity like Singapore, you might consider Panama to be more rustic. However, depending on how much you’ve traveled throughout the world, Panama is comparatively pretty clean and modern compared with many other developing and even developed nations. Sure, some of the infrastructure is older (particularly in more rural areas) and there’s bound to be trash here and there, but the same can be said for just about any country. And besides, part of what many people love about Panama is the ease of spending time in regions that feel ‘untouched’ by tourism and booming populations. What one might consider run-down may be another person’s paradise. 4. Panama is unwelcoming to foreigners This is perhaps one of the most egregious misconceptions on the list. Panamanians are incredibly friendly and welcoming people and having foreigners around has been a part of the nation’s identity from the beginning. Since the country’s inception, Panama has been home to French, American, and other foreigners who were involved in the construction of the canal and ended up sticking around.   Panama’s tax incentives focus on foreign investment, and its growing role as a hub to many multinational businesses means the number and diversity of expats who call Panama home have only continued to grow over the past several decades. Most Panamanians recognized the presence of foreigners means huge benefits for business, schools, and the sharing of ideas. As a result, Panamanians are by and large friendly to expats –they welcome their business, contributions, and friendship. Finally, Panamanians love their country and want to show it off. Locals take pride in the fact that people from all over the world would rather live and work right here than anywhere else. Your best bet is to be respectful and friendly and to strike up a conversation. Ask a local his or her favorite place to eat or favorite beach spot and you’re bound to glean some great tips and have a friendly conversation. 5. Drugs are everywhere Believe it or not, drug use is pretty low in Panama. While the country does lie smack between drug supplying nations to the south, and drug purchasing nations to the north, you honestly don’t hear much about drugs passing through or being distributed within…

If you’re moving to Panama and are considering buying a home here, congratulations! Not only is this a beautiful place to live and work, but also one that offers tons of exciting options as far as real estate investment goes. That said, it goes without saying that purchasing property anywhere in the world is a process. In Panama, this process will certainly be a bit different from what you’re used to back home. Sure, there are different forms to fill out, and maybe even a new language to navigate, but the process also requires a different mindset. Here, we share with you some general tips, rules of thumb, and insight to help you understand what to expect when you land in Panama.   When you land As soon as you touch down on the tarmac in Panama it’s essential to acknowledge you are in another country and to open your mind to the fact that some things will be different here. Too often, foreigners arrive, look to buy a property and then get frustrated when things don’t go just how they’d expect. Instead, we recommend doing a bit of a brain reset. Remind yourself why you’re moving and accept that there may be some hiccups or surprises along the way. As a traveler, it’s often easier to embrace a country’s differences because they are temporary. As a resident, though, it’s harder but also more important to embrace these differences as they are unavoidable. No one has the magic formula for assimilating in a new country and navigating its complications, but being open-minded and flexible is a great place to start. Mañana mañana attitude In Panama, things never happen as quickly as you expect. It’s perfectly normal for voicemails to go unanswered or for emails to sit unopened in an inbox. You have to learn to be patient, but also to take initiative when needed. A lot of business is done in person in Panama, so it’s worth your while to communicate face to face instead of waiting for them to call you back. If you’re dealing with either a government entity or a bank, plan on at least an hour or two no matter how seemingly mundane or easy the task may at first appear. People often think they’ll ‘stop by the bank on their lunch break’ to fill out a form or get a statement. While this might go smoothly once in a while, nine times out of ten a trip to the bank takes longer than expected. There’s always another form to fill out or another $2 processing charge to pay. Again, patience and persistence are key. ‘Juega Vivo’ Apart from coming to terms with the somewhat inefficient nature of Panama’s real estate workings, you also must remember Panama has its own set of ethics, a very complicated bureaucracy and culture of ‘juega vivo’ that most expats have never experienced. ‘Vivo’ literally translated means alive and ‘juega’ means play. This ‘juega vivo’ mentality encourages a culture of keeping your wits about you, and not getting played for a fool. You may experience a tendency for the taxi driver who inflates his prices or the gas station attendant who rips off the driver who’s distracted on his phone. ‘Juega vivo’ does not necessarily mean taking advantage of foreigners, but affects locals too, so it is important everyone pays attention, because sometimes the situation is not intentionally malicious but rather sloppy. Real estate agents in Panama To add to the indirect pace of the real estate market, Panama is filled with many people attempting to be real estate agents. Inexperienced and unprofessional agents often show up two hours late, get lost looking at properties, speak very little English or Spanish, and try to push a particular property even though it’s not at all what you are looking for. This inevitably adds to the confusion, delay, and inefficiency, but it’s all a part of the market here, so be prepared. In addition, most of the large real estate agencies are a one-stop shop. Many offer legal, banking, and financial contacts out of one office. Choose the wrong firm and you may end up in a sticky situation. Sure, your agent can show you some great properties, and you may even end up closing the sale with him, but as far as after-the-sale support, forget about it. This can leave many people in sticky situations when they realize that what they agreed to wasn’t what they were told. Luckily, this aspect of the real estate market is somewhat in your control. Obviously, it’s easier to buy property in your native country, where you are familiar with all of the laws, restrictions, and pitfalls of your local market. However, when you put yourself in a foreign country, you are playing a whole new game. The best remedy to make sure you don’t get conned is to work with a respectable and experienced agency you can trust. Pick your agent carefully and asking your fellow expats who have already purchased property in Panama is a great way to gauge recommendations and separate the good from the bad. Lights off ≠ properties for sale When you arrive in Panama City, expect to see buildings that appear to be empty at night. Modern skyscrapers filled with dark windows would lead most people to believe there are tons of units for sale. However, if you were to visit those same buildings during the day with your real estate agent and ask her to find what is for sale in the building they aren’t likely to come back with two hundred options, in fact, they might only be able to find five or ten apartments for sale and maybe the same number for rent. So what gives? First, many buyers choose to invest in Panama real estate and use the property infrequently. Venezuelans, for example, might still live in Venezuela and keep a property in Panama as a way to protect their assets. Purchasing an apartment in…