Welcome to Panama

So Why Panama?
Panama is such an amazing country and surprises everyone who visits. I joke with our friends that if they are planning on coming to Panama be prepared to be overwhelmed.

Also, I warn them that almost everyone I know has either bought property or is considering buying.

So Why Panama? Is there a reason - No, There are several reasons -- the opportunities are plentiful, albeit the prices are going up.

We have really taken to the Caribbean coast as it offers so much nicer water and beaches.


address
WhyPanama
Costa del Este
Panama City, Panama
 
They Need Your Love
They Need Your Love - animal shelter in Arraijan near Panama City. Hundreds of dogs and cats that have been rescued from a life on the streets, starving, hurt, and unloved.

We have set up a web site to help.
www.theyneedyourlove.org

You can Adopt a Pet no matter where you are in the world. For as little as $15 per month you can help make the life so much better for one dog or cat.

Donate Now
 
SpayPanama
The 2012 Spay Panama calendar is now available and it's their best ever! Both Panamanian AND U.S. holidays are labeled. The pictures featured are all of formerly homeless dogs and cats that were neutered and lucky enough to have been adopted. All proceeds go to support the wonderful efforts of Spay Panama to control the overpopulation of unwanted pets. Since its inception in 2002, Spay Panama has sterilized over 24,000 animals! The yearly calendar is their main fundraising tool and they really need your support. Like most other non-profit organizations, Spay Panama has seen a severe drop in donations due to the economy.

So, by purchasing a calendar you get something truly useful and you help out a great cause at the same time! The price is a ridiculously low $7.00 and the calendars can be found at: the U.S. Embassy, Excedra Books, Balboa Dental Clinic, Los Angeles de los Animales (cell 6781-2641) or Mailboxes, ETC in Coronado


Pat Chan
www.spaypanama.org




Donna
 
Donna
Tom Donna



WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE !

Since we moved to Panama in 2006 every time we tell one of our friends that we moved to the Republic of Panama, the first question is always "Why Panama". So we decided to build a web site to help them understand how simple the decision to choose Panama really was to us. We have included some links to other sites and to articles we think might help understand Panama. This  is  by no means exhaustive, so be sure to move through the suggested sites and explore the links and resources they suggest to ensure  you get as much information as possible.

News and events

13/05/2012

First - Happy Mothers Day - I know it isn't Mothers Day in Panama but it is in Canada - so I want to take a minute to remember my mom and Donnas mom - both who have passed on several years ago. It would be hard to list everything I would love to say to my mom on Mothers Day - but I guess the best thing I can say is I love you and I am so thankful for everything you did for me over the years. You were the best mom anyone could have.

It was a quiet week in lots of ways. Donna is in Morocco and when she is finished with that tour group she is on to her Chelsea Flower Show tour group in London.

It's starting to get busier at the office - it usually does right after tax season - and this year we are going to have to do another move. I'm not really looking forward to that but it seems inevitable. What's so strange is I know there are hundreds of businesses operating out of apartment buildings but our new board has made their feelings known.

I caught up with the pictures of the changes in our area, Costa del Este. We've been taking the same 3 pictures from our balcony for almost 6 years and the changes are amazing. We've watched over 35 apartment towers built and more than 6 commercial buildings. Check out the pictures here  
http://www.whypanama.net/costadeleste-changes.htm

We went to another restaurant in our continuing use of the coupons from OfertaSimple. This time we went to El Morro in Bella Vista. Check out my comments in the food page - http://www.whypanama.net/food.htm

Speaking of food (yes I know do a lot :}) I had a great dinner over at our friends place last night - I think they take pity on me when Donna is away :}. also I ran across a web site called the Boquete Gourmet http://www.boquetegourmet.com/ - lots of interesting things but it doesn't seem that up to date so I sent an email - hopefully I will hear from them. There are a number of things I would love to ask. I will let you know.

Like everywhere in the world, each week Panama has tons of news items - most of them I find of no interest as they are political in nature or reports of some drug or other illegal activities.

more news >>
 
 

Every once in a while I run across some item worth reading.

This past week it was a report of the Panamanian government giving away 93,000 laptops to school kids - free - and in addition they have a government group organized to not just give them away but help teach the kids to use the laptops wisely. It's one of those things that can make the difference in some child's life - to have access to a computer of their own helps put them on the same footing as a child in North America.

I was talking to one of my clients this past week about what Warren Buffet calls the "ovarian lottery" meaning how blessed some of us were to be born in a 1st world county. He was born in Canada but his father was Indian and came to Canada with $300 in his pocket and a family to support. How incredibly fortunate we are to have the "starting point" of a North American upbringing. Doesn't mean we are going to be a Warren Buffet but it does guarantee a level of future potential only dreamed of in other countries.

One item I hear from Expats all the time is how difficult it is to open a bank account both here in Panama and elsewhere in the world. I am pleased to tell you I found a really simple alternative - it's called HSBC Expat and is bank dedicated to solving that very issue - make it easy to open a bank account offshore without having to visit - http://www.expat.hsbc.com/1/2/ - we were able to open an account by downloading, filling in the forms and sending via courier. No visits, no hassles. Simple.

Almost every week I hear from Mari about some dog she would really love to find a home - this week is Beba. Do you know anyone who would love a new friend? Email me or Mari please or visit Mari's facebook page. 

Do you have a dog or cat? Does your heart ache when you see a dog or cat suffering -- so do we - and our friend Mari Pily - she has hundreds of dogs and cats she cares for at the Arraijan shelter -

If you can help - please check out the shelters site - www.theyneedyourhelp.org or her facebook page called Hogar Albergue San Roque - make a donation - encourage your friends to donate - it costs her thousands every month to keep the pups and kittens fed and kept healthy.

more news >>
 
 
ICanGarden


Donna started iCanGarden.com and now almost 16 years later it has become Canada's largest Internet gardening resource site. Several thousand people visit her site every day. Spend some time looking over the thousands of pictures of gardens from all over the world.

We are so proud of the TV special just aired by Recreating Eden - entitled "the Gardening Tourist".

Donna recently changed the look of the site - - if you enjoy it - let her know - I am really proud of her.
GardeningTours


In 2006 Donna started a site dedicated exclusively to her garden tours.

For more than 8 years she has been hosting groups of gardeners to gardens all over the world.



Donna has some incredible garden tours lined up for 2013 and 2014 - her 2012 tours are all either fully booked or over booked.  

 


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