Fly fishing?
Hi Richard-I came across your site and blog. What fun being an expat in Boquete!
My husband and I are travelling to Panama in January, 2010. We are taking the all day canal transit tour on Jan. 16th. ( We are not cruise ship people) We live in the Sunriver Resort, south of Bend,Oregon. Perhaps you know of it or have been here.
We were thinking of visiting the Kuna Indians at one of the San Blas Islands. i.e. El Porvenir or Playa Chico or ? Can you recommend which island to go to for a night or two to experience their culture? Also, my husband is an avid fly fisherman. Do you know of fly fishing either in the ocean or rivers in ALL of Panama?
Next, we have friends that live in Boquete (your home) where we want to explore your area. See a coffee plantation, etc. We don’t know how many days to allocate to see your area. Any ideas? Then we fly from David to San Jose, Costa Rica. Thanks in advance for any assistance, guidance, recommendations you might have for us. We’ll only make this trip once in our life time so we want to do/see all we can. Haley Dahlquest
Hi Haley! Well, let’s start with your last comment . . . “We’ll only make this trip once in our life time”. That’s what we and a whole lot of other folks who live here now as expats thought! So, good luck! I know Bend is nice . . . my daughter went to Willamette . . . and you may be surprised by Boquete. We’d lived in Colorado for six years, and many times as I’m driving down the mountain I think Boquete is like Colorado without snow. I’d plan on at least 4 or 5 days in Boquete . . . there are coffee tours, river rafting (our water is warmer than yours!), hiking . . . lots to explore. I’m not a fisherman and know nothing about fly fishing, but I have heard that if you get high in the mountains above the coffee farms that there are native trout and fly fishing. My neighbors in Boca Chica, Bruce at www.gonefishingpanama.com can give you the lowdown on fishing in the Pacific.
Unfortunately we haven’t had time yet to get out to the San Blas. We had a trip all planned, then something came up. I know that it is pretty undeveloped as a tourist destination by choice of the Kuna. There are some small hotels that are run by the Kuna and they would be your best bet.
I’m sure some of my readers know a lot more about this than I do, so maybe they will chime in and share some advice, which I will pass on.
On Carnival Miracle . . .
Hi Richard! I have enjoyed your links through Cruise Critic as I being my research for our upcoming cruise. We are sailing on the Carnival Miracle in February 2010, this will be our first time visiting Panama, and we are scheduled to be in port from 0700 to 1700. Traveling with me are my 77 year old mother (who is in good shape!) and my two sisters. My youngest sister is a stroke survivor, and has some mobility issues, but she can walk distances, albeit a little slower than most. We always make a point of enjoying some of the culture of the country we are visiting. Do you have any recommendations for tours to avoid (because of age/mobility) or ones we should consider. We usually venture out on our own and steer clear of the ships excursions because of the size of the tours, so we are not fearful of doing that. Our safety is of utmost concern to us (and my husband, who is not coming along on this cruise!) My mother would like to see the canal and locks, my sisters the wildlife, and I am easy to please! Is there any tour you are familiar with that would cover those particular sights? Thank you for any advice you may have for us! And we will happily stick with the ships tours if you think that is the best option for four women! Thank you in advance! Gail Foley
As an aside . . . I’m glad Carnival has started coming up with names like CARNIVAL DREAM and CARNIVAL MIRACLE . . . the old run of ships . . . ECSTASY, FANTASY and SENSATION . . . all sounded like condom brand names!
Hi Gail! For wildlife I would suggest the “Gatun Lake Safari” where you go by a small boat – 20 or so people – out on Gatun Lake. The guy who runs this tour lives on a houseboat in Gatun Lake and knows where the monkeys and stuff hang out, so you will see wildlife. They do a nice Panamanian lunch on his houseboat, and you will be crossing the Canal itself at several points and see the ships going across Gatun Lake and some of the work going on to enlarge the channel. You won’t see the locks. You will have to get in and out of a boat, but the boat guys are very helpful and the only walking involved is on and off the bus and to and from the boat.
To see the Canal there is a tour that will take you by ferry-boat through Pedro Miquel and Miraflores. You’ll see the locks and the main part of the Canal and get a glimpse of Panama City. Again the only walking is to and from the bus. Experiencing the Canal on a small ferry-boat is different from on a large ship and you can reach out and touch the sides of the Canal. Unfortunately, no wildlife.
So it is a choice which you want: wildlife or Canal. I would definitely recommend going through the ship and not attempting this on your own.
Looking for a deal . . .
My husband and I want to do a trip to the Panama Canal in Jan or Feb. We have only done one cruise before to Acapulco. Now I am looking for a good deal—to maybe only do part of the canal and more ports in the Caribbean. My husband just was forced to retire—laid off from his job. Lily
Life is change and growth and there is no growth without change, so good luck to both of you and I know you will make the best out of your situation and hopefully look back someday and think that was the best thing that happened to us. [Check out my earlier post on THE AGE OF THE UNTHINKABLE, an interesting book which applies not only to geopolitics and economics, but also to the challenges of our personal lives.]
Right now there are still some good deals . . . steals? . . . out there as cruise lines fill their ships at any price. I’d look at the 10-day cruises that go into the Canal and are round-trip from Florida, like ZUIDERDAM.
Any insight into . . . life??
Aloha Richard, We are considering a Panama Canal cruise this March-May. I think one leaves on May first. Are there must see, should skip ports? And also any insight into ships? We have been on Princess and HAL only, but not these ships. Thank you, Sharie
Sharie . . . Sharie . . . Sharie. Try my Panama Cruise page, my Cruise page, or just click on the sidebar to the right on Cruising and Travel and you can enjoy all my fount of knowledge and insight. That’s kinda why I took the time to put all that stuff here. Then, if you have more questions, shout. Aloha.
Snakes . . .
Richard, We will be on HAL Oosterdam (11/02/2009) and will enter Canal at Cristobal at 5:00 a.m. 11/08, exit Canal at Balboa at 7:00 p.m. and depart Fuerte Amador at 5:00 p.m. 11/09. I really want to visit the Embera Village but am very concerned that I may see a snake! I am terrified to even be in the vicinity of one that may be brought by me for viewing! At a distance I would be ok. Is it “safe” for me to make this tour? Any other suggestions for what to do at this stop? My husband will probably do one of the other tours – Observation Center or Panama Railroad. Thank you for your help. Lynne
Lynne, you should be so lucky as to actually see a snake in the wild. Go in peace. It is a very “safe” tour for you and others. The only tour I know where they bring out a snake . . . a nice boa . . . and let people who wish hold it, is on the “Gatun Lake Safari” tour. People who take the Embera Village tour love it! And no snakes!
Smaller ship in Canal . . .
Hi Richard I am doing some background work on cruising thru the Panama Canal. My husband is not interested in cruising on a large line but we also have at most 10 days to play with. We are also bringing my 76 yr old mom with us. This is one of her dream trips she is in good shape but does tire. Can you suggest where to look and what to look for I was reading thru cruise critic and it seems you know a lot but the trips thru the canal. Any help would be appreciated thanks Dawn Davis Keidawn
Princess has four ships described as being like “a day aboard a 5-star country inn”. One of these is the ROYAL PRINCESS where I am heading in exactly . . . 21 days. These ships hold only about 600 guests. The ISLAND PRINCESS is doing 10-day trips into the Canal round trip from Florida and would be ideal for you.
Injustice . . . what’s new?
Richard: I read your blog today on the above subject [US drug strategy] and thought I would add another recent twist. Not only is Prohibition not working in America it is also affecting the sovereignty of the country to the north. In a complete act of injustice (because we in Canada have reciprocal laws of extradition with the US), the Canadian authorities have been forced to hand over Marc Emery (the Prince of Pot) for selling marijuana seeds south of the border.
An act, that at worse would maybe get a month in jail in Canada, has netted Mr. Emery (a Canadian citizen who has never even been in the US and an active advocate of marijuana legalization) a sentence of 5 years in an American prison! This is wrong! I am ashamed of my country for allowing this to happen to a Canadian citizen and am completely at odds with the complete waste of money and short-sightedness of my American neighbours in this regard. Garth Liseth, B.C., Canada
Garth, I too am often shocked and ashamed by the injustice of the US court and legal system. We do not behead people . . . but we do take their lives, sentencing them to life in prison without possibility of parole for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time, like Brandon Hein. What makes it worse is that the US sets itself up as the judge of perceived injustices in the rest of the world, while committing atrocities like with Brandon here at home.
“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” -Jesus, Matthew 7:4
Karl, who disagrees with me on Brandon, but is not an ogre . . .
Here’s a low-cost drying solution for your coffee. Probably too late this year with your planned work ahead, but fine for next year. This type of dryer will work rain or shine, and even if overcast, will collect sufficient heat for drying coffee in Panama.
http://www.fao.org/ class=”hiddenSpellError” pre=”">docrep/T1838E/T1838E0v.htm
( I’m not always an ogre, and enjoy the majority of your posts. )
Thanks, Karl. I will check that out. We need all the help we can get drying this stuff. And, for the record, I didn’t call you an ogre . . . almost everything else, but not an ogre. Thanks for thinking of me . . . and hanging in here!
“Gatun Lake Safari”
I saw your comments about wildlife during a Panama Canal cruise, and specifically “Gatun Lake Safari”. I searched the Internet, but could not find the tour operator. can you give me contact information.
I’m not sure that you can book this tour independently since it requires a certain number of participants and the availability is limited. If a ship is in the ship’s tour operator has booked the tour completely. You need to book it through Shore Ex on your ship, either in advance on the Internet or on board.
Day in Puntarenas . . . with kids!
Richard, I know that you’re the expert on Panama, not costs Rica but….. we’re in port @ Puntarenas for one day. Would you have any suggestions of things that we should do w/ twin 11 yr old boys in tow? Thanks so much! Bonnie
There’s really not much to do in Puntarenas. There is beach, right in town, within walking distance of the ship, that’s used a lot by locals. On weekends it’s crowded with families. There is a zip line tour, depending on the size of your twins and the requirements. The tropical train, rafting (again depending on size requirements) and eco-jungle river tour would be interesting. A lot of the Puntarenas tours require a lot of bus time so it depends on how your kids do on buses.
A dildo by any other name . . .
I was in the U.S. Air Force and assigned to Japan in 1950. I did some train rides during my off duty days and on one of my adventures I chanced to be in Komaki in the middle of March. The city was at a standstill with the parade and crowds all celebrating Honen Matsuiand. I took some pictures of young girls walking out of the crowd and smooching giant replicas of the male organ. While wandering the crowd, I bought a small cardboard box inside of which was a 6″ hand carved wood penis. I still have it. One of the only things I brought home from the Korean War. J Morris
Man, are you lucky the TSA wasn’t around when you came home from Korea! “Attention all TSA personnel: we have a dildo alert at position three.”
So the 240 pound highly trained and educated TSA screener with tight black pants, a shirt with the tail hanging out in back and overbearing military manner says, “So, sir . . . you look like a straight shooter, and having survived Korea . . . what the hell are you doing with a 6″ dildo in your luggage? Flesh-colored, soft latex we can allow provided you keep it in your luggage at all times and do not remove it, use it, or fondle it during the flight, but, but a 6″ wooden dildo. Sir, that’s a dangerous weapon of terrorism and must be confiscated.”
Later . . . in the break room, “Hey Mabel, look at this baby! This straight-looking Air Force dude . . . I didn’t ask and he obviously wasn’t telling . . . tried to smuggle this onto the plane. Come to momma, baby . . . “
Counting the days . . . until I leave on ROYAL PRINCESS . . .
So whose calendar has the bigger X’s on it marking off the days until you leave for your big trip..yours or Nikki’s? Dinah
Nikki’s, I am sure!
Coming home . . .
Hi… I just found this site of yours through Google. Amazing! This is what I’ve been looking for many months now! You are a gem of knowledge to me. I am a Panamanian native, born in David Chiriqui. I have lived in California for many years and now wish to move back to my country, yet I am very, very Americanized. Even though I am Panamanian,with dark skin, they still look at me ”>differntly. I was in David and Boquete two years ago with my wife and first son. I am 29 years old, married with two small children …. I want to move to Boquete! My plan is to build and pastor a church in David. I was considering to buy a house in “Los Montes Del Caldera”. I have many questions before I sell everything I own in California to move back to Panama and do a work for God and be with my family. Would you, sir be willing to assist me with the practicalities of a Panama life style. Thanks, Arcinio Arauz
Arcinio, welcome home! I took my car to a local “shade tree” mechanic the other day and bumped into a friend of his, a young Panamanian guy who’d gone to the states, fallen in love, got married, and had lived about 15 years in the States. About 8 months ago he’d come back home to Boquete and was so happy to be back in Panama. I know that people leave Panama, just like they leave the States, for many reason. And for many in Panama the States seem like the promised land of opportunity. But . . . good Panamanian friends of ours have family that live in Simi Valley, California, close to where we lived for 18 years in Ventura. They LOVE Simi Valley. Simi Valley! They talk as if it is almost heaven! And they are from Boquete!! Go figure! I guess to each his own.
I’m sure that many folks who are looking to “escape” to what they perceive to be a “better life” will shake their heads. But home is home and right now I think there is increasing opportunity for Panamanians who understand the anglo world outside of Panama to come home, bring back some of their experience and apply it here. The current mayor of Boquete spent time as a young man outside of Panama and as a community we are better for for it because he has brought ideas from North America to Boquete that are tremendously helpful in this time of growth.
Like moving into any community, even if you are coming back, it takes some time to fit in and adjust. Acknowledging your Americanization is a good start. Frankly, aside from the fact that you speak Spanish, you may have the same troubles adjusting to Panama as the rest of us. It ain’t California! But if God is calling you . . . what can you do? Let me know how I can help. What church or denomination are you affiliated with? Training? Background?
Working in Panama . . .
hello im thinking of moving to david. i am a university trained american nurse with a speciality in cardiology. is there much employment for nurses in david? Or do you know of any web sites i can Judy
First, the bad news. If you are not a Panamanian you can’t be employed in Panama. Even as a nurse. We have a friend of ours, Dr. Newton Osbourn, who was born up the road from David in Concepcion. He got a scholarship to Yale, then went on to the University of Michigan, and practiced in OB-GYN ending up at Walter Reed. He is one of the world’s experts on treating women with AIDS and lectures all over the world. When he retired he moved back to Panama and was our neighbor when we lived in Valle Escondido. He wanted to be of service and to work in the local Indian clinic, but Panama would not recognize his medical training or experience. He would have to intern in Panama! Incredible, but true! And so, determined to serve, he did! He jumped through the hoops and now is offering his expertise on the staff of the Women & Children’s Hospital in David. But he is Panamanian. Judy even if you were to jump through the hoops here, as a non-Panamanian citizen my understanding is that you could not be employed.
However . . . the work around is to consult. You can set up your own business of one and be a consultant. Or you can develop a related business, like being a “visiting consultant” (“visiting nurse” would imply a medical practice, which you don’t want) who assists and consults primarily with some of us “aging gringos” who now need, or are going to need, that kind of assistance.


Then then need to be washed by hand to remove the sticky “honey” and then dried . . . hopefully in the sun. In the commercial beneficios they are put in big revolving drums like a huge clothes dryer for about eight hours. These are usually fired with dead wood or gas.



I leave for the ROYAL PRINCESS for 4 months in 40 days. All my presentations for that trip have been done for a while, but I need to get at least two thirds of my stuff done for the world cruise on DAWN PRINCESS. I have only month’s vacation . . . translate: working time to prepare for the next cruise . . . when I get back from ROYAL, before I’m off on DAWN. This weekend it was a port talk for Los Angeles . . . really a talk for Aussie’s about California, since there is absolutely nothing to do around Los Angeles Harbor. You either take a shore excursion, or sit on deck and watch the seagulls poop! Now I’m on to Bali!
Since I’m deathly allergic to shrimp . . . not that I didn’t consume more of my fair share of the world’s shellfish before developing this allergy . . . I wrote off the appetizer, “Grilled Prawns with Tuscan White Beans” with a Placido Pino Pino Grigio 2008. I like Pino Grigio, so I drank my appetizer. Nikki gave the prawns an unenthusiastic, “OK”, and she’s the shellfish fan.
Speaking of blogs, our friends Dave and Cora Kent were there, and Cora told me that she has started a blog . . .
The pasta as far as we were concerned was the hit of the evening . . . I think one of the best pastas I’ve ever tasted! “Penne with Roasted Butternut Squash, Toasted Waltnuts, Brown Butter and Sage” . . . superb! The wine Placido Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2007.
The main course was “Pesto Fillet Mignon with Sun Dried Tomato Demi Glaze and Grilled Polenta Cake” . . . excellent, except the fillet was way overdone. I realize with a group there are different preferences, but I think it would be safest to do a medium on the rare side, than to overcook the fillet. The demi glaze was excellent, adding to, but not overpowering the other flavors. The salad was “Grilled Eggplant Salad with Pine Nuts and Capers” and this being Boquete, you always need a “Plan B.” Pine nuts it turned out were not available right now, so Lauretta substituted peanuts, but it worked. Wine: “Banfi Centine 2006″
By this time I was remembering cruise ship inaugurals where the wine and conversation is flowing so quickly that you forget just how much you are drinking. The trouble is I liked the desert wine, Banfi Brachetto Brachetto D’Acqui 2008, a delightful rose wine “made from Brachetto. This extremely aromatic, complex and historical grape variety grows only in the area of Acqui Terme, in southern Piedmont. The cold maceration of the grapes, followed by a soft pressing, allows the extraction of the typical intense aromas from the skins and gives the wine its characteristic light ruby red color. Very pleasant and extremely elegant . . . berry flavors and a touch of almond and nutmeg.” Translation: excellent! I liked it and could still taste.
The desert was “Chocolate Cherry Cassata” which Nikki was too stuffed to eat, so brought it home. And this morning, as I write this, I’m eating her desert. Goes great for breakfast!
The story of my life with machines . . . old machines, new machines, computers . . . whatever. So, we found a machine that will remove the hulls from the coffee cherries leaving us with coffee seeds, i.e. coffee beans. This is supposed to do 200 kg per hour by hand, 400 kg per hour hooked up to a motor. Right! At the rate we are going maybe 10 kg per day! So lots of taking apart, cleaning, re-assembling, adjusting . . . with more adjusting, mounting, yada yada necessary.


