Newsletter for those thinking
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Welcome to the MAY edition of NEWSLETTER This month we have four articles on a wide variety of subjects – everything from student protests to shopping and the solving of an age old mystery.
Sylvia Peters Editor. e-mail:panamasylvia@yahoo.ca |
MAY 2008 edition of NEWSLETTER
David Dell, our raving reporter has a strong desire to become Panama’s Mark Twain. We sent him out on April the first to solve the mystery of Volcan’s magnetic hill. Not quite the jumping frogs of Calaveras county but darn close.
Many people want to know what Panama is really like. This article on a successful student protest here in Volcan, speaks volumes. As the Pope addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations a small handful of students (mainly girls) addressed the serious problems experienced in their local school.
Learning a new language is difficult (tell me about it) Here in Volcan close to a hundred young people are going to spend 5 hours a night, 5 days a week in an effort to learn English, and to hopefully better their lives.
Panama English Language school.
Shopping here in Panama can be an adventure. I went with friends Lydia Dell and Jeanie Friedman to see what we could buy and more importantly what we could discover. A promise, if you do decide to retire here, it will be fun and you will share that fun with many soul sisters.
Previous editions of NEWSLETTER
Our hottest story is on local rare bird, named the Maria Vega. This albino, Rufous Collared Sparrow, is rare, extremely rare – in fact we have pictures of the only known bird to exist. This white sparrow will certainly have birders coming from all over Panama (the world) to photograph it.Maria Vega, the white sparrow
Bocas Del Toro is Panama’s answer to Belize’s Ambergris Cay. The developments here have been mired in scams and failed developments for years. Fortunately, a new high-end development called Sunset Point is doing things right. This project will have the largest marina in the area and will become the standard to which all other project will hopefully aspire.Doing it right in Bocas Del Toro
Michael Boase is a motivational speaker from Britain, now living near the western Panama city of David. We will be featuring articles from Michael in the next issues of NEWSLETTER. In these troubling times any help we can get in dealing with stress must be beneficial.Stress relief Panama solution
One of the most frequently asked questions we get at yourpanama.com is about the costs and quality of health care in Panama. This week we signed up for a health plan at David’s leading private hospital. If you had considered retiring to Panama but health concerns have stopped you – please read this article. We believe the costs are amazingly low and the quality of the doctors and equipment? In our mind’s they are truly first world.panama private medical
Panama is blessed with a combination of steady rainfall and high mountains, this allows for the production of clean hydro electric power. The Paso Ancho project, outside Volcan doesn't have to dam a river or lake and will make very little impact on the environment. During construction of its large holding lake, ancient geological stratas were unearthed giving a unique glimpse into Panama's gelologically tumultuous past.Panama hydro Paso Ancho
Not Alice’s, but Dalys’s restaurant.
As a newcomer to Volcan I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was a warm and welcoming expat community. A group of about ten people from Canada, Europe and the US regularly meet for breakfast at Volcan’s newest restaurant – Dalys’s. It’s pronounced the same as Alice’s, and, just like the restaurant from the old pop song, in this restaurant you can get just about anything.Not Alice’s, but Dalys’s restaurant.
Cabalgata in Volcan
Some Panamanians might think the way to show off their wealth and status is to drive around town in the latest edition SUV. The people of the Chiriqui highlands also love to put on a show, but they do it with greater style and class. For their choice of transportation ostentation, they prefer the four-legged to the four-wheeled.
Panama’s oldest highway?
Archeologists have established that in the western part of Panama, people have lived for about 2,400 years. Many people I am sure are familiar with the great archeological treasures of Sitio Barriles in Chiriqui. I am also sure that few individuals are aware of the existence of Panama’s oldest highway – the Gariche trail.Panama’s oldest highway?
Peaceful protest. When teachers and students decide to peacefully block a main road for four hours, something should happen. Recently, in the mountain town of Volcan, something did happen. The government finally agreed, in writing, to repair a school that teachers say is close to collapse.Panama peaceful protest
Bocas Del Toro. Love it or hate it, this Caribbean tourist destination has had mixed reviews over the years. Ten years after my first visit I return and find myself pleasantly surprised. Is Bocas the “Ambergris Caye” of Panama?Bocas Del Toro revisited
Volcan’s taste of Italy. When the incessant mountain rains cause pain and groaning in both body and soul where do Volcan’s go? A warm cozy Italian restaurant recently opened and is proving to be a comfort to the mind, as well as providing tasteful sustenance to the stomach. It’s also a refreshment to the overburdened wallet.
Panama's bees are disappearing! Is this part of the north American phenomena? We may be the first website to alert people to a potential ecological disaster. Bees are crucial for many more things than just producing honey.Disappearing Bees