Zoo Time in Panama with a World of Visitors

ALPZA, the Latin American Association of Parks, Zoos and Aquariums
initiated in the year 1990 in a meeting held in Caracas, Venezuela. In 2009
it will have reached 19 years since its creation. As of today, ALPZA has
almost 80 members between institutions, professionals and associated members
of different countries from Central America, the Caribbean, South America,
Europe and the United States.

In 2009 it will be having its XVI Congress in the City of Panama and on this
occasion the Summit Municipal Park will be serving as host. The central
theme of the Congress will be Zoos, Aquariums and Sustainability and there
will be discussions surrounding global environment issues as well as the
role of zoos and aquariums as organizations that promote biodiversity
conservation. Additionally there are programmed workshops designed to
fortify the work done in zoo institutions and aimed at providing the
necessary tools in the areas of design of educational programs, the handling
of wild animals in captivity, aquarium procedures and exhibition designs.
Each one of these workshops are conducted by institutions of worldwide
recognition that contribute with the education of professionals and students
dedicated to the use and conservation of wildlife. This is how the Sao Paulo
Zoo, the Temaiken Park, Pangea Consultants and the Aquarium Committee of
ALPZA have committed themselves to providing the participants with tools
that can be applied in their institutions to promote the conservation and
the fulfillment of their organizational objectives.

To date we have more than 70 confirmed participants from Latin America,
Europe and the United States, that include representatives from world
renowned organizations such as the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
as well as experts in management of wildlife in captivity of different
countries. The same way as we will be counting with the participation of
important representatives of panamanian organizations recognized at a world
level, who will be linked to the Congress and will bring forth significant
knowledge regarding the handling of local wildlife and world issues that are
being studied in the country. This will be an excellent opportunity to
exchange experiences that are ocurring globally, keep up to date on
environmental issues of general interest, strengthen communication and
cooperation channels and make friends from different countries but with
common interests.

We hope that those of you interested in the subject will attend the
Congress, particularly students, who will have the opportunity to meet and
share with professionals in each of the areas that include environmental
education, architects, veterinary doctors, biologists, communication
specialists, among other diverse professions. Moreover, it is an ideal space
for environmental organizations, NGO´s, Wildlife Management Centers, that
are interested in broadening their knowledge on wildlife management in
captivity and conservation ex situ.

The congress will be held at the City of Knowledge, Convention Center
Building 184, Clayton, Ancon, Postal Address 0816- 03991 from 26 to 29 of
May 2009. The itinerary will start on the 26th at 8:00 a.m. with magisterial
conferences and on the afternoons we will be developing theory-practice
workshops that the participants can choose from depending on their principal
interests. For more information access www.alpza.com

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Casco Viejo Could Be Your Home

Casco Viejo, which is Spanish for “the Old Quarter” is a very special part of Panama City, the home of the President. Yes the President’s palace is here. In addition the entire area is dedicated to the classical style buildings that you see in the pictures below.

This is the view of Panama City that you get from Casco Viejo, near but not at your doorstep.

These buildings have been renovated and depict the classic style you find in Casco Viejo

Bolivar Square and edificio. This plaza and building are dedicated to Simon Bolivar who liberated 6 countries, including Panama from the rule of Spain.

The entire area of Casco Viejo is dedicated by the government of Panama as a special area where they focus events and activities for the general enjoyment of the populace. So you never need to leave home to participate in the wonderful events of Panama, they come to you. This is not true of Carnival which is simply too large for the small area of Casco Viejo but the Jazz Festival held a full day of free concerts here and included an art show and auction. You had no parking issues and you had the comfort of your home whenever you wanted it, but you also had wonderful entertainment right at your front door, in some cases literally.

You can own a floor in one of these wonderful old buildings, or you can own a smaller condo or you can buy an entire building that needs renovation and enjoy the process of bringing one of these grand old properties back to its former glory.

You can also just come to visit. There are some wonderful old hotels here and bed and breakfast properties. Walk around and just imagine what it was like to live here 100 years ago. There are numerous restaurants with fantastic food choices and often the weekends here include great jazz concerts at places like Simon Bolivar plaza. If you love history be sure to go through the Canal Museum.

So whatever your motivation is to come to Casco Viejo, come! You may find your heart is here and your dream home is calling. Real estate here is booming, but there are still homes for all budgets, from tiny $100,000 bachelor apartments to three bedroom plus penthouses with your own pool and entertainment area, costing a couple of million dollars.

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Buena Ventura Beach, Golf and More, Much More

Along the Pacific about 120 kms from Panama City there is a very exclusive Resort and Development; Buena Ventura and the Bristol Hotel.  For those familiar with Panama city the Bristol Hotel is a boutigue hotel situated in the heart of the banking district and it is one of the most exclusive hotels in the world.  The owner has now taken his talents and his pride and moved them out to the beach as well.  This development has some of the most gorgeous beach homes you can find.

Or maybe you prefer something in sand tones

Whatever your style you can find a fantastic lot on the edge or one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and there you can build the home of your dreams. As the Bristol Hotel is also operating here if you do not feel like cooking, you can always call and either go there for dinner or of course they will come to your home and serve you if you prefer. Having a party, call the Bristol, catering is extremely well done and readily available.

Soon Buena Ventura will be home to a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course with one dramatic hole overlooking the Pacific ocean. Of course if you rbudget is a little smaller, there are homes ranging in price from $250,000.00. For all owners there is a Beach Club right out at the edge of the ocean and you can eat there or in the comfort of your own home. DeliGourmet is already on site so your fresh healthy bread, the finest steaks you can find and wonderful deli food of all sorts are just a short golf cart ride away from your front door. Cappuccinos are fantastic and under $2

So make your reservations at the Bristol at Buena Ventura and you may never leave.

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Gamboa Rain Forest Resort

One of the most peaceful places in the world is the Gamboa Rain Forest Resort. perched on the edge of Gatun Lake which is the freshwater lake that feeds the Panama Canal, Gamboa is in the heart of the rain forest, but it is often sunny and beautiful like you see here.

Gamboa is also home to one of the best collections of local butterflies and local orchids. There are way too many of each to even begin to count but both the butterflies and the orchids are so fragile and beautiful, with such incredible colors. My favorite butterflies are the huge electric blue Morph butterfly. Lots of natural wildlife abounds in the rain forest and you will most likely see giant iguanas, several f variety of monkeys and birds of every hue.

Take the Zip line and sail into the rain forest’s canopy. You may find yourself face to face with a monkey or two.

If you are a golfer, bring your clubs as there is a world class golf course, called Summit Golf about 10 minutes away, with regular shuttle service from the hotel

There is lots to see and do here at The Gamboa Rain Forest Resort and once you have had your fill of nature you can come back and enjoy the sensational swimming pool or just tan in the sun.

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A Day with the Devils in Portobello

it was a hot day and a friend, Sandie and I were off to Portobelo for the Diablos and Congo Festival.

Many of the folks who came to Panama to work on the canal were from the Caribbean but had African heritage. They came to work but they built homes and raised their families and have stayed to add to the color of Panama. This particular festival is designed to honor that heritage and the energy is amazing.

The Congo dancing is full of color and lots of animation unlike the formality of the folkloric dancing which is done with the Polleras and is a form of courtship.

This entire day was full of color and action but our personal favorites were these two little “diablos” (devils)

If you get a chance to go to the Portobelo show next March be sure to take it in. It is a day you will not forget

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Where the Wealthy Buy Real Estate in Panama

This lovely property is owned by one of the world’s wealthy individuals some of whom are getting themselves positioned on some of the best beaches in the world here in Panama. A lovely cove protects the yacht and the deep sea fishing close to the Azuero peninsula is amongst the finest found anywhere in the world.

The wealthy can always be on the leading edge of development anywhere they choose as they have lots of money to risk and if their investments do not always work out it is no problem. However, choosing this beach area overlooking the Pacific ocean not far from Pedasi in the province of Los Santos is one of those investments that will likely work out very well.

In general real estate developments in this area are just now getting started but who would not want a location such as this one pictured above. The water is warm and the skies are almost always sunny especially here in Azuero peninsula where you find one of the driest regions in all of Panama. In fact a little to the north is a real true desert area. It is amazing when you think of this tiny land mass that is Panama and yet the variety of conditions that can be found, from tropical rain forest to desert, and from beach to mountainside.

near this estate lies one of the developments that is catering primarily to the wealthy of France. that develop0ment is l also located on a beautiful property perched high above the Pacific with a wonderful beach just at the foot of the cliff. While prices of some Panama real estate may slow down for a while, given the world-wide financial problems, there is no question the wealthy will still be out looking for those real estate opportunities like the one pictured above. What better time to buy then when others are fearful? However, the climate and the many gifts that Panama has been given will continue to attract people, particularly as the cost of living is so much more reasonable here than it is in most places and the climate is so much more pleasant.

if you have been to Panama and have not visited the Azuero peninsula you better return and if you have not yet been, be sure to put it on your agenda. Accommodation is still very tight as there are probably less than 300 hotel rooms in the entire peninsula, and most of them are not near the beaches. Expect that to change. Here are some of the finest beaches in the world, surely the hotels and resorts will not be too far behind particularly in this time when prices for this beach front are becoming more and more reasonable.

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Water Fun

I have no ideea why, but we get asked al the time what do you do all day in Panama?  I sometimes just turn and ask, What do you do all day in Vancouver, or Toronto or Miami?

The biggest difference for me and how I spend my day is that when I lived in Vancouver, I never swam in the ocean or walked the beach.  The beach was too yuchy and the water was WAY too cold.

Now each day I can choose to swim in the ocean, walk the beach, swim in the pool, go para-sailing or sea kayaking, go sea canoeing, rent a wave runner, go fishing or play golf.  You can even combine a couple of those things, I love my beach walk, then I enjoy dinner outside at the best time of the day, and watch a gorgeous sunset.

How do you spend your day?  The opportunity to spend a day here on the beach or golfing or maybe both, a trip to El Valle to visit a friend for lunch or maybe you would enjoy a day at the pool, or shopping in Panama City.

IN Panama it is pretty easy to feel like you have a lot to do.

What would you like to do?

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Dancing Congo with the Kids

In honor of the many black people who came from the Caribbean islands to work on the Panama Canal a style of dancing has been continued called Congo dancing.  It features colorful costumes and lots of traditions, like dancing with candles and with plates on their heads.  The music is fun and generally the people dancing have a great time.  The audience is very well entertained.

We were treated to some of this dancing one night at XS Bar and Grill, a restaurant along the Pacific Coast Highway at Santa Clara.  This is the home of Dennis and Sheila Parsick and the heart of the Educacion Primero fund, to help with children’s education in Cocle.  It turns out these young folks aged 5 – 10 needed some monies for their costumes.  EducacionPrimero and Dennis found the money and they came to say “Thank you”  What a charming evening!

Everybody dances

Dennis and the Kids

Alas it is over

The good news is at the end of the evening the young dance troupe walked away with over $146 it will provide treats and a little something extra for the dance troupe practices and hopefully, although unlikely buy this teacher somewthing special. Usually the teacher who sees the opportunity to give her students a sense of pride and a future that is different from the one that currently lies in front of them is totally consumed by her commitment.

These teachers are incredibly precious.. they are so rare.

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Disney comes to Panama

When I first moved to Panama, I was told that Disney had an option on a huge tract of land close to our community. Then there was silence. Well it turns out it was true although it is at least 30 minutes from the community where I live so we will not get the construction hassles.

But certainly it makes all the property around even more valuable and this will only increase over time. It also shows that there is lots of activity still happening in Panama. So from a development point of view it is wonderful news.

I attach the article which I saw. Not everyone agrees it is good news.

By Rodrigo Campos, Associated Press Writer Ciudad de Panama-Panama
officials confirmed today that the government of Panama has issued The Walt
Disney Company the required permits to begin construction on a $658 million
theme park near the Pacific Coast. The first phase of the project, which
will be named Disneylandia, is set to be completed in November 2012 and will
include a theme park, hotels, airport, and production studio. Located on
the Pan-American Highway near the entrance to the resort town of Coronado,
the 350 acre park is expected to significantly increase the number of
tourists entering the Central American country annually. Disney officials
cited many reasons for choosing Panama as the new location of Disney,
including a dollarized economy, strong democratic government, and the need
to give Latin American residents who find it difficult to get an American
Visa the opportunity to visit the home of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Disney
purchased the land in 2001, and plans to purchase more land in the future
for expansion. (more)

As part of a deal struck with Panamanian officials to bring the theme park
to the tiny country, the names of nearby coastal areas will be changed to
reflect Disney inspired themes. This has drawn the ire of local residents,
who claim that the government never met with them to discuss the changes.

“The government has sold out our beautiful community without telling us
anything,” says Ernesto Arosemena of Gorgona, which will soon be named
Agrabah, after the Arabian town in Aladdin. The area at the entrance to
Gorgona is slated to become a satellite parking lot, and officials plan to
build a train from there to the main entrance of the park.

Disney officials are assuring locals that they will hardly notice the
construction, officially set to break ground on December 28th. Although the
park plans to have construction 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they tell
residents that they should only expect traffic delays Mondays through
Saturdays. For more information, please visit http://tinyurl.com/2ht3po .

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The Artisans of Panama

In El Valle de Anton I recently found and photographed this feather painting, which I felt so brilliantly captured the artist’s craft.

Here on a feather is a depiction of what truly was a remarkable little creature but one that has pretty much been eradicated, perhaps thanks to man. The Golden Frog once lived in el Valle de Anton and then a terrible fungus struck the frogs of Panama practically eradicating all of them The Smithsoninan scientists have found some of these tiny creatures and some other frogs of Panama and are keeping them alive so they can study the fungus that is killing them, hoping to solve the problem and use the few survivors to repopulate Panama’s frogs.

So paintings are currently all you see of the yellow frog.   What a gift. To capture this little creature in such an elegant form. Be sure to look for these feather paintings, either to adorn your own home or to give as gifts. Your friends and family will love you for it.

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