Panama City
Panama City is a beautiful vibrant city on the bay of Panama. It has two historic sections, one where the Spanish first set up their fort now called Panama Antiqua or Casco Antigua and it consists of rock and stone ruins on the east side of Panama City. The other historic section called Casco Viejo or Old Panama is on the west side of Panama City and it is being lovingly recreated to preserve its historical aspects while bringing alive a new exciting 21st century lifestyle. This area is a wonderful place to create a new home and the Panamanian government has created a whole set of laws that give tax breaks and financial incentives to those willing to undertake this challenge.
Between these two historical sections a new widened and improved Balboa Avenue is being created stretching along the Bay of Panama. At its easterly end lie the upscale districts of Paitilla and Punta Pacifica. Here huge high rises overlook the bay and new ones are coming into being. All along the expanded Balboa Avenue, new high rises are springing from the ground to take full advantage of this beautiful sight.
But Panama City is composed of many hills and so there are many areas where spectacular views of this bay are possible. All through Bella Vista, El Cangrejo, San Francisco and out east along Corredor Sur, new developments are being created to take advantage of this beautiful Bay and to create spectacular homes for the hundreds of new residents flocking to Panama, literally on a monthly basis. There is Costa Del Este the only truly planned community in Panama, where gorgeous views of the bay are intended fro all residents and all sorts of shopping and entertainment is available without ever leaving your community. Nonetheless you are still extremely close to the heart of Panama City. Even golf course communities are being developed right along the bay, so you truly can have it all
But there is more to Panama than just a view of the bay, and areas along the Panama Canal and in the remaining rainforest areas are extremely popular with the new residents. For some people, the idea of being able to live quietly and enjoy the natural beauty of the rainforest is much more attractive than a high rise overlooking the bay. Ancon Hill and the old Canal Zone are still affordable and you can find attractive single-family homes, or new gated communities are being developed.
Another area of interest is the Amador Causeway. Created from the earth and sand dredged to make the Canal. The Causeway joins 4 little islands and provides a beautiful view of the Bay of Panama and the skyline of Panama city on the one side and the entry way to the Canal with the ships preparing to transit the canal or leaving it to continue their journey. Some developments are happening here but the extent and type is under some controversy as we write. Definitely Amador and its many fine restaurants and delightful walking biking paths provides a great addition to the ambience of Panama City
Transportation
Many people in Panama City find the traffic confronting, and for them taxis are the answer. The taxis in Panama City are carefully regulated, and there is a set fee depending on the zones you are going through ad the number of people in the taxi. During the morning and evening rush hour it is common to find people sharing a taxi as the traffic density at those times is huge.
Be sure if you are trying to get a taxi you know the name of the district you are going to as that will be the first clue for the driver how far he or she is expected to drive. Need to attach the taxi zone code As the price of gas is rising, don’t hesitate to tip your taxi driver, the code amounts are not generous. On the other hand don’t get treated like a “tourist”. Know your codes and either pay as you get out of the taxi, according to the code or settle on the price of your ride before you head off. It is not surprising to learn that with the huge influx of new people arriving in Panama daily some taxi drivers are taking advantage of the “newbies”.
Some residents of Panama, who choose not to have a car, have created a relationship with a taxi driver whom they trust and they call in advance to book their travel. In general this works well but it never hurts to have a back up driver in case the regular one is “busy”. The local Panamanians often have a gardener, handyman, driver whom they employ, so if you live in a single family home you might consider this option. It is still possible to find these sorts of employees for relatively little money, but consult a lawyer and know the labor law if you go this route.
Living in Panama City gives you a wide variety of things to do. There are lots of gyms and many hotels will allow you to use their gym and pool facilities for a membership fee. Walking is great exercise and there are interesting walks to be found in many areas of the city. There are a variety of expat groups offering everything form bridge to mahjong. Bird watching is wonderful and there is an active Audobon society and they offer starter walks once a month. Volunteering is a great way to keep your mind and body active and allow you to contribute to this exciting country. There is boating and fishing, deep sea diving and snorkeling all available within a reasonable distance of Panama City and there are many golf courses. Movie theaters are common and most of the movies are in English with Spanish sub titles. The theater and opera, the symphony and choir groups are all here and begging for your attention. So find your passion. If you love it you can bet others will too so if you can’t fnd a group to join, start one.
The expat groups are here, many of them available in English only, so if you speak English it is easy f to find others who do likewise. The Smithsonian research Institute offers lectures, some in Spanish, some in English. The Modern Museum of Art too has regular exhibits. There are book clubs and lots of business organizations looking for your input so come and be prepared to get involved if you wish.
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