Happy July!

On Wednesday Eric & I set out for a few days at the beach. First stop about 4 ½ hours away was Playa Blanca Our friend Wendy has a new villa there and we were taking a few pieces of furniture and tools for her new place in the van. She has rented another villa so we have a great place to stay, cooler packed and off we go. Our plan was to drop off the items, spend a little time at Playa Blanca and then go to explore an area we haven’t been in a while. Pedasi and Cambutal ( see the Panama Report)  both located on the beach at the bottom of the Los Santos Province and in some of the best surfing and fishing areas in Panama on the Pacific side. We have been anxious to see the progress there and since we would be somewhere in close proximity at Playa Blanca  we figured it was a good way to spend the weekend.

About 3 hours into the trip the chauffeur (Eric always does the driving so he won’t sleep) ran into a little problem and thus here is our Spanish word of the day!

Galote = turkey vulture - Here is what happened as I was perusing the map to identify some of the side roads and go down memory lane trying to recall events from when we traveled those side roads before – almost 3 years ago.

About 5 minutes following the accident  and while I was still on the phone with the insurance company we were stopped by the police who said we were speeding. Since there was no sign designating the speed limit and we were on the Pan American Highway I guess it was possible that we were, but highly unlikely since Eric was almost leaning out the window so he could see to drive. Unfortunately in all the hubbub Eric didn’t have any small bills so that stop cost us $20. It is typical to not take the ticket and just pay the cop. We did check on the way back and could not find any speed limit sign in the area nor we could we find the dead vulture – no doubt his friends and family “cleaned him up” so to speak.

Well – the good news is that our insurance company covers this damage with a $75 deductible. The roadside emergency service was great and very helpful, it was not a Panamanian holiday, and we are alive and well. On the down side we did have to continue to Playa Blanca with the windshield vibrating in the wind to drop off the things. There was only Panama City or David to go to get it repaired – one another 2 hours in the wrong direction and the other our “go  to” city.  We had a great dinner treat at Buenaventura Resort, slept over and turned right back around and headed to David in the morning to try to beat the rain so we would not have to use the wipers.  Every time Eric would turn the wipers on, little shards of glass would fall on the dash!

We never even saw the beach!

Eric always used to fish on his birthday which was yesterday and Vulture catching wasn’t quite what he was hoping for – we will have to make that up to him once the van is repaired. Now the challenge is to find a windshield for a 1998 Ford Van in Panama! Below is our culprit – or one like him!

Technorati Tags: pacific beaches, playa blanca, travel to panama

We decided to travel to Volcan & Cerro Punta, Chiriqui at the base of Volcan Baru 2 days ago to look at an Eco Lodge to include in one of our soon to be released tours. It turned out to be an amazingly beautiful ride and the entire day was just as spectacular. I want to share some of my “windows to Panama” with these photos. This beautiful farmland is the “Bread Basket of Panama”. Remember if you are ready to travel to Panama we can help.

The colors of Panama are always spectacular!

Even when they are the shades of gray!

I am sort of fond of blue……

But Some times you just have to get behind the 8 ball!

The results of their Labor is obvious

Lovely Cerro Punta Farm You can Click to enlarge and really enjoy the photo

They call it Mellow Yellow

Art created in Nature -Awesome & Edible

Back in Boquete at the Boquete Garden Inn

Technorati Tags: travel to panama, Volcan Baru, Volcan Chiriqui

Now the airlines have come up with 4 new things they are going to charge you for if you travel to Panama or anywhere else. Short of not flying there may be some things you can prepare for to get around these.

At a time when flying on a commercial airline has degenerated to such a point of discomfort that it is almost necessary to buy cocktails to make it through the experience the airline execs. have decided to place or raise surcharges on water, luggage, unaccompanied minors and are you ready – because you business travelers will love this – awards tickets.

See the complete report and some solutions at CNN Travel

I will be on the lookout for airlines who are doing it better and please send your comments if you know of some and have some great recent airline experiences – let’s talk coach here!

Free Travel or Panamanian Bicycle Horn?

Technorati Tags: travel Panama, travel to panama

I hope you are enjoying my blog about Travel to Panama. There is no need to go anywhere else to plan your next trip to Panama or anywhere – We can help .

My Goal

It is my goal with this blog to share what I am learning by living here and to offer information from other sites that I search for every day that I believe will be helpful and interesting. It is also a goal of mine to get you to visit this great little country I have adopted, I love it here and you just might too. Having moved here from one of the most beautiful white sand beach areas of Florida I can tell you that my standards for beautiful country are a bit high. As a nature lover and lover of mountains, beaches, waterfalls and gorgeous rivers I have been impressed with every passing day.

My Offer To You

You can help by leaving your comments telling me what you would like to know about Panama and how you think I can make this blog better. Let me know what’s on your mind so I can write things that will be useful for you and what products you would like me to offer. I am currently scouring around for some good local indigenous artists to have some real treasures of Panama to offer.

Shameless Plug

So consider this my shameless plug for your travel business or the “help the expat survive in Panama plan” either way give these great travel packages a try – you will be pleased. If you can’t find something you want here it would suprise me but just email me and I will give you my personal attention or just leave a comment to say hello.

What is in it for You?

There is no need to go anywhere else to plan your next trip to Panama. I am working hard to gain your loyalty and earn your trust as someone who will give you the real scoop on living in Panama and the best travel advice I can provide. Here you will find the information you want and need to travel and have a great time! Give these packages a look now and let me know what you think.

It’s your world where would you like to travel?

Technorati Tags: travel to panama

right now ,i live in panama city , Its raining everyday ,tourism is down .everyones cutting prices to get business .I`m practicaly giving away alcohol in my bar and it still not packed.Check spirit airlines they do some crasey deals to here sometimes .I flew spirit round trip from panama to miami ,for 139 dollars . Copa airlines does specials also .if you are flexible with your date of travel you can get a good deal if you keep searching on the net

Technorati Tags: Travel Deals