This month, Panama is host to athletes arriving from around the world to participate in the Ironman Triathlon, on February 12th. While this competition has professional athletes participating for a $75,000 prize pool, which will be paid out to the first 8 positions in the male and female category, the majority of the athletes entering the Ironman competition are doing so to challenge themselves personally.

Rick Yazwinski a software engineer from Toronto, is relatively new to the world of triathlons. He ran his first ever triathlon just 9 months ago in May of 2011. It was a sprint distance, which is considered as an entry level event for athletes just starting out in the triathlon world. Since then he has done 3 Sprints, 1 Olympic length and 1 Half Iron - and he is hooked to the challenge.

Panama’s Ironman distances are as follows: Swim, 1.9K in the Pacific Ocean at the entrance to the Panama Canal. Bike, 90 km across the Bridge of the Americas. Run, 21 km through Amador Causeway. The event must be completed within 8 hours. Ideally Rick hopes to complete within 5 hours and 15 minutes, climate and weather permitting. Here in Panama, his biggest challenge will be the heat and humidity. Rick is hoping the unseasonably cool weather we have been experiencing at the beaches, stays long enough and makes its way to the city next week.

I received a parking ticket in Panama City, which had been adhered to the driver's window of my vehicle. You do not have to go into Panama City to take care of it. The closest ATTT (Autoridad de Transporte Terrestre something..) is in La Chorrera. I called the phone there (244-3266) and ascertained that they were indeed opened

The ATTT office is VERY easy to locate: as you enter La Chorerra, pass the Accel gas on your right, and as you come to the Texaco gas on your left, (NOT the one on the right) make the left. It's behind and to the left (west) of the Texaco pumps. Go inside, and go to the CAJA window. Present your ticket, and you will be asked for a Cedula, Passport or Nacional Driver's License. The attendant will ask if you are the owner of the vehicle ticketed, and put either your name (if it's not your car) or the plate number (if it is your car) in. He then has all the information on you in Panama: License status/previous tickets/outstanding tickets/passport status and registration status. The fine is only ten dollars for the summons. It was my first and I don't know if subsequent ones are more. I asked what would happen if you didn't answer the ticket. He told me there was a 10% increase in the fine per thirty days, and your registration will be blocked upon renewal date, you could expect problems at customs, then ultimately, if you are stopped by the policia, you can/will be arrested. The computer system is amazingly effective and thorough, and the local policia have hand-held versions.

As an Expat in Panama, are you looking for information regarding Health Insurance? 

Located on the mountain side of the Panamerica Highway, half a mile before San Carlos when coming from Panama, Mamma Mia Restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Panama.

La Chorera is hosting their International Fair from January 18th to the 29th.  Open all day and in the evenings.

This fair has a lot going on!  Busy little streets full of stalls offering everything from food to jewelry, hand made sandals, pots, pans and quite a few novelties.  Naturally there would be ponies to ride and a few animals to check out in the agricultural area.   A little further away, there is the flower section where you can buy anything from orchids to herbs.  Even the National Borders Guards were on hand to show off their jeeps and uniforms.

On Sunday, the Spay the Strays Group conducted our first clinic of 2012 in Bejuco. Unfortunately, one of our vets was unable to attend so we operated on about half our norm: 27 animals. The good news is that no abortions had to be done, for the first time ever. If this clinic had not occurred, chances are that at least half of those animals would have become pregnant with unwanted litters. Several first time volunteers helped out and the slower pace allowed for a lot of cross-training. Please check out the photos below.

On 3 and 4 March, we will be holding our huge annual blitz in conjunction with Spay Panama at the Casa Cultural in San Jose (the town just past Coronado). Our goal will be to spay and neuter at least 200 dogs and cats. That will really help since we now have a waiting list of 72 animals. If you have a rescue animal or if you know a low income petowner with a dog or cat who needs sterilizing, this is the time to do it! Otherwise, our smaller clinics are full without even announcing them. We will be scheduling three shifts of volunteers so any assistance either working or by providing supplies will be greatly appreciated. This Blitz is made possible by the many generous donations during our past donor match that totaled $3600!

More evidence that physical activity is worth every minute you spend committing to it!

Here we are nearing the end of January so it's probably a good time to bring up another good reason to stick with your New Year's resolution if it was to increase your physical activity.

According to the Weill Cornell Medical School Fitness Advisor, being fit decreases the frequency and severity of colds. People who are more physically active have fewer and milder upper respiratory tract infections (URTI, also known as the common cold). Researchers from a study tracked the respiratory health of 1,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 85 for a 12 - week period. 

Join the Spanish classes at Finca La Maya in San Carlos

The best way to appreciate living in a new culture is to be a real part of it!

Let’s face it: if you don’t understand the language spoken where you live, you going to be missing out on a lot!

Learning a new language can be challenging, but you’d be surprised at how well you can get by if you learn just a few of the basics. It is said that with a vocabulary of only two hundred words, most languages can be spoken well enough to at least make yourself understood. And an experienced teacher can help get you there fast.

Finca La Maya is delighted to welcome the esteemed Senora Marilyn Samaniego

who was previously a teacher in University of Panama, who is now teaching two classes per week since January 2012.

CASA’S SUMMER BEACH PARTY 2012, ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT!

The popular Annual CASA Picnic had a large turn out as usual. Over 100 people attended this year’s beach party.  The picnic was held at the Costa Esmerelda beach club, which has lovely grounds backing onto several miles of white sand beach.  The weather was perfect!

At $3 per member and $5 for non members, it was well worth getting a membership and taking advantage of the lower price.  Everyone brought a plate to share from appetizers, sides to deserts.  CASA provided the chicken,  either teriyaki or bbq sauce choices of legs or breasts.

Every American and Canadian golfer always loves a friendly competition especially when it is against each other.  On Wedensday January 18th, Coronado Golf Club and Resort hosted the 5th annual

Canada / US Challenge Cup , this year marked the most popular event ever with 84 golfers making up 14 Canadian teams and 7 US teams.  The friendly competition began at 8am sharp and the game format was a fun yet challenging scramble.  The winning team this year was a Canadian team that shot a net score of 54.  Teams were made up of men and women from the Coronado and surrounding community and finished off with a great lunch and some awesome prizes at the Coronado Terrazas Restaurant.

Strikers have blocked off the highway between Coronado and Gorgona. From the information we are gathering, it appears that people from Coloncito are protesting lands that have been sold and leaving them homeless.

It seems that there are around 30 famlies who have been cheated of the right to buy the homes they live in, as the Mayor of Chame sold the land to someone else. The families and friends have blocked the roads with trees and tires, banging pots, screaming about corruption and preventing traffic in and out of the area.

Here is a cell phone pictures sent in by Kara Patrick who is stuck on the road and sending in details. Click read more.

The Many Uses of the Spanish SE

Whether you are a person who is serious about learning Spanish or someone who may just have a passive interest, you no doubt have heard and seen the word ‘se’. Just a small word with only two letters. Yet it can mean many things. Becoming familiar with just the basic ways in which ‘se’ is used will help you understand and speak Spanish much better. 

‘Se’ in Spanish sometimes can be frustrating. I remember many times I would wonder, agonize really, why ‘se’ was appearing in conversation or in something I was reading. So often, I just did not understand why the ‘se’ was there. But thanks to my Spanish teacher in Coronado, Panamá, and my Spanish teacher in Reno, Nevada, USA, I finally started to understand the use of ‘se’. I hope I can convey to you what I have learned about ‘se’, and save you some frustration.

This is a rather long article. But ‘se’ is everywhere in the Spanish language. So, to move forward, we must have at least a general understanding of the uses of ‘se’. Are you ready?

Now that it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, we see new people arriving in Panama almost every day, here at the beaches. In getting ready to move to Panama, there are lots of logistics to think about: containers, housing, furnishing, budgets, bank accounts, visas, pets, telephones, cable tv, transportation… the list is endless. Most people are prepared to deal with these unending lists of To-Dos but few are aware of, or ready to deal with what is universally known as Culture Shock.

Friday, January 20 - EVERYONE is INVITED

It’s that time of year again:  Time for the CASA Annual “SUMMER” Beach Party, and the CHICKEN is back!   So mark your calendars, invite your old friends and new neighbors, bring along a dish to share and your own liquid refreshment,  and come prepared to have a great time at Costa Esmeralda on Friday, January 20, 2-6.     Reservations need to be in by Wednesday Jan 18th  early evening.  .Again this year, a low cost for a great afternoon and great food: $3.00 for CASA members and $5.00 for non members.   And, if you are not presently a CASA member there will be an opportunity to join CASA at the party and receive the reduced price.   In addition, we will have a few items for a Raffle so bring along some pocket change.  There is plenty of seating in the social area, and don’t forget that there is the ocean and pool for swimming.  Costa Esmeralda is in a gated community so please email CASA at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to let us know you will be coming and what you will be bringing for a dish to share.  Appetizers will be served at 3:00, and the main meal and the chicken will be served at 4:00.  If you are bringing an appetizer, plan to be there by 3:00, appetizer in hand.  Don’t forget!   EVERYONE is invited!  Please share this invitation with others in our communities.

Annual Chili Fest Challenge

One of the main activities that CASA does once a year is to distribute food baskets to families with handicapped children.

In November all the baked goods donated from members and friends were sold at the CASA Table along with the items and services donated by members, restaurants and local stores allowed us to finance 60 food baskets. The bags, supplied by Multibank, were filled to the brim and then distributed on December 16th in San Carlos. Mollie Black played Mrs. Santa and did a wonderful job of matching children to stuffed toys that made their way from Chicago.