The US Embassy send out this message to registered citzens today:

TO:  EMERGENCY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS

SUBJECT:  Widespread Disruption and Protests along Pan-American Highway and throughout Panama
Dear Wardens:  Please disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your area.  Thank you.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama City alerts U.S. citizens to continued disruptions and demonstrations along the Pan-American Highway near the San Felix area in Chiriqui (Ngobe Bugle region) and elsewhere in Panama.  There are reports of violent confrontations between the Panamanian police and protestors in the San Juan, San Felix, Horconcitos and Vigui areas.
While the Pan-American Highway is reported to be open, protesters continue in their attempts to block it with rocks, trees, and burning tires at various points between Chiriqui and San Felix.  Protesters have been reportedly throwing rocks at passing vehicles.  GOP Security Services continue to use tear gas and other riot control measures. 

There are further reports of additional demonstrations in the areas of David and Changuinola, and of possible demonstrations in the Panama City area beginning on Monday, February 6, 2012.  American citizens are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations, to defer traveling to and within areas known to have current protest activity, and to exercise caution in any area of confrontation between police and protestors. 

Other protests on this or other issues may occur with little or no warning.  The Embassy continues to caution its employees and all U.S. citizens to exercise heightened security awareness and avoid crowds and any areas where there are demonstrations or where confrontations could occur.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Travel Warnings and Publc Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found.  Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

For updated information on the security situation in Panama, please contact the American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy at 207-7030.  The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located in Clayton, Building 783, in the Clayton section of Panama.  The Consular Section fax is 207-7303.  The Embassy web site is http://panama.usembassy.gov/ and e-mails should be addressed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . After hours and emergency phone number:  207-7000 or 207-7200.

9:00 a.m. Thank you Steven Johnson for calling in and letting us know. The road is bloacked in both directions. If anyone has any more information, or pictures, please call me or send them in or comment on this article, so we can get the word out to people travellig in this direction.

10:00 a.m. Traffic is now flowing on both sides.

11:00 a.m. This update from Len Melso of Panamauto Garage in Rio Hato:

It was SUNTRACS, doing a quick mini-blockage and going back to work before the cops got there. It's in solidarity with the Nogle. It's hard to say what will happen these next few days. There might be a general strike, or widespread rioting, or things might just simmer down.

Deciding to sell your property takes a lot more than sticking a price tag on it, calling a real estate advisor and sitting back to wait for a buyer.  Oh no.  There is so much more that you will need to do to put yourself in the position of being prepared for that upcoming offer.

The first thing I always recommend (and yes, I’ve been known to get pushy about this :), is to contact your attorney immediately.  It is extremely important to know where you stand on your property and corporation taxes and to know if you have a property tax exoneration in place . 

Give your attorney a call and let them know that you have your house, condo or lot on the market and what price you are asking.  They will be able to let you know what your tax obligations and closing costs will be when you sell your property.  Also, since you will need your attorney’s representation in the sales transaction, it is a good idea to communicate with them what you are up to so when they get the introduction from your real estate representative they too are prepared to move forward.   And, to state the obvious, knowing what your tax and closing obligations will be is very helpful when determining the price of your property.

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?