Living in Almost Paradise

By Bill Upchurch

For three years now, we have told family and friends abroad that we live in “Almost Paradise.” Why “almost paradise” you ask….well, no place on Earth is perfect. And Panamá is no exception.

The transition to a first world country definitely has some bumps and bruises along the way. Not to mention our own transition to a new country where we did not speak the language and certainly did not understand the laid back life style of the Panamanian people.

One of the most commonly referred to terms in Panamá is “The Mañana Syndrome.” Locals are asked “When can we get the work done?” and the answer is “Mañana!” According to Berlitz, the word mañana directly translates to tomorrow or morning depending on context. However, here in Panamá, Mañana means, It ain’t gonna happen today. (This is also known to the locals as “mañana lo hace” or tomorrow it will be done.)

There are several issues that we were not expecting to deal with on a regular basis. Things like the occasional power outage during rainy season, driving in crazy traffic in Panamá City, governmental bureaucracy, cultural differences (basically the definition of a party or a good time,) language barrier and my personal favorite, “agua, no hay” (this usually happens during the dry season, when the local water service company restricts water flow for conservation.)

Dang, that seems like a lot of crap to put up with for two gringos who obviously think they deserve better treatment (add a high level of sarcasm here!)

Once we learned to accept our new home country for any short comings it may have, the real beauty of Panamá shows itself for what it really is. A beautiful tropical country full of climate diversity where you can be roasting on the beach in the afternoon, freezing your butt off in the mountains in the evening or just a leisurely 1-1.5 hour drive away from an actual rainforest. There are multiple different climates (Micro-Climates) in very short distances in Panamá.

The southern cost of Panamá (Pacific side) is literally one beach that runs from Panama City to the Costa Rican Border. There is no shortage of good times to be had on the water. We have it all from diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, boating, local fishing, big game fishing or just relaxing on the beach in the sun! Just off the coast are several beautiful islands to visit. Several of my favorite are the Pearl Islands and a national park preserve called Isla Coiba.

The northern coast (Caribbean) also offers fantastic opportunities to spend time on the water. San Blas Islands, Isla Grande, Portobelo and the Islands of Bocas del Toro are absolutely beautiful with the most pristine waters in all of Panamá.

There is plenty of great places to visit in the interior with many activities to enjoy. Some of our favorite places to visit are the mountain towns of Boquete, Volcan and El Valle de Anton. Boquete is located next to the highest mountain in Panamá called Barú. Barú is an active Volcano (don’t worry, it has not had any real seismic activity in 500 years) in Chiriqui about 40 miles from the Costa Rican Border. Volcan is the sister town located on the other side of Barú.

Both towns offer majestic views with unforgettable beauty. Hiking, Biking, four wheeling, coffee farm tours, white water rafting or just relaxing in a friendly setting are just a few of the fun things to do in these charming towns. Because of the elevations, the climate is much cooler than the lower coastal areas.

Locate closer to the middle of the country is the town of El Valle de Anton. This town is located in the crater of the mountain of Anton. This Volcano is inactive and last erupted 300,000 years ago. The town is home to some fantastic sights like Chorro El Macho and Las Mozas waterfalls. El Valle also has natural water springs with natural swimming locations. The town is probably best known for it’s huge daily market where you can buy fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants and many different souvenirs from Panamá. El Valle is also the last known habitat for the severely endangered La Rana Dorada (The Golden frog) which is the National Animal of Panamá.

When it comes to celebration, Panamá takes a backseat to no one!! There are Holidays and many festivals throughout the year. The locals travel to many destinations including the Coronado Beach area and party for the duration of their time off. It is not uncommon to hear good lively upbeat music through out the night until the wee hours of the morning. It really is just people having fun with family and friends (although, i could do without the yodeling!)

Other festivals include the Jazz festival in Panama City, The Beer Fest, the Jazz and Blues Festival as well as the flower festival in Boquete. But, the grand daddy of them all is Carnaval which is celebrated throughout the country of Panamá for four days before the beginning of Lent. This is a celebration that has to be experienced to truly be understood. I must admit, I was nervous about being accepted the first time I went. Boy was I wrong! The thousands of people partying in the street took us in and made us feel truly welcome.

This leads me to share the biggest and most beautiful attraction of Panamá. The People!! We have had some of our best experiences meeting and getting to know many of the Panamanians. We find them warm, welcoming, friendly, and very helpful to us imigrants that have decided to call Panamá home!

After all is said and done, we wake up every morning knowing that we live in “Almost Paradise!”