Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
The Evolution of Panama City
From the Casco Viejo district, a traveller’s photogenic fantasy come true, to Mercado de Mariscos, a popular seafood stop, the Central American seaside capital has re-emerged as a favourite tourist destination, and locals are thrilled.
I caught my first glimpse of Panama City’s skyline at dusk. After exiting the canal and passing under the Bridge of the Americas, we left behind the jungles of Gatun Lake and the Canal Zone. The first building to catch my eye was the vibrant Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo (Museum of Biodiversity). A short time later, the rest of the city came into sight: The towering white buildings glowed with a pink hue, giving the impression of a modern utopia.
The look was in direct contrast to the Panama of my memories. That Panama of 20 years ago throbbed with grime and danger. The memory that endures is of a hot-tempered taxi driver (in even hotter weather) speeding through dodgy neighbourhoods before finally admitting we were lost.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Students Visit Panama During Alternative Spring Break Experience
For a group of five students at Western New Mexico University, this year’s spring break did not include late night movies with friends, or homemade meals during family visits. Instead, for these students, the 2017 spring break vacation was a week of volunteer work and life changing experiences in remote Panama villages. Termed, Alternative Spring Break, the international venture was a trip of a lifetime for the handful of WNMU students who participated in the first annual event.
Partnering with SCORE International, an organization that coordinates short-term mission trips, Panama was the choice country for WNMU because of the university’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, and the country’s official language of Spanish. “I first envisioned visiting a big city and the beach,” said LeShauntai Adams, an 18-year-old freshman from Shiprock, New Mexico. After her arrival, Adams quickly realized that the trip would have a bigger impact than the typical spring break experience.
“We first went to a village, and I felt warm because the kids were very friendly,” said Adams. The students visited schools with limited resources in impoverished villages. They delivered new toys, played games with the school kids, and witnessed what life was like for a child living in a Central American village.
Source: WMNU.com
Ritz-Carlton Reserve At Pearl Island, Panama, Commemorates Upcoming Construction Of Ultra-Luxury Resort With Groundbreaking Ceremony
Representatives of Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company and parent corporation of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., joined the President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, and investors from Grupo Eleta and Grivalia last week, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the ultra-luxury Ritz-Carlton Reserve being built on Pearl Island, 45 miles south of Panama City.
As Pearl Island is renowned for its spectacular white sand deserted beaches, scuba diving, marine life and delicate ecosystems, the resort will offer a bespoke experience that is reflective of the destination. With handcrafted curated offerings and cultural elements woven throughout their stay, guests will have an experience that is transformative, pure, rare, and refined. It will be an authentic extension of true Panamanian hospitality.
The centerpiece of the Reserve will feature an open-air resort offering 86 intimate rooms, and a range of select luxury amenities and exceptional services to include a lavish spa, private beach club, swimming pools, restaurants, an 1,800-square-foot pavilion and boardroom with ocean views, and access to a world-class marina.
Source: Yahoo Finance
Isla Taboga: Panama City’s island oasis
Whether you’re living in Panama City or just visiting, you’ve probably heard about Isla Taboga, or at least seen it from the flight in. Isla Taboga is a relatively small island that’s just off the coast of Panama City in the Bay of Panama. It’s about a 30-minute ferry ride from the Balboa Yacht club at the mouth of the canal, and many city-base boating enthusiasts and boat owners choose to go on their own, or with friends as a day trip.
When it comes to “things to do” on Isla Taboga, the name of the game is fun in the sun. The island is surrounded by beautiful beaches, with the main beach being at the entrance where the boats dock. You’ll find that mid-week it’s far less crowded, and you can have lots of free space all along the shore. If you do choose to go during a busy period, you may want to walk a bit away from the marina if you’re looking for more privacy. Once on Isla Taboga, you can sunbathe, boogie board, surf, or swim in the sea. You may also find snorkeling and boat excursions around the island, especially if you travel their with a tour group that provides activities.
Source: International Relocation Firm Blog
