I spent 3 years in Panama back in the 80’s courtesy of Uncle Sugar (see sigline). My wife and I went back this past January. Wow, what a change! The Panama City skyline is WAY different than beaucoup years ago.
Went to my old bases and my old dropzone (Venado). Got gratuitous pics! Even took my old beret down for these glamor shots! Then stayed at a resort up the coast right by Rio Hato, which was ironic as we jumped in there on a joint mission with the PDF in '86 (even got Panamanian jump wings as a foreign award for a joint op). Three years later the Rangers jumped in there, only it wasn’t a “joint op”. :rolleyes:
Cool pics. The above are now businesses, NGO’s and etc. The building on the very end is now Florida State University building where I took a Spanish class.
Gun laws in Panama are quite good for a country in LA. I know a number of people with licenses, but I have heard they want to reduce that. There’s also very slim pickings for actual guns to purchase, and they tend to cost approx 2X what they did in the states. I am essentially 50% in Panama at this time until I can establish more business. After that, not sure what the ratio will be.
Bottom line is, it takes some time and jumping through some hoops to get a license in Panama if you’re a resident (and that’s process is another story…) but it can be done, and you can get decent enough fire arms for effective SD, but you can forget about having the choices and selections and collection you had in the US.
I’ve had some good, clean fun in Panama and would love to go back. Probably went some places I shoudnt’a but had a few adventures. Got on a bus in the city just to take a cheap tour around. I jumped on just as it got rolling and remember the driver being kinda surprised at that… I took the last seat way in front. It didn’t make many stops as it headed out into the country-- further, and further, and further. A few people got off but nobody got on. Every stop he would turn to look at me like, I this where you’re going? Nope… I’ll keep going, thanks. Let’s see a little Panama that the tourists don’t see…
Finally we’re way out in the countryside and it pulls into this place with a guard shack. Is it HERE you’re getting out, Gringo? Ah nope, I’m not getting out, I’ll just ride back with you. The door opens and I hear everyone else in the bus stand up. They start filing by. Now I had not checked out the rest of the passengers very closely because, well, it’s just not my nature to turn around and start examining a crowd of people.
Hmm, all these people filing by were dressed the same-- jumpsuits… and shackles. Yup, good place to stay on the bus!
I met some girls that were not… well, they were just regular girls, and we had some fun together. Met their families, had some meals, played Scrabble in Spanish (they won). Maybe not the wild and crazy times one would like to be telling about but I really enjoyed it and they were all nice folks.
Shot a match with a pal I had met at the SOF Three-Gun Invitation in the late 80’s. He was a canal pilot and I was supposed to go back down and do a transit with him (“hey can I drive?”). Tried to reach him a year and a half ago and he had died in a car accident.
Sold a little bit of armor which was theoretically the main reason for being there. Met some interesting people doing that.
Just reading an article about some archeologists who are diving at the mouth of the Chagres river, where Captain Morgan initiated his attack on Panama City and lost a few ships. How I’d love to be a part of that!
That is good. IIRC in CR if you are a resident or have a resident visa you can carry a shotgun in your car with the rounds mounted on the side. A few years ago there was a concealed carry law on the President’s desk, never heard what happened to it.
You can go to the exact location and see where his men must have been roaming the streets and burning down buildings and such. Panama has a lot of very interesting history.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the Yucatan, in fact, all over Mexico from east coast to west, Venezuela, and many of the Caribbean Islands.
The natural beauty of all are phenomenal, the people in general friendly, but when you’re in a third world country expect third world nastiness when it comes to officials, many of the accommodations and service in general. You’re not in Kansas anymore Toto…
I recall more than one time overhearing Americans bitterly complaining about the service in restaurants or elsewhere and comparing it to what we have in the States. My thought at the time was: You’re not in the States…no one forced you to come here. Enjoy the enjoyable and quit bitching about the bother that comes with visiting a third world country or go the hell back home!
If spoken in general terms regarding people you dealt with, agreed. If directed at me, you’d be incorrect in that perception or expectation on my part.
I’ve traveled Central and South America a bit and everywhere went, even the most humble hovel of a restaurant, the service was great. But still I’m not surprised to hear Gringos complaining that i’s not just like home. But service-wise-- I always find it good. Like, it’s their job and they take pride n doing it well, instead of, “I’m just doing this until somebody gives me something better”. Surely bad service can be found but I happen to have not foud it. And certainly there’s plenty of good service here too but it’s more the exception.
Will, I discovered ceviche in Panama-- get some if you haven’t already. I remember the name of one place I stayed-- “Hotel California”!
… and, daily, all the car alarms would go off together. Ho-hum, another tremor, big deal.
Those buildings (the ones formerly used as U.S. barracks anyway), including the ones on Ft. Kobbe, are a little “modified” from how they were in the 80’s. The center area was open-air with the window areas screened in. That is where the latrines/showers and stairwells were. The ends of the buildings were the rooms where the troops lived and were closed off and air-conditioned, with regular glass windows.
It is kind of sad to see many of those buildings just sitting there baking in the sun, abandoned. Clayton seemed to be occupied more but Kobbe and Howard have many empty buildings.
It was very surreal being there so many years later. Seemed like a lifetime ago I was basically a kid (18-21yo) in uniform running around there. The old housing area where my ex and I lived, Cocoli, is now totally gone as part of the canal locks expansion project.
Do you like living down there? Now is a good time of year to be there, that’s for sure! They are supposed to be opening a new international airport at Rio Hato (were working on it when we were there in January) that will allow direct flights into the area for the existing and future resorts there. According to the Panamanians it will be done in 2014 but if a Panamanian “time estimate” is anything like it used to be it sure as hell won’t be next year!
I have eaten gallons of ceviche my friend. Personally, I like sancocho more. I have to get my sancocho fix at least once per week, some times more. I have had plenty of terrible service in Panama, and some excellent service. Panama is not know for its quality of service, even among others from regional countries. I consider it part of the “charm” of the place.
Ever eat at a place called Napoli’s? There is one just off 4th of July Ave. and one up in town not far from the Marriott. The latter one was not there years ago but we used to go to the former. AWESOME pizza! Had to go there in January. Saved up my appetite and had lobster and a pizza!
I’m not technically living here. Right now, it’s been approx 50% of my time the last two years give or take. As business develops, I plan to spend majority of my time here and now that they have made it far easier to apply for a perm residency, will do that in the near future. Panama is not for everyone to be sure, but for me to date and others I know, it’s the place to be on many levels.
I believe I have, but not 100% sure. It’s funny, there’s a lot of good pizza in Panama City. I know of 2-3 places at least within walking distance for me. I have options for so much good food at reasonable prices it’s not funny. Panama City blows away any US city I have been to for variety of good food options from all over the world.
I can go to a Swiss restaurant, Peru, Costa Rican, Cuban, Italian, Middle east, Mexican, Polish, French, Japanese, etc, etc etc, any time, all within walking distance.
