One Liner:
Renovation and Development
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What first brought you to Panama and what were some of the deciding factors?:
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My wife and I were transferred to Panama by Red Bull Energy Drink for the opening of our new Latin American headquarters. After 9 years with Red Bull we decided to settle in Panama and open up our development company. Panama offered a high quality of life, great surfing, good access to other countries in the region and good business opportunities.
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How long have you been living in Panama and how long do you see yourself here in the future?:
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We have been living in Panama for 4 years. We have at least another 3 years in the country full time at which point we are planning on residing part of the year in Europe.
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What are the positive aspects of life in Panama?:
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Generally, life is more simple in Panama and the cost of living is reasonable. For water lovers, Panama offers good surfing and fishing opportunities that are easily accessible. People are generally friendly and the country is quite safe to travel in. Panama has become a great travel hub for the region with direct flights to great locations in South and Central America and the Caribbean.
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What are the negative aspects of life in Panama?:
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The city is lacking in cultural stimulation, particularly when compared to your US or European city of similar size or even cities such as Bogota. There are the usual Latin American bureaucracies that simply take time and patience to work through.
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What one aspect of your life in Panama makes it all worthwhile?:
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Having a good morning of surf at Playa Venado, a $3 lunch of fresh fish, rice and beans, and an afternoon nap at Dims Hostel in Pedasi. No worries mate.
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Was it difficult to become "legal" or achieve residency for you in Panama?:
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No. It just took time. I had an advantage in that Red Bull initially dealt with all the residency hassel.
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Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's necessary in order to succeed in Panama?:
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My Spanish is improving, my wife is fluent. Spanish makes life easier in Panama but a non-Spanish speaker can get by. If you are thinking of starting a business either learn Spanish or have a fully bilingual staff that can assist you in any situation.
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What are your future plans in Panama?:
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We will continue to grow our development business taking on select restoration projects in the Casco Antiguo and our tourism projects in Pedasi.
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Favorite restaurant in Panama (include brief review por favor):
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Manolo Carocol. No set menu and always changing. All fresh foods served tapas style so you get a good variety at each sitting.
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Talk about where you live: location, type, neighbors, costs, amenities, conveniences?:
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We live on Avenida Central in the Casco Antiguo. We have local and expatriate neighbors and like the mixed essence of the neighborhood, although it is changing fast as prices and restorations continue to increase. We purchased our home here 4 years ago. It is one of the few walking neighborhoods in Panama where restaurants and cafes are just a short walk from your doorstep.
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How are you received by the locals in Panama?:
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Local have received my family and I with warmth. However, it does take awhile to break into social circles in Panama.
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Do you ever miss home and if so, how do you best cope with it?:
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Occasionally we miss home. We travel enough back to the US and Europe to get our dose of home and we also try to travel and explore the other countries in the region. If ever feeling down in Panama, a day of good surf can cure the doldrums.
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Do you have any tips for people thinking about moving to Panama?:
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Spend some time here first and experience the country for yourself. Talking to other expatriates about there experiences can help, but everyone has there own perspective. Remember, Panama has seasons with the dry season Dec - March being the most hospitable. Decide if you want to be a snowbird or spend your full year here. For people looking for business opportunities, there are many in Panama, but be realistic, things can move slow in Panama and good help is hard to find.
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