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Written by Matt Landau
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Tuesday, October 23 2007 |
It has long been a symbol of independence and rebellion in the US to have tattoed a Chinese symbol on ones body. People rarely know what their symbols actually mean, but perhaps that's part of the inherent mutiny of it all.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Matt Landau
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Wednesday, August 22 2007 |
This article was taken from a new Panama blog I started called Los Cuatro Tulipanes Blog (www.loscuatrotulipanes.com/blog). It's a day-to-day blog about living, working and running a boutique hotel in Panama's old quarter of Casco Antiguo or Casco Viejo.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Matt Landau
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Tuesday, June 26 2007 |
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“Talking to strangers is bad” my parents used to say, “because there are predators out there and they might try to nab you.” I found myself often drawing up on sketch pads what these so-called predators might look like and then trying, at all costs, to stay away from anything that fit the part. People in wheelchairs and people with skin diseases were automatically out and strangers for me were purely associated with bad things like kidnapping and bank robberies and poisoned Pez candy.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Casey Halloran
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Saturday, May 05 2007 |
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Dearest Panama,
At first I was fearful it was to be a short affair, one fueled by physical attraction and the cockeyed passion of a jilted lover on the rebound. ‘Tis true I was scorned by another (her name: Costa Rica). But years on, I find myself still frighteningly bound by your grip, unable to even ponder another. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Casey Halloran
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Saturday, May 05 2007 |
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They're pretty fantastic, if you ask me. Maybe they're not as beautiful as the legendary lovelies of Colombia, Venezuela or even Argentina...but they're darn cute. Panama is an incredibly diverse culture, and the wide variety of ethnicities and mixed ancestries makes for some very interesting looking women. If you like women...and what man doesn't, you'll like Panama.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Matt Landau
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Friday, March 30 2007 |
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It doesn't take long to realize that Panamanians, not unlike North Americans, are inherently lazy animals: the fibers of their society built around values of convenience and languor. A good first indicator is the country's economic and social livelihood: a glorified shortcut! So while this laziness can be frustrating to ambitious people, to others like me it can be a delight.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Matt Landau
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Sunday, March 04 2007 |
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My evenings are often spent socializing with young Panamanian men and women who enjoy hanging out with me because, for lack of a better reason, I speak English. Their efforts at my language—much like my efforts at theirs—are usually disjointed and raw, the sort of mush you might hear leak out from under the cushion of an ESL couch; where strings of garbled mispronunciations rarely resemble a cogent thought.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Matt Landau
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Thursday, February 22 2007 |
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I sat at Hotel El Panama in the open-air lobby under the frawns of a droopy palm tree and looked hopelessly at my watch. When you're waiting alone for someone in a public place, it is easy to look like a loser and I was getting just that vibe from a gaggle of American tourists gathered beside me who, as a group, eyed me with pity as if to say, “At least we have each other.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, September 26 2006 |
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Ladies you think you know, but you have no idea.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, August 14 2006 |
I first met Ramon when I was working out down the street from the Veneto at Robert's Gym. I was taking a break on the bench press like I usually do with my head down not paying attention to the jibber jabber all around me, when someone tapped me on my shoulder. The guy said something unintelligible; I looked dumbfounded at his query and I said “como?” By my accent he knew I spoke English and we talked for an abnormal amount of time for what is considered “gym talk”.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, September 03 2008 )
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Written by Aliza Elbert
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Friday, August 04 2006 |
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I was introduced to Allison “Allie” Silverman about 2 weeks ago by Matt at the gringo hangout, ClaroCom. Her petite, muscular figure, freckles, and bright smile welcomed me to this country as well as quickly telling me she had to run because she had a web conference with a man in India. I chuckled, because her mannerisms were just so cute. Matt swiftly explained that she was here on a grant from the States doing stuff with solar energy. In turn, a great candidate for this fiery chair we like to call, THE HOT SEAT.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, September 03 2008 )
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Written by Matt Landau
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Wednesday, July 19 2006 |
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I sat down with entrepreneur, Casey Halloran at a restaurant I frequent, a place that I like. I figured that if we were going to be talking about things way over my head, it might help to be in familiar surroundings. I summoned the waiter and asked for a cranberry juice with a wedge of lime and a cherry and some bread. Before I got the chance to ask my first question, Mr. Halloran leaned back in his chair, the way you do when you are about to reminisce, and said “It all started when I was nine years old, in a pie eating contest.” Things had gotten off to a rocky start.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, September 03 2008 )
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, July 19 2006 |
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I had a long flight and the muscles around my neck were stressed out and tired. I needed a massage- fast. I inquired around a bit and thought it over. Then as I was walking to Claro com café, I noticed a beauty parlor which advertised for massages. It looked like a nice joint so I jumped on the opportunity. I went in and saw several people sitting around and chatting. I went up to the woman sitting behind the counter. I said nervously “Massages?”
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Justin Gould
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Monday, July 17 2006 |
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Let me tell you, Walter has a lot to say and it's important. When I was asked to interview Walter I did not know what kind of man he was. I knew he was in business, but I wasn't clear on the specifics. I had met him once before but it was brief- no more than “hello and how are you?”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, September 03 2008 )
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Written by Matt Landau
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Saturday, May 27 2006 |
 It was pretty early in the morning, around 7, when I was lying there in bed. Achy. I was sprawled out full eagle, completely dressed with my shoelaces and stomach both still in knots. My whole body was feeling the throbbing effects of a long night of revelry, celebration, and carousing. The headache, the nausea, the embarrassment. My belt buckle had been unfastened but still remained loosely wound around my waist—a half-finished attempt to pass out with some dignity.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, February 14 2006 |
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Panama is an undiscovered paradise that I almost don't want to share with others. I fell in love with this country on my first visit nearly a year ago. I knew almost immediately that this country would soon be my new home. The people are really what made the decision for me.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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Written by Matt Landau
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Thursday, February 09 2006 |
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The store across the street is owned by Mr. Fernando How, a Chinese immigrant with some funny long hairs on his face. As is common in these sorts of shops, business is a family affair. He is assisted by his wife Rosa (usually referred to as Rosita or “little Rosa”) and his daughter Vivian, who rides bikes, sweats a lot, and determines the prices for cold drinks.
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Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
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