Why I Moved To Panama at 29


Why I Moved To Panama at 29

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Written by Casey Halloran

Thursday, February 23 2006

I moved to Panama for none of the usual reasons, or so I thought. My infatuation with the country started simply enough, ad mere weekend away from my older, less attractive lady (Costa Rica).

But wait, I should start at the beginning. I have been living and doing business in Costa Rica for nearly a decade. It seems silly, even childish to be stuck in the honeymoon phase of a love affair for so long, yet I find myself unable to move on from my affair with Latin America.

Like so many of my business colleagues in Costa Rica, I first traveled to Panama to do some banking. Panama has long been touted as a banking mecca, but I was still shocked at the professionalism of the business culture after just a few hours in town. Having become accustomed to the “country way” of doing things in Costa Rica, the suit and tie, serious-as-a-heart-attack style of Panama bankers was quite an eye opener.

Although born in a small town, I'm a businessman at heart. The rapid pace of Panama quickly got under my skin. After handling my business affairs in a few days, I set out to know the city. Panama City is really a lovely, cosmo, and upbeat metropolis. After a weekend of kicking about town, sampling the excellent cuisine and vibrant nightlife, I was hooked. This was a town worth knowing better.

Subsequent return trips made me decide Panama was a place where I NEEDED to do business. There are just so many things I love about Panama City, it's hard to list in one place. Let's see if I can whittle it down to a list:

1. Nightlife – The nightlife in Panama City is really something. So many Panamanians have lived in, have family from or frequently travel to other countries, there's a blend of New York sophistication, LA cool and Miami latin-style rumba that you can easily fool yourself into thinking you're in any of those places. Throw in the South American influence that comes from thousands of Colombian immigrants and you've got a multi-cultural party scene that rivals any city that I know.

2. Stark Contrasts – Where else but Panama City will you see a Kuna Indian in full traditional dress talking on a cell phone? It gets me every time.

3. Multiple, Varied Environs – I love Via Argentina. It makes me feel like I'm living back in Spain. The El Cangrejo area offers me everything I need: a local pub, grocery stores, sidewalk dining and lots of nightlife within walking distance. When I'm tired of that I can head to the Causeway to see cruise ships entering the canal, gaze back at the magnificent view of the city skyline, admire mega yachts while sipping a boat drink at the docks of the yacht club and pretend that I'm in the Mediterranean or Santa Barbara, CA. The nightlife there is very nice as well, albeit a little young for my 30-something tastes. If I'm tired of waterside hangouts, I can go into the Casco Viejo district and experience the revitalization of Panama's French-Colonial past. It's easy to mistake this neighborhood for Cuba. It's quite popular with the foreign hipsters and artist crowd. Fabulous dining, unique environs and a very colorful crowd make this one of my favorite places in Panama City. Then there's the banking district with all the great hotel restaurants, lobby bars and hot night clubs. I feel like Panama is three or four cities in one. The people, prices, hangouts and scenery are completely different in each of these locales. It should be enough to keep even the most eager barfly occupied for a few years.

4. Sophistication and Local Flavor – I always return to the theme of contrasts when referring to Panama. I've never considered myself much of a sophisticate nor a granola bum sort, but I do enjoy going highbrow and slumming it with equal vim. Panama allows me to indulge both of those desires like no place I've ever known. Within a dollar cab ride I can eat $150 lobster or $2 cuban sandwiches. Both are delicious. I can drink a $.50 beer any night of the week and listen to reggaeton (music of the gods) or pay $8 for an imported beer and a swank hotel bar. I'm able to see beautiful women who all resemble Euro-Latina models and wear the latest fashions, or see beautiful women who are unmistakably Panamanian and wear the knockoffs of the latest fashions. This could be my favorite thing about Panama City.

5. Beautiful People – The cultural diversity of Panama is simply mind boggling. It's truly a crossroads. Gringos, Latinos of every origin, Europeans, Asians, Middle Easterners...who is NOT doing business in Panama? That would be a shorter list.

6. The Best Of Everything – Because Panama is one of the world's major ports, there is simply no product that cannot be found...and usually at great prices. Clothes, electronics, building supplies. It's a consumer's dream.

7. Steamy Weather – Some folks grouse about Panama City's Miami-like climate, but I don't mind it at all, particularly after sunset. Anywhere I can sip a *censored*tail in an open air restaurant 12 months a year without so much as a sweater is my kind of town.

So besides all of the fun reasons I like Panama, it's also a place that's wired for BUSINESS. Everything about Panama buzzes with excitement, energy and stinks of greenbacks. Things in Panama move quickly. Sure there are plenty of dirty deals and the honesty level isn't yet on par with more developed nations, but after a decade in Costa Rica I think Panama is a breeze. That's my list! Bon Apetit.

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