Where is Panama exactly?

I have a lot of friends that seem to be interested in our lives in Panama. You name the topic and I've probably been asked. One of the most common things I hear is "well, that's great you live in Panama, but I don't know where it is. You guys have a canal, I think. Where is Panama exactly?"

Panama is an s-shaped country country in Central America. It literally connects North and South America. There are two bordering countries, Colombia and Costa Rica. By longitude, Panama is south of Florida in the United States, with Cuba and a few other islands in between. Panama is on the same time zone as Florida for half the year. Panama does not observe day light savings time. The eastern United States is an hour ahead during the summer

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One more perspective of Panama's shape. Source

Due shape of the country, most of our driving is done east to west. This may not seem significant, but it is a little mind boggling when you think that we generally have to go north to get to the Caribbean Sea and south for the Pacific Ocean.


We are above the equator, so technically we have summer and winter at the same time as the United States. However, this can be tricky. Climates here in Panama vary...a lot! This includes the average rainfall (93-200 inches throughout the country), the temperature (although it rarely drops below 50 degrees Farenheit), and whether there is a "fall" season.  We generally refer to the seasons as wet and dry. It is dry season from November-May. Wet season is the rest of the year. Some Panamanians refer to wet season as summer, while others call it winter. I've even heard debates among Panamanians whether dry season is also summer.

Some other quick facts:

• Panama's capitol is Panama City.
• The population of Panama is roughly the same as the population of Los Angeles, California.
• Spanish is the official language of Panama.
• Panama's flag colors are red, white, and blue.
• A presidential term is 5 years. A president cannot run two consecutive years.
• The official Panamanian currency is the Balboa. It is a 1:1 exchange rate with US dollars and is used interchangeably. 
• Panama is home to the Panama Canal, which runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Panama's flag. Source

Was there anything else I missed? I will try to think of other commonly asked questions as well. Let me know on your thoughts and I'll answer them either in the comments, or do a post about it!

A Golden Streak Broken

A solid streak of blogging every other week went south, big time! While I've thought about the blog, life and priorities happened.  We've been on some pretty cool adventures, in spite of some crazy things happening.

Robert and I went scuba diving in July. We went to Santa Catalina, about four hours west of where we are, and optimized the Discover Scuba option. We learned a few basic skills and had to stay within view of our dive instructor.

We did three dives and had a blast! The two most memorable things was being able to see sea turtles and being in the middle of a school of fish. We also got to see white tip sharks, eels, and octopus. Scuba diving was pretty surreal for both of us and unlike anything we had experienced.

We did not get any pictures of us diving. It was one of those things for us that we both just wanted to be present for, and at least in my case, I wanted to focus in on honing in on basic skills. Getting certified is on both of our bucket lists!

We have been busy moving as well. The owners of our condo did not want to renew the lease, in hopes of selling the unit. Luckily for us, the owners for the condo directly above us were looking for long term renters. Pick us! Pick us!

Words cannot express how excited I was for this move! Okay, moving from an unfurnished to a furnished unit is a bit of a hassle. But all of that is manageable. Why, you ask? Because hand washing laundry will no longer be a thing.

To make a long story short, our clothes washer broke and was beyond repair about two weeks before we went to Oregon. The owners did not want to purchase a new one. Although we had friends offer their washer and dryer, doing laundry as often as we do would probably be over-extending the invitation. While our clothes washing situation is no picnic, it is also a great reminder of how lucky we are. Seriously, how did our grandparents do it with such large families?

Exposing our dirty laundry...sorry Mom!

Now that we are moved, it is time to get settled and organized. Some people find organizing relaxing-that isn't us. In fact, organizing is more of a chore. Despite this, we are on our way of making the condo feel like ours. The layout is identical to our previous condo which makes our life a little easier.

Aside from moving, we've continued our adventures in living an active lifestyle. I recently did a 10k run/walk with a group of friends. We both go to the gym regularly. No surfing lately, but we did go paddle boarding in Gatun Lake, which is the lake that helps feed water to the Panama Canal.

Ornamental banana flower  

I am not sure what our next big "thing" will be. The near future looks pretty uneventful. However, I will try to post something in two weeks. Obviously we know how great I am to sticking with those goals. Life is good and we hope yours is too!

A Surprise Trip to Oregon

We are back in Panama! A few months ago Robert and I planned on going to visit the latest member of our family; my brother's son was born in June. The great part about the trip was that while my brother knew about it, not many other people did, including my own parents. It was hard to keep something like this from them, but it made the trip that much more fun!

Trips are always busy and fun at the same time. We stayed with my brother for several days. We got to see our niece and her little brother.  Our niece is about to turn 5 and had fun playing tag with Robert and me.

When we weren't at the park playing tag, we were playing games, including "strike a yoga pose." Which is basically where we take turns showing each other various yoga poses. The most inventive her Reverse Warrior III pose. Maybe reverse is the wrong term, since it was not what one would traditionally think of as a Reverse Warrior III. Instead, the traditional Warrior III pose required you to lean back instead of forward. This was super fun and good timing considering I finished my 30 days of yoga. It was a fun way to remind myself that yoga shouldn't be serious. Thanks for the reminder!

Warrior III pose. Source

We are not at all biased, but why do all of our nieces and nephews have to be so darn cute? Our newest nephew is no exception. His brown eyes, curious seeming nature (even as a newborn), and relatively calm demeanor are just some of the things that make him wonderfully him. For privacy's sake, no pictures are going to be posted of him. You'll just have to take my word on the fact that the world is a little cuter now.

My parents came over to my brother's house. We surprised them and then informed them that we would be staying with them for a few days. Luckily they didn't seem to mind. While they seemed super happy and shocked to see us, the nephew became the center of attention not long after their arrival. They are proud grandparents, for sure!

We also made a trip to Roseburg. Going there is always a treat. Kruse Farms makes the best pies. If you are ever in the area, check them out. You won't regret it. The day we went also happened to be the first day of their U-Pick farms. Robert loaded up on the cherries while I loaded up on the blueberries. Neither fruit lasted long. Neither did the pie.

Picking cherries

This trip was full of eating things we cannot find easily in Panama. Robert got to eat good beef, while I made a trip to Cafe Yumm. We both loaded up on Round Table pizza. There were other spots too, including Denny's, Arby's, and Del Taco. As you can tell, we weren't craving anything super fancy or healthy. The food isn't anything to brag about (but evidently it's blog worthy). But there is no denying that Arby's jalapeño poppers with or without Bronco Sauce are awesome.

A 10 day trip in Oregon went by fast. The trip was a lot of fun and it felt great to be near family and friends. I'll admit, that is one thing I truly miss about living near the West Coast (or even the US). However, it was great to be home. Robert and I are now in the process of detoxing all of the sugary and fried goodness we consumed on our trip. We both missed the dogs and our own bed.

A morning in Panama

I know I've said this before, but we really aren't planning any more international excursions this year. Now that we're settled, we are back to working, exercising, and enjoying life on the beach. We are both happy and both consider ourselves fortunate to live the life we do. Life is good!

Hiking Los Cajones

We were off hiking again this week at a spot called Los Cajones (drawers in English). This hike was one of my favorite hikes we've done since we've been in Panama. The fact that water was close by definitely is a plus! Los Cajones has been on my to do list ever since I found out about it, some months ago. The flat rocks followed by the cliffs leading into a gentle swimming river immediately called my name. Luckily, we've been on a hiking streak, so what better place to pick for our next hike?

Robert and I weren't exactly sure where the hike was or what to expect. Although I talked to some friends about it and the drive, it still wasn't super clear on where we'd be driving and what kind of a hike we might encounter. I imagined that the area couldn't be too strenuous since it is also a popular place to go swimming.

Los Cajones was surprisingly easy to find.  Almost immediately we found ourselves in a picturesque environment, surrounded by green foliage on top of a plateau, below us the calm tranquil sound of a gentle river. Pictures do no justice here, but I included some anyways.

After further exploring we saw small rapids and waterfalls too!

This was a peaceful way to start the morning. The rest of the week ended up being busy with the normal hustles and bustles with day to day life. Outside of the hike, nothing else is new this week. Everyone is happy, healthy, and living life as usual. Life is good!

Hacienda San Isidro and Rum

It doesn't matter where you live, there is always something to explore. That is exactly what we chose to do.  We got a group of friends together and took a three hour drive to Hacienda San Isidro, which is also known as the Abuelo Rum and Seco Herrerano distillery.

What is Seco Herrerano? Like rum, both come from sugar cane. The sugar cane is harvested and processed. The processing basically results in two liquids: sugar cane juice and molasses. The sugar cane juice gets distilled into Seco Herrerano while the molasses gets distilled into rum. Seco Herrano is often used as a replacement for rum or vodka. We did not get to see the Seco Serrerano being distilled, however, we did get to see the process for rum.

On the tour we got to ride a cart being pulled by oxen. The oxen carts were the original way that the sugar can would be transferred from the fields to the first start of the processing plant.

The fermentation process begins once liquid is extracted and separated from the sugar cane.

You can see the molasses in the picture. 

After the rum is distilled it gets put into barrels for aging. This process can take anywhere from 4 to 30 years. Did you know that at the start of the aging process the rum is clear liquid? The rum gets the color from the tannins (coloring) of the barrels barrels. The longer the rum stays in the barrel, the darker the color of the rum.

The tour included several opportunities to try rum and Seco Herrerano. We got to try their version of a Cuba Libre, which was refreshing after touring some very warm buildings. We then got to taste the different aged rum that Abuelo offers. They offer rum that has been aged 4 years, 7 years, 12 years, and 30 years. Anyone want to make bets on which rums everyone liked the best? Hint: it wasn't the 4 year rum. It also turns out that the 12 year rum (my favorite) has won awards for being the best rum for under $100. Cool stuff!

It was a fun tour over all. Not only did we get to learn about distilling rum, we also got to taste it. It was a full day. Anyone visiting and wanting to go on the tour should either be visiting for more than a
a few days and/or be into rum. For those of you who may be intrigued and in the mood to taste some of this awesome rum, it is available in the US. This nifty product finder can help you locate where to purchase either Seco Herrano or Ron Abuelo. Just be sure to specify the brand you're looking for. Cheers!

Yoga and Me

Woo, two blog posts in the same month. This is a record, given my lack of attention to Pamamerican Perspective. It is hard to believe that June is right around the corner. Yoga has been my latest focus and it is awesome!

I am currently on day 8 of a goal I have that involves doing a yoga practice for 30 days. The practice can be 10 minutes or over an hour, as long as it is a practice. Some may call it a challenge, but I don't see it this way. Yoga is very enjoyable for me. I have learned a lot about my self and my body over a short time. I feel like I have become more mindful of my body and of myself. Some of this may be because of me practicing yoga on and off for the last 7 years, but I feel like I have already grown in the last 8 days.

Since we are on the topic of yoga, here are some things I have discovered about the practice throughout my experience. These are questions or comments I often hear from people who are curious about yoga but aren't quite sure where to start.

Flexibility is more than being able to touch your toes or fold into a pretzel. A good teacher will provide other options for poses that may require more flexibility than others. Props including straps and blocks, pillows, and blankets, are also great for helping somebody enjoy the benefits of a pose.

Yoga is about flexibility of the mind too. Over time you will become more physically flexible. You also will also gain more self awareness. I feel that the mental flexibility has taken longer in some respects than some of the physical aspects.

The key is to listen to your body. There is a fine line between exploring your boundaries and hurting yourself. This is where mental and physical flexibility come in. Honor your body and be curious about your body. You may be surprised what you can really do. Like life, we are all in different parts of our practice. Your friend next to you may be able to do a pose you hope to do someday; and it goes both ways. Honor your body and honor your limits.

Some poses are easier than others. Each day varies. No matter how many times you do a pose, even the most basic and easy ones can be challenging on any given day. It happens to all of us. Some poses are easier for some people than others. This may apply regardless of how long you've practiced. Again, the key is to honor your body and to not compare yourself to others. You're a rockstar regardless of your level!

Nobody really cares what you wear to yoga. Yoga clothes and the $78 pair of yoga capris are not going to give you any more yoga-zen powers than the $15 pair of capris you buy at Target. The same applies to pretty much any yoga clothing. What matters is how you feel in them. In general I like to look for clothes that are form fitting, flexible, and not baggy. Clothes that work for you can make a difference on whether you're focusing on your clothing or your pose in yoga. My pants in the picture fit almost all of the criteria. The only downside is that my foot slips on them, taking my focus away from some of my poses (see the balance picture above). They were $3 at a local store down here.

Yoga is for almost everyone. I am a believer in this and will be until I am proven otherwise. The practice can occur just about anywhere. Even airports are incorporating yoga rooms! If going up and down on the floor is not a great way to honor your body then try it in a chair. I practiced chair yoga with my mom in December. We both enjoyed our 20 minute session. Youtube is a great source for yoga classes, including chair yoga.

Our smaller dog guiding me into Lizard pose. 

This is me on my soap box today about yoga. As you can tell, I really enjoy yoga. Panama has provided us with so many opportunities, including the chance to rekindle with things we've enjoyed including yoga and hiking. I think Robert and I have changed a lot in the last two years since we moved here. We've become better people as a result. And that's what's going on this week!

A Recap of Us the Last Month

I've broken my promise of blogging regularly. I have not had a lot of motivation, since I think our lives are kind of boring. Not saying our lives aren't great, but are they really worth writing about? Here is what we've been up to since our last blog post in February.

After our trip to Bogota, we took a quick trip to Arizona. For those of you counting, we traveled internationally 3 times within a 7 week period. Arizona was fun, because I got a chance to see some old friends, including one I haven't seen in over 20 years. It was great catching up!

We've both been busy with work. I am writing blogs for a local company here. It is great, because it gives me a chance to do things I wouldn't normally think of doing. One example of this is visiting a bed and breakfast that rescues sloths. Sloths are not very well liked in Panama, and some think they are connected with the supernatural. As a result, sloths are often mistreated and killed. This bed and breakfast will try to rehabilitate the sloths and return them to the wild. There are two that wouldn't make it in the wild, and these are the ones we got to feed. Aren't they cute?

We've been on a frozen smoothie kick. It just seems so much easier drinking a breakfast than cooking something. Cereal usually does a poor job holding me over until lunch, so this is a great option for both of us. Our freezer is full of frozen frozen fruit including bananas, mangoes, pineapple, spinach, kale, and berries. We have a small freezer, 70% of which is devoted to smoothies. Add a little protein powder with chia seeds or walnuts. Yum!

Robert and I went for a hike with a group earlier this week. The hike was a moderate hike, but it was a lot of fun. Rainy season has officially started, and we beat the rain by about 15 minutes. Thank goodness because hiking downhill doesn't sound super appealing with monsoon like rains.

We've had high surf advisories lately, too. These are usually a surfer's delight, since surf advisories usually equal big waves and strong ones. We went out for the first time in over a year yesterday. It was a blast in spite of us both being a little rusty.

Other than that, there is nothing new going on. We plan on going for another hike with a friend this week. We are staying busy and loving life in Panama. I really will try to make an effort to post something every two weeks. I know I said that before, but I really will try to put forth an effort.