Panama Post Script

On the day of my departure, I found my way easily from the Amador Causeway to Tocumen International Airport, ditched the rental car, got checked in and grabbed a cup of coffee to wait for my flight. All in all, the morning was uneventful.

Miami airport on the other hand never fails to disappoint; I swear I have had to walk outside to get to Concourse D for the last five or six years after clearing immigration and customs. It’s not that it is a great distance, and the weather on that Sunday was very nice, it’s just that I can’t believe how long this construction is taking. As usual the TSA people in Miami were surly (hand-picked, no doubt, to make an extra good impression on tourists).

Since my trip I have had plenty of time to think about Panama as an eventual place to settle. I am definitely going back. There is much more to explore.  Plus I want to get in some diving and at least try surfing (should be good for a laugh).

In fact, I did a cruise with the relatives in February that did the usual 4-6 hours per port, but we spent most of one day in Panama. We started by doing a partial transit of the canal from the North side and many, myself included, did an excursion that eventually dropped us off in Colon, where the ship picked us up before heading on to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.

What I came away with during that short visit was confirmation of my first impressions.  Almost all of the Panamanians I came in contact with are very proud of their country and enjoy sharing it with visitors. It is a place of great beauty and tremendous economic potential.

On my next trip I would like to go back to Bocas del Toro, check out the region east of Colon (Portobelo and the San Blas area), the stretch of beach towns from Gorgona to Faralon (southwest of Panama City), Chiriqui Province (David, Boquete and Puerto Armuelles) and return to Punta Chame.

Belize is off my retirement radar altogether. While there are areas that are interesting and I wouldn't mind going back to visit, I don't see Belize as a place to retire. The nation's infrastructure is awful. There is little competition in the telecommunications industry, which keeps prices high, choices few and quality low. The import tax on just about everything means that retail shopping options are terrible. I assume that wherever I end up I will rely mostly on local or regional products, but when a basic bottle of wine I can get in the States for $15.00 costs $50.00 in San Pedro, the savings in other areas start to disappear.

I'm not sure where my next trip will be. Columbia, Ecuador, the Tulum area of Mexico and Costa Rica are all options. I also want to check out Malta and Indonesia. Wherever I go, I know it will be an adventure.