Note: The intention of the blog is to inform, not to complain. I want people to get the inside truth about how things are really like in Panama. I think is important, since there is so much Bull crap going on about it being a Retirement heaven. It is also meant as vehicle for me to practice my English writing.
Let me be straightforward, and say why I think Panama sucks.
Panama is a beautiful country, with so much to offer, but Panama is also an Anarchy State. Once you are here, forget about rules,laws,your rights. You are only safe if you can buy your way out of things, which is the ways things are handled in Panama.
In Panama there is no accountability and no consequences. The only name of the game is "Juega Vivo" which literally means "play it smart" but there is nothing smart about "Juega Vivo". Instead, it is the core of everything that is worng with Panama. More on that in the next entry.
Sadly "Juega Vivo" is embedded in the Panamanian DNA, is in our culture, our ways, our psyche and will never change. It is a the top of our values, and like any other culture, it rubs off on people who move here. It's a never ending cycle.
About me
After a Decade living between Europe and the U.S. I returned to my home country Panama, because of Family, Friends and Work.
I was blown away by how much the country had changed in a decade. The city is more crowded, polluted and hostile than ever. Loud noise is everywhere, even on sunday mornings all over the city. Because of the Real estate Boom the country is experiencing high rises are sprouting like weed, with the builders and promoters and politicians filling their pockets with cash, and no attention being paid to Urban planning, security or quality of life.
There it is my first entry. I hope you enjoyed it.
Let me be straightforward, and say why I think Panama sucks.
Panama is a beautiful country, with so much to offer, but Panama is also an Anarchy State. Once you are here, forget about rules,laws,your rights. You are only safe if you can buy your way out of things, which is the ways things are handled in Panama.
In Panama there is no accountability and no consequences. The only name of the game is "Juega Vivo" which literally means "play it smart" but there is nothing smart about "Juega Vivo". Instead, it is the core of everything that is worng with Panama. More on that in the next entry.
Sadly "Juega Vivo" is embedded in the Panamanian DNA, is in our culture, our ways, our psyche and will never change. It is a the top of our values, and like any other culture, it rubs off on people who move here. It's a never ending cycle.
About me
After a Decade living between Europe and the U.S. I returned to my home country Panama, because of Family, Friends and Work.
I was blown away by how much the country had changed in a decade. The city is more crowded, polluted and hostile than ever. Loud noise is everywhere, even on sunday mornings all over the city. Because of the Real estate Boom the country is experiencing high rises are sprouting like weed, with the builders and promoters and politicians filling their pockets with cash, and no attention being paid to Urban planning, security or quality of life.
There it is my first entry. I hope you enjoyed it.
5 comments:
There are many people who agree with you: http://pleasehelpmemove.blogspot.com/
The retarded govt. in Panamer, still a poor country, expects investors and immigrants to pay HIGHER property taxes than in USA or Europe and provide them with no services? Does PANAMUH government expect people to BEG them to pay them taxes? Who would in their insane mind like to BEG the Panamanian government in order to pay them taxes? Only an IDIOT would! Shouldn't it be vice versa? I hope everyone that is intelligent, leaves PANAMAH now.
I hired the law firm Matta Kelly, and obtained all the required visas to retire in Panama. I bought land and built a home outside of Panama City, where wife wife is from in Chepo, only to find out there is no reliable drinking water, or electricity. The government shuts everyone's power off during the hottest months for hours each day. The medical was horrible when I had to use the hospital, and medication was crazy expensive. I got robbed outside of metro mall by the police and when I tried to do something about it my life was in danger, as a sicario was hired to make me go away. I was the worst experience of my life and cost me a bundle of money.
I am a native Panamanian and could not agree more. Panama City went from being a beautiful, peaceful place to a noisy, overcorwded, aggressive mess. Everything is overpriced and of low quality. People swarm everywhere and there are lines in every corner all day long. Service is so bad here and the rudeness of the people is unbearable. Now comes the real nightmare.....traffic. Drivers honestly think they are on bumper cars and not driving for real. People break laws and rules and do not behave properly behind the wheel. They speed all day long with nowhere to go. Drivers park in handicapped spaces and are never subject to discipline. These people do not know what culture and life is about.
Adela
I can not rent a car in Panama because I am olver 70 years old. Huh???? A young pothead or an alcoholic is okay! What a country!
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