(Panama-Guide) A Beech Model 58 twin engine small airplane, tail number N511MP, piloted by American Monte Pollock, the owner of one of our sponsor's PanamaSkyDive.com, was forced to make an emergency ditching in the waters of the Panama Canal, just off of the Amador Causeway, on Saturday afternoon. There were two people aboard the aircraft, Monte and a co-pilot from the Albrook Flight School who was aboard the flight to learn how to handle the aircraft during sport parachute operations. The right engine of the aircraft quit suddenly as the aircraft was approaching the Albrook airfield, and with the right engine dead the plane pulled hard to the right due to the significantly increased drag on that side.

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So you want some help in the house, cleaning the pool, keeping the property in shape. Right? Have you thought about whether to hire a permanent worker or have someone come in on a contract basis?

This article has to do with a broad overview of hiring permanent versus contract workers in Panama, mandatory benefits for permanent workers, and pitfalls in hiring.

If you hire a domestic employee they are either under your direct supervision or they function on their own. The combination cook and maid who comes every day, has a regular set of hours, has defined duties, and always asks you what to do next is under your supervision and is a permanent employee. The man who comes weekly to clean the pool, does the job, gets paid, and leaves is a contract worker. Likewise, the woman who cleans several houses and does yours Thursday mornings is a contract worker.

ExPatsWest meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month. We have grown from less than 40 at our first social, to more than 150. We will be gathering on the 24th of June 2009, starting at 5:00pm or whenever you get there. Our get-together will be in Coronado at Twister.

Twisters is located on the north side of the highway across from the Coronado Rey and just to the west of the new Cochez store. They serve Italian, Mexican, Columbian, Panamanian, and American food. If you need
more information, the owner is Guillermo, and his phones are 240-1532 and 6673-4155.

What follows is an update of an article I wrote for the Panama Guide. Remember, it is almost always the 4th Wednesday of the month!
See you there.

Located on Panamerican highway, right after the turn off to Coronado (direction San Carlos), across the street from Macdonald’s, Parrillada La Estancia is a new option in the area for the people who love grilled meats. 

We found a list of frequently-used Panamanian Slang Words in panacana.com website. We want to share this information with expats living in Panama and visitors who wants to know more about  Panamanian culture.

Spay Panama had a cancellation in their busy mobile schedule so Spay the Strays is taking advantage of it! On Sunday, 21 June, we will have at least 5 vets at Gorgona's Casa Comunal, sterlizing up to 150 pets for low-income owners and rescue animals. As usual, we need to borrow crates and we're asking for volunteers to work, donations of supplies, and cash donationos(an event of this magnitude costs up to $3,000). To volunteer or donate, please contact Sheila Scott at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . To donate supplies, please email Barb Schlottke at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you are caring for a rescue animal or can catch a homeless cat or dog, contact Mary Rhodes at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it an appointment. Visitors are always welcome to come and watch our event too!

Mary Howard's Kasbah Shop in Costa Esmeralda features fine art as well as crafts from around the world.

Mary Howard travels the world to paint. Mary Howard tells us that she fell in love with art when she got her first set of crayolas. Mary spent her youth in boarding schools where she studied art and learned French, both in the USA and Switzerland. She worked on an art major at the University of Arizona and studied with artists in California and elsewhere.

Beaming smiles lit up the day in El Nance when a local little league baseball team received a generous donation of 12 baseball bats and 14 mitts.

Kathy Kress will be offering the following six-week intensive Spanish courses at Finca La Maya in San Carlos…

Begin at the Beginning!
Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:30 to 10 am (course fee $80)
June 16 to July 23
Students will learn the basic structure of the Spanish language and how it compares to English.  They will practice introductions and elementary conversation skills including practical applications for daily living in Panama!  Students will receive a workbook and daily homework assignments.

The Gorgons, a newly formed Classic Rock band, rocked Todo al Carbon, a bar restaurant in Coronado, on Saturday evening. Packed with customers who had come out to enjoy an evening of Rock 'n Roll, Todo al Carbon has not seen a better day of business since it opened. The already enthusiastic crowd danced in the aisles while lead singer and guitarist, San Cenote, strutted his stuff, jumping on tables and chairs. The Gorgons are tight and energetic and the rock 'n Roll crowd loved them.

A small group of opera students from the Panama Opera Foundation gave a heartfelt and intimate performance last Friday, at Coronado’s La Huaca Restaurant to an audience of 65 people who had come out to get a taste of something different.

The goal of the foundation is to train and develop world class opera singers in Panama, while raising the awareness and desire for opera within the country.  With heavy hitters at the helm of the foundation, the company is off to a running start since its debut in 2008.

In parts one and two of Building Your Dream House in Panama we talked about what to do before and up until the end of construction. In part three we provide the last important details that you will need to know.

1. When your house has passed your inspection and you have been issued a permit by the fire department stating that you house is livable you need to register the improvements to your property. Improvements include the house, pool, out buildings, and any new construction on your property.

Panama’s well read La Prensa newspaper is running an 8 week Sunday feature on Panama’s National Parks.  Written, photographed and designed by Alex Arosemena, the articles will present firsthand experience of the parks along with beautiful photography. Playacommunity was fortunate to secure permission to run a translation of the first Park featuring Sarigua National Park, which appeared in La Prensa on Sunday May 24, 2009.

In Part One of Building Your Dream House in Panama we talked about what to do before starting construction. Here we deal with what to do as construction progresses.

1. Insist on seeing the construction permit before your builder starts anything. Check the property description on the construction permit against your title and against the map you obtained from the Catastro office.