Paulette Welch

Gilbert or Gill is our guide for today. Panama means beautiful people. You can take a train from Colon to Panama City, which was built in 1821. In 1903 Panama separated from Columbia, red & blue in the flag, represents the political parties even today. In 1914 the French abandoned the construction of the canal. Vasco Núñez de Balboa is credited with having found the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish balboa is used as currency and is equal in local value to the US dollars. In 2013 the silver currency coin, which has a gold colored center, was introduced & valued at one dollar or balboa. Balboa was also the explorer/conquistador, as well the name for an avenue and a beer. 2010 4.3 million; 2020-2023 4.8 million people- 2 million live in the 10 Provence’s with a total of 2 million. Panama City is one of the safest areas for natural disasters because of the geographic position. Last notable earthquake occurred in 1800s.
Fruit is a major export, especially bananas, mango and pineapple. Coffee is a major product. Agriculture is prominent in the highlands - adjacent to Costa Rica. Gasha coffee very expensive $25.00 /pound. Only indigenous people are hired to collect the bananas because they have secrets that protect the environment and themselves from the bugs. Tourism, Panama Canal (ACP is a private corporation, not government -10,000 workers with good salaries work for ACP) and then construction are the largest employers. You must pay 3 days before entering the canal by wire transfer. The cost to cross is based on pilot, inspection, and maximum capacity and size, even if the ship is not full. Five countries protect the Canal and only the US war ships can cross by treaty, all others are at discretion of the canal authorities. Panama is a neutral country without a standing army. The US, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, & Mexico protect the canal. In 2019 - Largest container ship had 15,000 containers and it cost $1.3 million dollars to transit canal. Richard Halliburton l, an American, got permission to swim the Panama Canal. It took him 9 days, for the 50 miles, and the cost for his journey through the canal was 36 cents based on weight. It was a Guiness world record. John Stevens (US engineer) created the Gatun Lake (a dammed reservoir) which was 26 feet higher than sea level in the mountains for part of the canal passage . Then locks take the ship up to the Lake level and then back down to sea level for the passage. The Originally French attempted to excavate from sea level to sea level - through the mountains meaning they had to excavate deep into the mountains & remove massive amounts of rock. The French effort collapsed after great loss of life & investment. The US used the cleverly engineered lock system, which is still very effective to this day.

Lots of expats - come for the weather, taxes, and physically safe from natural disasters. For $650.00 per month a couple can live well in Panama. Taxes are only paid on incomes over $800.00/ month. Healthcare - social security 65 y/o for men, 62 y/o for women are paid by the government. Many different nationalities moving to Panama. Lots of businesses are controlled by Chinese people in China town.

Housing: $4-5,000 month for a fancy place.Read more