Not mentioning that Panama is a New Republic of less than four million with one of the world’s most prosperous assets, the canal, and has been growing steadily in a wave of industries, lifestyles and foreign retirements. Panama City (and others) is also becoming an events house and second home to many of the worlds out-of-the-box people. The Electronic, metal and blues music scenes are all new ones, and new members drawn by these new growing cultures are making incredible additions to the city so rich with history. Vogue magazine encourages vacations this 2019. pointing out not just its flash and attraction but also that it’s the oldest city in the America’s 500th birthday. Panama also enjoys being polled and named the happiest country (or in the top 3 happiest) on the planet, steadily since 2014, revolving around her neighbor Costa Rica.

Bluff Beach, Isla Colon

This rich nation of a culturally non-confrontational, non-violent local population, who primarily enjoy the easy life, is also now flush with security, a well planned move over the last decade, to assure people like the Pope, who chose it for his World Youth Conference, a visit which passed without incident; World tourism is safe to fall in love with Panama exactly the way it has. The historic and modern city walkways and parks are open 24 hours with Presidential Police at every corner and on patrol. The Cinta Costera an eight hundred million dollar installation extending Panama’s Coast, Parque Omar and Via Argentina parks, are some of the most gorgeous stretch of track and park I have ever had the pleasure of frequenting. You have to hand it to Panama for all they do for the kids and the families. Last year the museum of Biodiversity was built into the extravagant Cinta Costera park and waterway, complete with tennis courts, skate park, bio-park exhibits, and an outdoor public gym facility. The one Dollar / one Balboa coin, the only local money produced, and all of that registers left of the decimal, in this country that uses the U.S. Dollar, was printed up early this year for the World Vatican Youth Event, featuring historic churches on the back of each coin – collectors would want to know.

Panama 2019

Panama in 2019 is safe, downside is we are regularly considered a police state by many. Those who are afraid of Latin America, need not be afraid of Panama, especially in tourist rich zones.

The system here however is much more flexible and fair, but it is ridiculously slower, (than in the United States) in my humble opinion. A top priority here is quality in the foreign residency, always a concern in a drug trafficking bridge, that became a bigger focus in 2009 and 2010 after a series of murders involving a foreigner, and again recently with the crisis in Venezuela. Both foot borders of Panama have become famously difficult ones, and the large police force funded by the canal does an almost lockout job with check points everywhere. Panama is no place for any kind of official fugitive, but I can’t be irresponsible enough not to tell you theft, scams and con games are as common here as they are anywhere, and that includes to the foreigners.

The country is well suited for the rich because of it’s well known banking district, and very poor lower class. Most apartments and homes in the city are built with a maid’s apartment inside of them. A live in maid is as little as $300 a month providing one of these mini apartments.

Capitalizing on moments of world spotlight, Panama also announced a new easy to use online tourism visa application system, for countries without a consulate from this small nation, to make tourism easier and keep the income of foreigners steady, attractive and simple. Panama has been subsidizing trips from many locations around the world regularly for the last several years, and continues to see diversity here as a benefit. The 54 million dollar fee to the Vatican was reportedly paid by the over two hundred thousand registrants who brought, who knows how much money into Panama’s economy during the month long event, not to mention the exposure and positive review of the country who has worked so hard to become a place deserving of it.

Church coins issued for the Vatican’s World Youth Day that just passed, Pope Fransisco visit

Off the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70 in 2005, I saw Dubai, and was briefed for liberty there, about how it was the international, certainly Middle Eastern hot spot at that time. Granted I saw it ten years ago, Panama rivals this place in a great number of ways, no short of hot cars on America’s oldest brick street, in front of incredible historic churches, clubs and hotels in Casco Viejo. I tell people back home to make it short this is like Dubai of Latin America. In ten years, it will really be something, there are too many residents even if part time, of the World’s upper class.

Panama has been investing heavily in tourism and so have the ever growing number of expats flooding in. It’s paying off. This place is packed with tourists this high season, which traditionally is December 20th through the end of Semana Santa (Easter) in April, but I think with the new levels of exposure as a tourist destination, and a luxury one at that, there won’t be much of an off season outside of another recession or some catastrophe. No, things look very upwards directed. The past 7 years I have been here, and going from city to city each growing faster than anywhere I have ever been. The predictions have been good, and we are really starting to see that. Carnival just ended and let me say that on the Caribbean Islands here, were packed! The local shows and dances, and masks and costumes were also at an all time high.

The brilliant new 5 star subway metro train (if you ask me) was completed this pas year, and the joining metro bus system makes for a phenomenal 35 cent journey anywhere in the city.  Taxis are about 2$ a trip, I recommend you decide that with the taxista before you get in. The canal expansion was finished, to accommodate the new USS George Bush Class carrier which makes for two way traffic for cargo ships, and allows the canal an even steadier and steeper flow of dollars into the economy and infrastructure. More marvels in engineering are proposed for this miraculous country, lets just hope they take ecological points into serious priority.

Panama 2019 & moving forward

Maybe the sun is shining on us, 2020 the U.S. has a bright new U.S. pres. candidate that if nothing else will revolutionize public thinking. It seems that so does Panama, I mean at the very least, you have to appreciate a campaign advertisement this cool. The U.S. has always had a pretty cool candidate in New Mexico’s Gov. Garry Johnson.

Jabril Jones Art

Panama has long been a bridge of diversity, a land that archeologists believe once surfaced, allowed the crossing of the northern and southern hemispheres and their wildlife and plant ecology. Right here is some of the most Biodiverse rain-forest and Jungle left. It is one of the last Jaguar corridors, and certain foreign influence has sought to hurt it and certain has sought to protect it, and thank the lord today the protectors are making their march. Bocas del Toro Islands have outlawed plastic bags at grocery stores, they simply tell you to bring your own bag. The indigenous Kuna tribe have done an excellent job keeping their San Blas islands another archipelago of some of the most beautiful sites in the world,  clean while catering to plenty of tourists. These guys have an incredible story and they are very friendly and wholesome, and sure brighten things up with their colorful dress! There is so many wondrous micro climates, indigenous and Latin cultures, and different worlds all inside of Panama.

These kind of reasons brought the Nutritional Diversity study development to continue to base here.

The mountainous Boquette, Volcon and Cerro Punta are some of the most beautiful hills and cloud rain forest in the world. Panama is a great biodiverse nation that has plenty of microclimates to choose from.

Getting residency in Panama 2019 is not that hard, and Panama is perfect for permaculture and those who may want to retreat from hectic city life or retire. The World Economic Forum nominated Panama the number 1 retirement destination in the world for 2019, calling it a “Paradise for Pensioners.” I respect what is represented by the intelligent decisions in the growing nation making perks as mush as 25% off hotels, restaurant tabs and domestic flights and travel for those receiving a monthly check. The community has hit yet another rapid growth cycle this year, and next you can expect real estate to change hands, businesses to form, and the quality of life to improve even beyond the already kush existence we have here.

Young artistic people from all over the world are coming, in and the artistic culture is sparked, flamed and burning at 1000 degrees. Youth hostels, skate crews, rich kids (including Justin Beiber), backbackers, surfers, college grads, college interns, are coming in waves, and new giant hip-Hotels like the W, are made to cater just to them! The Nitro City extreme sports resort an hour from Panama City is another great example. Fine dining, celebrity visits and even big hope of film production vibrate through the city, among the Ferrari exhaust noise that comes with it. It’s no wonder Panama caught the attention of Vogue.

I don’t mean to write anything that says ” I want to feel good about my decision to move to Panama, and rub it in the face of those back home still in the grind,” but I do want to tell you about some legitimate pluses to the idea of making the jump into something new this year, or at least starting to come down for vacations. Push a few friends.

Panama City area, Boquette and the Bocas del Toro Island Colon, have great stays on Airbnb, and each of these cities have quickly growing retirement communities into the small but wealthy international hub of fun.

The short fun pieces ….  like everything here – I will grow it up, over time! I did not want to let too much more time go by before giving a few close friends and extra little push to come down.

2019 for ND dieters:

Expect new species, new gardens and new farms!

We are filling classes for  July, August, September, October, FocusCamps in Panama & Costa Rica. Changing base facilities to a Veraguas located center soon! We are working with a whole bunch of new species, to roll out into the info hub as much as we can find the time to bang it out on the keys. ND WORLD Launch. Official Study publishes.

References:
Panama launches online visa system for countries where it does not have consulates ,
Researchers detect bacterial proteins that may combat antibiotic resistance – Panama Today
Could World Youth Day in Panama give the Pope a boost? – CNN
World’s happiest country: how did Panama overtake Denmark? – Guardian
Panama expecting 200,000 for World Youth Day one month from today – Aleteia
Bacteria in frog skin may help fight fungal infections in humans – Science Daily
These are the world’s best countries to retire in, as of 2019 – World Economic Forum

• The guy with the best nutrition in Panama!

Updated 07 04 2019