Cruising Panama

Not only can you find terrific Cruises like this one on Carnival, but you can do other kinds of cruising there too!
For a wonderful, no-stress family vacation, you need to consider taking a cruise to Panama, including transiting the famous Panama Canal, on one of the longer cruises out of San Diego, or various ports on the Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean side.

Panama is a wonderful opening visit to the wonders of Central America in that the influence of the United States for over 100 years has left many Panamanians with a good command of English in addition to their native Spanish. There are some interesting collectibles found in Panama which are not found anywhere else. In cruising the shops for items much more memorable than T-Shirts you can find treasures including Taguas, ivory-like palm nuts, carved and painted to form life-like animals, insects and reptiles native to Panama's jungles. They are lovely, easy to pack, and reasonably priced. Another unique collectible item is animals, birds and fish carved from "Cocobolo", a dark, dense, native hardwood, known for the beauty of it's grain.
But perhaps the most unusual of Panama's crafts is the "Mola",
or fabric design art, produced by the talented ladies of the Indigenous Kuna Tribe. These feature multicolored fabric laid one on top of one another, with cuts made to show the contrasting colors underneath. They can be framed and hung on the wall. Each is unique and special.
If you have time to pass in Panama, you might want to cruise the various island groups on either side of the Isthmus. Fishing, diving and the easy life of sailing or power-boating to the off-shore gems of the Pearlas Islands, on the Pacific side; or the primitive beauty of the San Blas Islands of the Caribbean, will leave you breathless. Any of these adventures are easily accessed through sites like www.yboggle.com, where you can book it yourselves or contact their Travel Professionals for assistance.
Any way you want it you can have the greatest cruising experience ...in Panama!

Panama's Beaches

This is the second Post in my series on Panama. We want to focus this time on the wonderful sandy beaches of the Republic of Panama. There are such diverse beaches here but all are special in their own way.
For those who want to have a quiet family vacation near the beach with lots of things to do there are terrific locations for them. Resort hotels such as Sandals and Royal Decameron All Inclusive Resort are available for those who want the Big Beach Experience with lots of night life, food and excitement. They each have great beachfront rooms and wide, expansive beaches.
In the other extreme, there are remote Surfing Beaches where quaint villages have sprung up. For example the little beach town of Santa Catalina in Southern Veraguas Province, is very rustic, seemingly springing up to cater to vagabond surfers who love to come, hang out, surf, explore off-shore island and just ..."Chill"!
There are secluded and romantic islands perfect for Honeymooners (in fact some of these are specialties of yboggle.com. A unique Indigenous Culture called the San Blas, inhabit a special area of coastline North of Panama City. This area, called the Independent State of San Blas is a paradise of islands with wonderful, sugar-like beaches of picture perfect white sand on the Mosquito Coast. A short flight on a small airrcaft brings you here from the airport in Panama City. Accomodations are simple but romantic and as private as you choose.

See the New Panama!

When I say the "New Panama", I guess I have to explain. For those of you who have visited Panama City, (no, NOT Panama City, Florida... but THE PANAMA CITY!) sometime in the past 20 years, you need to go again. You will not believe it is the same quiet, laid-back city you saw then. This new look to Panama City defines it as one of the fastest growing Centers of Trade in the World. Even if you go to Panama once or twice a year as Alicia and I do, to see our Daughter, her husband and our two Grand kids, the beautiful skyline of the City changes on EVERY visit! Not only is there a constant run of new construction of ever-taller skyscrapers, but some of the most dramatic architecture on the planet is on display here, like Donald Trump's new Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Condominiums (http://www.trumpoceanclub.com/TOC_2008/home1.html). Those of you who love the lure of exciting night life; exquisite gourmet dining in spectacular tropical settings, world-class clubs and entertainment, fine hotels, luxus beach resorts each with long strips of broad, uncluttered beaches - you will want to spend lots of time here. The City seems to exude the Latin Salsa Beat in the traffic, the lovely long-legged beauties in designer dresses, and all the way down to the plethora of friendly, inexpensive cafes and bars. It positively rocks! Sites like www.yBoggle.com specialize in Panama vacations, either in the City or some of the remote but sumptuous venues where couples can enjoy more subdued getaways seeing the wonders of Panama's unique Flora and Fauna. Now visitors are thronging to Panama not only to see the operation of the world-famous Canal, but to appreciate the vibrance and pure excitement of a rapidly emerging, spectacular new City of Global Significance. It's a place for young and old who want to be on the cutting edge of the Urban Travel Experience. Which of you has seen both Panamas and do you agree the New one is best?