Panama 980 Magazine E#27

Hotel Ciudad David Feature Hotel

NIGHTLIFE IN PANAMA FOOD FINDS

Edition 27

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LIVE MUSIC PANAMA

FOOD FINDS

GOING BANANAS NIGHTLIFE IN PANAMA RANDOMLY GOOD PART 3

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BOQUETE NIGHTLIFE BOOK A TOUR CHIRIQUI

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DINNER AND A MOVIE

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LIONFISH INVASION TOUR AROUND BOCAS BOCAS NIGHTLIFE THE BEST OF PEDASI RAINY DAY FUN

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PANAMA CHIRIQUI BOCAS DEL TORO PEDASI

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HOTEL CIUDAD DAVID

GENERAL MANAGER

Irma Marengo

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Falina Pérez de Valverde SALES

sales@panama980.com WRITERS

Christin Fjeld Roberts Daniela Delvalle Joan Crabtree Irma Marengo

panama’s lifestyle & travel magazine The name 9°80° is derived from the country’s location on the world map – 9 degrees north of the equator, 80 degrees west of the prime meridian.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Irma Marengo PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone: (507)394-3452 info@panama980.com www.locationpanama.com

Panama 9°80° es publicada por Avenue A. Publications, Inc. Las opiniones y recomendaciones de los autores y artistas que aparecen en Panama 9°80° no necesariamente reflejan las opiniones de la empresa.

Panama 9°80° no asume responsabilidad por los productos o servicios que se anuncian en la revista, ni por errores de contenido impreso.

No está permitido reproducir, total o parcialmente en contenido de esta publicación sin previo permiso escrito de Avenue A. Publications, Inc. © 2012 Todos los derechos reservados.

RUC: 1119547-1-564065 D.V. 92 Impreso por Panamericana Formas e Impresos, S.A. quién solo actúa como impresor.

Impreso en Colombia 2012 Todos los derechos reservados.

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HOTEL CIUDAD DAVID THE HUB OF CHIRIQUI

Hotel Ciudad de David is arguably the best city center hotel outside of Panama City offering all the comforts and amenities of a city hotel combining two major concepts, the best business facilities in town, and the best family experience.

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Whether you are planning a business trip, need a relaxing weekend away from it all, or decide to explore all that Chiriqui has to offer, Hotel Ciudad de David is the place for you.

The hotel’s key location in downtown David gives you access to the overwhelmingly expanding David commercial and banking area, conveniently located 5 minutes away from Chiriqui province local airport and, best of all, a short drive from Chiriqui’s most coveted mountain destinations: Boquete and Volcán, and gorgeous pristine beach destinations such as Boca Chica and the Gulf of Chiriquí islands.

The moment you step into the lobby, you understand why Hotel Ciudad de David has been chosen as a winner of Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2012 as one of the trendiest hotels in Central America.

The hotel’s design, modern architecture, posh furnishings and swanky music, evoke a cool, relaxed, yet sophisticated atmosphere.

The lobby bar is the perfect setting for a casual business meeting or to hang out with your friends and just relax and enjoy conversation and great cocktails.

A haven in the middle of the city:

Hotel Ciudad de David has a large pool area to relax and enjoy the sun while admiring the views of the Chiriqui highlands and the Pacific Ocean. If you are thinking about nurturing your body, the hotel’s fitness center offers great exercise facilities with top of the line equipment including a sauna.

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After a long day shopping or going in and out of business meetings, nothing beats relaxing in your elegant and comfortable room and ordering room service. All aspects were considered when designing the rooms, from LCD TV’s, fast internet service to luxury toiletries, fully stocked mini bar, controlled air conditioning and, best of all, a thermo acoustic system that isolates noise making your stay a quiet one and helps conserve energy while maintaining optimal room temperature.

Stylo Resto-Bar

With a twist of Spanish influence and contemporary cuisine, Stylo Resto-Bar serves an extensive menu with a great selection of wines from all over the world to enjoy with your meal. The restaurant is perfect for family celebrations, discussing business, or to simply enjoy great food with great company.

During our visit we tried some of the most popular dishes:

We started our meal by sharing dishes tapa style with the sea bass and apple ceviche served in ceramic spoons with a plantain chip, very refreshing. Then the all-star “pulpo a la Gallega” Galician octopus arrived, perfectly cooked and seasoned, one of those dishes that when executed well is simply outstanding. The Cajun salad was a pleasant surprise, fresh herbs, generously dressed and served with deliciously stuffed Cajun chicken pita bread.

We moved on to the main dishes, and tried one of the house specialties, sea bass rolled in bacon and stuffed with melted cheese, very rich and savory.

Any meat lover will stop browsing the menu after discovering that lamb chops are available- we ordered these juicy, tender beauties served in an aromatic rosemary sauce, stuffed with bacon, simply self-indulgence.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner; besides ordering a la carte, breakfast and lunch buffet are available from Monday to Saturday, and brunch is served on Sundays.

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Hotel Ciudad de David´s most valuable asset is its staff, and this translates to the best service possible in order to make your stay not only a pleasant one but one to remember and cherish.

As a hub, this is where business, leisure and family meet comfort, luxury and great service.

“Business without stress, for many reasons and occasions the best place” Facilities & amenities: 89 Executive rooms

2 Handicapped friendly rooms 10 Jr. Suites 2 Master Suites Indoor private parking with 24 hour security Fitness center Sauna 24 hour room service Lounge bar Buffet breakfast Restaurant Business center 3 event rooms totaling 405 square meters / social or business events

1 Executive conference room Audio/Visual equipment High speed internet Laundry services In-room LCD TV Minibar Hair dryer Safe box Cable TV Energy efficient A/C Contact information: Tel: (507) 744-3333 info@hotelciudaddedavid.com www.hotelciudaddedavid.com

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DINNER AND A MOVIE + ART+ CULTURE + TALENT

In our world today you are constantly bombarded by information from the mainstream culture and current world affairs. You are told what’s cool, what to wear, what to like, who to listen to and what you must have. A lot of pre-packaged mindless, robotic information overflow meant for you to consume massively, never think, just follow.

That being said, it is so refreshing to find a place like Diablo Rosso, an art gallery, a café and a concept store where creative minds are free to express their talent, where clever meets witty, where hunger is not just related to great food, but the need to constantly learn and explore the work and minds of brilliant people and most of all to be surprised and see the world through other eyes.

A few weeks ago I decided to go Diablo Rosso’s “Cena Cine” where every Tuesday they feature an independent movie at the café. The incredible selection ranges from movies awarded by film authorities like the Berlin film festival, New York Critic’s Circle, British Independent Film Awards and Cannes Film Festival to mention a few of the worthy.

It’s been a while since my last visit to Diablo Rosso and this was my first time visiting their new location, so my first time there was very sensorial.

When I stepped into the café I was amazed and amused by the décor, if indeed eclectic and eccentric, to me it made so much sense. The café reflects the heart and soul of the neighborhood culture in Panama; each piece was carefully selected to create the right ambiance without a single drop of pretentiousness, better said it was an artistic expression dignifying the poor and humble. Every single piece of furniture , every single artwork here and there was a fun discovery, a playful amusement for my mind. The café itself could be considered an artistic installation.

While waiting for my friend to arrive and before the movie, I took a peek at the art gallery which was currently featuring the work of a Mexican contemporary artist, ARTEMIO. A beautiful display of pieces in neon, print and glazed tile inspired by weapons turned into art and is likely to be this year’s most important contemporary exhibition in Panama. To learn more about this artist, just Google ARTEMIO Mexican artist.

I liked the unadorned, unpretentious and straightforward truth that is written on the café’s wall: “Comida rica”, meaning tasty food, and that is exactly what you should expect.

We ordered some snacks before the movie started and got a little bit carried away as the menu has such personality that is hard to leave behind some characters.

It is apparent that the same thought and attention to detail dedicated to the décor was used to create a menu that is appetizing and at the same time entertaining.

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We ordered the DIP PACK CHOPRA, a lentil, walnut and balsamic vinegar dip that really stood out, a smoked trout, cream cheese and sour cream dip served with toasted bread, the SALMON DICE, toasted focaccia bread with smoked salmon, goat cheese, tomato and pesto. Well…on a roll as we were, we ordered the Devil soup, a Thai red curry soup with noodles, grilled chicken and eggplant, one of the best noodle soups in Panama. To make sure we had enough to nibble on during the movie, we ordered the 1, 2, 3 Pan y Queso, a sandwich named after a children’s game, but made for grownups with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and guava jelly on focaccia, then last but not least...the Notorious P.I.G, a pork loin sandwich with coriander, a jalapeno mayonnaise and pickled cabbage. I think we got carried away because the names of the dishes were so hilarious that we wanted to try them all.

Lights out!...all quiet!

We enjoyed our meal and a great movie and, as always, independent films have a way of portraying the beauty of life as real people live it, our fears, our dreams, our defects and virtues, and the celebration of exceptional people in exceptional situations.

We left filled with the joy and satisfaction that comes from a successful evening and the opportunity to see and experience something new and exciting, yet relaxed, laid back and rewarding.

Definitely not your average dinner and movie night!

6th Street and A Ave., Casco Antiguo Panama, Republic of Panama Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-7:00pm Closed Sunday, Monday Phone: (507) 262- 1957 Facebook, info@diablorosso.com

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Diablo Rosso is currently working with the most sought-after artists in the continent.

Recently Vogue named Diablo Rosso one of the 5 most important art galleries in Latin America.

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LIVE MUSIC IN PANAMA Live rock and Djs in Panama City

bioraven / Shutterstock.com

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Pavo Real

British Pub Live Rock Via Argentina Tel: (507) 394-6853 www.elpavoreal.net

Hard Rock Hotel

Live rock & DJs Stage Bar Balboa Avenue Tel: (507) 294-4000 www.hrhpanamamegapolis.com

Relic Bar

Live DJs Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays Casco Antiguo Tel: (507) 262-1540 www.relicbar.com

Lum’s

Fridays Live Rock Corozal Oeste, Diablo Tel: (507) 317-6303

*(beware of the Jukebox, you may be at the mercy of the coin holder and end up listening to another genre)

Balboa Yacht Club

Live rock Fridays, Saturdays & Sunday’s Amador Causeway Tel: (507) 228-5196

Isabella

391-6008 DJs Live bands Terrazas Multiplaza Pacific Tel: (507) 391-6008 www.isabella.com.pa

Hangar 18

Live rock El Dorado www.hangar18panama.es.tl Tel: (507) 6243-1139

El Sotano

Live rock Live music Federico Boyd Avenue Tel: (507) 269-7877 For more information about rock bands and live rock in Panama go to www.panamarock.com Panama 9°80° 17 www.locationpanama.com

GOING BANANAS

By Christin Fjeld Roberts

When I thought of the Caribbean, I used to think of coconuts, sandy beaches, rum and of course bananas!

Well I still do, because for the last ten years I have lived in Panama on an island in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, surrounded by bananas.

I was born in Norway, very far from here, however I came as soon as I could.

Living here you find out why Panama among other countries, like Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica is called a banana republic.

The banana is the world’s fifth most traded agricultural commodity.

Much money, power and bananas have influenced the development of Central America.

The banana economy has helped build railroads, towns, schools and hospitals, and also has undermined and destroyed, helped crooked politicians and dictators gain power. And history shows, gambling with bananas has never been easy.

In 1975 after the Panama disease, beset by unions, hurricanes in Central America, and political scandal, the United Fruit Company suffered terrible loses and the chairman, president and CEO Mr. Eli Black jumped from the 44th floor of the Pan-Am building in New York.

After Black’s suicide, billionaire Carl Lindner Jr. bought into United Brands , taking leadership in 1984 and renamed it Chiquita Brands International. After filing chapter 11 in 2002, the company was re-named as Chiquita Brands and currently it is one of the largest employers in the area, with thousands of hectares of bananas grown and exported to many countries.

Backstory..

The banana is one of the oldest cultivated plants on the planet dating back from 5000 to 8000 years BC. Bananas are native to the tropical south and southeast Asia and were brought to the western world by Alexander the Great in the year 327 B.C. after invading India.

Dr. Antonius Musa, a Roman, made the banana famous by curing the Emperor Octavius Augustus´ illness by applying banana cold compresses. Subsequently, the banana genus was named after the Emperor’s physician, and to this day all banana name varieties start with Musa.

The name banana also comes from the Arabic word for finger; a cluster of bananas is called a hand and has approximately 25 fingers.

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The banana is an annual plant and it is a close relative of the lily and orchid family, growing up to 25 feet in a year.

There are more than four hundred known varieties with many sizes and colors.

The banana plant is cultivated in more than 107 countries; the best bananas grow within twenty degrees on either side of the equator.

Bananas to the rescue pre-packaged by nature.

We all need a little help staying healthy and energetic, and the banana has much of what we need to stay balanced. Just watch out where you throw the peel.....

•Bananas are the best source of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. The potassium in the banana maintains and restores fluids, bananas also balance our electrolytes.

•Potassium is also needed to absorb calcium for our bone health.

•The banana is an excellent antacid and protects us against ulcers, a mixture of bananas and milk significantly suppresses acid secretion.

•Bananas are definitely recommended as an after party remedy.

•Bananas also have protease inhibitors and help eliminate bad bacteria in the stomach. To achieve the highest antioxidant effect, the riper banana the better.

Banana tips…

•If too green, put the banana in a paper bag with an apple to ripen faster.

•If ripe, store it in the fridge, the skin will darken and the banana will last many days, or peel and freeze the bananas for smoothies and cakes.

•The banana leaf is excellent to use as a wrapping for baking or steaming fish, meat or seafood.

•The inside of the banana peel can also be used to shine shoes.

Here are some of my favorite banana recipes.

•Caribbean banana cake.

•Fried bananas.

•Grouper in banana leaves.

Advice from the author:

Let’s not all go bananas at once....at least let’s take turns....

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FOOD FINDS

PANAMA

Taro frozen yogurt Guavaberry Yogurt Cafe Belen Street and 50th Street Tel: (507) 226-0106

Churros Churreria Manolo Via Argentina Tel: (507) 214-9386

Montecristo Sandwich

Passion fruit Mojito

Cheese Fondue

Almond bubble tea

Costa Azul Ricardo Arias Street Tel: (507) 269-0409

Vieja Habana Casco Antiguo Tel: (507) 212-3873

Steinbock Via Cincuentenario Tel: (507) 270-2784

Master Bubble Tea El Cangrejo Mini Mall Tel: (507) 398-1134

Lobster Cocktail

Organic chocolate nib fudge bars

Rocky Road Granclement Casco Antiguo Tel: (507) 208-0737 20

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Malted Milk Boulevard Balboa Balboa Avenue Tel: (507) 225-0914

Public Fish Market ceviche stands End of Balboa Avenue Tel: n/a

Super Gourmet Casco Antiguo Tel: (507) 212-3487

Alaska special

Siu Mae

Conos Tamakeria 69 East Street San Francisco Tel: (507) 270-0807

Golden Unicorn San Francisco Evergreen building, 4th floor Tel: (507) 226-3838

Red velvet cupcake

Pork rinds “Chicharrón”

Vanille Cupcake Boutique.

Bake Shop 75th Street San Francisco Tel: (507) 391-4428

Delicias Margot 10 km off the Arraijan – Chorrera highway – heading north.

Interamerican road.

Arraijan - Panama Tel: (507) 6617-3432

Vegetable pizza Napoli 57 Street Obarrio Tel: (507) 263-8800

Shaved ice carts “Raspado” Sold on the streets of Panama City Panama 9°80°

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NIGHTLIFE IN PANAMA

By Daniela Delvalle

Panama City has everything you are looking for when it comes to nightlife. Whether you are here on business, for leisure, with the family, or just exploring the city by yourself, you can’t miss out on Panama’s nightlife. You will find everything from dress-down breweries to stylish nightclubs in the heart of the city and a rooftop bar with spectacular views.

Encima at Tantalo Hotel

On the fourth floor of Tantalo Hotel overlooking the city you’ll find the Roofbar Encima. Tantalo Hotel opened its doors in early 2012 in the famous area of the Casco Antiguo and it has become one of the “places to go” in Panama. The hotel has twelve rooms, each with a different design and style, a delightful restaurant, and their well-known roofbar. Encima was the first rooftop bar in Panama and in its short time has become the sensation of the Casco Antiguo. It has an amazing panoramic view of the city’s skyline and it has become one of the most popular bars in Panama for both locals and tourists.

Famous for its diverse crowd, inviting atmosphere, and excellent music, Encima attracts the attention of people from all around. Whether you are looking for a place to watch the sunset and enjoy one of their famous “Zen-jito” cocktails or looking to meet new people and enjoy a fun night out, Encima is

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a great place to go. The lantern balls that hang across the bar create a relaxed atmosphere making it the perfect place to go to chill out with friends. On the weekends invited DJs pick up the mood creating a livelier scene and with its wide-ranging bar in the center, it’s easy to get drinks and get the party going.

The hotel’s distinctive and singular look attracts the attention of everyone around whether to check out its elaborate and unique decoration, to eat in its delicious restaurant or to enjoy the beautiful view and have drinks at the bar, Tantalo is always full of different crowds of people. So go and enjoy some of the tasty and inventive dishes at Tantalo Kitchen and stay for some drinks up at the bar, meet some new people and have a great time.

Address: Avenue B & 8th Street Panama City, San Felipe (507) 262-4030

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Isabella Panama city is known for its vibrant nightlife and nonstop beat. Isabella is the finest and most exclusive nightclub in Panama. Located in “Las Terrazas” of Multiplaza Pacific, the most popular mall in Panama, Isabella has one of the most desirable locations in all of Panama. Unlike most clubs in Panama, Isabella has a large parking lot available and also valet parking services. Because it is located inside the shopping mall, it provides a more secure location . The club has both an indoor and an outdoor area. Indoors you will find a vast and elegant club that fits up to 600 people, an impressive bar, a VIP area with bottle service, and a dance floor that create the perfect atmosphere for a fun night in the city. Chic, stylish, and elegant, Isabella is the hottest clubs in town. There is a different theme every day of the weekend starting on Thursdays with their famous “Thursdays of Youth” that goes from 10:00 pm to 12:00 am which offers free entrance and open champagne for the ladies. They also bring famous DJs and live bands to their events to make it all the more exclusive. If you are looking for a more laid back and casual atmosphere, Isabella also has a spacious terrace with comfortable tables and a bar for those who want to enjoy a nice conversation, take in the beautiful view of the city, and even grab a bite to eat. Although Isabella is pricier than most nightclubs in Panama, it is worth what you pay. With a great location, more safety, excellent service, exclusive events, and a variety of atmospheres, Isabella gives you the best nightclub experience in Panama.

Address: “Las Terrazas” of Multiplaza Pacific Punta Pacifica (507) 391-6008

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Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

La Rana Dorada Known for its freshly handcrafted beers, Cerveceria La Rana Dorada is an excellent place to grab a bite and enjoy some beer.

Called by many the best pub in Panama, La Rana Dorada offers some of the best beers, food, and atmosphere . With its two locations , one in the famous Casco Antiguo and another in El Cangrejo and open seven days a week from noon until 2:00 am, La Rana Dorada is great for lunch or dinner. It is also very popular among the after-work crowd and those looking for a place to watch sporting events. To introduce you to their craft beers, and as part of their excellent service, you are presented with a beer boat that offers a free sample of their four types of beer, La Rana Pale Ale, La Rana Pils, La Rana Porter and La Rana Blanche. The beer sample sets the mood helping you unwind while listening to good music and enjoying the laid back atmosphere. Although they are famous for their home brewed beers, La Rana Dorada has a wide variety of cocktail drinks and appetizing dishes. When deciding which location to visit, it really depends on what you are looking for because they have different menus and ambiance. Their Casco Antiguo pub offers a more limited menu, mainly stone oven pizzas.

This one has a small indoor space but it has a larger terrace for those of you who prefer to sit outside and enjoy the neighborhood vibe of Casco Antiguo. La Rana Dorada in El Cangrejo has a larger inside area and also has a terrace; it offers a more extensive menu including their delicious hamburger, chicken wings, the Rana nachos and much more.

Address: Casco Antiguo: Eloy Alfaro Avenue and Calle 11 (next to Habana Panama) Phone (507) 212-2680 & (507) 212-2681 Via Argentina and Arturo Motta, El Cangrejo Phone (507) 269-2989 & (507) 269-2990 Panama 9째80째

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8º58’ Lounge at the Bristol Hotel This new bar and restaurant opened its doors just a few months ago but it has been quite the sensation. In the heart of the bustling financial district, located on the fifth floor of the North Tower of the exclusive Bristol Hotel, you will find 8º58’ Lounge. A sophisticated spot with an elegant and intimate atmosphere, this lounge has the perfect ambiance for romantic dates, casual gatherings, or even business meetings. They have a grand piano and on occasions they’ll host talented players to sing and play the piano as background music creating a more romantic ambiance. Its tapa style, small plate menu, created by the renowned Panamanian chef Cuquita Arias, is a well-thought production of fusion cuisine including elements from the Asian, Spanish and Panamanian kitchen.

They offer everything from Dim Sum delights to veal and shrimp mini-burgers to their amazing truffle oil with Parmesan french fries (a must have!) and of course mouth-watering desserts like their acclaimed Baked Alaska. As for drinks, their special drink is the “Chichita Bristol”, one of Cuquita’s inventions. However, they have a well-stocked bar with as much liquor variety as you can ask for. The Bristol Hotel has always taken pride in offering the best customer service and such is the case at the 8º58’ Lounge. The bartenders are more than happy to create new drinks from their wide array of options or prepare any of the classic international drinks like Blue Lagoon, martinis and so on.

A dashing lounge with great service, authentic food, and wide variety of liquors, the 8º58’ Lounge offers a unique experience at an exceptional hotel.

Address: Avenida Aquilino de la Guardia, 5th floor North Tower 507) 264-0000

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Hard Rock Hotel The striking 66-story Hard Rock Hotel is a great place to visit, whether it´s just to take a look at the amazing décor and collection of famous musical instruments, to enjoy a nice dinner at one of their restaurants, or have a good time while savoring a cocktail. Creating the perfect mix between Rock and Roll with an urban chic touch, the Hard Rock Hotel is everything you’d expect it to be offering excellent drinks and different environments.

Currently with four bars and two restaurants (and more on the way) the hotel has enough variety to suit all tastes. In the lobby you will find the Base Bar, with a more relaxed atmosphere, background music, and diverse crowd. The mezzanine level is an open space with a restaurant and two bars welcoming visitors to move easily from bar to bar. Here is where most of the partying happens. Many people start by having some tapas or pizzas at their delicious Ciao restaurant and then stay for some drinks at one of the two bars, Mamie Lee’s and Stage.

Mamie Lee’s is a stylish cocktail lounge with a very spacious and elegant bar creating a more cosmopolitan and chic look. Next to it is Stage, with a more rock star look, dark leather couches and a pool table that creates a more casual atmosphere. During the weekends, Stage hosts live rock bands to set the mood especially on Friday nights when the mezzanine gets packed with people from all over. And to top it off, on the 12th floor you’ll find the Float Pool Bar that opens until 11:00 pm and on the weekends invites guest DJs to set the stage for the ultimate pool party.

Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

So whether you are looking for a relaxed setting to have a drink and watch as people walk by, a stylish place to enjoy a cocktail and socialize, enjoy some rock and roll, play some billiards, or have some fun by the pool, the Hard Rock Hotel has the place for you.

Address: Avenida Balboa, next to Multicentro (507) 294-4000

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LA RANA DORADA

Micro-brewing in Panama.

Jacky Yaffe, managing partner of La Rana Dorada, felt it was time to introduce Panama to the craft beer culture. Jacky is proud of his Panamanian heritage and wanted to expose Panamanians to a new and exciting concept - a local microbrewery with craft beer made in Panama.

In addition to Jacky´s expertise, one of his business partners owns The Bogota Beer Company, a longstanding successful business in Colombia with more than 14 years in the brewery industry.

In 2010 they opened La Rana Dorada in Panama City, named after Panama’s Golden Frog, one of the most emblematic species and endemic to the country.

La Rana Dorada’s first location on Via Argentina is a mix of a British and Irish pub serving up to 15 varieties of beer, including both local and international. The menu has a variety of traditional pub dishes such as fish and chips and barbeque wings among other delicious house recipes.

Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

Brewing the concept!

In 2011 they produced and imported their very first bottled beer “La Rana Dorada”, rapidly accepted by the public.

In 2012 La Rana Dorada opened its microbrewery in the hip Casco Antiguo neighborhood following the traditional “Reinheitsgebot” (The Bavarian purity law), meaning that beer could only be produced with water, barley and hops. In their beer production process neither additives nor preservatives are used.

The house master brewer is Brad Kraus, a beer expert with more than 30 years of experience in the field. For over 19 years, Brad has been a regular judge in beer competitions all over the world, including the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. Brad studied chemistry at Rice University in Houston since he wanted to be a research chemist, and as he jokingly says “with beer I found a research avenue I like…beer is a blind science, but it is not only a science, it involves creativity”.

Brad guided us through the whole beer making process and we talked about the difference between lagers and ales, aging time, fermentation temperatures and quality imported ingredients.

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“We have created a really nice distinctive beer for Panama, we want people to think this is their local brewery, we do, we make it right here, it’s made fresh, you won’t get any beer fresher than this because you are right at the brewery. We want to establish a new beer culture, we produce very good and enjoyable products for everyone, and people love coming here.”

About the beer:

The ales are more complex because they are fermented at a warmer temperature, around 20°, so there are more flavors produced by the fermentation, less so with the lager. The house lager takes 30 days to produce. Lager in German means to age or to store, so the lager beer undergoes a long aging period at 1°, so it gets very smooth, very crisp and the flavors come through very well.

Currently the micro-brewery produces 4 different types of beer, 3 ales and 1 lager; all visitors are presented with a sampling vessel for their enjoyment.

La Rana Pale Ale: A fruity typical British ale with an amazing flavor and a reddish color.

5% / 30 IBU – British style - ale, - 15 days fermentation

Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

and aging.

La Rana Blanche: a refreshing extravagant Belgian style beer created with large amounts of malted wheat. In addition to the hops, they add coriander, dried orange and lime zest, a very refreshing and delightful beer, considered the top selling house beer.

4% / 18 IBU – Belgian blanche style, ale - 15 days fermentation and aging.

La Rana Porter: A London style beer, produced with a variety of dark and toasted malts resulting in a rich, complex and refined flavor.

5% / 30 IBU – London style, ale - 15 days fermentation and aging.

La Rana Premium Pils: The traditional German beer, produced with Hallertau hops, it is crisp, elegant and refreshing.

5% / 21 IBU – German style - Lager - 30 days fermentation and aging.

(There are future plans to create new beers) Since they are going to start doing brewery tours, we will not explain the process and we invite you to visit La Rana Dorada micro-brewery in Casco Antiguo.

Worth mentioning is the fact that the menu at Casco Antiguo is less extensive than the one in Via Argentina, however it is awesome, try the Chocao Pizza, an exotic combination of ripe plantain, bacon and coconut, you will go nuts, it is surprisingly amazing. They also serve traditional pizzas, ceviche and hot dogs.

“La Rana Dorada, cerveza con personalidad” - The Golden Frog, beer with personality!

On behalf of beer and food lovers all over the world, we thank La Rana Dorada for providing great homemade Panamanian beer, a great setting and delicious food with excellent service.

Location: Casco Antiguo, Ave. Eloy Alfaro & 11 Street Tel: (507) 212- 2680 / 81 Facebook: La Rana Dorada Pub Twitter: @laranadorada1 Location: Vía Argentina Tel: (507) 269-2989 / 90 Facebook: La Rana Dorada Pub Twitter: @laranadorada1 30

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SUPER GOURMET

Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

On November 2012, Super Gourmet Casco Viejo celebrates its 5th anniversary and Panama 9°80° is proud to say that Super G, a term of endearment, has always been an important part of our lives.

We met Blayne Ladner, Super Gourmet owner, at Casa Testa, a business incubator in Casco Antiguo. We used to laugh and share our funny and not so funny car stories. His brand new truck was lost in Campana where he stopped at the lookout, got out and it sailed off a cliff! Then the same week he had a rental car stolen!

I could not fall behind, I poured diesel in my brand new gasoline SUV! We were on a roll, good old days!

Little did Blayne know that he would end up owning Super Gourmet, the deli next door, formerly owned by another good friend Lorelei Kusin, who happened to be a close friend of Blayne’s family back in the States.

For many years Panama 9°80° and Super G were neighbors in the same building and they were responsible for our breakfast, lunch, our daily sugar intake and the occasional celebration with beer or wine.

For the past 5 years Super G has catered the Casco Antiguo neighborhood, not only acting as a grocery store and deli, but also serving as a meeting point for all Casco businessmen and women.

The Deli is a casual place where fresh food, dedication and quality ingredients are key. I have seen Blayne work and not only is he a great entrepreneur but also a team builder and an exceptional teacher to his valuable staff!

Yazmina, Blayne’s wife is also an important part of the business, always on top of things and putting that extra mile into great customer service.

To celebrate Super Gourmet’s 5th anniversary we decided to try some of the popular sandwiches and salads, some named after loyal customers, all involved in one way or another in Casco Antiguo and part of the community.

The Casco Veggie: An English muffin sandwich served with eggs, Muenster cheese, roasted veggies, tomato, onions and homemade pesto.

Miss Moss: A plate of smoked salmon, cream cheese, a toasted baguette, capers, red onions and tomato.

Named after Leanne Moss, owner of Miss Moss Consulting, British, born and bred in fashion capital London, has been living in Panama for 4 years most of them spent living and working in Casco Viejo where her second office has been Super G deli and, having many meetings there with all the most talented and creative people in Panama to make magic happen.

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Hydes Benedict: Super G’s version on Eggs Benedict, two eggs, ham, red onions and tomato topped with the special Super G Bechamel sauce, served over English muffins.

Named after Andrew Hyde, originally from NY who has lived, worked and invested in Casco Antiguo since 2007. He has created Hyde Historic Properties to help and preserve Casco’s heritage.

Paint Craft Club: A triple decker, turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on Pulman loaf.

Named after our dear friend and former Panama 9°80° editor Asia Sherman’s painting company, Asia lived and currently works in Casco Antiguo.

Veggie Matt: Roasted veggies, avocado, sun dried tomatoes and hummus served on a baguette.

Named after Matt Landau, “Owner of ThePanamaReport.com and a Casco Antiguo addict” The Arco: Grilled chicken filets, Gouda cheese, avocado and roasted red peppers on a baguette.

Named after: Carlos Vega who invented this sandwich 5 years ago when he worked with Arco Properties.

Buffalo Chicken Salad: Roman lettuce, celery, grated carrots, boneless chicken tossed in spicy buffalo sauce, topped with blue cheese and ranch dressing.

9°80° BLT: Bacon, lettuce and tomato served with the house avocado spread.

Named after our repetitive consumption, it is the oldest “named after” item on the menu and still a very popular one. Add cheddar if you feel like it.

There are many other delicious dishes at Super Gourmet; we also recommend the organic chocolate nib fudge bars.

Super Gourmet serves breakfast all day!

Location: Avenue A between 6 & 7th street Hours: Monday to Saturday: from 8:00am to 5:00pm Sunday: 10:00am to 4:00 pm Tel: (507) 212-3487 www.supergourmetcascoviejo.com Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

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THE DOCK The Dock restaurant is one of those hidden gems that people stumble upon while exploring the Caribbean coast of Panama.

Conveniently located at Shelter Bay Marina in Fort Sherman, Colon, is a regular hangout for boaties who dock at the marina, are in transit through the Panama Canal, people lodging at The Marina Hotel, and those who visit the lush San Lorenzo National Park and the historic landmark, Fort San Lorenzo, a Spaniard settlement often visited by pirates and buccaneers.

When you step in The Dock, you are greeted by a big sign that reads “It’s five o’clock somewhere” meaning it’s always happy hour at The Dock. And indeed at The Dock there is always something brewing… a Luau, live music, an Easter Keg scavenger hunt, the drunken sailor Olympics, you name it - if it’s fun, it’s happening here.

The Dock menu was thoughtfully created to satisfy local and traveling taste buds of all ages.

On this occasion, we decided to go for some of our favorite dishes and to try some of the new menu additions; we could not wait to cruise through the menu.

The new kid in town, the rich and savory Caribbean octopus is a local specialty cooked in coconut milk and served with coconut rice and killer house hot sauce. They should bottle and sell it!

The Panama beer battered fish and chips are one of the most popular dishes at The Dock- golden, crispy, delicious, served with the indulgent homemade dill sauce inspired by Ranch dressing.

We were very excited to try the new blue cheese grilled salmon, a perfectly cooked salmon steak topped with blue cheese crumble, served over a velvety decadent bed of spinach tossed in browned butter, and finished with smoky bacon. A must have!

Wherever we see a rotisserie oven, rotisserie chicken we have!

Sometimes it is a real pleasure to have a dish that is just a marriage between fire and poultry. The Dock’s juicy tender chicken is rubbed with a special mix of herbs and spices and served with potato wedges and roasted garlic, made fresh every day!

We could not visit The Dock and not have the Buffalo Chicken salad, it is our dish! They serve the spicy “Rockin’ Chicken Bites” in a flour tortilla shell, topped with blue cheese, carrots, celery and lettuce, with a creamy garlic dressing.

When in Colon, you should not miss visiting this laid back and unpretentious restaurant and enjoy a meal by the sea.

Location: 30 Bunter Street, Fort Sherman, Colón.

Tel: (507) 433-0471 Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm Friday and Saturday: 7:30 am to 10:00 pm www.thedockrestaurant.com Panama 9°80°

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SOUTHEASTERN ASIAN CUISINE IN PANAMA. SUKHI In a laid back and very casual atmosphere conveniently located in the center of Panama’s banking area, we found the missing link of Asian cuisine in Panama, Sukhi, specializing in Vietnamese, Thai and overall southeastern Asian cuisine.

Chef Robert Lamont was born in South Africa to British parents; hospitality has always been in his blood as his parents owned a hotel in Scotland. Robert decided to study the culinary arts so he went to Lausanne Hotel Management School in Switzerland where he met Alexandra, his Panamanian girlfriend.

Alexandra, her parents and Robert are the owners of Sukhi. Chef Robert says that Thai food has always been an important part of his life; he has traveled extensively through Thailand having the opportunity to experience the whole country and its food.

Our visit:

The restaurant was packed with an eclectic local and international crowd enjoying a meal while escaping from the mayhem of a crazy Thursday night with multiple traffic jams and heavy tropical rain.

Starting to unwind from the hectic pace outdoors, we began with the Vietnamese summer rolls, a refreshing summer roll with vegetables, mint and coriander, served with a hoisin sauce. We had the option of adding shrimp or pork, but we knew our journey had just started and we needed to further explore the menu.

Love at first bite! The lettuce Wrap: the freshest butter lettuce ready to load up with rice noodles and nuts with a selection of 3 dipping sauces, garlic, soy, and Siracha. Such a simple and delicate dish with so many layers of flavors and aromas...glorious!

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The Cashew Chicken: a juicy tender chicken in a savory rich sauce served with cashews, onions and peppers, accompanied by jasmine rice topped with chives.

We entered the comfort food department with the Pad Thai, perfectly cooked fresh prawns with rice noodles , bean sprouts, tofu, eggs, peanuts and a touch of lemongrass.

Calling all carnivores out there! The Sukhi Steak is out of the ordinary, succulent thin crusted slices of steak served with sweet soy, ginger and garlic sauce, sesame seeds, accompanied by jasmine rice and bok choy.

We ended with the “prima donna” yes! The Ramen soup, did I mention Ramen Soup, I believe I did! The real thing!

This soup carries all the love and dedication of Sukhi’s kitchen and takes around 24 hours to prepare. The complexity of the production process emerges at the end in a gratifying, wholesome and delicious meal that becomes the mother of all comfort food. The aromas… the textures… all awesome. The ingredients range from pork and chicken stock to noodles, pak choi, fish slices, boiled eggs, bean sprouts and fresh herbs. It takes a team to accomplish and just a few minutes to satisfy a grownup.

Sukhi serves healthy approachable wholesome food sending you on a journey through South East Asia.

Hours: Monday to Saturday from 11:30am to 10:00 pm

Location: Ave. Ricardo Arias, America Building, ground floor.

Tel: (507)395-6801 www.suhkionline.com

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Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

ROCK STAR TAPAS Hard Rock Hotel is one of the coolest places to be in Panama, offering great nightlife and good eats!

Sometime ago a good friend and a well-known chef recommended Ciao, so I put it on my bucket list, but due to a hectic agenda, I kept postponing it until now.

Just stepping in the hotel becomes a playful and upbeat experience, the modern décor interlaced with pop culture memorabilia just sets the ambiance for an enjoyable time.

Ciao’s menu is very provocative and exciting; they have put together a well-rounded selection of dishes for people to enjoy the tapa style concept in a great atmosphere.

The setting is warm and cozy and much appreciated, the seats are very comfortable, and so you can really relax and feel at home.

We started with the Spicy Popcorn shrimp in Siracha mayonnaise and shallots. Addictive - we could not stop eating them; perhaps they should call them the Joplin’s…Too much?

The Roasted Pernil Tacos, one of those dishes that you take a bite and you instantly want to call all your friends and tell them about it and you leave wanting to come back for more. The whole thought process takes about 5 seconds after the first bite. Simply outstanding.

Ciao Lobster Roll - delicate and elegant, the perfect balance of flavors in a puffy seed bread, served with chips.

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The Peking Duck Quesadillas - a sweet and creative twist on the traditional Peking Duck, served with Fontina cheese, piquillo peppers, corn and a lemon mayonnaise.

Another rock star was the Kiora Farm Goat Cheese, a trio of goat cheese topped with tomato jelly and crunchy chorizo over Pommes Anna (Anna potato). A new favorite.

The Ciao Skirt Steak Stir Fry with Asian vegetables, potato and dragon fruit was very ingenious and savory, elegantly served in a mini chafing-like-dish.

We did not have the opportunity to try the highly rated smoked chicken pizza, the spinach salad, or the mini burgers, therefore we will definitely return to Ciao to continue exploring their creative cuisine.

Hours: Lunch and dinner from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm Location: Mezzanine level at Hard Rock Hotel Tel: (507) 294-4000 http://www.hrhpanamamegapolis.com While we were there, we took a peak at Bazaar restaurant, a well-stocked buffet beyond the ordinary, their salad bar was generous and included not so common items like radish, pixbae, beets, cherry tomatoes and arugula, also the dressing options were beyond the conventional.

The buffet offers a variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, and ceviche, 12 different kinds of bread, a pasta bar, a beef carving station, dips, finger sandwiches and a huge selection of desserts.

Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

Panama 9째80째

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Panama 9째80째 www.locationpanama.com

STONE CABINS BOQUETE

This cozy and rustic lodge located in downtown Boquete offers 6 comfortable cabins each with a fully equipped kitchen, living room and a dining room, LCD TV, cable television and wireless internet.

The new and refurbished terrace surrounded by a creek and lush nature, has beautiful views of the mountains and it is the perfect setting for family gatherings, and business meetings while enjoying the cool mountain breeze.

Guests have access to the barbeque and bar where they can relax and share a meal with friends and family making the spacious terrace their own.

The hotel was designed with materials such as stone and brick to reflect the mountain location, still having the comforts of the city.

Stone Cabins is a family business, and it is very easy to feel at home.

For more information contact: Tel: (507) 720-1750 Cell.: (507) 6672-8303 info@stonecabinsboquete.com www.stonecabinsboquete.com

Panama 9째80째

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FOOD FINDS HIGHLANDS OF CHIRIQUI Baby Back ribs The Rock Boquete Tel: (507) 720-2516

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Kalamata Olive Hummus Bona Foodie Boquete Tel: (507) 720-2369

Breakfast burrito

Country breakfast

Sugar & Spice Boquete Tel: (507) 6967-7933

Panamonte Inn & Spa Boquete Tel: (507) 720-1324

Fish taco

Parihuela soup

Big Daddy’s Grill Boquete Tel: (507) 6683-3354

La Casona del Cuzco Boquete Tel: (507) 730-9709

Mountain of fire pizza Baru Restaurant Bar Boquete Tel: (507) 730-9294

Strawberries Sold on the side of the road.

Cerro Punta, Bambito.

Tel: n/a

Grilled octopus

Beer battered fish

Machu Pichu Boquete Tel: (507) 720-1502

Boquete Fish House Boquete Tel: (507) 6677-4289

Kale & spinach salad with gooseberries Cerro Brujo Volcan Tel: (507) 6669-9196

Pizza burger Bistro Boquete Restaurant Boquete Tel: (507) 6677-4289

Sausage

Fried chicken

Sold on the side of the road, intersection of Volcan and Cuesta de Piedra.

Tel: n/a

Nelvis Boquete Tel: n/a

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BOQUETE

NIGHTLIFE The Rock Boquete Live music Monday jazz Wednesday swing Tel: (507) 720-2516 www.therockboquete.com The Rock Restaurant

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Zanzibar *Live Music Saturdays Ingana4@hotmail.com Zanzibar Boquete

Amigos Boquete Panama Tel: (507) 720-1135

Baru Restaurant & Bar Live music Jazz, rock, salsa Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays Tel: (507) 730-9294 www.Restaurantebaru.com Baru Restarant Bar

Mike’s Global Grill *Live Music Saturdays Tel: (507) 730-9360 www.mikesglobalgrill.com Mike’s Global Grill

*Occasional live music Panama 9°80°

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ABUELA

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Panama 9째80째 www.locationpanama.com

JAZZ & BLUES have a new destination: Panama!

The beautiful Chiriqui highlands have long been one of Panama’s most favorite vacation and retirement spots, and the jewel of Chiriqui province is beautiful Boquete, home of about 19,000 including some 1500 retired expats from all over the world. Tucked into a luscious green valley at an elevation of 3000 ft at the foot of dormant volcano Baru ( Panama’s highest mountain at almost 12,000 ft) it is also the home of some of the best coffees in the world. The abundant tropical flora and fauna plus the closeness to the islands and endless beaches of two oceans attract visitors from all over the world.

Right from the start, the Boquete Jazz&Blues Festival has gained wide-spread national and international recognition as being a very important event in the music scene of Panama and Central America, second only to the famous Panama Jazz Festival!

With 49 musicians from Panama, the US and Europe performing in 16 shows plus a fantastic, colorful New Orleans-style street parade, it was the best and biggest-ever music festival in the Chiriqui highlands The 2013 festival will take place from February 28th until March 3rd with an even more exciting program mix of Panamanian, Caribbean and New Orleans Jazz plus great Blues bands from Chicago, Memphis, Portland and San Francisco. Check our website for the actual line-up, tickets and more details: www.boquetejazzandbluesfestival.com info@boquetejazzandbluesfestival.com Phone: 6519-7876 or 6682-5204

Jazz has always been popular in Panama, and this caused festival founder Antonio Singh to create the first Boquete Jazz Festival in 2007. Since then, the event has steadily grown and this year the reins were turned over to Hans-J. Lebuser, a retired Lufthansa pilot who has been involved in the blues festival business for many years.

In 2012, world-class blues artists were added to the agenda and the festival was renamed the Boquete Jazz & Blues Festival The 2012 Boquete Jazz & Blues Festival brought its unique blend of Blues and Jazz to Panama for the first time and it was an overwhelming success!

“The 2013 Boquete Jazz & Blues Festival is presented by Panamonte Brands, makers of

the smoothest rum on earth ™ ”

Panama 9°80°

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BOOK A TOUR IN

CHIRIQUI •For more information about tours contact our page sponsors

Photo by Noël Burgos

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Nature walks

Coffee tours

Horseback riding

River rafting

ATV adventure tours

Rock climbing

Bird watching

Thermal springs

Orchid farm

Canopy zip lining

Hiking

Mountain biking

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LIONFISH INVASION

By Joan Crabtree

What broken hearted teen hasn’t heard the adage, “There’s plenty more fish in the sea!”

Well, when it comes to lionfish, it is all too true.

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These stony faced, uniquely striped and ethereally finned astonishing beauties are invading and overpopulating reefs around the world, including our Caribbean waters as well. They are graceful swimmers, and as they are not usually aggressive, they are delight to observe while snorkeling, but do not touch!!!

Needle sharp slender spines on their fins contain a venomous combination of protein, a neuromuscular toxin and a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. A sting from a lionfish can cause intense pain; redness and swelling around the wound site.... and keeps them safe from all other fish eating predators.....except humans.

Lionfish are not indigenous to the Caribbean and are believed to have been released to the Atlantic waters from Florida aquariums during hurricane Andrew.

They are overpopulating the world with the ability to reproduce year round and the females are able to lay up to 30,000 eggs every 7 to 30 days!!!

The lionfish have voracious appetites and are consuming small native reef fish and crustaceans in alarming quantities. Marine biologists are concerned that the over consumption of small and young native fish is already disrupting the natural balance in the Caribbean reef ecosystem and may ultimately have drastic consequences.

Concerns of Ciguatera poisoning are unfounded in the cleaner waters of the western Caribbean. Ciguatera poisoning is caused by eating fish, usually larger predators such as grouper, snapper and barracuda, that live by reefs and accumulate toxins by eating smaller fish that feed on a poisonous algae that grows on reefs. This algae has NOT been detected in our waters. The toxins in the lionfish spines are completely unrelated to Ciguatera and are totally eliminated when the spines are removed or heated.

In Bocas del Toro, the annual “I Spear Lionfish Roundup” has gained popularity and has enjoyed great support and fun camaraderie while attempting to rid the region of this unwelcomed intrusion. It has also helped to educate the local community about the invasive characteristics of lionfish, and how to catch or spear and prepare the lionfish safely.

The toxins located only in the spines are neutralized with heat.

Properly handled and prepared, lionfish is a delicately flavored, very tender white meat fish and is safe to eat in Panama.

Lionfish is the new exotic seafood now being served in top restaurants around the world at prices commonly between $25.00 and $30.00.

Joan Crabtree, author of the article and owner of The Cosmic Crab Cafe in Bocas del Toro, is a firm believer that the best way to help solve the lionfish problem is to put them in our food chain....and eat them, grilled, sautéed, smoked or baked.

The Cosmic Crab serves “help save the reef specials”, a variety of recipes featuring lionfish: lionfish ceviche with lime, orange juice and pineapple, grilled lionfish with passion fruit butter, the pecan & panko encrusted lionfish fillet and the banana leaf wrapped baked lionfish fillet, topped with fresh vegetables.

Panama 9°80° www.locationpanama.com

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FOOD FINDS

BOCAS Octopus with fried plantain

Smoked Pig Pickled Parrot Isla Carenero 757-9093

Bar-Restaurante Roots Isla Bastimentos 6702-1389

Pig tail & rice Beso del Drago Saigon Beach Isla Colon 6505-9872 50

Italian Sub Super Gourmet Isla Colon Tel: (507) 757-9357

Seafood Salad The Reef Isla Colon Tel: n/a

Slow Roasted beef stew tacos Gringo’s Mexican Food Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6739-0749

Tuna Tartare Paki Point Punch beach Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6948-6562

Seared Tuna

Chocolate truffles

Gazpacho

Ultimo Refugio Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6726-9851

Up in the Hill Isla Bastimentos Tel: n/a

Guari Guari Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6627-1825

Panama 9°80° www.locationpanama.com

Buffalo wings

Steak

Toro Loco Isla Colon Tel: (507)

Carlos’ Steak House Outside Gran Hotel Bahia Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6518-9627

Grilled Fish Filet in a passion fruit sauce Hotel Bocas del Toro Isla Colon Tel: (507) 757-9771

Vindaloo Chicken OM Cafe Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6516-3857

Crab Benedict Isla Colon Lili’s Cafe Tel: (507) 6829-4688

Hot Passionate Rita (Margarita) The Cosmic Crab Isla Carenero Tel: (507) 757-9157

Quesadillas Buenavista Bar & Grill Isla Colon Tel: (507)757-9035

Red Sapper Yarisnori Boca del Drago Isla Colon Bocas del Toro Tel: (507) 6613-1934 Panama 9°80°

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BOCAS

NIGHTLIFE

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*Voodoo Lounge

The Bocas Wine Bar

Isla Colon Tel: n/a

Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6452-9279

*Lemon Grass

∞ Aqua Lounge

Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6721-6445

Isla Carenero Tel: n/a www.bocasaqualounge.info

◊Lili’s Cafe

*Raw Sushi +

Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6829-4688

Martini Bar Isla Colon Tel: (507) 6938-8473

* ∞La Iguana

*Toro Loco

Isla Colon Tel: n/a

Isla Colon Tel: (507) 757-7011

*Occasional live music DJ ◊ Montly jam sessions Chill & relax ∞Dancing Panama 9°80°

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TOUR

AROUND 54

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BOCAS

Scuba Diving:

Surfing

Starfleet Scuba Isla Colon Tel: (507)757-9630 www.starfleetscuba.com

La Buga Isla Colon Tel: (507)757-9534 www.labugapanama.com

Sailing

Island circuits

Isla Colon Bocas Sailing.com Tel: (507)757-7048 www.bocassailing.com

Jampan Tours Isla Colon Tel: (507)757-9619 www.jampantours.com

Chocolate tour

Carriage ride

Oreba Chocolate Rio Oeste Tel: (507)6649-1457

Horse carriage Main Street Isla Colon Tel: n/a

Rent a bike Bicycle rentals all over town Isla Colon Tel: n/a Panama 9째80째 www.locationpanama.com

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FOOD FINDS

PEDASI Coconut cream shrimp Bull Beach RestaurantBar Playa El Toro Tel: n/a

Breakfast (for guests)

Casa de Campo Pedasi Main street Pedasi Tel: 995-2733 56

Shrimp ceviche Playa Venao Bar & Restaurant Playa Venao main surf break Tel: n/a

Carrot and nuts Cupcake Mamallena’s Opposite to Pedasi town park Tel: n/a

Panama 9°80° www.locationpanama.com

Coconut lemon cupcake Mamallena’s Cupcake Tel: n/a

Pulled pork sandwich Smilley’s Main road Pedasi town Tel: n/a

Chicken fajitas Pedasito Cafe & Wine Bar Pedasi town Tel: (507) 6584-4847

Molten chocolate The Bakery Main road Pedasi town Tel: (507) 995-2878

Fried fish

Paella

Smilley’s Main road Pedasi town Tel: n/a

Boboré Eco Venao Reforestation & Lodging Playa Venao Tel: (507) 836-7868

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VILLA ESPLENDOROSA Photo by: PEPPOPHOTOGRAPHY

This 5 acre luxury villa perched on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean is located in one of the most exclusive communities in Panama, the avant-garde Azueros Development located on Destiladeros beach in the town of Pedasí.

Villa Esplendorosa is the vacation destination for those who treasure quality time, comfort, and privacy and expect nothing but the best.

All rooms are ample and carefully decorated with soothing colors and equipped with all the modern amenities.

The villa is rented exclusively for a single party, with a capacity for 10 people and two additional beds for children and includes a staff of two housekeepers, a chef and a villa manager.

The different settings of Villa Esplendorosa permit a feeling of relaxation and hominess.

The family living room unites the crowd with the aromas coming from the kitchen, comfortable and unique furnishings and views to the pool area and the Pacific Ocean.

The entertainment lounge is equipped with a home theater with a 100” screen Dolby surround sound system, Sky TV, a collection of movies, comfortable leather seating that accommodates up to 12 people, a pool table, a poker table, a bar and a popcorn machine. The entertainment lounge has immediate access to the garden and swimming pool area.

Relax in the sun in your private 20 meter swimming pool overlooking the ocean or enjoy the 360° views from the thatched roof BBQ lounge.

To top it all, the villa is close-by an array of beaches, exotic islands and rivers.

Request a quote at www.villaesplendorosa.com Or call: (507) 994-3177 Panama 9°80° www.locationpanama.com

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THE BEST OF

PEDASI Surfing Playa Venao has some of the best waves in Panama.

Taylored handcrafted Panamanian hats Eulgio Dominguez Perez Tel: (507) 6512-9904 60

Isla Iguana Wildlife Reserve Take a boat trip to this pristine island. Snorkel, dive, paddle board, or just relax in the sun. www.islaiguana.com

Cakes Dulceria Yeli Pedasi town main Street.

Tel: (507) 995-2205

Panama 9째80째 www.locationpanama.com

Kite Surfing

Nature

Playa Arenal is the perfect place to practice this exciting sport. www.shokogi.com

Pedasi is great for Humpback whale and sea turtle observation, bird watching, awesome coral reefs, hectares of mangrove, and is home to crustacians and iguanas.

Real estate Pedasi is a great emerging location to relocate, own a second home or open a new business.

Culture Pedasi is located in Los Santos province, known to be the richest cultural province of Panama.

Architecture Adobe thatched homes with tiled roof tops.

Paddle boarding Isla Iguana is the perfect setting to paddleboard with cristal clear waters and colorful coral reefs. www.shokogi.com

Pedasi boasts of being one of the most culturally rich towns in Panama, and celebrates at least 50 festivals throughout the year.

Although Pedasi has been recently discovered in the past 6 to 7 years as a tourist and second home destination, it has always been very popular with the local and international surfing communities for its incredible waves and hospitality.

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CASCO STATION Travel Co-working

By Harold Maduro

Co-working is a movement that was born out of independent professional’s needs; people who after working alone from home for a long period of time, realize that it’s no longer the most comfortable or productive way to get things done, because it’s such a lonely experience.

Co-working´s mission is to create a community of professionals who can maintain synergy at work, that help each other solve problems, work together on different projects, create new business ventures for themselves, or simply share different experiences as co-workers or friends; all this under the same roof: the co-working office.

The co-working model offers new entrepreneurs or freelancers a space where they can develop their business or personal projects, without having to invest in monthly fees that come along with renting your own office. Plus, they have the advantage of having meeting rooms, spaces where they can collaborate with team members, screens, whiteboards, WiFi and even free coffee.

The internet, along with new communication and collaboration tools are allowing more professionals to go mobile each day, since they can work from home or any other place in the world, without the need to be physically confined to a main office.

This has opened up a world of possibilities for people who want to travel the world while they keep working on their projects, operating from a laptop with WiFi in hotels, cafés and hostals all over the world.

Co-working is an excellent option for members of this traveling workforce, offering the proper infrastructure in the country they visit, in order to provide a certain level of comfort and better work tools than those you get from a lobby or café.

Panama is one of the first countries in Central America that has jumped on the co-working bandwagon. CascoStation is a co-working space, born in the heart of Panama City’s Historic Quarter, which has been hosting local freelancers as well as travelers from all over the world, since April 2011.

In 2011, we had a visit from David Owen Greenberg, a Systems Engineer and Software Developer who was traveling all over Latin America working on web development projects for his clients from each one of the countries he visited. David commented on his trip: “My main project is to create a world-wide work-travel social network, allowing travelers to find work projects, small and large, anywhere they want to travel, thus allowing them to contribute more to the world while exploring. Those who hire them can meet and host travelers, thus creating a cultural exchange while getting their projects done.

Co-working is far superior to working from a cafe, due to the great people and facilities. Even when quiet and not speaking, the other folks help generate a certain momentum that allows work to move forward more easily.”

If you’re planning to visit Panama to get to know the country, work and learn the language and the culture, consider adding a membership for a co-working space to your budget. We’re located in Casco Viejo, on 5th Street and Avenue A, in the city’s cultural center. If you want to learn more about our co-working space, visit http://cascostation.com/ 62

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POOL ANYONE?

BOWLING

SHOPPING

The Londoner Pub

Albrook Bowling

Multiplaza Mall

Uruguay Street Tel: (507)214-4883

Fun, Food & Bar Albrook Mall, 3rd level kangaroo entrance Tel: (507)395-6235 www.albrookbowling.com

Punta Pacifica www.multiplaza.com/visitenosPAN

Pavo Real British Pub Via Argentina Tel: (507)394-6853 www.elpavoreal.net

Lum’s

Sky Bowling Extreme Planet Balboa Avenue Tel: (507)501-4731

Corozal Oeste, Diablo Tel: (507)317-6303

Bolos El Ñeke

Isthmus Brew Pub

City of Knowledge Tel: (507)317-0211 www.elneque.com

Eusebio A. Morales Avenue El Cangrejo Tel:(507)205-5077

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Multicentro Mall Balboa Avenue www.multicentropanama.com.pa

Albrook Mall Albrook www.albrookmall.com

Metro Mall Close by the Tocumen International Airport www.metromallonline.com/incio-PA

ART GALLERIES & MUSEUMS Diablo Rosso Casco Antiguo Tel: (507)262-1957 www.diablorosso.com

MAC Contemporary Art Museum San Blas Street, Ancon www.macpanama.org

Interoceanic Canal Museum Casco Antiguo Tel: (507)211-1649 www.museodelcanal.com

Miraflores Visitor Center Panama Canal Tel: (507)276-8325 www.pancanal.com

Museum of Anthropology

THE MOVIES *Cinepolis Multiplaza Pacific Multiplaza Mall Punta Pacifica Tel: (507)302-6262 www.cinepolis.com.pa

Cinemark Albrook Mall Albrook Tel: (507) 314-6001 www.cinemarkca.com

Cinemark Multicentro Mall Balboa Avenue Tel: (507) 208-2507 www.cinemarkca.com

*Extreme Planet Balboa Avenue Tel: (507) 214-7022 *VIP theatre available

Juan Pablo II Avenue, Curundu Tel: (507)501-4731 Panama 9째80째

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