2 Retire In Panama? NEWSLETTER 
February 8, 2021 Volume 20
This week's COVID...
...update is how I am helping to keep readers updated on how "under control" COVID-19 is in Panama. This is the update as of February 4th from Karyn Saunders.Thank you so much Karyn for continuing to keep ex-pats aware of the statistics:
Panama has 1107 new cases, +23 new deaths, 230 in ICU, 2078 hospitalized, 33.608 active cases, 285,490 recovered + 2204 new.
1) 9759 new tests with an 11.3% positive rate.
2) Beaches are open Monday through Friday from 6am - 4pm.
3) All retail has reopened in Panama and Panama Oeste which includes beauty salons and barber shops. We will be glad to see the restaurants opening back up today.
4) Gender specific shopping has been discontinued. This means that we can once again shop with our spouses.
5) Total weekend and nightly curfews remain in effect.
6) It is my understanding that Tocumen International Airport has opened a COVID-19 test site for outbound passengers.
This is all good news with improvement in almost every statistic. For more information on the covid vaccine in Panama click here.
My special offer this week...
...is for everyone who would love to read my book free. The offer is for 2 free months of Kindle Unlimited. In Panama this is my favorite way to read. I am able to read almost all of my favorite authors free.
February 13th-17th...
...is Carnival. Carnival, although this year all celebrations are cancelled, is always celebrated for the 4 days prior to Ash Wednesday. The majority of Panamanaians are Catholics. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent which represents the 40 days that Jesus prayed and fasted in the desert prior to His return to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). 5 days later he was crucified (Good Friday). 3 days later he rose from the dead (Easter).
Carnival is a huge celebratioin in Panama and most of the population has time off work the week of Carnival. The biggest celebration takes place in Las Tablas. The celebration has been taking place since the early 19th century. It began when a rivalry between two local religious groups, Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo developed. Each of the two groups wrote songs and performed dances to antagonize one another during the four days leading up to the first day of Lent. Eventually the bitter feud was forgiven, and the tradition is now a symbol of harmony and togetherness. This celebration occurs in the streets of Las Tablas on the Azuero Peninsula. During the celebration, traditional folk songs and dances are performed to commemorate the events of early days.
Across Panama, each town has their own version of Carnival with people coming from all over the world to enjoy the colorful and iconic celebrations. They have parades with elaborate floats featuring performers wearing colorful costumes engaging in traditional dances. Two distinct groups line the streets to symbolize the members of the original feud. Members of the opposite sex will commonly douse one another with water in a lighthearted sign of provocation. Two queens are selected to compete for the title of reigning queen.
Most Panamanian families take the opportunity to spend special time together and to indulge in food and drinks on the country’s beautiful beaches, as it is a national holiday.
And most Expats buy extra groceries and lock themselves inside. The brief paragraphs above are excerpts from my book. Panama has many rich traditions throughout the year and most are well documented in my book. Nothing is normal lately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Festivals are cancelled for 2021, but we are hopeful for a full return next year. The best way to celebrate is vicariously through us by reading about it in my book.
Last week...
my interview with Cynthia Lehman began appearing on her You Tube channel and on FaceBoook. I have also shared it to and Twitter. It is something that I am very proud to share. She did a great job of interviewing me, highlighting my book and our expat experience in Panama. I am sharing the link here for my faithful newsletter readers.
This week's fan photo...
...is our friend Nancy. Nancy is also weathering the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida with her mother. She lives in Panama and attends our church in Coronado. Jen and I were able to enjoy a great BBQ lunch with her while we visited Florida in December.
You can get a copy of my book by clicking the link here, or the link on the blog. It is exclusively available on Amazon or Kindle. Kindle Unlimited subscribers read it free.
Blessings from paradise,
Greg
