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Since some are hopefully traveling to Panama soon, we thought of a few things that might be helpful. It would be great if people who have been to Panama recently could add to the list and give their own opinions. And, if agencies provide good travel notes it would be great if people would share them. The best information is probably from those who come back after a completed adoption. Maybe we can keep the thread alive so all the information is together.
1. Panama merchants do not take the Discover Card. Most other credit cards are accepted at retail stores, grocery stores, hotels, etc.
2. It has been our experience that Panama merchants do not like bills over $20. If they accept a larger bill, then they have a manager approve it which is often a hassle. They are afraid of counterfeits. They do have the new $20 in circulation.
3. No one accepts traveler checks and banks charge a lot to exchange them.
4. There seems to be more American money in circulation than Panamanian money. There is no Panamanian paper money but Panamanian pennies, dimes, quarters and half-dollars look just like their American counterparts but the symbols and words are different. So, if you want to collect some for souvenirs, you may want to start collecting early. Be careful not to accidentally give them to banks or stores in the U.S after you return!!
5. When we adopted from Colombia, our agency encouraged us not to bring a car seat. You may want to ask your agency what they suggest.
6. We really enjoyed having an umbrella stroller in Colombia. With the intense traffic in Panama, we think it is good for infants and toddlers as well. You may be able to purchase one in Panama.
7. It is customary to bring gifts to the orphanage. This is nice to know because you can shop for bargains and sales ahead of time. When you receive a referral, you may want to ask what the orphanage is in need of such as age for toys and clothing.
8. We enjoyed having a refrigerator in our hotel room so we could put milk, juice, meat, etc in it. We got tired of eating out and also wanted to save money so we ate some meals in the hotel room.
9. Panamanians do not dress downӔ in public. For example, you wouldnt see a Panamanian running to the store for milk in a pair of old shorts or even shorts at all, actually. They usually wear jeans, slacks, or business clothes. At church services they do not wear shorts and very rarely wear jeans. For official appointments they wear business clothes and evening dinners in nice restaurants they wear dress clothes. They do not mind tourists wearing shorts around but you will stick out among the crowd.
10. Panama has been doing better in the area of tourism in the last few years. However, we think most people are still just traveling there for either business or for the rainforest experiences - not ғget away tropical vacations. It will be fun to hear from those traveling soon if they were able to go on tours and which ones were the best.
11. Calling cards worked really well. You can call the number on the back of them to find out the rate from Panama to the US. The hotel we stayed at in Colombia charged us to use the room phone so it was cheaper to call from the pay phone in the lobby.
12. We wish we would have had more information about our daughterӒs life at the orphanage for the transition. If adopting a toddler, this would even be more relevant. For example, what foods they like, when they eat, when they sleep, do they sleep with pillow, signsӔ of hunger and fatigue, bathroom habits, what kind of toys they like etc. We simply did not ask enough questions. Also, you may want to find out what temperatures they are used to in the orphanage. Our daughter caught a bad cold because she wasnt used to the cool air conditioning.
13. We were asked to bring a set of clothes to the orphanage for our daughter to leave in. It was great having her dressed up for all the pictures we took so it worked out great!!
14. Public restrooms are not the cleanest. Carrying kleenex to use for toilet paper is a good idea.
We hope this helps.
jane
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*About the airport and flying
When I visited Panama in 2000, Tocumen Airport was a dank, dark and scary place. I remember jogging through the airport thinking, "Oh my God, what kind of place is this?" Not a great first impression. haha Armed guards and drug dogs trotting along the baggage conveyor with my soon-to-be husband dragging me to try to beat the masses to customs. Then to find my husband's suitcase broke in transit and taped back together by the airline. Not to mention the airport stinks, literally. But since 9/11, I look forward to those measures, especially when traveling to a 2nd or 3rd world country where the security might be pretty lax.
One important note that was stressed to me before flying to Panama....do NOT lock your suitcase because then it will definitely be broken into and searched (without your presence). So keep your important sensitive stuff in your carry-on.
And when you are flying back out, expect security to make you open it up so they can rifle through your belongings.
Panama's airline is called Copa. We flew round trip from Miami Florida for $250 a ticket, in 2000. Our cousin just flew there last week for $450 roundtrip from Tampa. Worth checking into this airline. It's a running joke, however, that when the plane touches down everyone stands up and claps, thankful to have landed. It really happened. Panamanians have a great sense of humor!
*General tidbits and interesting info
You will see men standing on the street in little groups urinating against the walls of buildings. This is no big deal to them but I was shocked. LOL
Do NOT let the men running up to your car at a streetlight wash your windows or sell lottery tickets. This is a prime way to get mugged.
The INSTANT the light turns green, you'll hear a lot of honking. It's pretty funny. Panamanians are crazy drivers,....and very impatient. Everyone drives either a little Toyota Corolla or a pickup (like the new Ford Explorer with a bed). And the toyotas are beat up badly, because they're usually taxis. I refuse to ride in the front seat when riding around Panama...it scares me too much. Quite frankly, "right of way" is not in their vocabulary. Now I know why my husband drives the way he does! :)
Napoli's Pizza is a fantastic eatery, I highly recommend it. Everyone knows "Napoli's".
It rains every day for 9-10 months. It's extremely muggy. I live in Florida and was still amazed at how "heavy" the air feels. Bandanas/hankies will become your friends.
"Duran" coffee and "Panama" beer are awesome. For smokers, Marlboro cigarettes are $1.20/pk or 60c for a mini-pack...those are cute.
One of the most interesting/ironic things I saw was a huge section of sad delapidated shacks tucked into the hillside (or downtown) sitting side-by-side to cell phone towers.
Minimum wage in Panama is $1/hr. That explains a lot.
It's common to see colorful maccaws and parrots in the trees, Iguanas roaming freely in yards, and monkeys darting in front of the car (when in more rural areas).
And there is a rainforest smack dab in the center of town.
These are just a few things I remember from my trip. It is such an amazing place....so beautiful yet so full of irony.
I love Panama so much, can't wait to go back and get my babies!
Robin
I was just checking the forum to see if anyone's gotten any good news........
When I read through this thread, I really wanted to add my .02 cents......
1. THE WINDOW WASHERS AT EVERY INTERSECTION.....
I guess that would only apply if you're rented a car...
If you DO rent a car...... and the kids (sometimes adults) attempt to wash your windshield............ here's what you do:
TURN YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON...... and have MONEY READY BEFORE YOU GET TO THE STOP LIGHT (shortly after praying that the light stays green, and then changes just before you can get to the intersection....... LOL).........
Roll your window down SLIGHTLY..... keeping the windshield wipers on...........
HAND THEM 50 CENTS......... BUT THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't make eye contact after that, just look straight ahead and ignore their pleas for more.
2. TOCUMEN AIRPORT.....
I don't recall it being "dark and danky"..... but maybe things have changed since 1999? I always thought that, for Panama, it was fairly clean and not too bad. The duty free shops aren't so bad either.
Do NOT leave your luggage unattended at ANY time (which applies to every location in the world).
Do NOT stop to give sympathies or engage in coversation ANY beggars. .. no matter how much your heart bleeds.
3. GOOD VIEW FOR PHOTOS (if they'll allow people up there now) is at Quarry Heights (the mountain/hill with the Panamanian Flag flying high atop it). This area is behind the old Gorgas Army Hospital.... which has the Family Court right next door, and across from that the Smithsonian's offices. This is old army family housing....... drive up the hill (if there's a guard there, just show them your camera, tell them you're a tourist, and ask if he would mind if you take 10 minutes to get a good photo). Go up through the housing, and look for the house with the backyard that faces downtown Panama direction....... GREAT PHOTO OP.
4. Take your own toilet paper with you everywhere..... EVERYWHERE. Don't assume anyone keeps it in stock. LOL. Bring those toilet seat covers (travel size toiletries section of stores).
5. Panama has always used American money....... so you'll have no problems with that. It makes life easy...... ahhhhhhhh.
6. GOOD RESTAURANTS: Mango's (by the Harley Davidson Shop... this one is better than the larger one in the other part of town). GOUCHO'S.... oh my gosh... the best Argentinian steaks and sangria you will EVER have (and a good lookin' waiter who looks like Antonio Banderas).
7. I would be careful if you venture into Panama Viejo. Notorious for crime/purse snatchings/thefts, etc. If you go...... go only with a tour group if possible. It's a neat place..... but to be honest.... it's not worth the risk sometimes....
8. There's a GREAT visitor's place that has a recreated Kuna village on one side, and then an "old Panama" area on the other with dancers (in their gorgeous polleras).... and a nice restaurant.
*Can't remember the name, but I'll get it eventually.... and post it here later..... it's up near the FLAG MOUNTAIN (Quarry Heights).
9. No matter what you do, you're gonna look like tourists, so don't even BOTHER carrying a purse.... keep your money close. And don't leave ANY VALUABLES IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM NO MATTER WHAT. Even the safes aren't safe (I'm not kidding).
*If you want to contact me before leaving for Panama, I can link you up with my good friend, Gladys (who has met with an American Adoption agency recently to talk about working with them as a guide/assistant). She's an awesome young woman.... who can be completely trusted. I will pass along her phone number to you, and if you're in a bind, confused, scared, need help of any kind...... please call her. While she doesn't have a "fee" for helping out....... she does need money (she's striking it off on her own, going to school, and working a job)..... and it would be nice if you could give her a " donation"...... :) She's a born again Christian (went to Bible college in ARgentina)..... and lived with American Missionaries there (friends of mine who still live there).
You can leave me a private message if you'd like her ph. number or info.......
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE...... you'll love Panama! We miss it A LOT!!!
~Kim P.
Robin,
Just a quick question or questions:) I may have missed it, but who are you adopting with and what age? I say you wrote babies, so I am assuming you want two. Has your agency commented on referral time or travel. Just wondering what they are saying for newbies:)
Welcome to the forum,
TanyaB
Tanya,
We're hoping to adopt two infants (0-2, opposite sex, siblings or not, white, hispanic, or white/hispanic mix) through Commonwealth.
At first they were hesitant about sending me information on Panama adoptions because of the referral reneging and the extraordinary wait-time. They told me they weren't really taking new apps because of the rocky road Panama was throwing at parents. They told me Panama isn't real comfortable with this international adoption stuff yet therefore they take referrals away and give them to locals. The co-founder of Commonwealth has moved to Panama to try and help smooth this mess out with the government.
My husband is from Panama and is a dual citizen. Because of that, my agency contacted their people in Panama who then encouraged us to apply, because (supposedly) we'll get special privelege by Panama. I was not told how we would be given special privelege. And I'm not quite sure I believe that anyway, because I know how Panama works! LOL
My case worker (on Jan 17th) said that she was pretty confident we'd be flying our children home within 9 months of our dossier hitting Panama. And she said that Panama has A LOT of infants.
From what I've read around the Net, everyone's told something different. And everyone's experiencing way different stuff than what they were told.
I'm trying to keep my hopes up in the midst of all this...and we haven't even gotten started good! :)
Robin
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