Gadling

Cheesey Street Foods Of Latin America

Laurel Miller — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, North America, South America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Budget Travel, Central America

With the possible exception of Argentina, most people don't associate Central or South America with cheese. Like all of Latin America, these countries are a mix of indigenous cultures, colonizing forces, immigrant influences, and varied terroir, climatic extremes, and levels of industrialization. They possess some of the most biologically and geographically diverse habitats on earth. As a result, the cuisine and agricultural practices of each country have developed accordingly.

The use of dairy may not be particularly diverse in this part of the world, especially when it comes to styles of cheese, but it's an important source of nutrition and income in rural areas, and a part of nearly every meal.

While writing a book on cheese during the course of this past year, I tapped into my rather obsessive love of both street food and South America for inspiration. As I learned during my research, the sheer variety of cheesey street snacks from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego are as varied as the ethnic influences responsible for their creation. Read on for a tasty tribute to queso.

Arepas: These flat little corn or flour cakes from Colombia, Venezuela and Panama may be grilled, baked, boiled, or fried. They're usually stuffed or topped with a melting cheese, but may also feature meat, chicken, seafood, egg, or vegetables.

Anafres: Essentially Honduran nachos, composed of giant tortilla chips, refried beans and melted cheese. Named for an anafre, the coal-fired clay pot the dish is served in.

Pupusas: This Salvadorean staple is similar to an arepa: a thick, griddled corn cake stuffed with meat, cheese-usually a mild melting variety known as quesillo-chicarrones (pork cracklings), or queso con loroco (cheese with the buds or flowers of a vine native to Central America).

Continue reading Cheesey Street Foods Of Latin America

Cheesey Street Foods Of Latin America originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tour a Panama hat factory in Sigsig, Ecuador

Libby Zay — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: South America, Panama, Ecuador

First popularized by President Theadore Roosevelt and worn by countless travelers ever since, the Panama hat has become a symbol of coastal and tropical locales. Nothing screams I'm on vacation somewhere warm! quite like the straw hat, which is known for being breathable and able to return to its original shape after being folded in a suitcase. But what is not as well known is that Panama hats don't actually come from their namesake country. The hats actually originated in Ecuador, but were mistakenly called Panama hats because they were shipped through the Isthmus of Panama before making it to locations across the rest of the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Panama hats are still made throughout Ecuador, where Ecuadorians call the hats sombreros de paja toquilla (or "hats of toquilla straw"). Anyone selling the hats at markets or in shopping malls, however, is well aware that tourists often ask for them by the name "Panama hat." Several towns are famous for the production of the hats, including the small town of Sigsig in the Andes Mountains near the colonial city of Cuenca. It is possible to take an hour-long bus ride from Cuenca to Sigsig to visit a Panama hat company owned and operated by indigenous Ecuadorians who work directly with wholesalers. There, you can see women with amazingly nimble fingers as they weave the hats. Remarkably, each hat takes a single weaver several days to make. While there, you can get a good deal on a hat of your own or purchase other items made out of straw -- including bowls, boxes and coasters -- from a small company store. There's also a nice photo op in front of a giant Panama hat in the courtyard of the warehouse.

Gallery: Panama Hatmaking in Ecuador

Click through the gallery above or watch the video below to learn more about the art of creating Panama hats.

ECUADOR PANAMA HATS - ATMA in Sigsig

Tour a Panama hat factory in Sigsig, Ecuador originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The adventures of the island interns

Chris Owen — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, Panama, Ecotourism, Cruises, Central America

The Adventures of the Island Interns is a new online travel video series following the life-changing journey of Ben Brown and Luke Hansen, winners of the first-ever Island Intern Contest.

Held last Spring and hosted by Amble Resorts, the eco-development company searched for an intern to live on the site of their flagship eco-development, Isla Palenque, a 400-acre private island/ecotourism playground featuring twelve beaches, volcanic bluffs and abundant wildlife.

This week, the first episode, "The Opportunity of a Lifetime," shows the excitement and life-changing outcome of the Island Intern Contest that sent Hansen and Brown to live on tropical Isla Palenque, Panama for six weeks last summer to document their experience.

This contest is part of Amble's mission to shine a light on emerging destinations like Panama's Chiriqui province while emphasizing the importance of preserving the world's most spectacular natural and cultural wonders.

The 12-part online travel video series will be released Mondays.

Photo: Amble Resorts

The adventures of the island interns originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Valentine's Day package for Bachelor fans

Chris Owen — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, Panama, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Luxury Travel

Valentine's Day is coming up really fast and those stuck without plans may think they are out of time to do anything memorable. Think again. Luxury hotels still have some packages available for those a bit light on the thoughtfulness with heavy, deep pockets.

The Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower in Panama is among the romantic destinations included in the 16th season of ABC's The Bachelor and luxury resort is offering guests who book their stay now through March 31, 2012, the opportunity to experience the utmost in romance with the "Live Like The Bachelor" package.

Offering exclusive amenities, experiential activities and a savings of about 50 percent off rates, the package provides guests with the same romantic escape seen on The Bachelor. The "Live like The Bachelor" package includes:

Four-night stay in a spacious Executive Suite
Round-trip private transfer to and from the airport
Welcome bottle of champagne and rose petal turndown
Daily breakfast at BARcelona Restaurant
Romantic dinner for two at Tejas Restaurant
VIP helicopter excursion
Private tour of Panama City including visits to the Old Panama Ruins, Casco Viejo, the Panama Canal and Mi Pueblito
Signautre 60 minute couples massage
Exotic island expedition on a private yacht, including food, beverages and fishing equipment
Complimentary shuttle service to nearby shopping centers
$1,000 worth in shopping cards

The price? Rates start at $7,999, plus tax and service charge.

Too much?

The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale is a luxury oceanfront hotel on Florida's Gold Coast that has water views from every room, balconies in every room, and legendary service plus two Valentine's Day packages.

A Valentines Day One-Night Escape is $549 plus tax and includes a luxurious Partial Ocean View accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale along with a gourmet three-course Italian-inspired dinner and breakfast for two in the oceanfront Via Luna restaurant, or in the privacy of your luxurious guestroom and an assortment of romantic welcome gifts including a bottle of fine champagne.

An Ultimate Valentine's Day One-Night Escape with concert tickets is $1,999 plus tax and includes a One-Bedroom Oceanfront Residential Suite with Club Lounge Access and a dedicated concierge to assist with any reservations or travel plans, Two VIP tickets to the one-night only Andrea Bocelli Valentine's Day concert, Tuesday, February 14 at the Bank Atlantic Center, private roundtrip transportation to the concert, breakfast for two in Via Luna or in the privacy of your guestroom and romantic welcome gifts of limited edition Jean-Paul Gaultier-designed, fishnet-laced Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and more romantic presents.

Still too much?

Continue reading A Valentine's Day package for Bachelor fans

A Valentine's Day package for Bachelor fans originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Westin opens first hotel in Panama to the tune of $100 million

McLean Robbins — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Panama, Hotels and Accommodations, Central America

Panama, ranked the number one travel destination by The New York Times and an emerging destination by pubs like Fodor's and Travel + Leisure, has just gotten a little hotter with the opening of its first Westin hotel.

The newly-opened Westin Playa Bonita Panamá is 20 minutes outside Panama City, flanked by both rainforest and beach. The hotel boasts 611 luxury rooms and suites, six fine dining restaurants, four bars and an open-air VIP Lounge on the 19th floor, which boasts panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, rainforest and Panamá Canal.

While 600-something room hotels aren't always our preference, it's a great way to get a tropical escape on the calendar for a reasonable price or for a moderate number of SPG loyalty points.

This opening falls on the heels of other major hotel announcements in the fast-emerging must-visit destination, including the opening of Trump Ocean Club Panama earlier this year.

Westin opens first hotel in Panama to the tune of $100 million originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Salvage team searches for Sir Francis Drake off the coast of Panama

Kraig Becker — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, South America, Panama, News

A salvage team has discovered the wreckage of two ships off the coast of Panama that once belonged to naval legend Sir Francis Drake. The ships have not yielded up any treasure, but the team believes that their discovery may lead to finding the remains of the British sailor as well.

Drake earned his place in history when he became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe in 1580. That was an impressive feat in and of itself, but he became a true hero when he defeated the mighty Spanish Armada in 1588, securing British supremacy of the seas for decades to come. In early 1596 he died of dysentery, and according to his wishes, he was dressed in full armor and placed inside a lead coffin, before receiving a burial at sea.

The two ships that were recently discovered near Panama, the Elizabeth and the Delight, were stripped of all items of value and scuttled by Drake's crew following his death. It is believed that his watery resting place is not far from where those ships went down however, and the 12-member salvage crew is hoping to soon discover the remains of Drake himself. It took just one week of searching to find the privateer's missing ships, and they're hoping to have fortune smile upon them once again.

Locating Drake's body would be a significant historical find, but it's unclear what the team would do were they to come across his remains. The legendary captain wished to be buried at sea and it seems wrong to disturb that resting place now. Perhaps they'll simply take some photos and record his location, leaving him where he is for eternity. After all, it only seems fitting for one of the greatest naval commanders of all time to be resting at the bottom of the ocean.

Salvage team searches for Sir Francis Drake off the coast of Panama originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive video: Archaeologists discover 17th century shipwreck believed to be from Captain Morgan fleet

McLean Robbins — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Panama, News, Central America

Archaeologists have discovered the wreckage of a 17th century ship they believe to be from the famed Captain Henry Morgan's fleet, lost off the coast of Panama in 1671.

The shipwreck was found on the Lajas Reef at the mouth of the Chagres River. The wreck is believed to be one of the boats lost as Morgan stormed Panama City in an attempt to take the Castillo de San Lorenzo, a Spanish fort on the cliff overlooking the entrance to the Chagres River, the only water passageway between the Caribbean and the capital city. Although his men ultimately prevailed, Morgan lost five ships to the rough seas and shallow reef surrounding the fort.

In the 17^th century, Morgan sailed as a privateer on behalf of England, defending the Crown's interests and pioneering expeditions to the 'New World.' Today, Morgan is perhaps best known as the inspiration for the famed Captain Morgan's rum.

Check out the video below to see the archaeologists in action

Continue reading Exclusive video: Archaeologists discover 17th century shipwreck believed to be from Captain Morgan fleet

Exclusive video: Archaeologists discover 17th century shipwreck believed to be from Captain Morgan fleet originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the day - Panama on skateboard

Meg Nesterov — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Photos, South America, Panama, Photo of the Day, Central America

Skateboarders get a bad rap: they travel in packs of (usually) teenage boys, gravitate towards public buildings and spaces, and redefine the word "loiter." But this shot by Flickr user aaroncolorado taken in Panama City, Panama is graceful, almost balletic. No doubt the no-goodniks were promptly chased away from their hangout spot, but looks like they had a good afternoon skating.

Have some great action shots to share? Add them to our Flickr pool and we may feature it on a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day - Panama on skateboard originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scared to visit Mexico? How about Panama?

Chris Owen — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Central America, Travel Security

News reports of ongoing crime and attacks on travelers in Mexico have land vacationers looking for alternative destinations and cruise ships headed in the opposite direction. Sure, those beheadings, murders and shootings are happening in remote areas of Mexico for the most part, but stories of such activity combined with travel warnings by trusted sources are enough to shift our focus elsewhere.

A look farther south, past Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua finds the welcoming and relatively-safe-compared-to-Mexico nations of Costa Rica and Panama.

Checking in first with the US Department of State for travel warnings or alerts, Costa Rica has the higher rating of the two.

"Adventure tourism is popular in Costa Rica, and many companies offer white-water rafting, bungee jumping, jungle canopy tours, SCUBA diving, and other outdoor attractions. U.S. citizens are urged to use caution in selecting adventure tourism companies." says the Department of State, adding "The Government of Costa Rica regulates and monitors the safety of these companies, and registered tourism companies with operating permits must meet safety standards and have insurance coverage."

Still, the murder of an Argentinian tourist on Thursday raises the question of security and safety for tourism in the Central American country which receives every year more than 2 million visitors.

It seems there is danger anywhere if we look hard enough.

Continue reading Scared to visit Mexico? How about Panama?

Scared to visit Mexico? How about Panama? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Airbnb: Six awesome experiences

Alex Robertson Textor — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, South America, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, United States, Colombia, Middle East

Last autumn, after having tracked the Airbnb buzz for a while, I finally took the plunge and reserved rooms through the site in Panama City and Bogotá for my two-stop December jaunt.

About a half-hour into my first pit stop, it was already clear to me that the service was a perfect fit for budget-conscious travelers. (For the record, I'm not the only Airbnb fan at Gadling. Check out my colleague Elizabeth Seward's Airbnb post published earlier this year.)

For those unfamiliar with it, Airbnb is a rental service. House or apartment owners list their spare beds, rooms, or entire living spaces for rent on the site.

What makes Airbnb distinct? First of all, owners are paid 24 hours after the reservation begins, a delay that helps weed out dishonest landlords. Another important detail: if there is a problem with a rental, guests can contact Airbnb to void payment. I was comfortable with Airbnb from the outset in light of these consumer protection safeguards, and the fact that everyone is encouraged to evaluate one another following a stay was icing on the cake. Landlords can't get away with false advertising, and poor behavior on the part of a guest or host will also be exposed through reviews. Good hosts and guests can both build up positive profiles via strong reviews.

Overall, Airbnb is pretty scamproof if used as directed. In a review of comments and criticisms of Airbnb online, it appears that some people have been scammed after making a payment on a rental outside of the Airbnb payment system. Payment via the Airbnb payment system, it should go without saying, is a much safer bet. Here's a tiny piece of advice: If any property owner you contact through Airbnb urges you to bypass the Airbnb payment system and directly wire them money, cut off contact and report them.

Overnight, I became a fan of Airbnb. Seldom had I found such cheap accommodations in such comfortable surroundings, and with the added benefit of an instant social network of locals taking an interest in my welfare. I've experienced just two annoyances of the most minor sort: a host in Panama City who never messaged me back and a hostess in Tel Aviv whose room was not available despite being advertised as such.

But where did I stay? What were my accommodations like? And what did they cost?

Continue reading Airbnb: Six awesome experiences

Airbnb: Six awesome experiences originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panamanian surfer rides wave for 41 miles!

Kraig Becker — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Surfing, Panama, News, Central America

The Panama Canal is truly a modern wonder of engineering and construction. Stretching 48 miles in length, it offers a narrow corridor of water between North and South America through which ships can pass to and from the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. This past weekend, champion surfer Gary Saavedra grabbed his board and hit those waters, hoping to set several new records in the process.

On Saturday, Saavedra made history by becoming the first person to ever surf in the Canal, but that was just the prelude to what he really had in mind. The 13-time national champion of Panama hopped on his board and began riding a wave generated by a lead boat, and then proceeded to surf for 3 hours, 55 minutes, and 2 seconds straight, covering 41.3 miles in the process. Both of those marks are new records for time and distance in open water.

The ride was no simple walk in the park however, as Saavedra had to deal with windy conditions, plenty of choppy water, and the wake generated by a number of passing cargo freighters sailing between the oceans. The long ride took its toll physically as well, as he rode the final hour with a cramp in his leg which is ultimately what brought an end to his day on the water.

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday huh? What did you do this past weekend?

[Photo Credit: Associated Press]

Panamanian surfer rides wave for 41 miles! originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panama City: Casco Viejo rising

Alex Robertson Textor — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Panama, Central America

Casco Viejo is on the edge, but of what?

Depending on who you talk to, Panama City's old town, Casco Viejo, has either already peaked or only recently managed to identify how it might achieve its prime.

The neighborhood is inarguably gorgeous. Beautifully renovated structures share space with completely decrepit buildings. There are plazas, churches, convent ruins, and, at one extreme, a fortress wall. The National Theatre lies within its borders, as does the Presidential Palace.

There is a well-manned Tourist Police office as well, and a smattering of cute cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops. And yet, even with all these facilities, there is an appealingly abandoned feel to many blocks. These ignored buildings, some with internal foliage peeking through open windows and many with wrought-iron balconies and gates, continue to be a primary feature of the neighborhood.

In fact, there has been a buzz in Casco Viejo for some time, and paradoxically it is this very buzz that has encouraged the abandonment of many buildings. Between 1990 and 2000, the population of Casco Viejo fell by almost a third, to under 7000, after the passage of a law designed to encourage the rehabilitation of buildings. This law prompted property owners, operating under the assumption that gentrification was imminent, to kick their poor tenants out. (Many of the neighborhood's tenants generate no money whatsoever for landlords. They are destitute, and were originally relocated to unoccupied Casco Viejo buildings by Panama's Housing Ministry.) Interestingly enough, many buildings remain unoccupied today. For greater real estate history, check out this article in the Panama News a few years back.

It looks as if many empty buildings may remain abandoned, at least in the near future. In August 2010, the government suspended plans to invest in previously scheduled renovation projects in the neighborhood.

So what's in the cards?

One possibility is that Casco Viejo will become more of an artist colony. In the Panama Report, a publication devoted to travel and investment in Panama, Jesse Levin suggested in a 2009 article that Casco Viejo's stop-and-start pace of gentrification has happened in part because the 'hood simply heated up too quickly, leaving a massive gap between those who could make a purchase at the top of the market and Casco Viejo's "natural" new inhabitants: people of moderate means in the domestic creative class.

Another possible future of the neighborhood can be glimpsed in the emergence of Las Clementinas, a very nicely detailed guesthouse and restaurant-bar in the heart of the neighborhood, which opened in November. It's hard not to be impressed by Las Clementinas. It's got beautiful rooms (pricey for Panama City, at $240 per night) and a popular restaurant-bar. I ate dinner there alone, surrounded by rich Panamanians celebrating a birthday and a few fellow tourists. The meal's highlight was fufu, a somewhat spicy Caribbean soup. The food was fine, and the atmosphere was outstanding down to the last detail.

Las Clementinas is posh, and it is posh in a particularly Panamanian way. It feels like it belongs in Casco Viejo. But if another dozen businesses like Las Clementinas open up in the neighborhood, what will happen? Will Casco Viejo slowly but unavoidably morph into a cliched overdone tourist destination, terribly pretty but lifeless?

Whatever the pace and whatever the outcome, Casco Viejo's current state prompts consideration from locals and visitors alike about what makes a tourist neighborhood special and wonderful to visit.

Looking for more Panama? Check out Darren Murph's much-visited recent post on Panama for Gadling here.

Panama City: Casco Viejo rising originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massive floods close Panama Canal but end of world not near

Chris Owen — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: South America, Panama, Cruises, Caribbean

Ship transit through the Panama Canal was suspended Wednesday as flood waters, the worst ever recorded, made transit impossible.

17 hours of prolonged heavy rain forced the closing, only the third time since the canal opened 96 years ago and the first time because of flooding. Panama's civil protection system declared Eastern Panama on high alert and issued evacuation orders for over 1000 people in dozens of flooded neighborhoods.

Reopening on Thursday, operations are back to normal at this time and no cruise ship itineraries were affected reports CruiseCritic.com

The Canal also closed in 1989 when the United States invaded Panama to depose bad guy Manuel Noreiga. In 1915 and into 1916 landslides closed the Canal, only months after it opened.

In case you missed it in history class, the Panama Canal was built by the United States between 1904 and 1914. It serves as a link between the Atlantic and Pacific ocean and handles more than 200 million metric tons of cargo every year.

Flickr photo by galif548

Massive floods close Panama Canal but end of world not near originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five reasons Americans should choose Panama over the Caribbean, with day trips to boot

Darren Murph — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:35:00 EST

Filed under: Surfing, North America, Panama, Camping, Ecotourism, Central America, Caribbean

Panama. It's a small nation of about 3.3 million inhabitants, with a land size roughly equal to South Carolina. It's the southernmost country in Central America, and if not for its mind-bogglingly thick Darien National Park, the so-called Panamerican Highway could run from Alaska to the bottom of South America. But you knew all of that, didn't you? What you may not be aware of, however, is just how stunning and tourist-friendly this incredible nation is. I recently embarked on a trip to Panama City and beyond, scurrying along the beach towns in Chame and the mountains of El Valle. If you've been considering a tropical getaway, particularly now that Old Man Winter is hovering over the United States, I've got five good reasons you should head south rather than east. Click on after the break for more, but only if you'll kosher with mentally burning those final vacation weeks you've got socked away.

Gallery: Travel throughout Panama: Casco Viejo, Gorgona, El Valle

Continue reading Five reasons Americans should choose Panama over the Caribbean, with day trips to boot

Five reasons Americans should choose Panama over the Caribbean, with day trips to boot originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day (9.22.10)

Julie Gerstein — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Panama, Caribbean

Swimming in foreign waters means you sometimes run into unexpected friends -- like this starfish that Flickr user nimso334 found in the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama. The super-sized starfish was found after diving 25 feet down into the crystal clear water and after this photo was snapped, he was returned to the sea floor.

Have any travel photos that make amazing memories? Upload them to our Flickr pool and we just might select one for our Photo of the Day feature

Photo of the Day (9.22.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cockpit Chronicles: FOQA kept these pilots out of trouble in Panama

Kent Wien — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Panama, The Cockpit Chronicles

I was excited, thrilled really, to fly with one of my favorite captains for five, 4-day trips over the next month and a half. If you had to work with just one captain for so many days in a row, it may as well have be someone you consider a close friend, and Dave fits that description. In fact, two years ago I wrote about my last trip to Panama City, Panama, and the captain on that flight just happened to be Dave.

But this time, on the first day of our trip to Panama we would soon be reminded just how busy flying an airplane can get down there.

First a little background is in order.

Usually we can pull up the latest weather at the airport we're arriving at either via a print out from our ACARS or by listening to an automated voice report that's available to us as far as two hundred miles away.

It's always a good idea to pull up the conditions as soon as possible so you can prepare for the runway and approach that's in use.

There are a number of options for aligning with the runway and descending low enough to see the airport. There's the most common ILS approach, which can usually guide you to around 200 feet above the ground before a pilot has to see the runway, or a VOR approach which typically takes you down to 500 feet or the more recent GPS approaches which fall somewhere in between.

I couldn't hear the ATIS until we were just 60 miles away from the airport for some reason. Surely a weak transmitter, I figured.

The cloud cover was reported at 2000 feet scattered with more than ten kilometers of visibility. A piece of cake, we decided. We'll surely see the airport when we're within about 20 miles and then fly visually to land to the south.

Controller Confusion

As it happened, the weather wasn't exactly as advertised. It soon became clear that the Panama air traffic controllers were going to give us an approach to fly. They wanted us to fly nearly 60 miles south of the airport, before continuing back north of the airport and landing again to the south when we could see the runway.

We were following a 'company' 737 which was about ten miles ahead of us. "Company" is how air traffic control describes traffic from the same airline.

We asked if we could fly the GPS approach and land to the south, into the wind of course, which would be far less complicated. They initially agreed.

Continue reading Cockpit Chronicles: FOQA kept these pilots out of trouble in Panama

Cockpit Chronicles: FOQA kept these pilots out of trouble in Panama originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 10 souvenir hats from around the world

Andrew Evans — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Jordan, Russian Federation, France, Ireland, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Panama, United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Middle East, Central America

Ever notice how every airport, tourist trap, and hotel gift shop is trying to sell you some kind of hat? That's because a hat is local. In a globalized world where McDonald's is universal and Duty Free in Dubai sells the exact same sunglasses and chocolate as Duty Free in Detroit, it's nice to know that there are certain things (like hats) that you can still only find in certain far-flung destinations. Once upon a time, the hats hanging in the back of your closet said loads about where you've been and what you're been up to, especially if you have the real deal. Read and learn:

Fez This red felt hat may be named after the tourist-loving Moroccan city of Fes, but it's traditionally found all across the former Ottoman empire as well as much of the Muslim world. Worn by: dancing monkeys, Muammar al-Qaddafi, bellhops in Cairo. Cheap knock-offs: The Shriners and some Istanbul bazaars. The Real Deal: Moroccan hatmakers, markets in Cyprus and the Balkans, the Turkish army.
Panama hat A finely handwoven straw hat still made in Ecuador, even though Panama takes all the credit. Worn by: Teddy Roosevelt,Panama Jack, and the poor laborers who dug the Panama Canal. Cheap knock-off: Paper imitations are made in China and sell for little while lesser-quality imitations are made and sold all over Panama for under $30. The Real Deal: Like sheets, what counts in authentic Panama hats is thread count. The tighter the weave, the better the quality (real Panama Hats will hold water and have more than 1,000 fibers per square inch). Hats must be made in Ecuador from the toquilla plant and have a black silk band around the base. Buy at fine shops in Panama, in Ecuador, or else for several thousand dollars at Christie's in London.

Continue reading Top 10 souvenir hats from around the world

Top 10 souvenir hats from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Hostel Life comes to reality TV

Melanie Nayer — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Panama, Budget Travel, Central America

From the controversy that was the "Real World" to today's situation that is "The Jersey Shore"; from the depths of "Survivor" to the details of "Amazing Race", travel is no stranger to TV. As new reality shows continue to come to life, one new travel spot is taking another approach: the Web.

The Hostel Life is a new adventure series that offers viewers a unique experience into the adventures of hostel hopping around the globe. The website will host an interactive series in which viewers can explore various parts of the world with The Hostel Life cast members and vote on the next destination.

The series will begin in Panama City, Panama, and where the cast and crew go from there is up to the viewers. Backpackers adhere to a modest weekly budget of $300-$400 to demonstrate the options available when traveling on a limited budget.

"The most intriguing element within the show is the drama created by simply experiencing travel. We [myself, the cast and crew] are merely participants in how the story unfolds. Some of the situations and scenarios are just as surprising to us as they are to our viewers," said Mehdy Ghannad, creator of The Hostel Life.

The concept is interesting, but I wonder if characters like Puck and Snookie can survive in a hostel world. The pilot season is scheduled to be filmed next month, and all webisodes will be viewable at www.TheHostelLife.com.

The Hostel Life comes to reality TV originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The top 8 tourist destinations of tomorrow

Grant Martin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Panama, Colombia

The rapidly changing landscape of today's globalized economy means that countries are developing at breakneck pace. Yesterday's war zones are turning into tomorrow's tourist destinations at the blink of an eye, while today's utopias (see: Dubai) are disintegrating just as fast.

Need more convincing? Check out Hans Rosling's lecture on the rise of Asia over at TED.

Here at Gadling we have our own humble opinions on the next hotsposts for tourist traffic, not the from the socioeconomic perspective, but rather from that of a road hardened traveler. Take a look below:

Sarajevo
The memory of the Yugoslav Wars is too fresh for many of us to think of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a tourist destination, but in the ten years since the conflict, the country and its capital city, Sarajevo have made enormous strides. Long gone are the days of ethnic conflict, strife and war crimes -- 2009's Sarajevo is a charming, cosmopolitan city surrounded by hills, cafés and culture.

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Iran
At first glance Iran doesn't look very inviting, what with an authoritarian government intent on building nukes and quashing dissent. But look past the politics and you'll find a hospitable country with excellent cuisine, rugged scenery, and a fascinating history. Add in a reliable bus system and you can have a relaxing vacation with people who love to meet foreigners. The only danger we faced in Iran was the very real possibility of being fed to death.

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The top 8 tourist destinations of tomorrow originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming Attractions: Panama

Andrew Evans — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Scuba Diving, Business, North America, Panama, Ecotourism, Airports, Budget Travel, News, Travel Deals, Cruises, Central America, Caribbean

Watch out world, 'cuz here comes Panama--that skinny little land-bridge of a country that's famous for straw hats, yellow-fever infestations and American meddling.

Just how skinny a country is it? From the time the pilot lowers the landing gear to the time your flight actually lands in Panama City, that's how much. One minute you're looking down at the turquoise Caribbean and exactly four and a half minutes later, you've landed on the other side of the country, where--if you can see past the skyscrapers--you'll observe mammoth cargo ships lining up in the Pacific Ocean to enter the canal.

Imagine a 13-year old mixed-race girl from a broken home who spends her childhood in a reform school later to discover that her abusive deadbeat father left her a massive trust fund. That's Panama: young and eager, a little messed up, filling out nicely . . . and ridiculously rich.

Now that Panama gets to keep the cash she earns from her famous canal, the country has gained the kind of newfound respectability that comes from having new clothes and holding democratic elections. Witnessing Panama's overnight transition from banana republic to middle-class retirement haven is like watching the Univision version of Extreme Makeover: it feels so tacky but you can't change channels because you just have to find out what happens next.

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Coming Attractions: Panama originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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