"My Humble Homepage" bilgeez's Profile

Yes, I must love it here, I keep coming back! Whether I want to or not!
Between September 25, 2010 and January 21, 2011; I moved from Panama, to Detroit, to Idaho and back to Detroit. I'm tired of moving!
My dad's health dictated I move back to Detroit to help my mom take care of him. I doubt I will be going anywhere until his passing, as his situation demands constant care from us.
But I hope some day to be able to go to the places I would like to see for the first time and revisit some others. Until then I have to travel vicariously through my VT friends!

View from Restaurant at Las Tablas

I got a very fortunate break and landed a job at the Los Buzos Resort in Cambutal, Panamá. It saved me from the stinky, crowded and noisy conditions In Panama City.
I worked at Los Buzos Resort from Nov 21, 2008 to Oct 9, 2009. I still work for the owner of the resort but at an office we opened in Las Tablas to be more effective and efficient at interfacing with government agencies we need to deal with to help with our planned expansions and to expedite procuring materials and services for the property. But not since Sept. 27, 2010. The resort closed for business on Dec. 31, 2010. No plans are in the works to reopen any time soon. If the economy in the US improves the owners may reopen it.
I miss Los Buzos as it is in a very unique setting, one of the most beautiful places on earth! But, it is very remote and unless one is really into surfing, fishing or other water sports (which I am not), there isn't much else to do around there.
The good things are; the road is paved to the resort, and there is electric service. No phone or cell coverage, yet. But the resort has a satellite phone for emergencies and satellite internet service.

Carnaval, here, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Festival in other places.
Las Tablas has the most lavish Carnavales parades and paegents in Panama. Not one, but TWO queens and 5 days of non-stop partying.
This year, 2011, Carnavales is held March 4 thru 9. If you are coming to Panama then, you should make the trip down to the Azuero Peninsula to Las Tablas to take in the biggest party in Panama!

Cervezas Panamenas

Being a beer connoisseur, I always have beer in my fridge. Here in Panama, they make several beers, both unique Panamanian labels and under contract with other brewers. The five Panamanian beers brewed here are; Atlas, Balboa, Cristal, Panama & Soberana. Also brewed in Panama are; Budweiser, (The brewers of Atlas and Balboa, Cervezaria Nacional are owned by A-B Inbev). Guiness, and Heineken, in bottles, (strange, but Heineken in cans is brewed in Costa Rica)!

My favorite, Paulaner Hefeweizen, is difficult to find here. I have found it at Mi Amiga Liquor Store in Panama City and sometimes Riba Smith, Super 99 and Rey Supermarkets have carried it, but it is not always available.

My favorite beers pretty much in order of my personal liking:

1) Paulaner Hefeweizen, Paulaner Brauerei, Muenchen, Deutschland
2) Paulaner Oktoberfest (maerzen)
3) Paulaner Salvator (dopple bock)
4) Paulaner Original Lager
5) Paulaner Pilsner
6) Cerveza Panama, (lager) Cervezaria Panama, Panama
7) Thurn u. Taxis Rogen, (dark rye) Bayern, Deutschland
8) Schwartzerhahn, (dark) Fulda, Deutschland
9) Erdinger Cristal Weiss, (filtered wheat) Erdinger Brauerei, Erding, Deutschland
10) Blue Moon Belgian White, Canada
11) Baltika Porter, Baltika Breweries, St. Petersburg, Russia
12) Rogan Rice Beer, Ukraine
13) Zweic, (lager) Poland
14) Cristal (pilsner) Cervezaria Panama, Panama
15) Yeungling's Original, Pennsylvania
16) Koestritzer Schwartzbier, (dark) Deutschland
17) Boddington's Ale, UK
18) Bitburger, (lager) Deutschland
19) Bass Ale, UK
20) Beck's, (lager) Bremen, Deutschland
21) Bohemia, (dark) Mexico
22) Carta Blanca, (lager) Mexico

I'm partial to the Paulaner family of beers, but they are excellent quality and worth the premium price.
Only two North American brands in the list. I am not a big fan of beer from N. America, usually over-hopped and bitter that kills other flavors or too weak, tasteless. That's why I'm not a fan of IPAs and bitters, I know the Brits love them, but I never could develop a taste for them.

My favorite places to drink, (besides at home, of course!)

Coyote Springs, Phoenix, Arizona.
Several great made-at-home brews and great food!
I loved their Coal Porter, Koelsch, and Wheat beers.

CK Diggs, Rochester, MI
Great food, umpteen different kinds of bottle beers and a dozen on tap.
Sampler platter is the bomb! Also catfish, fettucini and pizza are outstanding! I really miss CK! Next time I go back to Detroit, I'm going there!

Big Buck's, Michigan
The owners closed their Detroit area location but had two others.
They had several good home brews and were the place to go for steak.
They also had an awesome venison kielbasa!

The Sphinx, Warsaw, Poland
Several locations.
Polish beers on tap and great food, nice atmosphere, can't beat it anywhere in the world!

Memories, Chitre, Panama
Local beers in bottles available, great food and amiable sports bar atmosphere.

Chez Rex, Chitre, Panama
Restaurant in Hotel Rex in midtown Chitre.
The best filet mignon I ever had! You won't believe the price!
Local beers available in bottles. Not overly touristy. Many locals eat here.

Fiesta Casino, Chitre, Panama
Local beers in bottles, great sports bar atmosphere, has the best nacho dish I've ever had! HUGE!

Buffalo 99, Odessa, Ukraine.
Outstanding food, and service. Nice mix of local, US and Euro dishes.
Nice beer selection. Fun, lively place, but not over the top.

There are many other places I like(d) to hang out at, too many to list!
These are the most memorable, the best of the best for me.

The REAL King of Beers!

Sorry Budweiser, Paulaner has you beat, hands down! Paulaner Hefeweizen is he best beer in the world! Nothing I have had is better, and after 37 years of beer drinking throughout most of North America and Europe, I feel confident in making that statement.

My Fridge, circa 1995

To be an official member of Dr. D's fridge club, you have to have your fridge posted on your home or travel pages. Since I made the faux pas of not keeping mine included, I was deleted! Shudder!
So to improve my self-esteem and get back on the doc's good side, I am returning my fridge here for all to see and to make her much sought-after list of members of the fridge club.

Wasatch Front

I've moved back out West after a 11-year hiatus. Big change from tropical Panama to temperate Idaho! Found a job in Jerome, Idaho, of all places. It's pretty but cold! Lots of cows! Who says you can't go back?
I'm a repeat customer! And after two months in Idaho, I moved back to Detroit! Not because Idaho is so bad, but I had to because of family issues.

I may not be a bonafide world traveler, but we all got something to share, so here is what I most humbly have to offer. I hope it helps you either decide to go where I have gone or to check out a specific locale or get some info that may be of some use to you. Your comments or suggestions are most welcome, my fellow VTers! Please ask me questions, I check in fairly often, so I should answer you quickly. If I made a mistake and you tell me about it, I will most cheerfully repair it forthwith! Thanks for sharing and happy trails to you!!!