"My New Home" a Las Tablas Travel Page by bilgeez

So far I am pleased with my decisions that caused me to make a radical change in my life, my wife, Noris, is a wonderful person and a great partner! Las Tablas is a quaint town and has much to offer, despite it's small size and being in a third-world country. But the area is growing and economy expanding locally, for the good, I hope. I hope I can help the area grow and benefit from prosperity. There is much here I could never find in the USA and the experience is amazing and satisfying!

I'm amazed by the amount of cantinas and fondas, here, they are on every corner! If you want an wall-less bar to enjoy a drink out of the sun but feel the cooling breeze, these are the places to go. Try a Panamanian beer, I recommend Soberana, but Atlas and Balboa are OK, too. Best of all, they cost only about .50 in most cantinas and restaurants here! The Panamainian rum, Ron Abuelo, (Grandpa Rum) is very fine, and cheap, about $2.50 for a 375 ml bottle. The local liquer, Seco Herrerano, is fine, too, use it like vodka, which means mix it with fruit juices, mostly. It also is cheap, costing about $2.20 for a 375 ml bottle.
If you want a quick meal, fondas have mostly local fare, try some! Empenadas Panamania, ribs, fried yucca, fresh juices, and Panamanian lemonade! You can have a nice lunch or snack for less than $2!
Cabs and buses are everywhere, who needs a car? You can walk everywhere in Las Tablas. If you want to go Rincon de Fero or some other restaurant or beach away from, but near town, the cabs charge less than $3 to go to those places. The bus to Chitre is $1.25 and one can walk in the mercado district there, also. If you must take a cab in Las Tablas, they are .90 to $1.25 to most places in town.

Unless you have to be on the cutting edge, you will find life in the provinces of Panama very pleasant. It is different, you will have to learn some Spanish, but you will get along fine. I watch ESPN and the movie channels, and am developing a taste for the Spanish game shows; such as their version of the 'Wheel of Fortune' (La Rueda de la Suerte) . They have a very cerebral game show that would make 'Jeopardy' look like 'Quiz Kids' called; "Saber y Ganar" (Know and Win). It has some very long-winded questions! I don't know how the contestants answer them!
You have to be careful walking in the streets as drivers here won't normally yield to pedestrians. You have to get your produce weighed before you check out and you have to call for you check in a restaurant or the wait staff will never bring it too you! (Joven, la cuenta, por favor!) The service levels here are not the same as the US, many clerks act like they couldn't be bothered with helping you, as they usually only make .50 an hour, why should they care?