Free 30 Day Insurance for Tourists
Panama gives free health insurance for 30 days to all who enter the country through Tocumen International Airport. Cards promoting this benefit are available at the airport. But carrying the card is not necessary to collect on the policy to cover medical expenses for accidents that occur while in national territory.
Visitors to the country who have a medical emergency must simply show the entrance stamp on their passport to the hospital staff and the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) will cover the cost through a blanket policy provided through Generali Insurance.
Through this effort, Panama expects to capture a greater percentage of the tourism market by making visitors to our country feel safer through providing this free value-added service.
National Symbols of Panama
November is the month for patriotism – marching bands, sounds of trumpets, sounds of bugles the beat of drums calling a note of national pride, paying homage to the Flag, the Coat of Arms and the National Anthem – the symbols of sovereignty!
Panama’s National Flag was designed during the revolutionary break-away from Colombia on November 1, 1903 by Manuel E. Amador, son of the first President, Manuel Amador Guerrero of the newly formed clandestine government. Amador’s wife and her cousins sewed Panama's colors behind closed doors and windows.
White represents peace, the stars blue for the then Conservative party and the red for the Liberals. The flag was first paraded through Panama City on Tuesday, November 3 in 1903 by Alejandro de la Guardia, demonstrating independence from Colombia.
The original design was changed in 1904 to that we see today which was again ratified by the General Assembly in 1925 and again in 1941.
The Coat of Arms: Nine stars represent the country’s nine provinces, a saber and rifle represent defense, and a pick and shovel represent labor. In the center is the Isthmus with its two seas, its skies and its moon with the sun behind the hills representing the evening time (6:00 p.m.) when Panama separated from Colombia. Below the cornucopia represents wealth. Beside it is the wheel of progress. Panama’s national bird, the Harpy eagle, surmounts the shield, a banner in its beak bearing the words “Pro mundo beneficio” (“For the benefit of the world”).
The National Anthem was written by Jeronimo de la Ossa with the accompanying music by Santos Jorge Amatriáin. It has an interesting history going back to 1889, some 14 years before Panama’s Declaration of Independence, when Amatrian arrived from Spain to orchestrate the Cathedral’s music of the Church; Eight years later an anthem entitled “The Patriotic Hymn of the Isthmus” (Himno Patriotico del Istmo) was written. Intended originally as a school hymn, it was picked up by the entire population.
In 1903 when the first US Ambassador to Panama, William I. Buchanan, presented his credentials there was no formal anthem, as protocol. So by request of de la Ossa, the Patriotic Anthem was used and thus became the National Anthem.
Pirate Lore Galore on Panama’s Coasts
Panama has said “Ahoy matey!” in international headlines this year with the exciting discoveries of shipwrecks believed to belong to some of the most infamous pirates in all of history.
In August 2011, Captain Henry Morgan’s sunken fleet may have been found here in Panama. The hunch that the famous British privateer’s ships would be discovered here increased this year when six 17th century iron cannons turned up near the mouth of the Chagres River on the Caribbean side.
Now, a team of underwater archeologists is studying the similarities between the designs of Morgans’ fleet and the five sunken vessels. Already identified is the section of a hull that is probably Morgan’s old flagship, called Satisfaction.
And in October 2011, an American treasure hunter claims to have discovered ships belonging to Sir Francis Drake right in Portobelo Bay, on Panama's Caribbean coast. Pat Croce, a salvager and owner of a pirate museum in Florida, believes he has discovered two ships belonging to famous sailor and adventurer Sir Francis Drake.
A team of divers discovered the remains of two 16th century ships which had lain undiscovered for 400 years. Croce now hopes his team will find the body of Drake, who was buried at sea in his suit of armor and in a lead coffin. The two ships, believed to be the Elizabeth and Delight, were apparently sunk by their crews to prevent them getting in the hands of the Spanish enemy after Drake died.
Speaking from his St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum in Florida, Croce said the discovery would be a "dream come true".
My Book – ‘Angels in Panama’
Judy Brown from Texas sent me a nice review of my book. She also included this picture with is most appreciated and very clever. Thanks again Judy.
The link below is for the paperback version of my book from Publish America (the publisher) I have also included a link to my website where you can read excerpts of ‘Angels in Panama’ if you want.
Paperback from Publisher $9.95
A Refresher - A Busy Month In Panama
As I reported before, in November it seems as if there is a holiday, celebration or festival every day in Panama. I have listed below some of the major events. There is also a collection of local and regional celebrations.
November 1 - Children’s Day
November 2 - All Souls’ Day ( No Alcohol sales)
November 3 – Parade, Anniversary of Separation from Colombia
November 4 – Parade, Flag Day
November 5 - Colon Day
November 10 - Anniversary of the First Call for Independence from Spain
November 28 - Really BIG parade, Anniversary of Independence from Spain
Then the really big celebration is soon to follow - Mother’s Day, December 8. A major holiday in Panama.
Below is a sampling of photos of the holiday festivities to date:
Till Next Time. Pura Vida
Click on the thumbnails to view full size images
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