When I meet North Americans who have come to Panama on vacation, I often get asked, "How did you learn such good English?"

What?!?

I'm just a few shades darker than Casper the Friendly Ghost and still speak very rough Spanish, so I am always amused when people assume I'm Panamanian. (Interestingly, Panamanians NEVER assume I am Panamanian. Even when my husband jokes with people he has just met and tells them that I'm Panamanian, they always know I'm 100% North American.)

In some ways, Panama is like a mini-me United States, as it's a melting pot of different cultures. I've met people from all over the world, many of whom choose to call Panama home--some for a few months a year and others year-round.

Now, when people meet me and ask me questions such as, "Your accent is so interesting. Where is it from?" I've started answering that I'm from Texifornia. After all, I've lost my California Valley Girl, and I never quite got my Texas drawl, so it's just easiest to say I'm half and half. But make no mistake, I'm all American. 

I didn't move to Panama because I was running away from something. I wasn't escaping a bad relationship or leaving the country as a political statement. I moved because I like the weather in Panama, and I love the natural beauty. I can live a better quality life here for less money, so the package of "much more for much less" is what attracted me. 

My Panamanian friends tell me I act like a Panamanian because we have a weekend place at the beach. All middle- and upper-class Panamanians leave the city Friday mid-afternoon and spend the weekend at their beach house. I've never had a beach house before, and now I have a weekend place that's right on the Caribbean, and a work-week condo that oozes luxury and has fabulous views of the Pacific Ocean.  

I love the U.S. but I could never have one condo there with ocean views, let alone one on the Pacific and one on the Caribbean. That's the best part of Panama... more for less means that I can live the lifestyle of the rich and famous without actually being rich or famous. 

Who knew!?!

You do, now. 

Let me know if you want to plan a visit. I'll show you MY Panama. But you have to promise to not ask me how my English got to be so good.

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Panama City is a foodie’s dream. Because it is a cross section of different cultures—Latin, European, North American and even African—you can find neighborhood restaurants that appeal to your taste buds.
 
I love Italian food, so nothing makes me happier than finding an Italian neighborhood restaurant that’s as charming as it is affordable. Zule is one of those restaurants. It’s nestled in the middle-class neighborhood of El Cangrejo, not far from the Veneto Casino—Panama’s most Vegas-esque casino.
 
When you walk in, you’re greeted by happy staff and a rectangular-shaped room that’s been broken into different sections. Even though the tables are small, it feels charming rather than crowded. A crooner music video is always playing, focusing on legendary greats such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Junior.

The service is quick, and before you’ve been sitting too long you have an appetizer and a bottle of wine. It’s a typical Italian menu with starters such as bruschetta, a variety of pizzas and pastas, and main dishes that include meat, chicken, and fish.
 
The food is good and the prices are wallet-friendly. You can get a bottle of wine, an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert to share for about $50.
 
This is one of those restaurants that don’t make the tourist circuit. It’s not the cheapest, not the most expensive, not the fanciest or the freshest… but it is a good value. So when you’re wondering where to eat in Panama City, put Zule on your list when you’re in the mood for a charming Italian restaurant for a Tuesday lunch.