Panama's history if far more fascinating history than meets the eye. After all, did you know that the world's first transcontinental railroad was built here or that famous French painter Paul Gaugin called a Panamanian island "home" for a while? We invite you to get up and discover the fascinating world of Panama's museums.

Coiba, Panama's largest island, which lies at the heart of the Coiba National Park, is now officially a World Heritage Site.

In the early days of the 20th century before "ecology" and "conservation" became household words, the Panamanian Government established a penal colony on the island, since its surrounding waters teemed with saw-tooth deterrents to would-be escapees. The colony recently moved to another location so that advantage may be taken of the island’s rich eco-tourist potential and that neither tourists nor wildlife be frightened by the inmates.

Coiba Island, a natural refuge for a large number of species of birds, mammals and insects, has received attention from prominent scientists from around the world and has been studied by researchers of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute headquartered in Panama for many decades.

Divers say the waters around Coiba and the Gulf of Chiriqui make this one of the world's top locations for adventure diving for big fish and mammals.

The UNESCO committee which met in Durban, South Africa, in July made the following observations: Coiba National Park, off the southwest coast of Panama, protects Coiba Island, 38 smaller islands and the surrounding marine areas within the Gulf of Chiriqui. Protected from the cold winds and effects of El Niño, Coiba's Pacific tropical moist forest maintains exceptionally high levels of endemism of mammals, birds and plants.

It is also the last refuge for a number of threatened animals such as the crested eagle. The park is an outstanding natural laboratory for scientific research and provides a key ecological link to the Tropical Eastern Pacific for the transit and survival of pelagic fish and marine mammals.

Other World Heritage sites in Panama are:

• Fortifications on the Caribbean side of Panama: Portobelo, San Lorenzo ( 1980).
• Darien National Park (1981).
• Talamanca Range, La Amistad Reserves, La Amistad National Park (1983-1990).
• Archaeological Site of Panama Viejo and Historic District of Panama (1997-2003).

Veteran U.S. journalist Hindi Diamond has recently published a book about her two and-a-half decades in Panama. It is called "Gringa, My Love Affair with Panama" –a compendium of her experiences as the former Canal Zone's main reporter and correspondant for the defunct Panamanian English-language newspaper, "The Panama American".

A former correspondant for United Press, Time & Life and Newsweek, Diamond lives in Boca Ratón, Florida, where she is V.P of the Miami International Press Club.

A complete review of her work will be published in a subsequent issue of The Visitor.

An expatriate club formed a year ago in Panama City (website: expatsinpanama.com) now has a membership of 300. The declared aim of the group is "for informal fellowship of mostly expats from different countries who live, work or invest in Panama--or people considering doing same".

A social evening is held on the second Monday of every month at different restaurants in the city. For news or to join send an e-mail to expatsocials @yahoo.com

Another group has formed out towards the Pacific beaches--Expat West. There are many expatriates now living at Altos del Maria in the mountains around Sora and in Coronado and other beach areas. They hold a social event on the fourth Wednesday of each month at El Rincon del Chef at Coronado. For news or to join, send an email Hslanham@aol.com

Yet another group, the La Chorrera Expat Group, meets every Thursday 5-30p.m. to 8:00p.m. at Leonardo’s Restaurant in Chorrera.

Email: Robert at robert.ratliff@gmail.com

On August 15, Panama City will celebrate its 486th anniversary. As happens every year, the occasion will be marked by an outdoor, week-long fiesta, folklore performances and lots of Panamanian food stands at the ruins of Old Panama, at Parque Lefevre, along Vía Cincuentenario.

Founded in 1519 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias de Avila, Old Panama was the first European settlement of the Pacific coast of the Americas. A rich port and strategic crossroads in the transport of South American gold and silver to Spain, the city was sacked by English privateer Sir Henry Morgan, in 1671.

Folklore troupe at the Old Panama ruins.

The ruins of the old settlement are considered a popular tourist landmark. Since the mid-1990's, Fundación Panama Viejo, a non-profit organization, has conducted a number of archaeological excavation, in the area, which have yielded a large number of 16th and 17th -century artifacts and Native American human remains (the Spanish founded Old Panama on the site of a long-established Indian settlement). The findings are currently on display at the new Museum and Visitors' Center, located on Vía Cincuentenario, about half-a-kilometer away from Old Panama's main square. Along with the neighborhood of San Felipe (the "new" city built by the Spanish after Morgan's plundering) Old Panama was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.

Various international organizations are working along with Fundación Panama Viejo in refurbishing the ruins, some of which have become trendy venues for outdoor classical-music concerts and weddings during Panama's dry season (December-April).