Marcos Witt, one of the best-known exponents of the Christian music genre in Latin America, will offer a concert on Friday, September 2, at Figali Convention Center, in Amador.

Part of the wave of contemporary Christian singers of the 1980’s and 1990’s, Jonathan Marcos Witt Holder was born in San Antonio Texas in 1962, but has lived in Durango, Mexico, most of his life.

Witt has spent over ten years of his life studying classical music at a number of institutions, such as Universidad de Juarez, the University of Nebraska and at a private conservatory in San Antonio, Texas. The first of his 16 albums, "Canción a Dios", was released in 1986".

Marcos Witt is also a Christian author. He has published "Adoremos", "¿Qué hacemos con estos músicos?", "Señor ¿en que puedo servirte?" and "Enciende una Luz". He is married to Miriam Lee, a Wisconsin native, with whom he has four children.

Tickets cost $8, $15, $25, and $35. For more information, call: 314-1414.

Panama's national soccer team.

Panama and Costa Rica have enjoyed a pretty long relationship based on cordiality and friendship, but on Saturday, Sept 3 both countries will go to "war" on the soccer field.

Long considered a baseball and basketball country, Panama ingnored its soccer potential until recently, but most, if not all experts agree that the story of Panamanian national team could be compared to that of Cinderella.

After beating a number of Central America's strongest soccer nations, Panama became, for the first time in history, one of the six nations that competed for the CONCACAF (the association encompassing countries of Central and North America and the Caribbean) World Cup finals this year. Although it lagged behind the USA, Mexico and Costa Rica, the Isthmian team was able to perform in a way virtually unimaginable a few years ago, such as a 1-1 tie with the powerful Aztec team last April (the Panamanian goal during that game is considered one of the best ever shots against Mexico). In July, Panama was declared the region's sub-champion after a bitter-sweet match in which it was defeated by the U.S. 1-0 in the penalty phase.

The Panama — Costa Rica game will take place at the Rommel Fernández Stadium, located in the suburb of Juan Díaz. Tickets cost $8.00, $15.00 and $25.00. For more information, call TicketCenter: 279-1010.

Nicaraguan-born guitar player Tony Meléndez, who is scheduled to offer a concert at Atlapa Convention Center on August 30, is an amazing human being. Despite his disability (he was born without arms) he has become a renowned musician and composer. Aged 43, he is the owner of a recording company "Toe Jam Music", the name of which makes reference to the most important part of his body: his feet.

Best known for his outstanding performances honoring the late Pope John Paul II, Meléndez relesed his first album, "Never be the same" in 1989, and was nominated to the "Best Musical Revelation Award" that year.

The author of "Why trees aren’t perfect", Meléndez has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States, where he has lived since he was one years old.

Tickets for his concert cost $60.00, $45.00, $30.00 and $20.00. For details, call TicketCenter, 279-1010.

Nicaraguan singer, composer, Tony Meléndez.

A country home in Altos del María a popular residential project among foreign expats. Bello Hogar 2005 will be of great benefit for these residents.

Almost 2,000 Panamanian and international companies specializing in home decor, construction and fashion will take part in Bello Hogar 2005, a long-awaited annual fair, scheduled September 1-4 at Atlapa Convention Center.

Held for the first time in 1990, Bello Hogar serves as the region’s most important showcase of home decoration, remodeling and haute couture trends. Visitors can expect to find everything from pins and needles to the latest in home appliances, construction tools, furniture and fishing and camping equipment.

Bello Hogar is Central America's largest home decoration fair.

Organized by Grupo de Ferias, Congresos y Eventos (GFCE) the event has grown in recent years to encompass ExpoVinos (a fair for wine experts and enthusiasts) and Expo Medica –which divulges the latest wellness/medical facilities and services available in Panama.

Bello Hogar is a family affair, featuring all sorts of musical performances, games and prizes for all ages. The fair was also conceived as a marketplace for business-to-business transactions. A business center is available to exhibitors and visitors.

Wine enthusiasts will enjoy
ExpoVino 2005.

Country items are "in".

Restaurante Los Años Locos recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special party on August 6 and a number of special activities for guests throughout the month. Seen in the photograph are members of the Vander Werf family, owners of the restaurant: Nicole, Rubén, Lourdes and Stephanie.

Los Años Locos is located on Calle 76, San Francisco. Tel.: 226-6966.

The Scots tried to establish a colony in Panama during the 18th century.

"The secret ties between Panama and Scotland" is the title of a fascinating exhibit at Panama City's Interoceanic Canal Museum, featuring documens and relics related to the little-known, ill-fated Scottish attempt to establish a colonial trading post in Panama in the late 17th century. The exhibit opened on August 17 and will end September 30.

On June 17, 1698, 1,200 Scots on board a five-ship flotilla, embarked on a journey across the Atlantic that would lead them to the present-day Panamanian province of Darién. With the financial sponsorshp of the Bank of Scotland, the crew intended to establish a trading post in tropical America and brought with them large amounts of merchandise. Although they were able to establish good relations with the Native American population of the area, tropical diseases, such as yellow fever and malaria soon took their toll and almost wiped out the entire population of "New Caledonia" within a few months.

The venture turned out to be a financial fiasco with terrible consequences for the Scottish economy. Some of those who managed to return to Scotland were tried and executed while others lived in permanent exile.

Guests of Ristorante Il Boccalino are in for a very special treat on September 6, when vibraphonist Ella Ponce, accompanied by Gretchen Laffitte (flute), Iván Navarro (basoon) and Osvaldo Vergara (bass) will offer an extensive repertorie of classical music pieces. The event is part of the restaurants "Concert Dinners", organized by Panamanian pianist Luis Fernando Morales. Admittance (diner inlcuded) is $30.00. Il Boccalino is located on Calle 49, Bella Vista. For more information, call 269-9147 y 6645-6338.

A "Paso" horse show.

The Coronado Equestrian Club has organized two special shows scheduled for the next couple of weeks. The first is the National Competition of the "Panamanian Association of Horse Trainers and 'Paso' Horse Owners", which will take place on Saturday, August 27. Two weeks later, the club will host its second inter-club hurdle competition (September 9-10).

Coronado's Equestrian Club is a well-equipped facility featuring three rinks, a country-style restaurant, lodging facilities for horses and a stage where family shows and concerts take place each weekend. The club is part of a long-establish tourist and real-estate development located 80 km west of Panama City, which includes a beach club, spas, condominiums, villas, and one of Latin America's best golf courses.

Some of Panama's best anglers have signed up for the 14th annual Yamaha Fishing Tournament, which will take place in the vecinity of Contadora Island, in the Gulf of Panama August 26-27.

Bonita, Red Snapper, Dorado, Tuna and Sail Fish are some of the species that participants, ages 10 through 80 will try to catch, along with US$75,000 in prizes. The tournament includes 12 categories and approximately 60 boats are expected to participate.The event will be a "catch-and-release" competition.

Details were disclosed during a recent press conference.

A couple in folklore costumes dancing.

One of the best regional festivals for tourists, the Mejorana Festival, takes place from Sept. 21-25. The festival shows the strong Hispanic traditions of the central provinces. Held in the town of Guararé, province of Los Santos, the event is a tribute to La Mejorana, a guitar-like folkore instrument, although it also encompasses folk fiddle competitions and a plethora of dance performances and games.

Located in the south-central region of Panama, Guararé is a five-hour drive from the capital. To get there, drivers in Panama City need to cross the Bridge of the Americas and get on the Pan-American Highway. A left turn at the town of Divisa (215 km. west of the capital), leads straight to Guararé (an hour and-a-half. Most lodging facilities are in the city of Chitré, province of Herrera.

Bocas is only an hour's flight from Panama City.

Everything is ready for the Fair of the Sea, the most important regional celebration of Panama's Caribbean coast, scheduled September 14-18 on Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro.

Originally envisioned as a colorful tribute to the rich Caribbean heritage of the province of Bocas del Toro, the festival is rapidly gaining a more "international" flavor, due to the large numbers of foreign expats and retirees (U.S., Canadian and European citizens) who have taken up residence on the pristine islands and secluded coves of this maritime province in recent years. Expect lots of dancing and easy-going parties during the festivities, which takes place during Bocas' unusual dry season (in most of Panama, the dry season spans from December to April).

A friendly Bocas resident swimms near the Caribbean shore.

Bocas is truly a success story when it comes to tourism. Long considered a remote agricultural territory, the province became a tourist hot spot almost by accident during the 1990's. Hundreds of European tourists started to discover its pristine natural environment and many of them remained there to become hoteliers and restauranteurs. Accommodations are for the most part small and good and cater to all tastes and pockets.

Located on the northwestern region of Panama, Bocas is accessible through daily, scheduled flights (approx. one hour), departing from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport, in Albrook. An overnight bus service, ( 8-10 hours) links Panama City and Bocas. Buses depart every evening from Albrook's Gran Terminal de Transporte.

One of the most awaited annual events in Panama City is Fiesta "Alrededor del Mundo", an international culinary festival organized by Caravana de Asistencia Social, a charity organization created by the wives of foreign and Panamanian diplomats. It will take place on Friday, August 26 at Atlapa Convention Center, from noon onwards.

The main course of the fair will be numerous dishes from countries as diverse as Malta and Korea to Central America, Germany and Turkey. Side dishes include international folklore performances and handicraft stands.

Admittance is $3.00 per person (children 10 and younger enter free).