[News Boquete] Newcomer Secrets: Surprising Things About Life in Panamá

*Practical Things You Might Not Know About Panamá* Whether you've just arrived or have been here a few years, Panamá has a way of surprising you. Here are a few things that often catch newcomers off guard — from the movement of the sun to what's next to the toilet. *Lahaina Noon — When Shadows Disappear* Twice a year, the sun passes directly overhead at solar noon, and Panamá sits close enough to the equator to experience this dramatic phenomenon. Borrowed from the Hawaiian term, *Lahaina Noon* (from the Hawaiian *Kau ka lā i ka lolo*, meaning "the sun rests on the brain") marks the moment when vertical objects cast virtually no shadow. Depending on your exact location in Panamá, this year's first Lahaina Noon window ran from Friday, April 10 through today, April 13. Step outside around 12:30 PM on a sunny day and you'll be amazed — your shadow will be less than a quarter inch. The sun makes its return pass directly overhead around August 29 to 31 as it heads back south. This has real practical implications. Between now and August, the sun will actually shine on the **north side** of your house — the opposite of what people from North America expect. It also means that **solar panels here are most efficient when installed at a very low tilt, nearly flat**, rather than angled steeply as they would be in northern latitudes.  Houses in Panama get sun on all side of the house.  There is not a shady side like in the north. *Fog-Free Windshields in Rainy Season* If you moved here from a northern climate, you may not have discovered this trick yet: you can run your air conditioner and heater simultaneously in your car. The A/C removes moisture from the air, while the heat keeps the interior comfortable. Together, they keep your inside windshield crystal clear during rainy season drives — no more fumbling to wipe the glass while navigating Chiriquí's mountain roads in a downpour or freezing with AC running. *The Hose Next to the Toilet* Don't be alarmed — it's a bidet hose, and it's one of the best things about bathrooms here. Much of the world outside the United States and Canada already knows this: a bidet is simply for cleaning yourself after using the toilet. Think of it this way — if you got something on your hands (from your bottom), you'd wash them with water, not just wipe them with paper towel. Same logic applies. Many Panamanian homes have a simple hand-held bidet sprayer attached to the toilet supply line. If your home doesn't have one, a quality bidet toilet seat attachment can be found for as little as $33 and fits virtually any standard toilet. Once you try it, you won't go back.  See Photo below. *Stick a Stick in the Ground* One of the most charming and practical things about gardening in Panamá is how generously the land rewards you. Many plants will root and grow simply by pushing a foot or more of a cutting into the moist soil. Those beautiful **live fences** you see lining farm roads and property boundaries? Farmers simply cut posts from fast-rooting trees and plant them directly in the ground — no nursery, no special treatment needed. This is especially valuable for fencing because conventional wood posts rot or get eaten by termites surprisingly quickly in Panama's humid climate. **Living wood doesn't.** If you're planning a garden border, a privacy screen, or a property fence, ask a local neighbor which cuttings grow best in your area — chances are they'll hand you a few branches and you'll have a living fence within a season. Simple inexpensive easy to install bidet attachment Screenshot 2026-04-13 at 7.43.53 AM.jpg ___________________________________________________________________ The above message was distributed by /News Boquete/, a free subscription-based community service. /News Boquete/'s _*ONLY*_ public email address is news.boquete@gmail.com. For more info and use policy, visit https://www.dropbox.com/s/24y1vz2vae9iaen/News_Boquete_Policy.pdf?dl=0. *If replying to this message, reply *_ONLY_* to the *_ORIGINATOR_* (typically your email's 'Reply To' function works; do not use 'Reply All').* To stop receiving these emails, send a message to news.boquete@gmail.com with the word /_unsubscribe_/ in the subject line or body of the message. © 2005-2026, /News Boquete/. All rights reserved. Public redistribution strictly prohibited without prior written permission.