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This month, Panama has been in the news more than ever. For those of us who live here, the many events that took place over the past weeks just served to highlight what we already know...that Panama is a modern and safe country. As you probably heard, the Summit of the Americas took place here this month (coincidentally, at the same time as International Living's Fast-Track Panama event). The Summit is the kind of event that gets the attention of the mainstream media. But this year it was bigger than ever, as it was the first time in decades that U.S. and Cuban heads of state met face to face.

Every year, Panama spends a great deal of time and money preparing for madcap carnival celebrations that take place in different towns across the nation, usually in February. This year, I decided to spend some of carnival time in the breezy mountain town of Sora.

Preparing for a trip anywhere is exciting, but it can also be difficult to know where to start. Before you begin your planning it can be useful to familiarize yourself with the country. So, here are some of my tips for scouting the country and choosing the best destination for you.

Happy New Year to you all...and may 2015 be your best year yet! What do you want to accomplish this year? If "move to Panama" is one of the items on your list, you may find yourself feeling daunted. Why not break it down into little steps? Decide which one you want to take next, and focus only on that. When it's done, give yourself a big old pat on the back...and take the rest of the day off from worrying about the "to do" list.

The craft beer revolution is global, and that means these days you'll find fine ales in Panama, too. When I first moved to Panama City in 2005, I had to go to one of several German pubs to get my hands on an "exotic" brew.

I just drove back to Panama City from the Los Santos province...not a bad drive at about five hours, as the roads are really well maintained. That's both the Pan-American Highway, which you take west from Panama City to Divisa, and the newly expanded National Highway, which you can take from Divisa to the southern tip of Los Santos.

After a short visit with friends in Manhattan, boy am I glad to be back in my apartment in Panama City. Don't get me wrong...I love the Big Apple. There are a million things to see and do. But it can get overwhelming. After all that, Panama City feels so manageable and tranquil.