Things To Do In Panama

Loss to Panama reveals problems US must fix

In the aftermath of the U.S. national team’s 2-1 loss to Panama on Saturday night – the first time in 20 years and 26 games that the Americans had lost a game in the first round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup – veteran defender Steve Cherundolo told reporters in Tampa that the best thing his side could do was move on quickly.

When asked what the U.S. should do following the defeat, he said, “Spend as little time as possible analyzing this game, and start preparing for the next game.”

We disagree. The deserved setback, and the awful first-half performance that led to it, revealed problems that U.S. coach Bob Bradley and his players must solve if they have any chance to win the continental title on June 25 at the Rose Bowl.

Several of the issues that bedeviled the U.S. against Panama were frustratingly similar to difficulties the Americans had at last summer’s World Cup. That signifies a lack of evolution and maturation, which, if not corrected, could blossom into an indictment of the coach.

The U.S. (1-1-0) will face Caribbean qualifier Guadeloupe (0-2-0) in the Group C finale on Tuesday at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City (9 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer). The Americans can still qualify for the quarterfinals with a loss, but this team was supposed to contend for the trophy, not slip into the elimination rounds by the skin of its teeth.

Improvement is a must.

Here then, are several issues that Bradley, Cherundolo and Co. must confront if they’re to salvage the summer, save their jobs and progress on the world stage.

Weeks after the World Cup, Bradley still was unable to explain why the U.S. opened games so flat. It yielded a goal in the fourth minute against England, the 13th against Slovenia and saw Algeria hit the crossbar early in the first-round finale. Ghana put the U.S. out of the tournament with goals five minutes after the opening kickoff and three minutes into overtime.

"There will never be one answer when you look at the beginning parts of games,” Bradley said last August. "Little things in terms of how you manage a game, the experience early in a game, decision making, those are things we do talk about and we'll continue (to talk about). ... We need to continue to grow from these experiences."

But a listless and confused first half against a motivated and mobile Panamanian side demonstrated that the Americans haven’t grown. They admitted as much afterward.

Niko's Cafe Panama: Cafeteria Style Food That's Surprisingly Good ...

I usually shy away from chain restaurants and cafeteria style spots for sheer lack of taste and quality. Niko’s cafe in Panama City is one of the only places that will cause me to make exceptions to my typical dining rules. I really enjoy eating at Niko’s. The prices are great, the food is good and the staff is actually somewhat friendly. Niko’s not only serves meals, but they have a bakery that puts out tons of different breads and pastries that are to die for. I love their pan de leche and coffee for a sweet breakfast or snack.

I have tried almost everything at Niko’s from the pizza to the burgers to the arroz con pollo. They always make good traditional Panamanian staples like friend bananas, patacones, chicken, tamales, bollos and sauteed meats with onions and peppers. They also do catering and bake specialty cakes, breads and pies for any occasion. Travel books like Lonely Planet have ranked Niko’s at #19 of 100 things to do in Panama City, Panama.

If you’re looking for a quick lunch or inexpensive dinner then Niko’s is ideal. If you have the time to wait in a cafeteria style line, pick and choose what goes on your plate, pay and enjoy then Niko’s will do the trick. I recommend trying the traditional chicken soup with yucca and other root veggies with rice and patacones. A plate such as this will only set you back around $5. Panama always boasts a plethora of affordable eats, and Niko’s cafe is one of the best. Whether you’re stopping in for a sweet treat, coffee or a full meal, Niko’s is definitely worth checking out.

The Panama Canal, Hearings before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. House of Representatives Sixty-second Congress, second session

American magazine

Fodor's Panama, 2nd Edition

Investigation of Panama canal matters, Hearings before the Committee on interoceanic canals of the United States Senate in the matter of the Senate resolution adopted January 9, 1906, providing for an investigation of matters relating to the Panama canal, etc.[Jan. 11, 1906-Feb. 12, 1907].

Panama