Gringos in Paradise. -Desert Rat, Poet Laureate

Theme song for the Swan Island detachment.

Down to the Banana Republics, down to the tropical sun
Go the expatriated Americans, hopin' to find some fun
Some of them go for the sailing, caught by the lure of the sea
Tryin' to find what is ailing, livin' in the land of the free

Some of them are running from lovers, leaving no foreward address
Some of them are running tons of ganja
Some are running from the I.R.S.

First you learn the native customs
soon a word of spanish or two
You know that you cannot trust them
'Cause they know they can't trust you
Expatriated Americans feelin' so all alone
Telling themselves the same lies
That they told themselves back home

Down to the Banana Republics, things aren't as warm as they seem
None of the natives are buying any second-hand American dreams

Late at night you will find them
In the cheap hotels and bars
Hustling the senioritas while they dance beneath the stars
Spending those renegade pesos on a bottle of rum and a lime
Singin' give me some words I can dance to
Or a melody that rhymes

Down to the Banana Republics, down to the tropical sun
Go the expatriated Americans hopin' to find some fun

Desert Rat

Speaking of Paradise:

Panama to vote on expanded canal
BBC
The Panama Canal opened in 1914
The people of Panama are due to vote in a referendum on an ambitious plan to expand the country's famous canal and increase traffic.

Many modern container ships are too large for the 50-mile (80km) canal linking the Pacific and Atlantic.

The Panamanian government and the company that runs the canal want to build a new channel and new locks at either end to accommodate them.

The plan would double the canal's capacity, but at a cost of $3-5bn.

Supporters say the expansion will bring widespread benefits to the country, but opponents argue it will add to Panama's debt.