Charles and Sharon Erwin, two semi-retired residents of Mobile, Alabama, have spent much of the past few years travelling the world in search of a second property to which they can escape during the colder months. Between leisurely holiday trips and more active searching, the couple have visited more than 40 countries so far. But tonight, they are sitting in a cosy family restaurant in the hills of Panama and they sense that their quest for the ideal spot has come to an end.

“Have you ever met somebody you just liked immediately?” asks Mrs Erwin, an elegantly dressed woman with fine features and an intoxicating southern drawl. “Well, the Panamanian people are mostly like that.”