We went into Panama City yesterday morning to do a little shopping. The reason we went on SUNDAY, not as much traffic and it is easier for "Gringo's" to find their way around. We left the house @ 6:30 a.m. and we were at Riba Smith grocery store @8:30 a.m.. Riba Smith's main store is in Miami, Florida, so there are quite a few stores in Puerto Rico and other areas in the Carribean. We have 3 in Panama City alone.
We went thru the store very slowly and Mike found a 12 pack of Mountain Dew and three pounds of Jimmy Dean Sausage. Life is good!!!!! Now we can have good taco's and spagetti sause.
Then it was off to find Price Smart in the City itself. We drove down the street called "Tumba Muerte" and after awhile we saw the sign "Office Max" and "Price Smart"....Yahoo
We were there at 10:10 a.m. and found alot of stuff we needed. Besides the usual we bought Bose computer speakers and a Singer sewing machine for me. It felt like money was flying out of our wallets, then we had a Price Smart hot dog and off we went trying to find our way out of the City and head towards home.
Now today it has been raining since 8 a.m. and we just heard it was only 72 degrees in Panama City. It is usually 10 to 15 degrees cooler here in El Valle. Mike is wearing his long sleeve T-Shirt and I am in leggings and a sweatshirt and a pair of Mike's socks. Of course we have the windows and doors open, I love the smell of rain..,
Another adventure in the NOT so Tropics...Wish you were all here with us, I am sure if I look hard I could find a blanket for us to share...
Monday, July 30, 2012
A new house and new friends
We moved into our new house a week ago, so I'm going to use that as my excuse for not writing sooner.
A couple of days ago we went into the City to shop at Albrook Mall. We were looking for a birthday present for our friend, Harry, and his wife, Ursula, was with us to do some shopping and to give us a few hints. We wanted to find Harry a new jersey for bike riding, but were not successful...more about that later. While we were at the mall, we went to our favorite place to eat. It's called "Crepes and Waffles" and it was great. Sandy had Beef Stroganoff crepes, and I had something called a "Sensational". It's made of Dutch cheese, smoked ham, a fried egg and chopped tomatos and onions all wrapped in a crepe. For dessert I had a "Baby Doll", a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, with a crepe folded over it. Then they lay bananas on four sides and top it off with walnuts, hot fudge, and whipped cream...Yum!
When we were stumped for a gift for Harry, Ursula suggested cheese...Harry loves cheese! So we stopped on the road home at a little shop that sells nothing but cheese, and we bought some of everything they had. Harry lit up light a kid at Christmas when he saw what we brought for his Cumpleanos!!!
Saturday morning my friend and I went to a new surf spot, called Rocky Point. It's a rock bottom point break at a river mouth and we each got a few good rights...but the real highlight of the morning came later. When we were drying off and getting ready to leave. another friend pointed out that the local fishermen could use a hand getting their boats hauled up above the high tide mark. The boats are called Pongas and are about twenty feet long. They're made of wood and are pretty heavy, and the beach is quite steep. Since we park right next to the huts where they live, I figured it would be a good idea to help and they would be helpful with watching the truck whenever we were in the water. The fishermen are extremely poor, living in tin shacks without running water or electricity, but are proud to be their own boss and to be making a living from the sea. So we talked it over and worked out a plan of action. I backed the truck up to the place the chose, and, after they tied a big rope to the frame of the truck under the bed, I put it in four wheel drive and up we went. This went so well that we did it again with a second boat, and again with a third. The third one was more difficult because of the angle and because I had very little room to move. So it was back up and tie and pull, then back up and tie and pull, and after the third pull we had it up...all the while being careful not to drive the truck right through someone's house! They were all smiles and thank you's when we were done, and I think I was the one who got the most out of the experience.
We are blessed to have made many new friends here in Panama...There's Harry and Ursula. He's from Colombia and grew up in a jungle village and she's from Switzerland and worked in an investment bank! And there's Manfred the German Sea Captain, and John and Stephanie from Maine, and Ty and Michelle from Canada, and Nancy from Nova Scotia, and Neil from Hawaii...all part of Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
A couple of days ago we went into the City to shop at Albrook Mall. We were looking for a birthday present for our friend, Harry, and his wife, Ursula, was with us to do some shopping and to give us a few hints. We wanted to find Harry a new jersey for bike riding, but were not successful...more about that later. While we were at the mall, we went to our favorite place to eat. It's called "Crepes and Waffles" and it was great. Sandy had Beef Stroganoff crepes, and I had something called a "Sensational". It's made of Dutch cheese, smoked ham, a fried egg and chopped tomatos and onions all wrapped in a crepe. For dessert I had a "Baby Doll", a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, with a crepe folded over it. Then they lay bananas on four sides and top it off with walnuts, hot fudge, and whipped cream...Yum!
When we were stumped for a gift for Harry, Ursula suggested cheese...Harry loves cheese! So we stopped on the road home at a little shop that sells nothing but cheese, and we bought some of everything they had. Harry lit up light a kid at Christmas when he saw what we brought for his Cumpleanos!!!
Saturday morning my friend and I went to a new surf spot, called Rocky Point. It's a rock bottom point break at a river mouth and we each got a few good rights...but the real highlight of the morning came later. When we were drying off and getting ready to leave. another friend pointed out that the local fishermen could use a hand getting their boats hauled up above the high tide mark. The boats are called Pongas and are about twenty feet long. They're made of wood and are pretty heavy, and the beach is quite steep. Since we park right next to the huts where they live, I figured it would be a good idea to help and they would be helpful with watching the truck whenever we were in the water. The fishermen are extremely poor, living in tin shacks without running water or electricity, but are proud to be their own boss and to be making a living from the sea. So we talked it over and worked out a plan of action. I backed the truck up to the place the chose, and, after they tied a big rope to the frame of the truck under the bed, I put it in four wheel drive and up we went. This went so well that we did it again with a second boat, and again with a third. The third one was more difficult because of the angle and because I had very little room to move. So it was back up and tie and pull, then back up and tie and pull, and after the third pull we had it up...all the while being careful not to drive the truck right through someone's house! They were all smiles and thank you's when we were done, and I think I was the one who got the most out of the experience.
We are blessed to have made many new friends here in Panama...There's Harry and Ursula. He's from Colombia and grew up in a jungle village and she's from Switzerland and worked in an investment bank! And there's Manfred the German Sea Captain, and John and Stephanie from Maine, and Ty and Michelle from Canada, and Nancy from Nova Scotia, and Neil from Hawaii...all part of Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Another Party to go to!!!!!!
The one thing I remember from living here years ago (for those who do not know, Mike was in the Army and we lived here during the late 60's) is the fun we had as ex-pats living in another country. You celebrate every holiday with a party or get together. You are far away from your family and close friends so you go out of your way to meet new people.
Yesterday was an afternoon at the beach for LADIES ONLY. One of our owners of a well respected Inn here in El Valle has a beach rental for the off season. And she will be having lots of these little gatherings. Right on the beach not far from the resort we stayed at last year on our visit, Playa Palmar. This little "Casita" has a huge back yard and then you go down about 8 stairs and you are on the beach. The tide was out when we got there and we had little plastic brightly colored baskets to collect shells with. Alot of all white shells and pale pink ones too. I left my treasured sea shells with my sister-in-law Kerry in Carlsbad, CA.. So I am starting my new collection here in Panama,
The water was warmer then bathwater and very inviting. There were about 8 of us in swimsuits of all sizes and shapes as well as ages and we had so much fun. Everybody brought food to share and we had a great variety with no menu, just bring what you wanted to make. We played board games under the big Panama Tree and laughed like school girls.
Tomorrow evening is a cocktail party we are going to, so I need to make finger foods to take to it. I want you to know you do not have to be a drinker to go to these parties, so far I have had just water or maybe gingerale and Mike usually has a beer. Not like when we were young and your goal was to drink as much as you can as fast as you can.
So to let you know, in the last week we have been to 1 dinner, 2 brunches, 1 cocktail party and an afternoon at the beach. And I am meeting a friend for breakfast tomorrow morning. And the surprise, you don't have to wait until the weekend to have a party, we are all retired and you can have gatterings any day of the week.
We are off to Coronado, Panama today to get chicken for my finger food for Saturday night and to find disposable trays and dishes for the events. I don't want to have to think about remembering to take home my dish after the party.
Also I know we live in the world of computers and I could look on line, but I need a bunch of new receipes you all have used for gatherings...Please e-mail me or answer in the comment section at the bottom of this blog.
By the way, is anybody reading these blogs, I don't think we have any comments?
Another adventure, Sandy is going to be cooking again....LOL
Yesterday was an afternoon at the beach for LADIES ONLY. One of our owners of a well respected Inn here in El Valle has a beach rental for the off season. And she will be having lots of these little gatherings. Right on the beach not far from the resort we stayed at last year on our visit, Playa Palmar. This little "Casita" has a huge back yard and then you go down about 8 stairs and you are on the beach. The tide was out when we got there and we had little plastic brightly colored baskets to collect shells with. Alot of all white shells and pale pink ones too. I left my treasured sea shells with my sister-in-law Kerry in Carlsbad, CA.. So I am starting my new collection here in Panama,
The water was warmer then bathwater and very inviting. There were about 8 of us in swimsuits of all sizes and shapes as well as ages and we had so much fun. Everybody brought food to share and we had a great variety with no menu, just bring what you wanted to make. We played board games under the big Panama Tree and laughed like school girls.
Tomorrow evening is a cocktail party we are going to, so I need to make finger foods to take to it. I want you to know you do not have to be a drinker to go to these parties, so far I have had just water or maybe gingerale and Mike usually has a beer. Not like when we were young and your goal was to drink as much as you can as fast as you can.
So to let you know, in the last week we have been to 1 dinner, 2 brunches, 1 cocktail party and an afternoon at the beach. And I am meeting a friend for breakfast tomorrow morning. And the surprise, you don't have to wait until the weekend to have a party, we are all retired and you can have gatterings any day of the week.
We are off to Coronado, Panama today to get chicken for my finger food for Saturday night and to find disposable trays and dishes for the events. I don't want to have to think about remembering to take home my dish after the party.
Also I know we live in the world of computers and I could look on line, but I need a bunch of new receipes you all have used for gatherings...Please e-mail me or answer in the comment section at the bottom of this blog.
By the way, is anybody reading these blogs, I don't think we have any comments?
Another adventure, Sandy is going to be cooking again....LOL
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Another day of errands and a run thru the new house!!!
People always as me "What do you do all day?"
We left the house @ 9:30 this morning, picked up our laundry that we dropped off yesterday. It was raining so hard yesterday @ 4:00 p.m. we did not venture out to pick it up. We went to our new place and went thru the usual stuff, how the t.v. works, how the suicide shower heads work, every key for every lock and all the little quirks of the house.
The owners are going back to the states this monday (Mike is driving them to the airport) and then when the wife retires in about 2 years they will be returning.
Then we went to Coronado, Panama to shop at 3 different grocery stores for a weeks worth of groceries. They are all in the same area so shopping is easy. A quick stop @ Mailboxes etc, to check what used paperback books they have available. This is where the ex-pats drop off their books and take others they haven't read. Totally free !!!!!! Isn't that cool? No library check out, just drop off, pick up and go...
So excited, I found Panama brand Italian Bread Crumbs, been on my grocery list for awhile. We have been told there is a store called "Riba Smith" in Panama City, they carry alot of brand names for ex-pats, prices are pretty good. On line Mike found Jimmy Dean Sausage and Mountain Dew. The store is out of Miami and what you can't find here they will order for you and it is shipped to their Store in Panama... I am sure for a price.
After lasagna @ Mia Nonna's (in our Coronado) we headed up and over the mountain to El Valle just in time for the groceries to be unpacked and our friend Manford came by to visit. He is the proprieter of Los Capitanes Motel and Cafe we stayed at last year. Great old sea captain with lots of good stories. After ice tea and cookies he left and Mike started dinner.
It is now 6:30 p.m. and it is pitch black outside. Time for a shower and read a little, watch old stuff on t.v. and before you know it... we are both yawning.
Last weekend we went to our usual sunday brunch @ Ty's and then we went to a nice place for dinner. One of our ex-pat couple's went back to the states for 4 months to visit family and do a little traveling. There were about 8 couples and we all paid for our own dinners. Had a great time and met a few new friends.
This week I have a "girls only" beach day and saturday night we are going to a cocktail party @ 4:p.m. and then down to Mama Mia's in Coronado for a band @ 8:00 p.m.. They are playing music from the 50's to the 80's.
Where is my husband and what have you done to him?.. Mr Sociable is a busy man down here in Panama. And I am trying to stay up with him.
We have a list of places we want to go and after we move next week we want to start checking those places off. One of our first one is Costa Rica, another stamp in our passport. We have alot of traveling to do to catch up with our Granddaughter Mackenzie, she is 20 and has traveled almost everywhere.
That gives you an idea of what we do, and I know I have asked my bother-in-law Pat and sister-in-law Kate a hundred times "What do you do all day when you retire?"...
Like everyone told us, "They don't know how they worked full time and got all this stuff done." I get it, I finally get it... And I love it...There is a reward for all those years of working hard...We get to spend the last 3rd of our lives RETIRED .....
We left the house @ 9:30 this morning, picked up our laundry that we dropped off yesterday. It was raining so hard yesterday @ 4:00 p.m. we did not venture out to pick it up. We went to our new place and went thru the usual stuff, how the t.v. works, how the suicide shower heads work, every key for every lock and all the little quirks of the house.
The owners are going back to the states this monday (Mike is driving them to the airport) and then when the wife retires in about 2 years they will be returning.
Then we went to Coronado, Panama to shop at 3 different grocery stores for a weeks worth of groceries. They are all in the same area so shopping is easy. A quick stop @ Mailboxes etc, to check what used paperback books they have available. This is where the ex-pats drop off their books and take others they haven't read. Totally free !!!!!! Isn't that cool? No library check out, just drop off, pick up and go...
So excited, I found Panama brand Italian Bread Crumbs, been on my grocery list for awhile. We have been told there is a store called "Riba Smith" in Panama City, they carry alot of brand names for ex-pats, prices are pretty good. On line Mike found Jimmy Dean Sausage and Mountain Dew. The store is out of Miami and what you can't find here they will order for you and it is shipped to their Store in Panama... I am sure for a price.
After lasagna @ Mia Nonna's (in our Coronado) we headed up and over the mountain to El Valle just in time for the groceries to be unpacked and our friend Manford came by to visit. He is the proprieter of Los Capitanes Motel and Cafe we stayed at last year. Great old sea captain with lots of good stories. After ice tea and cookies he left and Mike started dinner.
It is now 6:30 p.m. and it is pitch black outside. Time for a shower and read a little, watch old stuff on t.v. and before you know it... we are both yawning.
Last weekend we went to our usual sunday brunch @ Ty's and then we went to a nice place for dinner. One of our ex-pat couple's went back to the states for 4 months to visit family and do a little traveling. There were about 8 couples and we all paid for our own dinners. Had a great time and met a few new friends.
This week I have a "girls only" beach day and saturday night we are going to a cocktail party @ 4:p.m. and then down to Mama Mia's in Coronado for a band @ 8:00 p.m.. They are playing music from the 50's to the 80's.
Where is my husband and what have you done to him?.. Mr Sociable is a busy man down here in Panama. And I am trying to stay up with him.
We have a list of places we want to go and after we move next week we want to start checking those places off. One of our first one is Costa Rica, another stamp in our passport. We have alot of traveling to do to catch up with our Granddaughter Mackenzie, she is 20 and has traveled almost everywhere.
That gives you an idea of what we do, and I know I have asked my bother-in-law Pat and sister-in-law Kate a hundred times "What do you do all day when you retire?"...
Like everyone told us, "They don't know how they worked full time and got all this stuff done." I get it, I finally get it... And I love it...There is a reward for all those years of working hard...We get to spend the last 3rd of our lives RETIRED .....
Saturday, July 14, 2012
GETTING BACK INTO OUR ROUTINE
We are home from our seperate vacations and trying to get into a routine again. We both loved our times with friends and family and it was fun to run to a Walmart and get the few things we missed from the states. We brought home with us, good seasonings dressing packets, dry lipton onion soup mix, lipton decaf tea for my ice tea, our favorite ovation shampoo and cell therapy (Mike got at the Del Mar Fair with a discount) and a pair of "The Ove Glove" (oven mitts instead of pot holders). Our son carries them at Ace Hardware, they are terrific. I also had fun at the local drug store in Delaware, you know buying "girlie things".
It was a good feeling to come HOME and realizing that this is where we wanted to be. I love our quiet little valley with it's friendly people. Mike has been riding his new bike and I have been busy getting suitcases emptied and hidden under beds. Because Delta charges $25.00 for the first checked in bag we both left here with just a carry on. Then Mike bought a bigger suitcase to come home with the stuff he bought and the left over clothes we left at our son and daughter in law's house. Plus he had a beautiful bike case he had to check in, looking at that case I thought "Boy I could pack alot of "girlie stuff in that". I brought home a big suitcase from "my sister from another mister " Alice. I thought that it was too big but let me tell you I filled it up. So that makes 6 big suitcases and 2 small ones that we now have. One good thing is people here will ask to borrow one to go back to the states, and they return it when they come back in a few weeks or months. We have a yahoo group in El Valle, anything you want to sell or borrow or give away you post and within minutes you have 2 or 3 answers. That is how we found our house we are renting in August.
We have a couple of weeks before we move, we will miss living close to our friends Harry and Ursala. They have been so kind to us showing us where to go for everything and helping us with all the paperwork here in Panama. Snoopy their black lab will miss his second daddy Mike, I swear that dog talks, you know by his squeals and barks what is going on before any person comes thru the gate. Mike has promised he will come and visit with Snoopy. We are thinking of getting a dog when we move and there are alot to adopt in El Valle.
Enough for now, need to get on with the day. Mike just came back from the mercado with homemade tamales, a saturday treat. He pops them in the crock pot on low and the whole place smells good.
A special thanks to A and R for showing me a good time and making me feel like family. I am sure in another life we were related.....
It was a good feeling to come HOME and realizing that this is where we wanted to be. I love our quiet little valley with it's friendly people. Mike has been riding his new bike and I have been busy getting suitcases emptied and hidden under beds. Because Delta charges $25.00 for the first checked in bag we both left here with just a carry on. Then Mike bought a bigger suitcase to come home with the stuff he bought and the left over clothes we left at our son and daughter in law's house. Plus he had a beautiful bike case he had to check in, looking at that case I thought "Boy I could pack alot of "girlie stuff in that". I brought home a big suitcase from "my sister from another mister " Alice. I thought that it was too big but let me tell you I filled it up. So that makes 6 big suitcases and 2 small ones that we now have. One good thing is people here will ask to borrow one to go back to the states, and they return it when they come back in a few weeks or months. We have a yahoo group in El Valle, anything you want to sell or borrow or give away you post and within minutes you have 2 or 3 answers. That is how we found our house we are renting in August.
We have a couple of weeks before we move, we will miss living close to our friends Harry and Ursala. They have been so kind to us showing us where to go for everything and helping us with all the paperwork here in Panama. Snoopy their black lab will miss his second daddy Mike, I swear that dog talks, you know by his squeals and barks what is going on before any person comes thru the gate. Mike has promised he will come and visit with Snoopy. We are thinking of getting a dog when we move and there are alot to adopt in El Valle.
Enough for now, need to get on with the day. Mike just came back from the mercado with homemade tamales, a saturday treat. He pops them in the crock pot on low and the whole place smells good.
A special thanks to A and R for showing me a good time and making me feel like family. I am sure in another life we were related.....
Friday, July 13, 2012
catching up...
On the 26th of June Sandy and I went back to the States for a visit. Sandy went to Baltimore to see her girlfriend and I went to San Diego to stay with my kids. The trip started out miserably...the departing flight left almost six hours late and went downhill from there. Fortunately it all went better from there. Sandy had a great visit with her girlfriend, and I had a great time with my family and friends. My grandson and I went to the beach three times together, and he now sleeps in the hammock I brought him from Panama. Sandy spent a lot of time helping her friend at their craft shows, and I had a great time at my All-Class party. Funny thing, though...after the first week we were both ready to come home.
 |
| When we got home this guy was waiting for us in the kitchen...surprise!!! While I was in San Diego I bought myself a road bike...I need to keep up with my friend "N". so I found a beauty at a great price and brought it back with me. So, here is your intrepid warrior and his friend, dressed for the part and ready to conquer the world of cycling. So stay tuned for more to come...from Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.  |
Friday, June 22, 2012
Mi casa su casa
We went to dinner the other day at the house that will be ours on August 1st. Here are some pictures of the inside...
The house comes fully furnished and has two bedrooms, an office, and a "dry" room for storing papers and anything that can mildew or mold. It also has three bathrooms and a patio that measures over 600 square feet. We also have a maid/gardener that comes twice a week.
...Not bad for a couple of old retired folks!
We also went to a craft store this week and got a hammock for Connor, our grandson, and a couple of other gifts for the family...
Tomorrow is another surf session, and Tuesday we have another adventure...we're going back to the 'States for a visit...so that's all for now from Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures...in Panama!
Tomorrow is another surf session, and Tuesday we have another adventure...we're going back to the 'States for a visit...so that's all for now from Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures...in Panama!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Another Parade, this time for Horses
I was busy mopping floors this morning when I heard a nose like a car backfiring several times. The nosie was getting louder and I realized it was fire crackers. Then I heard the drums and "Musica" and I knew a parade was close by. The word is the children were Celebrating a week of Horses. Anything for a parade... The "Musica" was definitely Latin and the moms and a few dads were two stepping it down the street with their hips just movin...They had a couple of men on horseback leading the parade.
Then came the children, all different sizes and grades....all of them riding THE STICK HORSES and wearing their black cowboy hats. It was so damn cute. All the traffic stopped and everyone was smiling.
I realized I never thought that the noise could have been gun shots. Another reason we live here, I cannot wait for November, that is the month with the most holidays and fiestas. I am only sorry Mike missed all of it, he is in Panama City doing more paperwork and blood tests for getting his Panamanian drivers license....
Another Adventure and I only had to walk out my front door and turn right....Who Knew!!!!!!
Then came the children, all different sizes and grades....all of them riding THE STICK HORSES and wearing their black cowboy hats. It was so damn cute. All the traffic stopped and everyone was smiling.
I realized I never thought that the noise could have been gun shots. Another reason we live here, I cannot wait for November, that is the month with the most holidays and fiestas. I am only sorry Mike missed all of it, he is in Panama City doing more paperwork and blood tests for getting his Panamanian drivers license....
Another Adventure and I only had to walk out my front door and turn right....Who Knew!!!!!!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Things we do in El Valle
Last Friday we finally got to go surfing. We went to a beack Called Playa Tetas. Going to the beach here is unlike California. All the beaches are at the end of the road...and sometimes the road looks more like a creek bed than any road you have ever traveled. Tetas is a good break and we spent an hour in 80 degree water and only had to share the break with two other people. All in all we couldn't have asked for a better first day in the water.
Four or five days a week I try to get 45 to 60 minutes in on a bicycle. I got one from the local general store...paid about $100...and try to do a big cloverleaf around town that is a mix of flat and gentle sloping asphalt. My friend "N" rides with me, and is patient about riding slowly so I can keep up. He's been riding for 35 years and usually rides 100 to 120 miles a week. Twice a week he climbs out of the valley and rides to the Pan American highway and back...a distance of about 30 miles round trip. He's a good climber and rides at a totally different level than I do.
Here he is, beginning a climb on his $9,000 bike with the shoes and pants and jersey and helmet...
And here I am, on my $90.00 bike in sweatpants and shower shoes, doing my best to keep up.
Yesterday we went on a hike up one of the local peaks. It's called the "India Dormida".
The legend is that it's a buried Indian princess, who killed herself when her father disapproved of her choice of a boyfriend. The mountain takes on the form of her supine profile, with her nose at the highest point. It is considered the easiest climb in the valley, but you couldn't prove that by me.
Here I am at the top of the climb.
And here's the view of the valley...the reward for all the effort.
Sunday is buffet day at Ty's Sports Bar...all you can eat for $7.95...and many of the local gringos get together for lunch. It's nothing formal. Just whoever is in town and we swap gossip and lies about ourselves for a couple of hours.
This is Ty's Sports Bar. All you can eat...until it's all gone! So that's just a few of the things we do here in the valley...that is when we're not sunning ourselves or watching the rain. Annother day in paradise with Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
Four or five days a week I try to get 45 to 60 minutes in on a bicycle. I got one from the local general store...paid about $100...and try to do a big cloverleaf around town that is a mix of flat and gentle sloping asphalt. My friend "N" rides with me, and is patient about riding slowly so I can keep up. He's been riding for 35 years and usually rides 100 to 120 miles a week. Twice a week he climbs out of the valley and rides to the Pan American highway and back...a distance of about 30 miles round trip. He's a good climber and rides at a totally different level than I do.
Here he is, beginning a climb on his $9,000 bike with the shoes and pants and jersey and helmet...
And here I am, on my $90.00 bike in sweatpants and shower shoes, doing my best to keep up.
Yesterday we went on a hike up one of the local peaks. It's called the "India Dormida".
The legend is that it's a buried Indian princess, who killed herself when her father disapproved of her choice of a boyfriend. The mountain takes on the form of her supine profile, with her nose at the highest point. It is considered the easiest climb in the valley, but you couldn't prove that by me.
Here I am at the top of the climb.
And here's the view of the valley...the reward for all the effort.
Sunday is buffet day at Ty's Sports Bar...all you can eat for $7.95...and many of the local gringos get together for lunch. It's nothing formal. Just whoever is in town and we swap gossip and lies about ourselves for a couple of hours.
This is Ty's Sports Bar. All you can eat...until it's all gone! So that's just a few of the things we do here in the valley...that is when we're not sunning ourselves or watching the rain. Annother day in paradise with Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
Friday, June 15, 2012
"No See Ums" and maybe some Surf
My sister-in-law Kate was the first person to tell me about "No See Ums". They don't bother Mike but I am always swatting myself when something stings me or it feels like something is crawling on me. Most of the time I can't find anything but I still feel it.
When we lived here in Panama in the 1968 we had "sand fleas" that bothered me for a few months, then I seem to tolerate them. You could never see them but you would be slapping your ankles, legs and arms all the time. The "No see Ums"..... I have heard other people here in Panama say the same phrase.
We were busy killing flies the month of may, now I only see 1 or 2 each day. The little bitty ants are almost gone as well as the flying ants. Butttttttttttttt, we still have the large stinging ants who love to come out as soon as it is dark and you turn a light on. We have even started putting a towel on the floor in front of the door where they can crawl under. It gets dark at 6 so that means you cannot read a book because the ants appear and you spend most of your time killing them.
We watch T.V. (about 8 channels in English), golf and basketball in Spanish along with HLN World News. We hope to have a better feed when we move in August. SO there are times when we go to bed before 8 p.m.
As soon as I get up in the morning I start sweeping floors and do the bug count. LOL !!!!!!
We are hoping these ants disappear soon. Living in Paradise comes with bugs, many different kinds that I am still learning about.
Yesterday we went to Coronado, picked up a bucket of KFC and started driving to check out our local beaches. Alot of the time you cannot find a public beach, they are behind gated communities. The locals know how to go to the end of the road and walk thru the trees and you are at a beach. We have found one that we will go to tomorrow, it has white sand beaches and facilities for me as well..
So this morning Mike dropped his board in his truck, called his friend N and they were off to find the one break that they have heard of that is around Coronado.
Needless to say he left with a big smile on his face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When we lived here in Panama in the 1968 we had "sand fleas" that bothered me for a few months, then I seem to tolerate them. You could never see them but you would be slapping your ankles, legs and arms all the time. The "No see Ums"..... I have heard other people here in Panama say the same phrase.
We were busy killing flies the month of may, now I only see 1 or 2 each day. The little bitty ants are almost gone as well as the flying ants. Butttttttttttttt, we still have the large stinging ants who love to come out as soon as it is dark and you turn a light on. We have even started putting a towel on the floor in front of the door where they can crawl under. It gets dark at 6 so that means you cannot read a book because the ants appear and you spend most of your time killing them.
We watch T.V. (about 8 channels in English), golf and basketball in Spanish along with HLN World News. We hope to have a better feed when we move in August. SO there are times when we go to bed before 8 p.m.
As soon as I get up in the morning I start sweeping floors and do the bug count. LOL !!!!!!
We are hoping these ants disappear soon. Living in Paradise comes with bugs, many different kinds that I am still learning about.
Yesterday we went to Coronado, picked up a bucket of KFC and started driving to check out our local beaches. Alot of the time you cannot find a public beach, they are behind gated communities. The locals know how to go to the end of the road and walk thru the trees and you are at a beach. We have found one that we will go to tomorrow, it has white sand beaches and facilities for me as well..
So this morning Mike dropped his board in his truck, called his friend N and they were off to find the one break that they have heard of that is around Coronado.
Needless to say he left with a big smile on his face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wheels at last
Friday, June 8, 2012
When you assume you make...
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Where on Earth are we?
Almost everyone can find Panama on the map, but few know just where El Valle is, so I thought I'd include a little geography lesson. Panama runs mostly West to East, and the Pacific Ocean is south of us. The capitol, Panama City, is in the center of the country, and you travel southwest from there to reach the major beaches. .
Shortly after passing through Playa Coronado, you reach the village of Las Uvas. There you leave the Panamerican Highway and turn north for the 28 kilometer (17mile)trip into the mountains.
Las Uvas is just past San Carlos
The road to El Valle has over 100 twists and turns and climbs from sea level to about 3000 feet before it drops into the valley. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but El Valle is in the bottom of a dead volcanoe and we are completely surrounded by mountain peaks. This gives us spectacular views and our own unique weather patterns.
This is a computer simulation of the topography of our little valley. The floor is at 2000 feet elevation and the surrounding peaks top off at 3200 feet. The valley floor is a little under four miles across, and then everything goes straight up!
This is a street map of El Valle. It shows a few points of interest...the little red dot in the middle is where we are living now. It's just down the road from the central produce market where we get fresh lettuce and tomatos and cucumbers almost every day. The second dot, about two blocks off the main avenue, is where we will be living as of August 1st. Don't let the white lines fool you, though. Our new street, like many of the residential streets, is really a grass lane shaded by large trees.
Here's another map of the town, and it includes the names of the larger peaks.
So, that's it for today's lesson. It's a beautiful place to live...my friend from Kuai likes it better here than the Islands, and that's saying a lot! Soon we'll be getting our new wheels, and we'll be seeing more of the country, but for now we're just looking forward to today's buffet at the local sports bar...all you can eat for $7.95!
Adios and hasta lluego from Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Adventures come in many forms
Today is Friday and the living is easy...but not entirely uneventful. Last Wednesday I went to Panama City with my friend, "N"....to go to the bicycle shop, and to check out a truck for me. "N" is a cyclist and needed some work done on his bike. First we went to the Kia dealer in the city and I found what I wanted in short order. It's a double cab Kia diesel that isn't sporty looking, but is really roomy and practical. I put a deposit on it to hold the deal and now I'm waiting for the wire transfer and the arrival of the money. Things went a little differently for "N". Last week he had a cable break in his derailer shifter and a small broken part was clogging the mechanism. Let me point out that "N" has over $8,000 invested in his bike, and he rides five days a week, and the down time was giving him fits. When the mechanic told him that the work would take a vary long time..."many tiny parts" we asked what a replacement would cost...and that's where the fun began. We asked about the cost of the new shifter,(it's built into the brake handle and ,of course, nothing less than the best would do) and we thought he said it was seventy-something dollars, so the replacedment was done. Stupid Gringos! When it came time to pay the bill, we found out that the parts were seven hundred dollars! It's a good thing I had some plastic on hand or "N" would still be walking....anyway, all ended well and my friend is racking up the miles again, and my money transfer should be done soon and I'll have some wheels. That means we'll be surfing soon and travelling around this beautiful country in search of more Excellent Adventures. On a geography note, I'll be posting a couple of maps soon to let you all know just where El Valle is and a few more tidbits about our new home. Much to do in the coming weeks. I'll be getting a new car, I have to get my Panamanian driver's license, and on August 1st we'll be moving into a big house on a quiet street... but not before a quick dash back to the States for the 4th of July! So, adios for now, hasta lluego, from Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Holiday Weekend in the States, but not here in Panama...
Yesterday was Memorial Day in the States but not here in Panama. It was business as usual with the Panamanians. We did see a picture on the internet of one of our local grocery stores in Coronado, they had a display cases of beer stacked up to look like the American Flag. LOL..... I wore my red, white and blue but no american flags. The flag of Panama is also the same colors so I just looked patriotic,. A shout out to my husband Mike for his service in Viet Nam, Thank you for your protection then and now.
Since our container arrived over a week ago I have been doing extra wash. In it was the rest of my clothes, 4 sets of sheets, a blanket and a set of towels for the bath and the kitchen. 14 extra loads of wash, along with my normal wash.!!!!!! I took them down to the laundry last week, 3 bags a day. Everything here is washed in cold water. Most Panamanian homes do not have hot water. Can you imagine taking a cold shower every day, I don't care how hot it is outside, I still want a warm shower.
We have been here almost 2 months and so far I have lost 21 pounds. Not really trying except the heat makes you crave liquids all day long. We also don't have many sweets in the house besides our favorite Vanilla ice cream. So I will keep doing what I am doing and hopefully more pounds will drop off.. Another adventure for me....
Since our container arrived over a week ago I have been doing extra wash. In it was the rest of my clothes, 4 sets of sheets, a blanket and a set of towels for the bath and the kitchen. 14 extra loads of wash, along with my normal wash.!!!!!! I took them down to the laundry last week, 3 bags a day. Everything here is washed in cold water. Most Panamanian homes do not have hot water. Can you imagine taking a cold shower every day, I don't care how hot it is outside, I still want a warm shower.
We have been here almost 2 months and so far I have lost 21 pounds. Not really trying except the heat makes you crave liquids all day long. We also don't have many sweets in the house besides our favorite Vanilla ice cream. So I will keep doing what I am doing and hopefully more pounds will drop off.. Another adventure for me....
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Every day above ground is a good day and a chance to meet new friends...
Usually on one's birthday it is a good idea to reflect... Since this was my first birthday in Panama and being retired I considered it multi-tasking. Haven't had to multi-task much since we moved here...
Yesterday I turned 67 years old and today I do not feel any different. I am gratefull to be alive and healthy. My parents both died at what I call an early age, my birth father @ 48 and my mother @ 62...
My husband surprised me with gifts and dinner out @ a local Panamanian Resturant that I had been wanting to go to. We had Covina (Sea Bass) with lots of great spices, along with beans and rice. I love their spices down here, very flavorfull but not hot. Also a banana that had what Mike thought was a creole sause covering it...
My children , grandchildren and friends all called and sang the birthday song to me. My friends and family posted "Happy Birthday" on Facebook, I am blessed and loved...
At dinner last night Mike asked me "Well we have been here a couple of months,What do you think so far?" My gut and my heart said "Yes, I am happy here."
A year ago we decided we were going to move here in April 2012. I was scared to death and couldn't wait. After all the work we did to get here it was worth it. To get me to retire Mike knew he had to get me out of town and away from work. Why? Because I have always loved my job and I thought it defined me. Not so, a new and improved Sandy is emerging slowly in Panama...
I did not have my peeps, circle of friends or family around me when we moved here. I have met a few friends and I am starting to do things on my own. Last thursday they had a ladies night at Ty's Sports Bar and Grille, all drinks were half price. Mike was in Panama City @ a bike store and was delayed coming home. I was uncomfortable, but I walked uptown and walked into Ty's by myself. There were only a few ladies there and I had met one of them. She remembered me and intoduced me to a couple of other ladies who I chatted with while I had my 1 margarita that cost me $2.50...
After about an hour Mike appeared and we went to dinner... When the dry season is here they have lots of social things to do. I have been told that Spanish School , Water Exercise Classes, etc starts in December and goes thru April. So I missed out this year...
I have started my spanish tapes and this coming Sunday is Ty's Sunday Brunch for all locals. He always has a wide variety of food to choice from. That is another social gathering to meet people...
So life is good and I am looking forward to the next adventure...
Yesterday I turned 67 years old and today I do not feel any different. I am gratefull to be alive and healthy. My parents both died at what I call an early age, my birth father @ 48 and my mother @ 62...
My husband surprised me with gifts and dinner out @ a local Panamanian Resturant that I had been wanting to go to. We had Covina (Sea Bass) with lots of great spices, along with beans and rice. I love their spices down here, very flavorfull but not hot. Also a banana that had what Mike thought was a creole sause covering it...
My children , grandchildren and friends all called and sang the birthday song to me. My friends and family posted "Happy Birthday" on Facebook, I am blessed and loved...
At dinner last night Mike asked me "Well we have been here a couple of months,What do you think so far?" My gut and my heart said "Yes, I am happy here."
A year ago we decided we were going to move here in April 2012. I was scared to death and couldn't wait. After all the work we did to get here it was worth it. To get me to retire Mike knew he had to get me out of town and away from work. Why? Because I have always loved my job and I thought it defined me. Not so, a new and improved Sandy is emerging slowly in Panama...
I did not have my peeps, circle of friends or family around me when we moved here. I have met a few friends and I am starting to do things on my own. Last thursday they had a ladies night at Ty's Sports Bar and Grille, all drinks were half price. Mike was in Panama City @ a bike store and was delayed coming home. I was uncomfortable, but I walked uptown and walked into Ty's by myself. There were only a few ladies there and I had met one of them. She remembered me and intoduced me to a couple of other ladies who I chatted with while I had my 1 margarita that cost me $2.50...
After about an hour Mike appeared and we went to dinner... When the dry season is here they have lots of social things to do. I have been told that Spanish School , Water Exercise Classes, etc starts in December and goes thru April. So I missed out this year...
I have started my spanish tapes and this coming Sunday is Ty's Sunday Brunch for all locals. He always has a wide variety of food to choice from. That is another social gathering to meet people...
So life is good and I am looking forward to the next adventure...
Thursday, May 24, 2012
House hunting in El Valle
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| back yard |
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| front porch |
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| front gate |
Yesterday we went and looked at the house we want to move into...all that's left is the signing of the papers. It's located two blocks off of the main road, which means it.s quite a bit quieter...and is more than enough for what we need. It has a master bedroom with bath, and a guest bedroom with a bath, as well as an office and a "dry room" with a dehumidifier...a place to keep books and important papers so they don't get damaged from the humidity. There is also a third bathroom in the main hall, so there won't be any waiting in line! The kitchen is quite large, and also has a utility room with double utility sinks and shelf storage for all the groceries. It comes fully furnished and the rent includes sattelite TV, cable internet, and water. We pay for the electricity and the twice a week maid/gardener ($28.00 a week). The basic rent is $700 a month, and with the electricity and maid/gardener it should be under $850 for the whole package. We shall be moving in on August 1st and are really looking forward to it. Pictures of the inside will have to wait until next time.
The house is on an unpaves street...it's all grass! It's really beautiful and I'll be sure to include some more pictures next time, but for now that's our latest excellent adventure here in Panama!
May is Bug Month
We are sharing our house with bugs. I thought it was something we were doing wrong. We moved our 3 trash cans (recycle,trash and food) from the kitchen outside to our breezeway and then to the patio area to avoid flies. The flying ants have also doubled, no matter how I cleaned and how often..... they keep on coming. We have tried bug spray, ant traps and we are still looking for old fashion fly paper...Last weekend I bought a plastic fly swatter for 50 cents and by yesterday morning it was broken. It was all I could find in El Valle. We went to Coronado yesterday and bought 2 better ones and now we are both armed and ready...
We found out last night having drinks with our neighbors that every May the bugs appear. Thank God !!!!! So it is not anything we are doing wrong, it is just nature... As fast as they appeared in May they will disappear in June. Not all of them, I expected to live with bugs and I am getting better. I don't always jump when one lands on me now, I just flick it off and move on.
One thing we have noticed here in Panama, there doesn't appear to be any panamanians with white hair. We see lots of older people (even older than me), and sometimes you will see a few gray hairs but that is it. There is alot of hair dye on the shelves and they are all dark brown or black, so somebody is buying it. But you cannot tell by looking at the older people, they are either very good at coloring their hair or it is natural. I believe it is natural....We have seen a few islanders with white hair and of course the ex-pats that live here....
People ask me if I can feel a difference in our stress levels, and the answer is YES...The most stress for me was the container last week and that was because I couldn' t do anything to help Mike while he was in Panama City. I think it was a "woman thing".
In the last few weeks we have had the faucet in the kitchen sink go out, (which was fixed the same day) the refrigerator stopped working, (which took a few days) and last night we had no hot water or gas for the stove. They came and replaced the propane this morning. But no stress, we got two coolers and kept the refrig. stuff cold and the stuff from the freezer went next door to our neighbors. I am learning about MANANA here in Panama........
We found out last night having drinks with our neighbors that every May the bugs appear. Thank God !!!!! So it is not anything we are doing wrong, it is just nature... As fast as they appeared in May they will disappear in June. Not all of them, I expected to live with bugs and I am getting better. I don't always jump when one lands on me now, I just flick it off and move on.
One thing we have noticed here in Panama, there doesn't appear to be any panamanians with white hair. We see lots of older people (even older than me), and sometimes you will see a few gray hairs but that is it. There is alot of hair dye on the shelves and they are all dark brown or black, so somebody is buying it. But you cannot tell by looking at the older people, they are either very good at coloring their hair or it is natural. I believe it is natural....We have seen a few islanders with white hair and of course the ex-pats that live here....
People ask me if I can feel a difference in our stress levels, and the answer is YES...The most stress for me was the container last week and that was because I couldn' t do anything to help Mike while he was in Panama City. I think it was a "woman thing".
In the last few weeks we have had the faucet in the kitchen sink go out, (which was fixed the same day) the refrigerator stopped working, (which took a few days) and last night we had no hot water or gas for the stove. They came and replaced the propane this morning. But no stress, we got two coolers and kept the refrig. stuff cold and the stuff from the freezer went next door to our neighbors. I am learning about MANANA here in Panama........
Monday, May 21, 2012
It's Monday Again...
Boy is our Valley turning Green. I thought it was Green when we moved here in April, I was mistaken..
We are only into 2 weeks of the rainy season and the color is EMERALD GREEN., everywhere.
I know I am gushing but when you come from Southern California, this is like a new box of color crayons with a new color called "Panama Green".
I would spend hours outside in our front yard in Coronado (California} watering that yard to get a green grass. Never could I imagine this color green as in "Panama Green".
And it is only going to get better as it gets deeper into the Rainy Season. Can't wait to see what that color "Green" will be.
Remember how I said you have to keep your eyes open and pay attention to what you buy. We aren't the only ones, I have heard from different people here on their little discoveries. One person bought Hormel Hot Dogs and opened the package and threw them on the grill and found out they were indivduaaly wrapped. We bought hot dog buns and they were not sliced open. LOL
I was looking for toliet bowl cleaner and I was excited because I saw the name "Vanish".. Only this Vanish was spot remover for clothes only. I saw "Mr. Muscle" who did not look like 'Mr. Clean", he was dressed like the guy on the Brawny papertowels, but Mr. Muscle was a de-greaser.. The dish soap I bought somes in a small tub and looks like a paste (for those of you who ever polished shoes} and you have to work up a lather to get suds.
Just some of the small things we have noticed along the way. But then again we are retired and we have the time to browse thru the shelves at the grocery stores.
Who would have thought that was a requirement when we came to Panama.....
We are only into 2 weeks of the rainy season and the color is EMERALD GREEN., everywhere.
I know I am gushing but when you come from Southern California, this is like a new box of color crayons with a new color called "Panama Green".
I would spend hours outside in our front yard in Coronado (California} watering that yard to get a green grass. Never could I imagine this color green as in "Panama Green".
And it is only going to get better as it gets deeper into the Rainy Season. Can't wait to see what that color "Green" will be.
Remember how I said you have to keep your eyes open and pay attention to what you buy. We aren't the only ones, I have heard from different people here on their little discoveries. One person bought Hormel Hot Dogs and opened the package and threw them on the grill and found out they were indivduaaly wrapped. We bought hot dog buns and they were not sliced open. LOL
I was looking for toliet bowl cleaner and I was excited because I saw the name "Vanish".. Only this Vanish was spot remover for clothes only. I saw "Mr. Muscle" who did not look like 'Mr. Clean", he was dressed like the guy on the Brawny papertowels, but Mr. Muscle was a de-greaser.. The dish soap I bought somes in a small tub and looks like a paste (for those of you who ever polished shoes} and you have to work up a lather to get suds.
Just some of the small things we have noticed along the way. But then again we are retired and we have the time to browse thru the shelves at the grocery stores.
Who would have thought that was a requirement when we came to Panama.....
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Sometimes plans change...
This aftermoon Sandy and I were going to go to Playa Coronado in search of Mexican or Italian food, neither one of which is available in El Valle...when my new friend Jose Luis came driving down the road and stopped to say hello. He was running an errand...actually a bit of work to be more exact...and he invited us to come along for the ride. Jose is like most Panamanians in that he loves to point out the beauty of his country and share the things that he loves about it. He took us out of the valley and turned up a road that we had never traveled. It was a secondary road that quickly turned into a tertiary one...and at times it was more like a riverbed. Up we went, and up some more, until we were passing the cell towers at the top of one of the peaks. Suddenly we made a quick right and plunged into the bottom of deep valley. All the while, Jose was pointing out the vistas and flora that were appearing around every corner. I didn't know where we were going, but we were really enjoying the ride. Then he even had to stop to go into four wheel low range to negociate the next quarter mile of bedrock and rubble. Finally we reached his destination, a cute little house in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by flowers and trees. Here lives a three generation family, Grandma and Grandpa and their kids, one of whom has his own small family. Jose had come to take the ladies of the family to the market in El Valle for a small price. Just one of the things he does to make a living. So, off we went, the ladies in the back of the truck and the two curious gringos in the front, back up the trail in four wheel drive and over the top of the mountain and back into the valley and the market.
What about that trip to find Italian food? It got changed to a market visit for fresh veggies and a couple of beautiful wooden trays. And dinner? Would you believe a big plateful of BLTs fixed by yours truly? Yummy! Sometimes plans change here in Panama, and almost always for the better...and you never know where we'll find the next one of Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
What about that trip to find Italian food? It got changed to a market visit for fresh veggies and a couple of beautiful wooden trays. And dinner? Would you believe a big plateful of BLTs fixed by yours truly? Yummy! Sometimes plans change here in Panama, and almost always for the better...and you never know where we'll find the next one of Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
Saturday was a good day in paradise. I went for a 30 minute bike ride with my friend Neil. He's an experienced rider and makes me challenge myself...then he goes off and climbs a mountain to challenge himself. Then my neighbor, Harry asked if we wanted some tamales from the market. I bought eight for eight dollars and put them in the crock pot to warm. Sandy and I went to Coronado to do some grocery shopping and when we came back it was pouring...just what you need to cool things off. The time was getting late, and it was still raining, so off I went to the "El Valle Bread Club" to pick up my order. You order bread on Thursday for Saturday pickup and I had to get there by 1:00, rain or no rain. They have an extensive menu...we got a loaf of sourdough, six rolls, and an Apple Struedel, and I walked them home under my poncho. I called Neil and had him come over for lunch. We try to make our big meal in the middle of the day, so it was tamales, rice and good rolls for three with Struedel with ice cream for dessert...that's what makes afternoon naps possible. A note about the tamales...they were corn meal and bits of chicken with olives and raisins and are wrapped in banana leaves...delicious! I got lots of praise for the meal and all I did was make the rice! Life is what you make it, and here we're making it good...just another Excellent adventure for Mike and Sandy.....
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Today is Saturday, and the living is easy. I'll try to bring you all up to date on the latest adventure. Wednesday I went into Panama City to see about starting the paperwork to get my box of household goods out of customs. I was hoping to do it without paying for a customs broker, after all it was only one box. An hour at the warehouse convinced me that a broker was the only way to go, so I arranged to meet with one the next day at 9:00.(Everything is better the next day.) I hired a local to drive me and provide a truck for what I thought would be an easy day...but I had a lot to learn. So Jose Luis picked me up at 6:00 sharp for the drive into the city, and we were at the appointed place twenty minutes early. And we waited. And waited. And called. and waited. Finally my 9:00 appointment showed up at 10:45, without any explanation except something about "traffic". He then took my passport and disappeared into the bowels of the customs office. Meanwhile, Jose and I had to go deeper into the heart of Panama City to pay a $93 balance on the port hancling fees. This should have taken ten minutes, but since my shipping company hadn't sent the proper bill of lading to me, they couldn't release the freight. Rules are rules. Eventually they called my company in the States and had the original copy sent by e-mail and we got it sorted out...after a delay of three hours. Luckily the office was air conditioned and the secretaries were cute, a fact that didn't escape the notice of my friend Jose. So then it was back to the warehouse where we find that my broker hadn't yet escaped from the lower intestine of the Customs House. So we waited. And we waited....and when he did finally arrive we had a huge thunderstorm, a power outage, and the warehouse computers crashed! You know what that means...Come back tomorrow. So I gave Jose two hundred dollars for the truck and the driving and the translation services and we arranged to try it again on Friday. Bright and early we left El Valle...but first we had to stop to get a tire fixed...another hour...and amazingly arrived at the warehouse to find my broker on the ball with wll the paperwork ready. Twenty minutes in one office while everyone in the building got to read and stamp my papers, followed by ten minutes in another and we were ready to go! In the warehouse I finally got to see my box! In fact, I got to sit on it for almost two hours while I waited my turn for the inspector to visibly check out the contents. When finally it was my turn, I took the top off and in two seconds he said "OK". and that was that. I felt cheated! I hardly got my money's worth...like spending hours preparing for a test and then they didn't ask any questions. But, of course, it started raining again...and rained for the first hour and a half of the two and a half hour dtive home...but I got my stuff! It was like Christmas at our house, seeing all the things we hadn't seen in two and half months. A note for you guitar people...My Stratocaster was still in tune! Everything was just as I packed it, and now we have a big mess to clean up and put away...just like Christmas. But all was not a loss. I did make another friend here in Panama. Jose Luis, my driver, and by necessity my translater, is a local musician as well as being a vegetable carrier and jack of all trades. When he found out I had a Strat, he told me about his group that plays "musica tipica" and invited me to jam with them. He also likes Mexican food and wants to take us to the best local spot for some enchiladas, followed by a stop at the local casino. Yeah, I said Casino...we've got one just down the road in Playa Coronado.
So, all in all, it was as much as ordeal as it was an adventure, but you take the good with the bad here...and so far the good is winning hands down. We're beginning the process af finding a permanent place to live and to get a truck as well. And we haven't even started traveling yet! You might say that we've gotten past the beginning, and now we're on the way to more of Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
So, all in all, it was as much as ordeal as it was an adventure, but you take the good with the bad here...and so far the good is winning hands down. We're beginning the process af finding a permanent place to live and to get a truck as well. And we haven't even started traveling yet! You might say that we've gotten past the beginning, and now we're on the way to more of Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventures in Panama.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
how we got here
Around October of 2010 I connected on Facebook with an old golfing buddy of mine from the Canal Zone. We lived there from 1968 to 1970 while I (Mike) was in the Army. So I posted that I had made the connection and thanked Facebook for it. Shortly after that I got another post from a high school friend that wanted to know more because he was stationed in the CZ about the same time. This was followed by another from a good buddy who had a grandfather who was in submarines in the CZ in WWI and wanted to know if I was familiar with the area around Coco Solo where his grandfather was stationed. I hadn't thought about Panama much at the time, except to remember some good times when we were young. Then I started seeing those insurance commercials on TV about the widening of the Canal, and one day Sandy came home from work and told me about a patient who came into the doctors' office where she worked. She said that he was Panamanian and went on about how beautiful his country was and how we should come and live there. When she told me that, I said "Maybe we ought to do just that." I had seen a website called International Living, and they rated places to retire...and Panama was on the top of the list and also the closest to California. So we decided to look into it some more, and the more we looked the more we liked. The next logical step was to take a trip down and check it out, so that's just what we did. I must say that the Internet made all of this a lot easier, so in May of 2011, we flew to Panama City, rented a car, and off we went. We stayed in PC for two days and took a tour of the city and the Canal, and then it was off to the interior.
Our first stop was in El Valle, a quaint little town nestled in the bottom of a dead volcanoe. It sits at 2000 feet of elevation, so it's not too hot, and is completely surrounded by mountain peaks that top off at about 3200 feet. We stayed at a great lodge that is owned by a retired German Merchant Captain, and found our little bit of paradise. After a couple of days we drove west to David, pronounced Da-veed, and then north to Boquete. Boquete sits in a valley at 3200 feet, under the shadows of 11,400 foot Volcan Baru. We stayed at a hostal there and I took care of some legal business in David that took a couple of days. Then it was time to come down from the mountain and look at a couple of beaches. Playa Palmar fit the bill, and we stayed a couple of days and baked in the sun. But all the while, El Valle was calling us back. So back we went and stayed with the Captain again. He introduced us to a Swiss friend of his who has a nice rental apartment, so we made arrangements to write them when we got home...and we did. A rental agreement shortly followed and we made our moving plans...But first we had to pay off the bills and sell off the excess belongings, and convince our friends and family that we weren't a little crazy. Having done all that, Sandy retired from her job on March 30th, and four days later we were on the plane headed South.
We're in El Valle now, staying at Casa Mariposa and loving it all. There is still much more of the country to see and explore, and that will be the adventure part of the story. We'll be posting as often as we can, and many pictures to come from Mike and Sandy's Excellent Adventure.
Our first stop was in El Valle, a quaint little town nestled in the bottom of a dead volcanoe. It sits at 2000 feet of elevation, so it's not too hot, and is completely surrounded by mountain peaks that top off at about 3200 feet. We stayed at a great lodge that is owned by a retired German Merchant Captain, and found our little bit of paradise. After a couple of days we drove west to David, pronounced Da-veed, and then north to Boquete. Boquete sits in a valley at 3200 feet, under the shadows of 11,400 foot Volcan Baru. We stayed at a hostal there and I took care of some legal business in David that took a couple of days. Then it was time to come down from the mountain and look at a couple of beaches. Playa Palmar fit the bill, and we stayed a couple of days and baked in the sun. But all the while, El Valle was calling us back. So back we went and stayed with the Captain again. He introduced us to a Swiss friend of his who has a nice rental apartment, so we made arrangements to write them when we got home...and we did. A rental agreement shortly followed and we made our moving plans...But first we had to pay off the bills and sell off the excess belongings, and convince our friends and family that we weren't a little crazy. Having done all that, Sandy retired from her job on March 30th, and four days later we were on the plane headed South.
May 13th, 2012
We are starting our Blog from El Valle, Panama. After years of work and raising a family we both have retired @ 66 years old and we are looking for an adventure. We sold everything but a few items which we shipped to Panama in a container, paid off our credit cards and here we are in Panama. Our goal is to live on our social security and travel when and where we want. Please join us and we promise to tell you the good, bad and the ugly!
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