Bonnie

My guess is the CO is replacing some equipment.

I have lights in my great room ceiling that require scaffolding to replace. I have asked many workmen as well as expats, but no one seems to know anyone who has scaffolding capable of doing the job. Can anyone help with either a source or a suggestion?

CableOnda is down at my house. Anyone else?

Being a landlord here must be pretty lucrative. It's always been common for renters to be responsible for household repairs. That's bad enough. But now they're responsible for supplying a house's basic plumbing???

Yes, I consulted this when the question came up. It says "desfiles," but nowhere can I find specific mention of a parade on Sunday. Only on Saturday. I seem to recall having been informed of two parades, however--perhaps by my housekeeper on Friday.

Is there a parade on Sunday, too?

It is within Valle Escondido. Ask at the guard gate when you enter, and they will direct you.

I realize that you were being light hearted, Keith, but I can't even manage a smile about this anymore. Sorry. On the good side, workers were on site at the Panamonte Bridge on this Sunday morning. It's showing signs of imminent completion, which will make a huge difference for those of us living in Palo Alto and Jaramillo.

Respectfully, Keith, I don't think any of these monumental projects legitimately can be compared to the Boquete water/sewer project. Come live on the north or east side of town, and I'd be willing to bet that your point of view would change.

I think we’ll see Calle Central completed in time for the holiday festivities. Everything else? Who knows? The pressure will be off from the merchants.

From the article on Via Argentina: " The group insists that it is not opposed to restorations and repairs on the road and public services, but to the way it has been done." My point exactly. One question: are there no built-in penalties for contracts that exceed their promised time of completion? This is a real motivator, in my opinion. Had there been threatened penalties associated with this project, I doubt we would had to wait for a visit from President Varela and a near revolt by downtown merchants to get this project moving.

I don’t disagree, Keith. I’m thankful for the project itself. My beef is how haphazardly it has been handled over the past few years. I don’t perceive there having been much planning from one day to the next, resulting in way too many delays, inconveniences, and potholed roads. Those of us living north of town got and are getting the worst of it because it’s impossible to avoid downtown to get anywhere. And now we have the holiday season upon us that will exacerbate the traffic problems.

I am doing my very best to be upbeat about this. It's difficult, however, when every day, for so long a period of time, it is a struggle to get to town and through town. I have to say, however, that it looks like they finally are working at full steam. I feel so sorry for Boquete businesses.

Heartwarming story, but it also should serve as a warning to the authorities of what could happen to people, particularly children, when sewer covers are missing.

I've seen reports of 4.8 to 5.8. I wonder when we can expect the final verdict. Paintings on my walls were hanging crooked this morning.

We just had a significant, prolonged shaking here in Palo Alto. (Sunday, Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m.)

Parking along both sides of the roads doesn't help. The road behind the police station, for example, has become all but impassable because of cars parked on both sides, not to mention the big buses that park on the corner. The latter, the buses, also obscure visibility of cars coming over the bridge, whose drivers need to see to the south before turning either direction or going straight. This is dangerous. I've had a couple of close calls because I couldn't see traffic coming from that direction because a bus was parked at the corner. Alison, the less physically fit of us would find it impossible to park in car parks on the edge of town and walk several blocks into town and return laden with groceries or other packages. Too, many of us walk as little as possible downtown to decrease the risk of falling because of the treacherous sidewalks and streets. So, although it would help, I don't think car parks alone are the solution. I wonder what the situation is with the vacant property next to Romero. It would be great if it could be turned into a parking lot by either Romero or the municipality.

What a wonderful idea! Is anyone making a turkey or turkeys?

Sorry, Keith. Somehow, I didn’t see it—probably because the thread has become so long that individual posts can get lost.

The following detour plan has been released by the Mayor's office. Fortunately, it does not include the badly eroded "river road." Going into town, take the hairpin turn just before the Haven road. Go down to the road that parallels Central Ave. running past the library into town (Av Belasario Porras). Note that large vehicles can enter the town via The Haven road, presumably to avoid gridlock on these other very narrow roads associated with the hairpin turn. Leaving town, take the road that goes by the Haven, exit that road onto the main road and turn right, then go up the hill.

Is the River Road safe to drive, given all the rain lately?

My hose is not on municipal water, by the way, but on the Palo Alto water system, which has never been a problem in the 12 years I’ve been here. Also, my water is treated with filters and UV light. However, I regularly eat at restaurants that are on municipal water.

I recently spent three days in Hospital Chiriqui with acute gastroenteritis. When I asked my doctor what likely caused it, he suggested the municipal water in Boquete. This sounds like I wasn’t the first person to show up from Boquete with the problem.

So, do you now take the main road or the river road to get in and out of town?

Uh oh. I didn’t know she was still around promoting Panamá.