Bonnie

The "Dr. Erick" she refers to is Dr. Eric Tortosa.

The list used to be on the Hospice website, but I can't find it there now. It is still on Ning, however, under the Boquete Newcomer tab.

Thanks for the info, Sailors. How many minutes/how much data, does $11 get you? How do you pay? Is it possible to pay ahead for more than one month? Is there a plan for unlimited minutes? If so, how does that work? Anybody know?

Can someone who has an iPhone please tell me what kinds of plans are offered by Cable and Wireless and the approximate cost of the various plans? Now that Geovanna has gone, it is very difficult to understand just what the plans are. I have newbie neighbors trying to sign up who were very confused and are dissatisfied with whatever plan they were sold.

I have to say that this is much more convenient. Parking around the old office downtown was a horror.

I always figured it was to spot and turn back (or detain) maleantes from David.

I don't think Mark's post was for the purpose of frightening or alerting anyone. The point, as I read it, was to note that even localized weather phenomena have widespread implications.

The quarantine is in home--at least it was when we came with two dogs nine years ago. It incurs a cost, however, as does every step of the process from the paperwork in the States (all of which has to be done within a 10-day time frame of departure), to transport fees, to fees to get into Panama and fees to get out. I agree with Judy. It's a very unwise choice. Advise your visitors to find a house sitter or a reputable kennel.

It has been rainy and windy north of town, here is Palo Alto, for a couple of days. However, the wind is not nearly as strong as it usually is in January. I read on Facebook where someone in Santa Lucia was complaining about lack of rain. An example of our microclimates once again.

Last week a friend's mother died in Boquete. She sent the body to Panama City to be cremated and received the ashes back in David within two or three days. I visited with her after the death and heard about many problems associated with it, but cremation was not one of them.

Let's hope so. My husband having needed blood twice last year, I can testify that the lack of a blood bank in David is a major problem. Expats in Boquete are generous, but we found that everyone here with my husband's blood type had recently donated for someone in David. The doctors had to give him a universal blood type as an emergency measure. Although it probably saved his life, he was allergic to it, creating a whole different set of problems that persisted for weeks. A blood bank seems to me a very basic need for a medical community the size of David, which serves not only the city but many outlying areas.

Marcelyn, I believe this is in Panama City. There is no National Hospital or Hospital Nacional in David. The "public" hospital there is Hospital Regional. The photo with the story suggests, too, that it's in Panama City. The piece certainly could be clearer.

Just this morning I heard about five expats (two couples, three people local) whose citizenship papers have been signed and swearing in ceremonies scheduled. Maybe the logjam has been broken. I have encouraged the one who informed me to share the experience here.

I just got the coupon without any trouble.

That is the old Peruvian restaurant up from La Posada. I can't remember the former name.

Sometimes jokes within ourselves are misunderstood by those who don't hang out on CL regularly. I think all of us need to keep this in mind as it is the kind of thing that discourages people from participating. (I'm as guilty as anyone.)

A lot of it, I think, is simple anxiety. When you have a connecting flight, for example, the inclination is to get up and out of your seat and get your luggage asap to get out, hopefully, before others start fumbling around for their luggage and clogging up the aisles. You are always ahead by being on the move, it's felt. It rarely works as planes unload from front to back and you'll always take your turn when it comes. Getting on the plane as early as possible often has the advantage of finding a place for your luggage close to your seat. The baggage carousel behavior, it seems to me, is because if you miss your bag it takes so long to come around again. Especially after a long flight, people are ready to get out of there. Of course, none of this is worth the rudeness to others and stress on oneself.

Be sure to telephone the hotel of choice ahead of time to make sure that's still their policy. A few years ago I found this list badly out of date.

An easy and fun way to support ARF is to attend their Bingo games tomorrow at La Posada from 2:00 to 4:00. We have a great time!

Yes, I already have the bridge pass. But Penny B reported that she acquired the residency sticker with no more than her license plate number. I thought you were saying that more is now being required. I guess I had best get mine before the government adopts your thought!!

What????? Others have said they got it simply by showing up at the Corregiduria with their license plate number. I don't call this simple.

This is a wonderful idea for Irene's books. If folks have books to donate, can they take them directly to the Coffee Shop?

Thanks for the clarification, Keith. Any way you look at it, the words are tough to spell and tough to pronounce if you're not a seasoned Spanish speaker. I'm glad to know this.

Palo Alto is part of the Los Naranjos district (or whatever these local areas are called), even though it's a good distance away. According to Bud, the Corregidora for Los Naranjos is in the building across from the gym in Los Naranjos in the same building that houses the Toledano egg shop. I haven't been there, so I don't know if they have the residency i.d. cards.

It's my understanding that Rodny spent yesterday contacting the appropriate authorities about this. I thought it was "Corregidor" or "Corregidora." That's what my online Spanish translator tells me. (It also says that a "corregidora" is the wife of a magistrate as opposed--I guess-to a female "Corregidor.") It doesn't have "Corregidura" at all. I've seen this spelled so many ways that everything looks incorrect now.