Penny

Last night a friend and I ate at the new JF Restaurant close to Mike's Global Grill in Boquete. Don't know what the "J" stands for as the two principals seem to be Ruben and Frank. They are still learning the ropes about advertising but at least they're trying to advertise unlike most Panamanian eating establishments which are clueless about advertising to foreigners. The restaurant is located across the side street from Mike's in a building that was once Barbara Rabkin's art studio as well as a couple of other failed restaurants. They call this neighborhood "cemenerio". The guys have done extensive remodeling and opened up some outdoor eating areas so the place is really quite roomy and the windows are great for watching the world pass by on this busy intersection. They have a full bar including their house specialty drink which is some kind of combination including vodka and curacao to make it blue. The prices are more than reasonable. I had a hamburger and fries which cost a grand total of $4.50. The burger must have been 3/4 lb of beef and had all the fixings including cheese and bacon. The two of us could share and not finish it all. They have steaks for $12. There was an abundance of staff and the service was prompt and mostly bi-lingual. Their grand opening is today, March 25. Maybe some of you would like to go and try it out. The down-side is a lack of parking.

I bet a local carpenter can make the product. Give him a piece of the scalloped roofing to use as a pattern.

I was a member and daily reader of the Yahoo group where Peter Gordon relentlessly bad-mouthed HSBC bank. I'm not saying the bank didn't deserve it; just saying he was obsessive and relentless. One of the interesting facts in this case is that the bank had to prove they were harmed by the postings. They got a friend of the president (insurance broker Kevin Bradley) to write a letter saying he was closing his $100 account because of Peter Gordon's criticism of the bank on Yahoo. Peter Gordon had sold his string of retirement homes in Canada and deposited the proceeds (several million dollars) into HSBC. His account was frozen for many years while the case proceeded. I believe there was finally a settlement with a non-disclosure agreement.

Nothing will change until the indigenous women change. And that comes from them staying in school. However, it's hard to stay in school if you're pregnant. Vicious circle and 1 step backwards for every 1.5 step forward. Poco a poco. I do see more indigenous women in school than I saw 15 years ago here -- even in the universities.

HP Mini 10"screen w/ Webcam, Windows 7 Ultimate (English or Español) Intel Atom n270 1.6GHZ Processor, 2GB RAM, 15GB Hard Drive 2 USB2 Ports This mini sold new for more than $500. Completely reconditioned and tested and guaranteed by the Handicap Foundation. It is in very good condition, like new. For sale for $125. Email pjbarrett@aol.com

The B2030 20" Widescreen LCD Computer Display from Samsung is a large-screen computer monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1600 x 900 native resolution. The display produces clear and crisp images thanks to a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 250cd/m² brightness rating, and 5ms response time. It It is compatible with both Windows and MAC's. Dimensions With Stand. 19.4" x 15.6" x 7" Screen is scratched and this flaw is reflected in the price. Can purchase used on Ebay from $50 - $69.99 plus $50.85 shipping. For sale by the Handicap Foundation for $35 and no shipping. Email pjbarrett@aol.com to purchase

HP Pavillion a6700y Desktop Computer Upgraded with an ASRock Extreme Motherboard (fast) and Upgraded to 8GB RAM Windows 7 Ultimate (English or Español), Intel Pentium G850 2.90GHz Dual Core 500 GB Hard Drive 8 USB2 Ports (2 front, 6 rear) 15-in-1 Card Reader The Handicap Foundation has thoroughly tested and cleaned this computer and will guarantee it for 30 days. Offered for $140. A monitor, keyboard and mouse also available. Email pjbarrett@aol.com

I was also unavoidably in David until about 5:15 today. The traffic was horrible. My smart phone told me it was 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Stop and go all along the Pan-American. Between the baseball game, the President being here, and the feria, it was a mess.

The Handicap Foundation had a donation of a Garmin Etrex Vista Waterproof Hiking GPS. This personal navigator has now been replaced by a newer model, which costs $399 on Amazon. Used prices for the model we are offering for sale vary from $75.00 to $110.00 plus shipping. Here are some details: WAAS- enabled Built in barometric altimeter and electronic compass Altimeter determines precise altitude and provides a graphic profile of user's trip Contains 24 Mb internal memory for storing detailed map data. Owner's manual can be found on line at: hhttp://web.gps.caltech.edu/gislab/Equipment/eTrexVista It comes with belt case and new batteries. For sale by the Handicap Foundation for $60. Email pjbarrett@aol.com to purchase

From Panama City to the airport Step 1: Board the Tocumen-Corredor Sur Metro Bus You can either board this bus on Avenida Balboa on the side of the road closest to the ocean or take the Metro or Metro Bus to the Albrook terminal and transfer to the Tocumen-Corredor Sur bus. I live in San Francisco, so I take the Cinta Costera-Panama Viejo bus to Multicentro Mall and then use the pedestrian bridge to cross the street and catch the bus at that bus stop. The cost of the Tocumen-Corredor Sur bus is $1.25 instead of the standard .25 cent fare because it uses the highway. Do not use the Tocumen busses that do not say, Corredor Sur, because these go a long way and it can add hours to your travel time. Alternatively, you can use the white buses that say Tocumen on them, and these accept cash. Step 2: Get off at the airport stop The bus ride from Multicentro to the airport is approximately 30 minutes and if the voice recordings that announce the stops are working you need to get off at the stop that announces “Aeropuerto.” It’s the stop that has a covered walkway right in front of the airport. Step 3: Continue on the walkway The walk from the start of the walkway to the airport is around 7 minutes, and it’s pretty straightforward. You will go through a parking lot and then after that go through this entrance and follow it until the end. The hallway ends at the entrance of the airport. Step 4: Head up to the second floor The pedestrian entrance leads to the level with arriving flights so just head up to the second floor to check into your departing flight. My total travel time for walking out the door of my apartment to arriving at the doors of the airport was 1 hour and 15 minutes, so it’s longer than taking a taxi, but it’s worth the savings. Here is a breakdown of how long each step took so that you can better plan your trip: 2:00 pm – Arrived at the bus stop closest to my apartment 2:05 pm – Bus arrived 2:20 pm – Arrived at Multicentro and crossed the street to wait at the next bus stop 2:45 pm – Tocumen bus arrived 3:15 pm – Arrived at the airport I would recommend leaving your house extra early if you are trying to catch a flight or even do a trial run a few days before your flight to see how long it takes. Also, this is NOT a trip you want to do with large luggage (I think they won’t let you on the bus with a giant suitcase). It’s best to do this for short trips where you just have a small carry-on bag or suitcase. Remember, using the bus is only recommended if you have small carry-on luggage. Otherwise, I recommend paying the extra money for a taxi or uber. Enjoy the savings!

Travel Hack: How To Pay Only $1.25 Getting To And From Panama Airport Joey Bonura on January 5, 2015 at 10:15 pm Learn to dance salsa every Wednesday with a professional salsa dancer in the historic district! READ NOW >> Typically a trip to Panama’s Tocumen International Airport means finding a REALLY nice friend to drive or shelling out $25 for a cab ride there. But if you want to save a ton of money you can try this “travel hack” by using the Metro Bus to get to the Panama airport and pay only $1.25. Here’s what you have to do: From the airport to Panama City Step 1: Exit the airport and head to the right Walk towards Restaurante Selles. Step 2: Enter the hallway next to the restaurant The airport has installed ZERO signs that say this leads to the pedestrian walkway going to the main road. At first, it will look like you are entering somewhere that you are not supposed to but this is the correct way. Continue through the back hallway and outside. Step 3: Cross the street Once you reach the end of the walkway, you need to cross the street to get to the bus stop with busses heading back to Panama City. Step 4: Get on the Tocumen-Corredor Sur bus They DO NOT sell Metro Bus cards at the airport. If you are a tourist trying to use the bus you will need to kindly ask someone if you can pay them a $1.25 to swipe you through with their card. Wait for the Tocumen-Corredor Sur bus to arrive and DO NOT get on any of the ones that say Via España because it will take forever to get back to the city. Alternatively, you can get onto one of the large white buses that say Tocumen on them, and these accept cash. Once you are on the bus, you can get dropped off anywhere on Avenida Balboa or take the bus all the way to the Albrook terminal and transfer to another bus or hop on the Metro.

Mountain Bike - Specialized Epic Comp For riding the backwoods trails or just getting around on the mean streets of today's Boquete, this is the perfect mountain bike for a serious rider. A high end competitive trail bike, this Specialized Epic Comp sold for $1800 new. It is in virtually new condition, recently upgraded and includes many important extras (worth 100's of dollars) including on and off-road tires. Never crashed or damaged. - Aluminum 25" frame for tall riders - Patented Specialized swing arm - Triple front sprocket great for hills - Designed for serious off-road or on-road riding - Shimano hardware in perfect working condition - Disk brakes - Fox shocks - Clip-on pedals can be easily converted to standard pedals Plus - Custom metal folding bike stand - Off road and new on-road tires - Riser handlebar with end grips - Bluetooth speedometer/cadence sender - XXL high end riding gloves - Large Gyro helmet with Go-Pro mount - Rocket seat - Water bottle/pump - On-road tool/tire kit - iPhone mount for iPhone 4s - Extra seat - Two air pumps - Special purpose shock pump - Locking cable - Valve stem adapters - Brake bleeding kit - Owners manual For sale by the Handicap Foundation for $500. Email pjbarrett@aol.com to purchase.

When MultiBank told me about the charge when I was opening a CD, I told them I would not buy the CD under those circumstances and then they waived the fee for me

A suggestion. It's very common that the person involved in a project assumes everybody else knows what the project is by just posting a set of initials. The BJBF is a prime example. Not everybody can figure that out even though the jazz festival has been around for 10 or more years. What the heck is BVF ?? I guess it's the Boquete Video Festival but I would bet many, many people don't know. So, all of you, think about your audience and spell things out. Thank you.

I have two vacant bedrooms with two beds in each and can put up some of the party. I've gone on many medical missions and have also housed doctors who have come down with the Rotary Club from North Carolina to do missions here.

This is a very cute little computer in excellent condition and with a stylish red case. Small and compact for easy portability (10.5" long x 7'8" wide x 1.3" tall) and only 3 lbs. Great for travel or school. 10" Screen with Webcam (good for Skype) Windows 7 Ultimate (English or Español) Intel Atom N450 1.66 ghz dual core processor 250 GB Hard Drive, 2GB RAM, 3 USB2 ports, High Definition Audio Good Battery ( 6-cell lithium ion ) Totally checked and reconditioned and guaranteed by the Handicap Foundation. Sells for $110 - $200 plus shipping on Amazon.com. We're offering this cute little computer for $110. Email pjbarrett@aol.com to purchase.

This eMachine is fine for someone who wants an inexpensive computer for basic use and it doesn't take up much space, and can stand upright or lay down flat. eMachine EL1331G Small-Form-Factor 10.4 in x 3.9 in x 14.6 in, Windows 7 Ultimate (64bit) English or Español AMD Athlon 2850e processor, 300 GB Hard Drive, 2 GB RAM, CD/DVD, Card Reader, 9 USB2 Ports Reads and writes CD's and DVD's. The Handicap Foundation has thoroughly tested this computer and is offering it for $50. Include an AOC monitor for an additional $50. Doesn't include mouse or keyboard which can be purchased for less than $20 new. Email pjbarrett@aol.com for information or to purchase.

A note from Susan Peterson about the sale: "Although a very chaotic scene, we sold over $8,000.00 on Saturday and over $2,300.00 at the pre-sale for our volunteers on Friday as well as over $5,000.00 through internet and direct pre-sales from January 1 until March 17th, so we are fortunate to have a good amount of funding to start the year. We have been blessed with many wonderful volunteers, generous donors and a multitude of buyers to make our sale a success. Thank you for participating and supporting our cause. We have many racks of clothing to sell at the end of this week and continue to receive additional sale items, so do stop by and see what might be of interest."

This is a newer laptop with a very large hard disk and dual processor..· HP HDX Premium Series 16" Screen w/ Webcam, Windows 10 Home Multi Language · Intel Contrino P7350 2.0 GHZ dual core Processor, 500 GB Hard Drive, 4GB RAM, DVD±RW, 5 in 1 Card Reader, 3 x USB 2.0 Ports, VGA, LAN, Dock, HDMI, New Battery Listed on Amazon.com for $400 and $700 plus shipping. The Handicap Foundation has reconditioned this computer to like new condition and is selling it for $220 and no shipping. All proceeds go to the Handicap Foundation. Email pjbarrett@aol.com for information or to purchase.

This is a complete set of silverware for 8 persons. There are actually 9 teaspoons and no missing pieces. Set contains 8 knives, 8 dinner forks, 8 salad forks, 9 teaspoons, 8 soup spoons, 8 tiny spoons (?), 8 other type of spoon, and lots of extra serving utensils like pie servers, gravy ladle, etc, etc.. This set was donated to the Handicap Foundation. We really don't know much about it except that the asking price of $50 is much less than you can buy lower quality silverware anywhere else. Asking $50. All proceeds go to the Handicap Foundation. Email pjbarrett@aol.com to buy.

Loesje has asked me to tell you that she has a lot of new stuff to sell. The volunteers will spend Monday - Wednesday re-organizing the place and open the doors to buyers on Thursday at 10 AM. If you are helping support an indigenous family, please know that we have lots of shoes and clothing at very (very !!) cheap prices.

The sale at the Handicap Foundation (FPI) on Saturday was a huge success. All previous records were broken within the first hour. Now, here's the thing. There's still a lot of stuff left over and a bunch of new stuff came in too late to sort and price. And new stuff is still coming in. We expect a lot of things will be brought in from the many moving sales in town. Although all the volunteers are pretty much exhausted, the decision was made to continue the sale during regular hours at the Handicap. We can do that with the full-time employee, Migdalia and a handful of volunteers. So, the sale continues . . . Thursday (3/22) 10-3; Friday (3/23) 10-3; Saturday (3/24) 9-12 The Handicap Foundation is located just north of the new policlinic (under construction) and across the street from Chopsticks Chinese Restaurant in Alto Boquete.

When I was at Las Lajas Beach last week I discovered an RV park right on the beach. Turn right at the end of the road as if you are going to the Beach Resort, and there it is. First time I've seen it. We also occasionally have RV's stop by Chiriqui Storage to park for a few days. We can offer them water, electricity and wi-fi and the locale is convenient to both Boquete and David.

Is this the barbershop that advertises "Ghetto Style Cuts" in the window?