While I'm not a big gourmet cook, I do enjoy making some American comfort food once in awhile. I haven't had a good pot roast in Panama forever. As you all know, pot roast requires a cut of beef called "chuck" and that's just not available here. Well, yesterday I stopped at the El Palacio de la Carne in David and spoke to the butcher. He knows how to cut American cuts of beef and given a few days notice he'll cut you a chuck steak. His name is Alexandro and the cashier's name is Veronica and their phone numbers are 73-3746 and 6969-1420. This is a great butcher shop just about 2 blocks from the Pan American (turn just before the DK tire store). Their hamburger is the best and I hear their smoked pork chops are wonderful. And, best of all, it doesn't stink like some David butcher shops.

What's with the shortage of onions in Panama?

Onions have become harder and harder to find in Chiriqui. Some vegetable markets only have red onions and others have tiny, little, half rotten onions, and some have no onions at all? Is it because Varela added onions to the price control list and the growers are protesting?

Be still my heart.

You can probably buy one at the large hardware stores in David. However, for the best deal on the best brand (Stihl) go to the frontier and walk to the CR side and buy it there. You'll save about $100

Maybe not relevant to Bonnie's situation but I hear from a very good source that the Panama Government is going to start pressing hard on two agendas:

1. No more perpetual tourists

2. All foreigners must have the cedula

Sunday (today) is the day to get the famous $1 hot dog at the Chiriqui Flea Market. Load it up with catsup, mustard, and relish. Maybe not the best lunch in Chiriqui, but definitely the cheapest.

You canucks think you have a monopoly on the "eh" phrase.

The yoopers also are prone to ending all sentences with the "eh" word.

I don't think news items about the ex-Panamanian president qualify as "politics" and, at the least shouldn't be the kind of politics we want to avoid on this site.

16 hours ago, TwoSailors said:

When we opened up our Banco General account we were told up front all the fees. If our checking account balance goes below $300 there is a monthly fee.

 

Hooray for Banco General -- the best bank in Boquete for my money.

True story. My Panamanian neighbor was hired as a customer service rep by another big bank in Boquete which shall remain nameless (initials are MB). Over a glass of vino tinto I explained to her how gringos expect to be told of all hidden fees right up front and she would be doing her customers a favor if she did that. The next day in her training class, she explained to the class why she thought it was important to divulge all fees when the customer is opening the account. The very next day she was fired.

Gosh, we'll have to raise the meeting price to $2 and the vendor tables to ???

Just kidding Deb. At today's meeting I'm going to do 5 minutes on BCP finances.

I heard that a week ago Saturday folks were lined up around the block to get their flu shots. Has anybody reading this had any experience doing this in Boquete. Do you go to the health department clinic or the social security clinic? How much is it? Where do you check in to get the shot?

Thanking you all in advance for your excellent information.

Steve Walker, owner of Alouatta monkey refuge and premier landscape designer will tell us about landscape design, choosing viable plants, and pest control in your yard and garden. The entry fee is still only a dollar and we use it to buy toilet paper for the bathrooms. Meeting starts at 10:30 in the BCP theater.

I hear that the bottle neck is not so much with Varela signing the citizenship applications as it is with the fact that the swearing in room can accommodate only 30 people for the monthly swearing in ceremony. Only in Panama would it not occur to these folks to either hold the ceremony more than once a month or get a bigger room. Ya gotta love it (I do) !!!

And I hear that Craig Jacobs (previously dueno of the Fish House and Las Ruinas) has decided to return from Roatan to be the chef at said restaurant in Lucero.

I think we can chalk this vote up to ISIS. Open borders and unregulated immigration from the Middle East finally put the Brits over their patience limit.

Wow, thank you Keith.

When I was shopping for this item several months ago I didn't see them in either Do It or Novey and never thought to look on their websites.

I bought a small under the sink electric water heater from Amazon and paid about $800 to rewire the house and buy special circuit breakers. Of course, the heater broke within two months. I guess I'm in the market for a replacement but would like to buy it locally so I can take it back and complain if it breaks within the first couple of months. Has anyone seen one in David?

Or, does anyone have any alternative course of action?  Thanking you in advance for not saying something like "check Novey" unless you've actually seen them at Novey.

On 6/17/2016 at 1:18 PM, Penny said:

 One thing I always marveled about Larry. He was a homebody and spoke not a word of Spanish but he had more Panamanian friends than almost any gringo I know. He knew every store clerk, every road worker, every gas station attendant in town and they all would call after him "Hola Senor Larry".

Just to repeat what I said in my earlier premature post.

20 hours ago, SoilTap Panama said:

A good substitute is Maria cookies.  You can add a little honey and/or cinnamon or just as they are depending on what you are using them for.  They make good crust for cheesecake.

Maria cookies are one of the best kept secrets of living in Panama. They are made here and are delicious.

Don't Forget

10 - 1 at BCP

Back in Michigan I was a mail junkie. In fact I had a business where 95% of the revenue arrived each morning with the mail. I've now been in Panama for about 13 years and I can count the letters I've received on the fingers of one hand and I love not getting mail.

No house numbers; no mail delivery, please.

I have known Dallys and her work with Amigos de Boquete for about 10 years.

Phil McGuigan hit a jackpot when he hired her. She's a gem.

I just learned that Larry Johnson (Bonnie William's husband) died this morning at Hospital Chiriqui. One thing I always marveled about Larry. He was a homebody and spoke not a word of Spanish but he had more Panamanian friends than almost any gringo I know. He knew every store clerk, every road worker, every gas station attendant in town and they all would call after him "Hola Senor Larry".

2 minutes ago, Penny said:

The photo is most appropriate because I believe Dav is a plumber.

Ooops, wrote this before I read the entire diatribe where he says he's a plumber so there's no big revelation there.

The photo is most appropriate because I believe Dav is a plumber.