MarieElaine

Wish I could take them all.  

I lived in Quebec during the 70's and being "groped" was considered a "compliment" and tolerated anywhere and everywhere.  I cannot count the number of times my bottom was assaulted with pinches in public!  The French male felt he was entitled and to call him out publicly was considered poor taste.  I would bet that most women have had events in their lives where inappropriate behavior has been forced on them.  I am glad that the media is calling these people out.  Change is way overdue.

How horrible!  What would motivate someone to do this?  Surely not money.

Clothes washer for sale.  Scaled down model that washes a regular size load that a full size washer would wash.  Bought in July of this year and still has plastic on the lid.  Lots of load settings and options.  Purchased from La Reina for $277 and will sell for $200.  Contact me through CL please.

This is horrible.  Does Panama have the automatic death sentence for those who murder police?

Perhaps ARF can help.  They often remove animals from homes like this one and the police accompany them.

A horrible situation of abuse!  It amazes me that animals who are subjected to the worst possible situations can bounce back with loving care and become the best pets ever.  

Well said Bonnie!  Thank you for your rescue.  ARF has many cats and dogs needing homes.  See them at the Library today.

Just heard from a Boquete friend who recently moved there and the roof on her rental failed and her home flooded.  She says there is debris everywhere and a lot of damage.  There is no electricity except for those who have generators.

IMO, ALL weapons of mass destruction should be destroyed - SAFELY!

How cute!  ARF does not adopt out animals that are not spayed or neutered so foster homes are needed between the time the animals are taken in by ARF and the time they are adoptable (and find forever homes) which is usually after shots and neutering.  With special circumstance animals, sometimes they are fostered a little longer but the object is to get every animal a forever home as quickly as possible.  Please help where you can.

Good work ARF!  Going to buy a t-shirt for sure!

Isn't David allergic to traffic lights.  I have never been a city of this size with so few.

This is good news providing the court system in Panama gets its act together before he arrives otherwise he might be able to bribe someone to get a lower sentence.

It seems to me that, when expats take over an area, there is some destruction to the social and financial aspects of the community over the long haul.  Boquete is a good example in my opinion.  Housing is out of reach for most Panamanians (and a lot of expats) and, in just the 3 years I have been here, I have found rising prices affecting food, restaurants, clothing etc.  The government has implemented price controls on some food items just so the locals can afford to eat.  I think Medellin is worth taking a look at.  

All banks and financial institutions charge a "premium" on currency exchange.  It is essentially a bank charge.  By offering you a better exchange rate, the companies you are looking at invest your money for the time they are holding it and possibly make a killing in short term interest income.  If it were me considering this option, I would be very careful to do my research into the stability of the company involved.  Remember, you are depending on strangers to invest your money in order to offer you a better exchange rate and even the most reliable companies have gone under because of stupid decisions.

Bribery seems to be a common theme in Panama.  I was told I could avoid a driving test if I gave the instructor $100.  Seems it exists on many levels here.

Beautiful work!  Wish I could afford a piece or two.

Traditionally the "Octagon Room" is a place for meetings, get togethers,  movies, crafting, cards etc.  A lot of people drop by for coffee or a meal throughout the day.  The kitchen has undergone some change over and there is now a new management group so we will need to wait and see what they offer.

I felt the two little shakes yesterday but thought it was the dump trucks running up and down the road to the new water distribution site beside my casita.  Isn't the world supposed to come to and end today?  There are predictions that we are going to be hit by a planet that does not exist per NASA.  While I do worry about all the natural disasters that seem to be happening lately, l believe that the "doomsday" folks should research more carefully before putting predictions out there.

All of them?

Wonderful!  Mexico needs all the help they can get right now.

While I believe that reinvention is often a result of moving abroad for most, I do not think it is the reason "jubilados' move in the first place.  There are concerns about stretching ones fixed income,  enjoying a new adventure now that the "kids are gone", charitable opportunities and just experiencing another culture.  There are many reasons for retiring abroad. Flexibility is naturally a part of moving to another country and those who are successful at it realize that they must adjust and "reinvent" their lifestyle somewhat to fit into a different society than they are used to.

Looking at the damage to the vehicles, it is very fortunate that nobody was seriously injured or worse, killed.  Horrific!!!!

Very happy that it did not close down!