Brundageba

Squeeze one Omega 3 gel cap into the food.  I have a fussy dog...and she consumes it!   Great for the fur coat...stops falling hair

I am saddened by this report.

We've lived here 8 years.  As  nurse I worked the mission clinic up Volconcito road for several years.  Waaay back 8 years ago, all this was a well known fact.  This is nothing new.  Albendazole was given out like M&Ms...lots of swollen bellies with diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting among the Ngobe.  Flagyl...yes on occaision.   Hey right away, we consumed only boiled water in our home...and bottled when out.  Now we have a purification system on our drinking water...but hey, it's not perfect either. 

Until a purification system is in place for the community water assume water is contaminated.

Alison

For most of us here, I do believe we will figure out in time who is talking.  For example Suliman the Magficent ...he can't hide no matter how hard he tries....

Uhhh "as if"

I'm posting this for the Handicap  Foundation on behalf of Rodny:

If you have stuff that hasn't seen the light of day in years...donate it.  I have some really nice clothes, hammocks ect (..things I LOVE but either don't fit me or I don't use) I put into a box today and Bill dropped it off at the Foundation  almost across the highway from the Roller Skating Rink on the main Boquete Highway.  I look at my closet now, and the empty hangers and I feel relieved.....MORE SPACE (smile)...AND more air in my closet !                             Alison

"Dear Boquete community:

Our last scheduled sale of the year will be held on Saturday October the 31 first. For this we are asking for your donations on all house items and clothes in good conditions. You can bring them to the Tuesday Market or to our building in Alto Boquete. We are also looking for books donations for our sale. We are taking donations until October 25th. 

Thank you.

Rodny Moreno.

How do you buy a car, a house or anything else with a large cost?   The Toyota dealership would not take cash, our credit card nor a check off our USA bank.  We had to hand them a cashier's check off a local bank.  That's what we did to buy a car.  

I just received a notice that we should as a group of US citizens, voice our concerns to the US embassy here that we are subject to crimes committed against us.  My take?  My take is...they will say to you " You are no longer in Kansas.  We have no authority here.  Register with us and we can send you notices and can inform your next of kin if you are in  a bad way here.  Otherwise we can only sympathize and offer you our empathy that you are living in a country where crimes are committed against you"

I say this because we got the same exact speech from an embassy rep who in fact did come to our home up in the mountains of Colombia back n the 70's.  Bill and I had bought a home in Colombia.  A mountain hut basically.  We were in our 20's then.  On a border run to renew our visa, I was taken off the street by a policeman and ushered into the station and into a back room and told to strip naked before the cleaning lady.  I found it a bit of an un-nerving experience to tell you the truth...(and so did the cleaning lady I might add!)  We were let go but wrote to our US congressmen.  The result was the visit.  The US Embassy guy said in essence: "you are on your own here...   If you find yourself in jail, we can bring you a Reader's Digest"....his exact words !   Keep in mind, we were hippys, pot was all new and all so prevalent in Colombia.  He was just saying ..."watch your peas and Qs !"    OK so now we are ole farts on Soc Sec with a house and cars.  I suppose we "look rich"...hey we ain't.  That said if the Embassy guy were to visit us today he'd say....."Gringo ole fart, watch your peas and Qs" 

What stuck was...."you are on your own here"

Don't kid yourself.   The US government is NOT the Panama Rep govt.  You live here and are at the mercy of the system as it exists.  Better just hunker down, low profile it...secure yourself and stay safe...as safe as you possibly can.  That means staying informed...and protected, and  never let down your guard.

....just sayin and only my take on that recent notice.

Hugs to you too Don !   When Marion is recovered and strong again we will ALL celebrate.  I do hope we can have a Boquete bash in her honor to as well raise some funds to help her with those hospital bills. 

Once you leave Kansas don't expect life will be as it was there....we ain't there anymore !   Look around you.  How many  local homes have window bars on them?  I'd say ( a guess 85-90% of middle class to affluent local homes have bars and a fence..probably more)   Poor homes?...their windows are decorative brick...and,  there's nothing to steal there.  OK so why do we who have left Kansas think we can live as we did there?  " Oh...I don't want to live in a jail!" they say.  That's the definition of self deception if you believe you are immune to theft because..lets say...you live in a gated community.  Please..many if not most of these child thugs are on foot and can enter through the perimeter and escape being seen in a hippidy hop ! They are kids without conscience coached by adult criminals and rewarded well...and...they are getting away with it!  It?  Well, why not break in to grandma Marion's house and plug her with a few bullets for her available cash a/o laptop?  Cool!  They commit the crime and do NO TIME....and have the cash !  Who cares about grandma? ....not them.  Protect yourselves and do it now.  Don't just say...we don't have any crime in OUR neighborhood.   Delusion...it's a matter of time.

Deposit into your Panama bank off your USA bank by writing a check.  Soc Sec check we have direct deposited to the USA bank.  Multibank has your $$ in 5 work days.  We have a pre paid account for  recurring monthly charges and use at Pricesmart..use it like a credit card. Generally we avoid the machines and bank inside the bank and make an attempt to be discrete and not flash bills.   A wad of bills and credit cards: ...minimize how much you carry around.  No point in flashy jewelry here. Give it to your heirs now.

Used recumbent stationary bicycle. $75.00

Ask for Alison

6827-0064

I have not a clue how you can give someone a reputation...like Wryawary.  His reputation speaks for itself, and eloquently I might add. Anyway I suppose I will figure it out in time.

Alison

PS.  I just added that comment to up the ante on my posts so as that some day I will become a legit  "member" and not just a mere newbie. ( kiddin).  Oh look ( I'm editing my post )  I graduated to a "novice" !...wow, I'm stoked

There is not a forum that can call itself complete without wryawary .  Glad you are here. 

Alison

Bill and I could not have said it better.  Dav has communicated all of our thoughts, our ponderings and hopes...our dismay, as well steadfast support.  This entire community does not go one day without thoughts of you Marion, and as well your family.  We send you our love with a hug.

In these difficult times when crime and discontent seems to be rising, the more splintered our community becomes in our communications, the weaker we become as well.  There was an enormous value to a pretty much central information/dialogue source.   I guess the best thing to do is to carry on ...here and there. Some that are either here or there may miss out on something.

There was NO representation from Ministry of Justice nor the powers that be...as far as I saw to speak to that matter ( child criminals let loose...or not, and if so why) .  The Dolega District government  and the Municipal police force seemed "let-down" that they were the only ones there to speak.  Keep in mind this was a fairly last minute meeting and the other officials they hoped to see there may have had prior obligations. My sense was that they were there to speak to their difficulties in retention of the juvenile criminals, their sympathy/empathy with the populace.  My hunch (merely a hunch) is that were they to announce to the people there that YES the kids are now out there free as birds  would have been something that would increase the fear of the populace.  From what I heard, it was left unknown ( we left before it got too dark to walk to our car parked at the Zap).  We will learn more from Diane I am sure. They made every attempt to reassure and set some goals for future security....but that was not going to happen this year.   They do have a police car donated to them by Athena....a start . 

Keith.....that WAS a huge concern among every official that spoke and the drive to keep in custody youth offenders was their strong desire. The fact that there is no support there from the National Police was central concern ...and that will change.   The more pressure from our voices the easier the task will be to push this forward.   Now, whether the alleged perps of the latest crime are still detained I am not certain.  Athena will move quickly in the legislature to introduce bills to change the law...she assured the crowd of that.  That got a standing ovation.  She is serious.  The entire community is determined.  Personal protection and a plan is certainly important, and that is up to each one of us.  That was NOT discussed.  We all have to continue to meet, to shout and to demand that all of Chiriqui has the police protection that the people deserve.  The new road through Potrerillos on to Rio Serena is now present.  Their sense is that this location in Potrerillos at that crossroad needs a serious police force ( that was stressed).  More of these gatherings WITH television and press will help !!!!. 

Meeting was moved to the basketball court down the street from the Zapadora.  There was a mixed crowd of local and expats of about 250.  Focus was Porerillos security which is sorely lacking.  Encouraging that 300 more policemen will be added to the Chiriqui forces.  A real police station needs to be built over there and that was discussed.  When that happens they will have National Police support ( it was not clear to me why that building was essential...but right now all they have is a small hut)   Athena the Deputada of Dolega District donated today her personal vehicle so now the policemen will have a car.  She said she was going to do her best to encourage legislation for the conviction of juvenile criminals as adults when they conduct serious crime.  They feel that when the pinch is on to catch these youths in certain areas, they move to others less protected as Potrerillos is.  Serious meeting. I saw no TV nor news cameras.  Those people over there need support.  

If you  are into skin diving, fishing or an excursion to Coiba this would be your place.  Connection for these activities can be arranged through Hotel Santa Catalina.   For beginner surfing there is a long sandy beach not far from the hotel.  Soft boards, kayaks, bicycles are all available for free at the hotel.  Within the next couple of months Hotel Santa Catalina will have a full service restaurant and as well a swimming pool.  Look up Hotel Santa Catalina on Trip Adviser.

This photo was taken in September at the break Santa Catalina, Veraguas.  Took us 4 1/2 hours to get back home ...which is pretty good time considering the road construction. Road is improving rapidly.  Take a right at Guabala' to Sona' then on to Sta Catalina

This location is very consistent.  Surf is over rock and you really only have 3 hours before and three after the high tide.  Wind tends to be on-shore making it choppy in the afternoon.  We use MagicSeaweed surf forecast site for swells and tides.  Posted under that location (Santa Catalina) there are pages of great surf photos to look through. Hotel Santa Catalina has AC, refrig, and Tempurpedic mattresses !

It seems having the right attorney is part and parcel of moving it along.  That said you will have to go to Panama City to finalize the process.  We had an attorney here in David do the paper work.  We were not happy with how that went.  We finished the process and got another attorney firm to do all our future legal work.
 We use Panama Offshore Legal.  Check out their web page for information and FAQs.  http://www.panama-offshore-services.com/