Marcelyn

Had our new Medicare Health Insurance cards laminated at Mail Box Etc. Great job and good customer service, as always. Inexpensive too!!

January is my birth month and 2019 is when I had to renew my Panamanian drivers license. Visited a lab here in Boquete for blood test. Then two days later, with blood result information in hand, went to doctor office for a physical exam and memory test. (At my age this exam has to be done by an internalist or gerontologist). Dra Díaz issued the “results” letter which I took to the licensing office the following day. (Glucose and blood pressure reading seem to be the primary criteria for consideration for license.) Also remembered to take copy of my cedula — instead of paying 10 cents for a copy at licensing office). The staff at the ATTT (Transito Y Transporte) office which is located in Chiriqui Mall (near PriceSmart) was polite and efficient. All instructions were in Spanish. I had to ask one female employee to repeat her information because I couldn’t be sure I had understood her very rapid Spanish! Passed all hearing and visual tests. Process was completed and license issued in less than 20 minutes from time we entered the building. With my jubilado discount, the cost was $16.00. A happy experience.

No, a dog not visible in the entire baggage area.

Yes, this happened at the large X-ray machines and after my bag was scanned. Couldn’t figure what food item the inspector thought she saw in my luggage, but she was determined I had food. She did seem embarrassed when she only discovered my bottle of water and a few mints. P.S. I noticed this woman (there were three inspectors) opened luggage from female passengers only.

A new experience at Tocumen last week. My one bag was stopped by a determined Custom inspector who asked me three times what food I had. Tried to assure “no food,” but she directed me to the inspection station where I had to open my luggage. Took her about two minutes to locate my bottle of water and a handful of candy mints I had dropped into the side pocket. The interesting part of this experience was my 50 minute delay caused by the lady in front of me. She had three suitcases all wrapped in plastic. The inspector used scissors and removed the plastic covering and proceeded to remove various items from the woman’s bags. Two rolls of sausage (about five pounds each), several bottles of wine (I think six total), and various types of snack foods...looked like crackers and dips. The inspector kept all the food. Needless to say, the bags were now pretty empty and the owner didn’t look happy. We wondered if this woman was headed to a party or had just cleaned all remaining food from a festival gathering!

Always glad to see expats share their talents and help our community. Thanks.😄😄

Make room in that trunk for one more person. I may be joining you! 😄

O.K. Two gold stars.

Not sure what Larry can do with a paint brush, but he sure does a great job with his camera. CL appreciates Larry’s photography skill and his willingness to share his work.

Thanks, Hill. Wondered where you were. Enjoyed the pictures; you do interesting travels. Keep it going.

This reminds me of the early 2018 protests in Nicaragua started because of social security/pension disputes. Situation still not settled in Nicaragua. Several hundred people now dead in this neighboring country. Economy suffered with bank and hotel closures plus tourism down.

Heard about this piece of life philosophy? A few weeks ago Bud and I were almost ready to travel to Panama City by car the next morning. First we had dinner with friends at a local restaurant in Boquete. Then we stopped by the Delta Station to fill up with diesel and have air pressure in the tires checked. To our big surprise the attendant found a nail in one of the tires. What to do! Maybe not a good idea to start the several hours drive to PC with a damaged tire. So off to the old Texaco station. When we arrived, there was one worker who was busy removing wheels and mounting five new tires for a truck. We explained our situation and the worker said we could wait if we wanted, but he would be busy for at least another hour. Didn’t have much choice, so we decided to wait. Now it was after 7:00pm and dark. The worker couldn’t see to mount the new tires on the fella’s truck. Bud grabbed two flashlights from our vehicle and held them for the worker. Took him many minutes, but when finished, the worker said he was tired and it was late, but since Bud had helped by providing the light, he would look at our tire with the nail. Good News was the nail had a short stem and had not caused damage, thanks to heavy tread of the almost new tire. Pressure still OK. Worker removed the nail, replaced our tire and we headed for home. Now I know that Pay Forward philosophy works!

Not surprising that restaurants top this list.

Yeah. This is good news. Thanks, Keith.

Rude and maybe incompetent driver. Did you leave a note under the wiper on the windshield for Mr. Citadel? This picture would give the message (☹️☹️).

I thank you earned a gold star. Thanks for sharing this story. 👏👏😄😄

Where is the New Boquete Market?

Yikes!

Anyone else noticed the (large) number of homes for sale in the Boquete area? Many of these houses are big, beautiful, and expensive. Others, maybe not so much. Lots of variety. I know many of our friends are returning to the U.S. because of health reasons, others are moving to another country to continue their life journey, and others claim they are tired of problems with roads and water system. What are your criteria for where you want to live? Have these items changed since you came to Boquete? What’s right for one group may not work for another. One couple said they have limited funds and costs are too expensive in Boquete to fit their budget. “Nothing new here and too many friends have left” is something else I hear. Not sure of the reasons or when the property sales will settle. Almost hesitant to visit with friends; afraid to learn their decisions about life in Boquete. What say you?

What a welcomed improvement in our road. Yes, I know the potholes are numerous, but filling these craters makes driving safer and probably means less damage to our kidneys. Oh, wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing if new pavement happened for the New Year. Be still my heart!! 😄😄

Glad our medical research is on-going. I remember the days when it was a “must do” for men over 50 years to take a 81mg aspirin daily, eat margarine & never use butter, plus drinking coffee was bad for general health. Now it seems these recommendations are reversed. Personal choice might be the best answer.

Solaris Barba is a big win for Panama. She is a really beautiful woman.😄

Bonnie & Keith: Sorry, I have no idea of how to answer your comments.

Be aware of additional buses and foot traffic in Boquete today & tomorrow. (Tuesday & Wednesday.) This morning after BCP meeting noticed police and vehicle barricades at various intersections in town. One owner indicated his restaurant would be open Wednesday, but doubted too many customers could find their way to his business because of the crowded streets.

👏👏👏👏 to you, Dottie, for your wonderful work with animals in Volcan!