JohnF13

I don't go into Rey's much anymore, just seems to me their prices have increased tremendously.  Last time I was in there were very few people.

Don has shared, in private, "a reason" with me.  I'm not sure it is the whole thing but guys, being U.S. Warden in David has just got to be soul sucking.  Maybe he needs to reduce and reflect. Whatever, everyone needs to understand what he did and who he represented.  Time for a new beginning for everyone I think.  I wish him well.

The notice says "special hours for Friday April 14th". How can that possibly be interpreted to mean a permanent closing?

Hil, I think the question is this - did you ASK  for a jubilado discount or did they just offer it out of the blue?  It would seem that yes, indeed, you are a very lucky man if two companies over four transactions gave you the discount without being asked.  Of course, those that do not believe in coincidence will have difficulty in believing that it was spontaneous.  I am trying to make the point (as others, likely) that the jubilado discount is of real benefit to expats and any abuse of it may bring the whole system crashing down.  It would be very easy for the government to exclude E-type cedula residents from the program.

I was in the Casa de batteria on the PanAm today for a new battery for a UPS, while it is obvious that I am a jubilado, no discount was offered.  Nor did I ask for one as in my opinion, it is not covered under the law.

13 hours ago, Bonnie said:

I do buy batteries there. But I do not ask for a discount to which I'm not entitled.

Bonnie, I'm with you, I don't understand a jubilado discount for batteries - unless I'm missing something?

Where is the name calling?  I merely said don't get pissy.  Apology?  No.

5 hours ago, Pat said:

Why would you think that just because some people know something that everyone knows?

IMO  This news article was incomplete and didn't contain necessary information to identify the location (where) of this place.  I agree with BD:   Where is it?

Pat, I "think" I told you in my reply above.  Yes, the poster could have added more information but quite frankly, she was sending a message to all of the La Villa costomers who were left in the lurch.  It was/is a complicated situation and has been addressed admirably.  Don't get pissy.

BD, those that know, know.  But I'll let you in on it.  At the BCP across the feria bridge.

Bonnie,

Not sure I agree with you.  Before coming here we did everything the Panamanian govt. wanted through a lawyer in Panama City.  After out arrival we had our one year temporary pensionado card within three days.  The permanent one arrive well before the expiry of the temporary card.  So, it can be done, it just takes money (in our case around $3k for the both of us) and attention to detail.

Dont know what is going on in my neck of the woods, but power in Potrerillos has been very "iffy" over the past two days.  A 6 hour outage yesterday, a couple of minor outages during the night and two more this morning.  Certainly not blaming Panama City, I suspect piss poor maintainance is to blame.

And yet, crooked politicians move millions around with complete impunity.

We are just going through this process now to move a car from Panama City to Dolega.  I seem to remember that the last time we did this ( courtesy of Keith Woolford) it wasn't nearly as complicated.  The only steps we have left to do is the DIJ inspection, then wait a few days for the official paperwork then go back to Dolega and get the revised title for the car.  A friend of mine doing the same thing appears to be caught in some kind of black hole, he cannot get his plates even though he went theough the steps at the right time.  He figures he has around 35 hours invested in the exercise.  Moral of the story, if you don't have to do it, just don't.  We have fun with this kind of thing, others may see it as a huge irritant.

The 27% doesn't surprise me.  After all, a lot of the U.S. Folk live nowhere near a border and don't have an exploring spirit - apart from the U.S of A.

But not all of those 4500 are border hoppers.  That makes the impact of the new regulations much less extreme than you are suggesting.

Roger,

speed most certainly, but also poor maintenance and a cavalier attitude towards driving - and that's not just Panamanians!

My memory bank (Jocie, my wife) just kicked in.  When we first went to enquire about driver's licences we picked up the pamphlet explaining what was needed.  One of those things was having our licences certified by the Canadian govt., so I had to go to Panama City, get that done then off to the appropriate Panamanian department on the Tumba Muerta (?) to register the certification.  After receiving their blessing (and yet another stamped document) we could then get our Panamanian licences.  An aquaintance of mine tried to get around that by making a scene at the David licence office.  It did not go well.  As I said above, Panama has rules and you have to cross every "t" and dot every "i" or you won't get the desired result.  Do that and everything will go smoothly.  Don't know about other Countries, but I was able to get both my and Jocie's drivers licences certified by myself, they did not need both of us there.

FWIW,  before arriving in Panama for the first (and only) time in 2013, we had conversed extensively with both the Panamanian Embassy in Canada as well as our Panamanian lawer, Mario Fonseca (I dont think he has any connection to Mossack Fonseca).  With their help I managed to get all of the necessary documents together, got them apostilled by the Canadian government and couriered them down to Mr. Fonseca.  He checked them over and said we had everything needed.  After arrival we spent three days in Panama City during which time Mr Fonseca or one of his assistants ferried us around the City to various government departments.  At the end of the third day we both had our one year temporary carnets (Pensionado cards). We did have a bit of a problem in the ensuing months due to the fact that the Panamanian govt. did not recognise my pension source as coming from a government agency, but once we got that figured out everything else went smoothly and we had our permanent cards after 8 months.  As for driving on your "home" licence I am a bit fuzzy on that.  When we went to Sertacen (?) to check on a Panamanian licence one of the ladies there enquied why we did not already have a Panamanian licence - can't remember when that was in the process.  Anyway, we did go through the process and got our Panamanian licences a short time later.  The first one had an expiration date that coincided with the expiration date of our temporary carnet.  After the permanent carnet arrived our next licences were for 4 years.

upshot of the story is that it is easily possible to have everything done before arrival and if that is done then the process should go easily.  The SNAFU with my pension income showed how the govt. is VERY strict with paperwork and will not brook even the slightest deviation from the "norm".

Just our experience from 4 years ago, as usual, YMMV.

Bonnie, FWIW, my lawyer told me you need a special rider on your temporary carnet if you are going to leave and re-enter the Country.  That was a few years ago so I do not know if it is current, might be worthwhile checking if anyone is in that situation.

Embry was just here for coffee, was at the beach yesterday so out of cell range.  He should be available early this morning before he goes to Church.

Try Embry Koonz, 6758-6701 - he has whatsapp on that number.  He has done a few kitchens with granite.  Usual disclaimer, I am not involved in his business etc, etc, etc.....

I do not know how Mae Lewis calculates initial charges, but as an example, when I went in with my neighbour they demanded $4000.  The transfer ambulance was waiting outside to take her to Regional if we didn't pay.  So as Bonnie says, have a healthy daily draw limit on your card or have good recognised insurance.

9 hours ago, Bonnie said:

I just clicked on the link, and it revealed a number of battery-powered lights. Try again, John.

Ahhh, the vagaries of the interweb.  Personally, I blame Al Gore...

2 hours ago, JimAndNena said:

You are not a wuss, Bonnie. Anyone who can last more than 2 years in Boquete and not be born there is no wuss.  Nena was born there and escaped to David to live with her aunts as soon as she could. Out of the nine sibs, only one still lives in Boquete.

The lamps you might check on are Lamparas de Emergencia Recarg. Here are some at Doit Center:

http://www.doitcenter.com.pa/tienda/home.php?cat=3032001

jim

Jim, just checked the link and it says nothing available.  I saw a whole bunch of them in DoIt a few weeks ago on sale, maybe they ran out?  

There is a lighting store on lhe left side just over the new bridge in David (I think it is the LED store) near the Beverly Hills Plaza.  They have a good assortment of lights in there, prices a bit higher than DoIt, but stuff is available.  DoIt does have small UPS units for around $50, will run one of my big TV's for 15 mins during a power outage.  

For those with UPS units that have bad batteries, Casa de Batteria has new ones for about $25.

Bonnie,. to save a bit you could put one of the battery powered lights outside at your door "IF" you can cover it from the weather.  Only drawback to that is that it will remain on until the power comes back.  If you can run an extension cord ( or you have a plug out there) it is a quick and easy fix.  I'm a big fan of Yvans, especially after the expansion and as Judy said, they likely have them there.