Pantah

On 8/4/2018 at 11:57 AM, Marcelyn said:

Last Wednesday (August 1st), a man approached a neighbor’s house here in El Santuario asking if her husband was home and wanting to use her bathroom. She refused to open the yard gate so the man finally walked away from her property.

Fortunately her gardener had left and closed the gate just three minutes before the stranger appeared.

She described the wanta-be intruder as early middle age and plump. Same m.o. as other reported incidents.

This guy may still be around. My housesitters reported to me that a guy matching this description was sitting on my front porch chair at 8pm. The porch is way inside my gates and far from the street. From what I gather this ladrone has zero respect for bounderies and doesn't show much fear of dogs either. They didn't confront him as they were scared. Linces were informed.

Not unlike the guy I saw, although not dressed as well. Maybe the same guy, maybe not. A straight on facial aspect would make it clearer for me. Looks like he likes his brewskis!

5 minutes ago, Evelyn Kendall said:

51 minutes ago, Bonnie said:

It happened shortly before noon.

A year ago I had a guy ask to use my bathroom. He looked to be about 45 and dressed OK, and friendly appearing, It was around midday.

he was acting like he really had to go. I was next to my dog on my front porch at the time. Told him sorry the dog is going to have a problem. Later I thought if he had to go there were plenty of private places nearby to go, and people dressed like that walking in my area with no vehicle nearby I just don't see. Still spooks me to this day.

So how do we know this pendejo is from the US? Anyone?

1 hour ago, Penny said:

Anybody who puts personal information anywhere on the internet and believes it will remain private is an idiot.

Totally agree! That's a bell you can't unring. Some of the prolific posters have put stuff out there that is particularly nasty, and will exist long after they are gone. What a legacy! Dropping the F bomb is particularly uncouth and uncalled for IMHO.

On 2/8/2018 at 8:37 PM, Keith Woolford said:

There were plenty of Tránsito Police and several Transit Authority inspection checkpoints on the highway coming from Panama today. They are ramping up for the Carnaval long weekend. 

The word is that the Caldera checkpoint has been very hard on drinking drivers returning from David late at night and during the early hours of the morning lately. Lots of towing.

 

To expand on the above, nothing can be expired. Please check that the info on your policy is correct. A lady got towed for a typo on her policy. Also, many don't know that you will get towed after driving past 90 days on your tourist visa. For tourist having copies rather than having your original passport can get you towed.

Me too. Bribe requested from me in David. Personally I would like to see more patrolling on the road to Boquete, seems like much crashes lately.

Me too. I don't see patrols on this highway, just checkpoints, that don't catch bad drivers and speeders.

1 hour ago, Palo Alto Jo said:

That book looks interesting.  I'm going to get it.  Just today I had a friend in California text me that we can't get any shots because she is reading so many "articles" on the Internet about a government conspiracy to get rid of "undesirables" by getting them to take (or "forced to take" as she said)  flu shots and vaccines.  I cannot for the life of me figure out how people can get these goofy ideas.  She wrote this from her sick bed where she has the flu....     Perhaps the book will help me see where this is coming from.  I hate to blame the "Internet" when it seems like it's people who are not willing to put in the time to learn about the science, and find it easier to believe superstitions and pseudoscience.  Thanks for the suggested reading!

Wikipedia page about the author and his other works: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Shermer

On 12/31/2017 at 12:34 PM, Uncle Doug said:

Don't forget about the moon landings in the late 60's and 70's that millions still think were fake.  

There is something weird about the need of many to suspect conspiracy.  Years ago, I used to tell people that I saw the 100 mile per gallon carburetor in a display case in the Exxon lobby in Houston. (the rumor was that they had bought the patent in order to keep this gas-saving device off the market).  At least 90% of the time, I was believed. 

This explains some stuff: Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time, by Michael Shermer, available on amazon.

EliMar auto parts, a small tiendita across from Pension Topaz has a couple of different sizes in stock. Pretty sure could order one from them for other sizes. The Casa de Baterias rep stops by there. My last battery I got from there was a Casa de Bateria item.

I only had problem once for a few hours, and I use the water for ice cubes and heating water to kinda hot in the microwave for instant coffee now. So I think a confounding variable is gut health. I eat a lot of yoghurt and from time to time take enterogermina ampules (available locally). Latest science shows gut health is generally bad in the population and is extremely important in more ways than I ever thought. Not sure if this works with giardia tho.

14 minutes ago, Bud said:

Palo Alto Jo, Brundegaba, et al.

On the matter of laboratory analysis of a water supply, that is something that we get done on a periodic basis. I read once many decades ago, after oxygen, that water is the second most important thing that is necessary to sustain life. Awkward wording there, but hopefully everyone will understand the point that I am trying to make.

We strongly recommend that your water supply be routinely (not just once) be subjected to laboratory analysis, and then assess what action(s), if any, should be taken based on laboratory results.

The only remaining question, to our way of thinking, is which laboratory to use. The local labs in Boquete can do the testing. However, we found that the results vary greatly, even when using the same water sample. (Go figure!) We then learned of Laboratory Dixon in David. The results there have been the most consistent, but at a slightly higher degree of cost and inconvenience. 

Bottom line here: do yourself a favor and test your water supply routinely (e.g., twice a year unless you have reason to believe there is a problem). Do your due diligence and select a laboratory that gives you a high degree of confidence. (For more information about Laboratory Dixon, do a search here on CL for "Dixon".)

Finally, even with our attention to the purity of our water supply, our doctors (US based as well as our local primary care doctor) recommend that we undergo a prophylactic anti-parasite regimen. We do that once a year.

Because the water is not treated, quality becomes really problematic. Testing one day can be different another day. Years back there was a lecture on this at the Tues. mtg. The takeaway is a lot of variables. Biggest problem was intrusion into the tubos with bad quality pipes (this varies over time). External pressure on the pipes from rain water in the ground, varying water pressure (like none occasionally). So unless the pressure in the pipes is great enough to prevent intrusion, clean water from day to day is a real crap shoot (pun intended).

39 minutes ago, Brundageba said:

Palo Alto Jo, 

Giardia Lamblia is present in untreated water to varying degrees here.  Our water currently is untreated in Boquete.  You are naive.  Reverse Osmosis and other modes of purification are the only for-sures right now.  Clarity of water does not insure it's purity.

Alison

I tested my Bajo Boquete water. It failed for ecoli. However, it was really clear and tasted great! I believe the medicos here recommend treating the tap water. BTW my water source is Las Ladrillos above Los Naranjos. It is maybe the most common source for this area. Right now I don't have any water, so I guess water quality is moot, at least until it comes back.

8 minutes ago, Keith Woolford said:

Can you direct us to this regulation, please?

No, but you can contact the source of this info, my attorney Vicki Romero who has since relocated with her husband Dr. Pretelt to Panama City. This issue came up when I evicted a tenant, and she offered this info (which wasn't needed).

Good to pass this along. When there is a strong financial system to "work the system" this is what happens! Also if one has a tenant of child bearing age, and she gets pregnant, she and the child can't be evicted until the child is two.

On 12/4/2017 at 12:06 PM, Panawanna said:

As an important piece of our preparation to become expats in Panama (January is just around the corner!) is research x 10 + boots on the ground.  After several visits to Panama and the Chiriquí area, we chose to focus on those things important to us AND became aware of those things that may not be so comfortable in comparison to our lifestyle in the states.  Once we determined that nothing was a show stopper, we put the move plan into place.  Realize that not many go to this length of prep because it is easier to just believe what you read because you want to believe what you read.

Once we are there, time will tell but we are not at all worried.  We find problem solving fun...  and recognize that not all people think the way we do.  I agree with the statements above that attitude is 99% of being happy.  That includes developing patience, which neither of our careers nurtured.

Interesting to note that as we traveled through Panama, Mexico and several other possible retirement locales, we seemed to pick up a set of different lenses through which to view our current lifestyle in Los Angeles.  Go anywhere in L.A. these days and see, using one of those different lenses, the same or worse issues you will find in any 2nd or 3rd world country.  We relate to what Mary T states above.   Lest I start a rant on unequal distribution of wealth and get political.... I'll stop here.

Thanks to many of you that contribute this board, we feel well prepared for this next chapter.

On 11/14/2017 at 11:54 AM, JudyS said:

Sounds like Panama, though Panama seems to be better in some of those areas.

One perceptual bias is how crappy the place you left was (weather, etc.) making the place you are going to better. The better place may only be better in that aspect. Beware of confirmation bias of recent arrivals. I almost got derailed by that one regarding Thailand! Pay close attention to how the laws and bureaucracy works (or doesn't) in your new country. I know of a few that had their plans here totally destroyed. Pay attention to murder and highway fatality rates (easily googled).

Dennis, I share your concern. I want the transitos on effective patrol, so I or you will have lessened risk of meeting up with an out of control speeder, drunk or cellphone user. Having them stationed at the Caldera checkpoint certainly doesn't help with any of these serious dangers.

However they do save money on gasoline, tires, depreciation and vehicle maintenance while being out of the weather under the overpass, making the department's budget look better, as an expense reduction.

On 11/24/2017 at 10:36 PM, Susanne said:

Hi Keith,

today my vehicle was impounded at the Caldera check point.

My drivers license was expired and I totally have no problem with paying the boleta. I just spaced out about being up to snuff with my drivers license, because we just returned from out of the country and I had not realized it had expired in July,

What I do not get was that they towed the car to David. My husband or a friend could have driven the car home. We live in El Frances.

I went straight down to David to pay the boleta and renewed my drivers license. The boleta was $50. The police officer had told me it would be $25. To get the car out of the compound was $185.

Is there a list of tarifs for the offences? Or does the police not know what the fines are? Or do they make them up as they go?

What has the vehicle to do with my expired license? The car is registered in my husbands name, all paper work up to snuff.( they did not even look at it) If the car would have  no insurance or expired placa I could understand. 

I was done paying the fine and get a new license in under 3 hours. I could have picked the car up where it was parked at the Caldera junction. But the officer E.Rios (an older guy) told me it is the law and he cannnot change that.  He was somewhat condescending. Where does it say that they can seize the car when the license is expired?

In my humble opinion I think the impounding of the vehicles is a scam in most cases.

Do you have any insights you could please share???

Kind regards( the impounded)

Susanne Preuss

hi Susanne, in the absence of a licensed driver, the Police have the authority to tow the vehicle.

There is currently a crackdown taking place on all aspects of regulations, and it's happening all over the country, so don't feel persecuted.

The Officer probably didn't now the exact cost of the Boleto.

You might consider sharing your story and my response so that others can benefit from your experience.

regards, Keith

 

 

Susanne, the police have the authority to tow the vehicle regardless of licensed drivers present or not. See: http://www.transito.gob.pa/costo-infracciones item #28. Pretty harsh I think.

My beef is that the transitos are not patrolling for drunks and speeders, which is a major public safety danger, but checking vehicle docs, which is not. Of course that is easier work and pays more.

The transitos could write tickets all day long in Boquete by the central park for illegal turns not indicated by the arrows on the pavement. But that is not a towable offense. Follow the money!

1 hour ago, Keith Woolford said:

Police are often equipped with portable breathalyzers as well.

Heads up: you can be a sober diabetic and fail the breathalyzer test.

Wasn't the checkpoint put in to deter violent crime? It seems one of the main beneficiaries are the towing companies and their friends. Looks like "mission creep" to me.

BTW I don't drive to David, so no risk to me.

Value Motors, in Boquete near main church. Rents, sells cars. English Speaking. Brick and mortar presence, with staff always on site. Also has facebook page and www.valuemotorspa.com

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6 hours ago, MarieElaine said:

I am leaving Panama but have overstayed my tourist visa due to unforseen circumstances.  Has anyone dealt with this recently?  Do I pay in advance of flying out of David or do I pay at the airport?  Internet was not much help since all info was old and we all know how things change here without notice.

I close friend did this several years in the past, paid in David. I was with him. He got a big piece of paper stapled in his passport that gave him a week to leave. I know la migra was friendly and smiling when he gave them the money ($700).

Maybe one can pay at Paso Canoas, for those who decide to fly out of San Jose, but I would confirm that. Anybody know?

Why the snark? You got anything better?

On 9/29/2017 at 5:38 PM, JudyS said:

Thanks for expanding on your post Jim.  After thinking it sounded 1000% better than Boquete, I realized the tranquility there is artificial, maintained only by the vigilance of the security people who are keeping the gang wars away from the town.  I even know Mexicans who won't go to Mexico.  They are too scared.

You certainly have been busy in your scouting.  Thanks for doing some of the work for the rest of us.

Checking www.numbeo.com, I have found 3 large cities that are safer than Boquete. Having said that, those cities are outliers, as most of Mexico is pretty bad.