Querencia

Judging by the number of vehicles sometimes pulled over at the checkpoint it is definitely effective in some respects.

Looks like the best option but I also have several boxes to ship and not too close to a bus route

45 minutes ago, Brundageba said:

We looked into a one-way car rental once and the added cost because it was a one-way made it too ridiculous to do.

Yes it is looking like $250 for two days and there might be hidden charges on top of that too.

I am planning to rent a car to go from David to Panama City. Does anyone know if the airport is the same price as other locations and is there a trick to reducing the insurance, perhaps by having travel car insurance for full coverage?

Thanks

Is there a place to check violations online? I am sure I have two for not having a pass for the toll roads.

Thanks

"Entrepreneurs have proposed increasing the proportion of foreign personnel that can be legally contracted by companies operating in the country, from 15% to 20%."

http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/More_Foreigners_Workers_Wanted_in_Panama?u=839bfda9afc38434486addc28f82f608&s=n&e=3&mid=[MESSAGEID]

Strange to make him wear a jacket stating Policia

14 hours ago, Bonnie said:

I have lived here for 10 years, but I still haven't received a good explanation of why so many stores, particularly in David, have a three-part buying process. You choose what you want and receive some paperwork from the salesperson, you're sent to the caja for payment, then you take your receipt to pick up your item(s) at a third station. My interest is renewed because of an experience at Electrisa yesterday. My friend/electrician/facilitator George (Panamanian) and I went in to buy a $15 voltage regulator and emerged one hour and ten minutes later with the one small item and eight pages of paperwork plus four cash register receipts stapled to them. The salesman kept entering the wrong item into the computer, even though George clearly said in Spanish that even I can understand that the regulator was for a washing machine. This resulted in our having to start over with all three steps four times. The store was very busy, so each wait, at each station, each time was lengthy. It was excruciating, particularly since it was midday. We were hungry and still had a number of items on the to-do list. Even George who as a Panamanian is used to waiting was exasperated. Why, why, why this cumbersome procedure?

So much less painful to buy on Amazon. And usually cheaper too.

Been trying to access Global Bank online since Friday. Anyone else suffering this? 

OK thanks

Hi everyone, Any advice on what documents need to be signed, transferred or notarized to sell a vehicle?  Thanks

Definitely many drivers here display a lack of common sense with their driving or handling of situations but also the lack of care by pedestrians blows my mind. 

Does anyone know if it is ok to park at David airport for two weeks? Is there a charge? I am guessing fairly secure with 27/7 security.

Thanks

19 hours ago, JudyS said:

One bad thing doesn't negate another.  Those Abu Ghraib torturers were not following the intent of the U.S. Constitution.  They were sadists acting out their sick pleasures.

How about water boarding?

10 hours ago, Keith Woolford said:

According to TVN this morning, the number of people checking out of Panama at Paso Canoas has decreased.

http://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/provincias/Baja-extranjeros-Panama-Paso-Canoa_0_4706529396.html

No point checking out if you can't check back in. And maybe Costa Rica will refuse entry for certain people soon. Somehow I don't see Venezuelan's planning on returning to their country of origin anytime soon. Will Venezuelan's become refugees in Panama?

" Three other involved in the robbery  were given precautionary measures and  must report  three times a week. "  

Doesn't sound like they are serious about tackling crime.

Perhaps the Moderator_02 is referencing me in my quote "A sad failure of most hotel and hostel owners failing to warn tourists that some places have known problems" when they state "Further, I am also a bit concerned over some subtle but inescapable snipes or baiting here. Innuendo that business owners place their pecuniary interests above those of personal security are to be carefully said (much less, written), and doing so could result in liable and/or slander charges against the author. I choose to believe that these comments are not intentional. At least I hope so. I am not so naive to believe that such does not occur, but documentation is really called for and availing oneself of the proper channels to resolve such activities is the appropriate course of action. Caution is advised."

I am sorry this comes across as innuendo, I mean it as a fact. I have personally spoken to people and the majority were not warned about Wizard beach. The reasons they were not warned can only be speculation. I suggest you ask tourists that were in Bocas before this tragedy if they were warned, who on earth would have documentation about that. How can there be libel or slander when people are not named? As to the poor girl killed on the trail do you believe she was warned and then went anyway? I am not even blaming the hostel owner where she stayed as they may may be new to the area and not warned themselves. 

2 hours ago, Keith Woolford said:

After reading this review / warning from Trip Advisor it's abundantly clear to me that no one should head down this trail alone, regardless of gender.

You really have no idea how many attacks there has been on the trail and beach, so so many. 

A sad failure of most hotel and hostel owners failing to warn tourists that some places have known problems. This was a very well known danger area to anyone spending time in Bocas although not well publicized. In the majority of tourists I warned about that beach and the path to it and also between Wizard beach and Red Frog beach the vast majority had never been warned.

Maybe just me but today I was told my Novey points expire this month.

With these gringo prices I wonder if they pay their staff gringo wages.Good luck to them but I won't even be stepping in the door. Now that's free market economics.

Panama finally makes the extradition request to the US. I wonder how many mistakes are in the documents ;-)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-panama-martinelli-us-idUSKCN11X1XQ

3 hours ago, MarieElaine said:

Wow, such a low age of consent in Panama.  In the US if both children are 15, the male is still charged and listed as a sex offender for life.  I believe is an older woman has relations with an underage boy, she is considered a child abuser.

Well I never said that 15 is the age of consent. And for sure they are having sex much younger. I have also heard of young teen girls messing around with much younger boys. This from the mother.  I think what is happening and not just here due to easy access to porn etc is a little beyond my generation to comprehend and I'm not that old!

8 hours ago, MarieElaine said:

Isn't the age of consent in the U.S. 18 years?  I believe everything under the age of 18 is considered statutory rape whether consensual or not.  Am I right?

And if both the make and female are 15?

5 hours ago, Roger B said:

Bonnie

It is not a matter of "Believing" in parking lots.  It is a matter of vile $$$$.   

Parking lots are expensive in this country with very little amount of land and high priced.  Because of that there is a new trend in some malls in Panama City: the dissapearance of FREE PARKING.   All the malls are now charging you for parking your car there.  In some condos the developer/owner of the project usually offer included in the apartment price 2 parking space per apartment and only 5 to 10 parking for visits for the whole building!!!  If you wanted an additional parking space the developer/owner will sell you one at a price of about $20,000!!!

Parking lots are expensive nearly everywhere.