Jump to content

Uncle Doug

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    509

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    47

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Uncle Doug

  1. Uncle Doug
    I've seen some websites that put the estimate over 10,000, although as I recall they were including Canadians as well. That's patently absurd to even a casual observer, although I have no idea how many gringos reside in or near David. I'm also amazed that only 297 Americans have signed up for the STEP notices (and certainly some of them are no longer here in Panama but have not unsubscribed to the emails). What would be your best guess as the expat population of Chiriqui, Keith?
  2. Uncle Doug
    The drivers license matter must be viewed separately from the visa issue, because that's the way Panama views it. You may legally drive in Panama for 90 days after your last entry stamp on your passport. They don't care that it doesn't align with the 180 day tourist visa. So, as it stands, you can still renew your driving privileges by "border hopping" every 90 days. The problem, of course, is this action previously reset the tourist visa which is under great scrutiny at this moment. The current guidance is that exiting with less than 30 days remaining on the 180 day tourist visa will require an absence of at least 30 days before entering Panama again. There is no guidance (that I know of) that indicates what will happen if you do a "border hop" with far more than 30 days remaining on the tourist visa. I don't think it's safe to assume that everything will be fine. You might be able to reset driving privileges one time for an additional 90 days, but Immigration is looking to see if there is evidence that you may not really be a tourist. So, while they are separate issues, they certainly do intersect at the port of entry into Panama.
  3. Uncle Doug
    Isn't the problem, though, that Panama does not recognize the legality of the marriage? It's similar to the time when most states in the USA did not recognize the legality of a gay marriage that was lawfully performed in one that did. It seems to me that under Panamanian law, you ARE single, and it's not dishonest of you to say that you are. All you are conceding is AS TO PANAMA ONLY, you are single! I don't think Panama recognizes my marriage, either. My wife and I applied jointly to acquire our visas, but I'm pretty sure obtaining them didn't register our marriage. That could be a problem if any of my estate is subject to Panamanian probate. Don't tell my wife that I think I am single here in Panama, please.
  4. Uncle Doug
    I flew out of Tocumen last Wednesday, and security absolutely scrutinized my passport. The lady had a problem with it and started grilling me in Spanish. I'm not even close to fluent, so fished my e-cedula out of my wallet. That fixed everything instantly. In hindsight, she clearly was troubled that my last entry into Panama was far more than 180 days ago.
  5. Uncle Doug
    I believe it was well known to Panamanian authorities that the tourist loophole was being used. Suddenly eliminating it has caught some people unaware, and for the Walkers it is catastrophic. Yes, yes, coulda woulda shoulda, but with some advance they wouldn't have been stranded with no way to get back to their property and the monkeys under their care. I feel so badly for them. I'm on a trip to the US at present, so I didn't find out about this until last night. Panama has every right to enforce its immigration laws, but the sudden new enforcement rules (which are still unclear) have put some very good people in one hell of a bind.
  6. Uncle Doug
    If this is happening to Venezuelans today, is there any assurance that it won't ever apply to other nationalities in the future? Probably not. This is a significant news story.
  7. Uncle Doug
    It seems that Panama is trying to stop the border runs for Venezuelans who have come into the country using a tourist visa and taking local jobs. I doubt the objection is to "perpetual tourists ." It's about trying to protect jobs for Panamanians. Just my guess...
  8. Uncle Doug
    Biodegradable plastic bags are the obvious solution. 120 days is nothing. Many leaves don't decompose that fast. Paper sacks sure don't.
  9. Uncle Doug
    Well that blows my speculation about everyone feeling it. In Palo Alto, it felt (and somewhat sounded) like a large explosion had occurred a mile or two away. Admittedly, the sound could have been entirely within my home. The aftershock seemed a bit longer in duration, but was silent.
  10. Uncle Doug
    Well, the location and very shallow depth certainly explains why everyone around Boquete felt the quakes... Great info, Keith.
  11. Uncle Doug
    Even more fun is that the incident actually occurred on February 10. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/teller-killed-guard-injured-bank-robbery
  12. Uncle Doug
    The sales agent at Boquete Canyon Village told me that the construction at the Caldera highway intersection is a new grocery store. She didn't give a store name.
  13. Uncle Doug
    A mugging is one thing. It's a violent robbery. This incident is different because the strangulation shows a definite intention to kill. The violence here is far beyond what was necessary to obtain whatever valuables she might have had with her. Someone there is willing to kill a perfect stranger for fun. I don't think there is any other conclusion we can draw.
  14. Uncle Doug
    Thanks for the advice. I think I will get the pass but will utilize the loop most of the time. This is kind of like having the Super Bowl on your front porch, except instead of it being roughly 3 hours long, it's a week and a half. Small sacrifice to make for the economic benefit it brings to the city....
  15. Uncle Doug
    What is needed to acquire a resident pass to cross the Feria Bridge during peak times during this festival? I do understand that they can be obtained at the Mayor's office, and maybe even at a building just north of the fairgrounds. How do I show that I'm a resident on the east side of the Caldera? My drivers license or cedula sure doesn't prove it. Is any proof required at all?
  16. Uncle Doug
    $5 million is not going to solve very much on a grand scale. As long as each expenditure is justified in a local sense, it really is peanuts compared to the $20 billion or so that is that is the government budget.
  17. Uncle Doug
    Dang. I drove my wife to the airport this morning and strongly considered a PriceSmart stop on the way back. I wish I could say that I had a hunch it would be a mistake. Instead, I decided I was just too lazy to do it. If there is a moral to this story, I'm too lazy to articulate it.
  18. Uncle Doug
    I definitely will. The Missus already made that perfectly clear to me!
  19. Uncle Doug
    About a year ago, I signed up for the Punto de Oro card at the Boquete Romero. Now, I've accumulated over 20,000 points. With my limited grasp of Spanish so far, I understand that it's now the program time period to redeem the points. But how exactly does one do that? Am I supposed to grab an item from the display shelf at the front of the store and take it to the cashier? Or is that "display only"? I've tried to decipher the Punto de Oro website, and I think it says that I can apply the points to my current purchase of groceries at the time. But I'm not sure. If it's easier to trade points for a couple bottles of Holiday booze, I wouldn't complain all that much. But the catalog of "prizes" looks like a better bargain. How do you guys redeem your points?
  20. Uncle Doug
    Thanks, moms! We wouldn't be here without you!
  21. Uncle Doug
    The center of Tropical Depression Sixteen was located about 300 miles east of the Nicaraguan Caribbean coast. Current Storm Status Tropical Depression Sixteen will move very little the next several days. Late this week, high pressure will build to its north, and the clockwise steering flow around that high will send this system westward towards the coast of Nicaragua or Costa Rica. Projected Path Currently, wind shear is keeping somewhat of a lid on intensification. However, later this week, wind shear is expected to relax, and the tropical cyclone is expected to become a rare, late-season hurricane before making landfall in Nicaragua or Costa Rica. Current Satellite, Wind Shear It will be a concern for Central America, however, including Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. This region will be at risk for heavy rain capable of causing flooding and mudslides. In addition, areas of heavy rain well to the north of the circulation may trigger flooding in parts of Honduras and Belize. Forecast Rainfall Any wind and storm surge impact will depend on the strength of the system as it moves inland, which remains uncertain at this time. The future "Otto" is expected to weaken rapidly soon after making landfall, as the circulation is ripped apart by the higher terrain of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Weather Underground
  22. Uncle Doug
    Hurricane Otto by Thursday? The tropical season isn't done just yet. Tropical Depression Sixteen has just formed in the southwest Caribbean. The broad area of low pressure we'd been watching all last week for slow development as of Monday morning has become Tropical Depression Sixteen. The system is located near Panama in Central America and is no threat to the United States. It's center is located at 11.5 north and 79.4 west. Maximum winds of 35 mph with a slow drift to the west at about 1 mph. The conditions around the storm are forecasted to improve by the middle to end of the week as the storm moves westward toward Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It potentially could become a weak hurricane before it makes landfall in Central America by the end of the week. http://www.wcti12.com/news/tropical-depression-sixteen-forms-in-the-caribbean-ocean/177682960
  23. Uncle Doug
    The last time I flew into David, we were on final approach for landing when the David airport closed because of weather. The plane returned to Panama City, where we sat for five hours before trying again. We finally arrived at David shortly before midnight. I wasn't even sure Enrique Malek airport was equipped for night landings. It is. I hope you don't have any weather issues. I have family flying in on this Monday on that same late afternoon flight, and I am keeping my fingers crossed.
  24. Uncle Doug
    There is nothing wrong with having strong political leanings. If it is actually a considered opinion rather than groupthink someone simply adopts, that is a very positive thing. We need more thoughtful opinions. And we need more people who are willing to be open-minded and willing to consider new ideas, even from "the opposing side." I have liberal and conservative friends here. To me, I am glad to have a friendly discussion if it comes up. Interesting issues about economics, sociology, law, morality, whatever . ... I like tossing that around. I do have opinions. But, I left partisan politics behind when I moved here. It's like a burden off my shoulders . I enjoy the freedom I feel from leaving politics on the other side of the border. Just another reason I love Boquete . We all moved here for a reason . Nobody forced us. Galt's Gulch, for some.
  25. Uncle Doug
    I think we were likely to see an influx of Americans regardless of who had won the election. Both candidates had high disapproval ratings and the intensity against each of them was very strong. There are large numbers of Americans of all political stripes who were disgusted with this particular choice of candidates. I'm sure we'll see some "political refugees" visiting the area in upcoming weeks. We do live in interesting times.
×
×
  • Create New...