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Hil

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Blog Entries posted by Hil

  1. Hil

    Attitude Is Everything

    By Hil,

    I've been here a few times. If i'm over in Volcan I drop in on the animals in the rehabilitation center. She told me she has dropped off the coyote in the jungles many miles east towards Panama City and it always come back. This beats setting around worrying about who is wrong and who is wright and who has been in Panama the longest!!!!






  2. Hil
    I spent the day with these fine people. Very friendly, polite, welcoming and willing to share history. We ate their food and appreciated their customs. My two friends teach on the Comarca. They get 1.5 days off a week from their teaching jobs. They travel to the Comarca on Sunday afternoons and return home late Friday afernoon. They have to bus to their work and then ride a 4x4 truck up the mountains. There is running water and a small amount of electricity. Omar torrijos' son gave them small solar panels for their communal buildings and their tourist stores. Their casa's walls are made of mud and sticks. The roofs are fiberglass (modern for them). The government built them some nice one room shacks but they don't seem to want to live in them. School was out and we spent the day with one family. A great day. There are 500 kids and 25 teachers. That's not a bad ratio. This is a good life experience in Panama. Beats watching TV, banging on this computer or worrying about my neighbors business.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ng%C3%A4be-Bugl%C3%A9_Comarca















  3. Hil

    Boquete Rail Service History

    By Hil,

    The rail car in front of the post office has intriqued me for sometime. So, I did a little searching around. Very interesting article I found.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Panama
    Ferrocarril de Chiriquí[edit]
    At the end of the nineteenth century, the government of Panama studied the feasibility of additional railroads. In 1910, Panama Railway was commissioned to estimate cost of a railroad from Panama City to David, Chiriquí with branches to Antón (Coclé Province) and Los Santos. The costs were however too high and the government decided to construct additional network in Chiriquí Province only. In 1914, a contract was signed for construction of a railroad David - Boquete - Concepción with a branch Dolega - Potrerillos and another short one to Puerto Pedregal. The railroad was inaugurated on April 23, 1916 with the first train from David to Boquete. (Dr. Alonso Roy)
    Edwards Rail Car company reports an undated acknowledgment of their three railcars, which were delivered to Ferrocarril de Chiriquí probably in the 1920s.
    In the 1930s and 1940s, the railroads are mentioned in connection with Chiriquí Land Co., a United Fruit company, involved in banana growing and real estate management in Panama. The railroad used General Electric engines ([1]).
    In Bocas del Toro Province, Chiriqui Land Co. also operated a railroad system that covered Almirante, Changuinola, Guabito and parts of Sixaola. This railroad was removed in 1999, leaving only the bridge over Changuinola River.
    After 1974, the infrastructure of Chiriquí Railroads has been transferred to Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas) and operations were stopped. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the tracks of the defunct railroads are being dismantled and reused for construction of bridges in rural areas La Prensa February 21, 2003.
  4. Hil

    Nicaragua Canal Delay

    By Hil,

    The rich chinese man lost a lot of money the last few months and now this.
     
    http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/latin-america/nicaragua-canal-start-delayed-one-year
  5. Hil
    We visited Sitio Barriles last Sunday. I have been reading about this site for a couple of years. This is a small site with probably the oldest known people occupying Central America before Baru's Eruption----Possibly Chinese and Africans (Pre-Colombia). The Link below gives a lot of details of the site. The tour guide doesn't go into details about the dates of the site. She did general explanations and dates. We had the Spanish tour guide and enjoyed the tour. There is an English guide but we don't know the days for this. The site is small and the original huge artifacts are in a museum in Panama City. The tour guide did say the area is full of artifacts from the same time period on private property but they refuse to allow excavation. The Link below has a good detailed discription of Sitio Barriles.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barri
    les



























































  6. Hil

    Restaurante In David

    By Hil,

    Boca Chica Restaurante in David. It is mostly seafood and has a steak menu. In David, I rate it 8 out of ten. Seafood was fresh, A/C dining room (small) or other seating out front. Good service and not long waits. We had the Mariscada De La Casa (seafood platter). More than enough for two. Everything is under $15. The fried Calamara appetizer was good also.




  7. Hil
    In all my years I have never seen this much anger with politicians and the voting public. While in the US last month, I had time to visit friends and the election always came up. I didn't engage the political conversations much and don't here much either. But, having said this;
    There are more questions but I will keep this short. Does it really matter which one is elected? Could it get any better in the US than it was before Bush or after? Can a new president make sufficient foreign policy to keep the US out of wars? Can the Tax loop holes for the rich be changed? Can the infrastructure of the US be upgraded to modern times without taxes (federal highways/electrical grids)? Can regulations in general be changed to benifit everyone? Is the President's cabinet too large? Who benifits the most with Global Economy? Can the US be protected more from terrorist? Will a wall be built on both borders---North and South? Can Education and Child Care be improved in the US? Why not spend more on Elderly Health Care by the Government? This Election will  come to an end soon and we can take day to day assesments of the new leadership. And, we that decided to move here can observe the results. Some issues in the USA are important to me like my family that live there and are affected by the out come.
    I'm not taking sides in the election merely asking questions.
     
    My answer to all of the above questions is NO to a degree. The reason; 4 years in office and a slow acting congress can't fix anything important (unless it's paid for under the table or benifits some greedy politician)
    Now, I could go on and on but I didn't retire here because of the state of the nation in the US nor am I searching for the hole grail nor are the cops after me!! I just found  a place I love and respect.
    (Please remember my friends This Is A Blog monitored by the owner/administration). And if THEY disapprove I will take it down. Please use the ignore feature If you do not like my post or blog. I won't be offened you'll just be better off.
    Have a good day folks.
  8. Hil

    Martinelli Warrant

    By Hil,

    Again, I don't follow politics too much but I did follow this man. He sold out his country and the poor people with help of his accomplices. A great day for Panama. Innocent? Don't think so. As of  4am none of the major news outlets in the USA have covered this; ABC,NBC,FOX,CBS,MSNBC.
    I wonder why?
    http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/court-orders-martinelli-detention
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ricardo-martinelli-panama-contempt-1.3375958
  9. Hil

    Water Buffalo

    By Hil,

    We traveled to Volcan for Mexican food again yesterday and had another real treat. We had seen two or three of the water buffalo in the orange groves on the short cut to Volcan before. But today we watched a heard of about 200 grazing and cleaning the underbrush from the orange trees. Nice drive, nice scenery and good food. Beats sitting  around the house comtemplating life.
     
     






  10. Hil

    NATA, Panama

    By Hil,

    We stopped in this church yesterday on the way to Penonome. Religious or not it is truely amazing. It's the first pueblo the spaniards established according to the locals. In 1520 they landed there. You can't see the Pacific from town but it is very close. Most of the church and most things inside are original. The stone wagon wheels are the best things displayed to me. In three years the church will be 500 years old! There is a huge original bronze statue there also. We got there at noon, walked in and they were baptizing kids. We stayed for the service. I'm not catholic but enjoyed the service. My girlfriend is catholic and she was amazed also. She had never seen this church and she is a Bouquetena. I did a blog on this before and it is worth mentioning again. If you're bored----take a ride to Nata. Nata is located between Santiago and Penonome----about 180 miles from Boquete more or less.







  11. Hil

    Mexican Food Volcan

    By Hil,

    Burricos!! We go and eat there once a month whether we need it or not!!! Always a good experience. We ran into a horse parade leaving town. 
    Raquels Ark is a treat also. Rehab for wild animals.
     
    https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g608647-d4560352-Reviews-Burricos-Volcan_Chiriqui_Province.html
    https://www.facebook.com/RaquelsArk/




  12. Hil

    Water Buffalo?

    By Hil,

    I had seen these animals on my way to Volcan before taking the short cut to Volcan (Potreros road). This trip for Mexican food, I told the girl friend if I see them I'm stopping for pics. And, there they were in the same place last time I seen them. They are in the huge orange grove.
    I'm not sure if they are pure bred or crossed with cows. But, you can see the water buffalo in them for sure.



  13. Hil

    Chiriqui Baseball

    By Hil,

    Chiriqui Baseball team is using the Dolega field. I've been to a couple of the the games. They won last night beating Los Santos 3-1.
    Maybe the new stadium in David will be finished for next year. It's looking good too.
    Schedule and standings;
    http://www.rpctv.com/beisbolnacional/calendario.html
  14. Hil

    Portugal Circus----David

    By Hil,

    Great little circus. Very clean and professional. No animals. Great magic show, high wire, gymnastics, motorcycle cage with 4 motorcyles in it at one time. And a few other  small acts.
  19. Hil

    La Casa Mexicana---David

    By Hil,

    Probably the best Mexican food I have eaten in years. Some highlights of the "Restaurant and Gift Shop";
    Good parking
    Safe area
    Doors locked while inside
    Very clean
    Restrooms exceptionally clean
    Simple menu
    Great Service
    Honors Jubilado
    More than adequate portions
    More than reasonably priced
    I got out the door for $16.55
    I had the special (one of everything)$8.50
    She had the burrito $6.75 (brought half home)
    Two very good natural lemonadas $3.00
    7% Tax
    Google maps takes you right to the front door.












  21. Hil

    Local Artist

    By Hil,

    I really enjoy the local artist around Chiriqui. Most of them have never been to an art school. The little Panamanian restaurants have some great work. This one is past Dolega in the direction of David.
  22. Hil

    Chiquita Banana

    By Hil,

    I have a friend in David (Panamanian) that once lived in chiquita country. His dad retired from chiquita as the mail man. This new truck I spotted today. Looks like prep work might be picking up.
    .
  23. Hil

    David Feria

    By Hil,

    We went today, Sunday, around noon. Not many people there at all. That's why we went at noon. We bought a few things. I got a belt and she bought a purse. I love the beautifull live stock show. They grow some fine animals in Chiriqui. Lot of condo sales, gated community sales, and property sales inside the cool buildings. I was more interested in history and the live stock than anything else. And, there was a shooting in the fair last night. I went at night last year and I'm convinced we are a mark in big events like this. So, day time only for me. On the way home the radio announced they had sold 70,000 tickets yesterday. The cabalgata day is always big.




  24. Hil

    Buena Ventura

    By Hil,

    Very nice country club and facilities. Played golf there the second week in June. Jack Nickaulas course. The beaches there are nicer than up toward Las Lajas and Las Olas and the undertow in much less. I visited Playa Blanca and was not impressed. I'll do Bijao next trip. We stayed in Anton Valle up in the mountains. Anton Valle is actually the only city on earth built directly in the caldera of a volcano.
    Cheers
  25. Hil

    Volcan Flower Festival

    By Hil,

    Last year was great. They may have promoted this year beyond imagination. I'm thinking there was approx two thousand cars going in circles around town. Today was a nightmare. It appeared just as many were leaving as were arriving because of no parking. They did not plan on this many visitors/cars I'm sure of it. So, no parking and a lot of people left. I never got out of my car. 
    Maybe they'll figure out more parking next year.
    A few photos from last year;
    The table without the horse on it priced; $16,500





     


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