Filed under: Uncategorized
Because this blog encourages comments and participation, I have added an area called “RECENT COMMENTS” to the sidebar at the left. Now you can more easily see who is responding to what by floating your cursor over the topics and clicking when it turns into the hand. Posts are always displayed with the most current being first, but comments can be buried with an older post. Less so now. Don’t be shy, leave a comment.
Filed under: Ramblings
This is a post on the very helpful ChiriquiChatter blog site. It’s a great reminder of what you may need to do (not do) when hiring a maid / housekeeper / cook here in Panama. Here’s how it starts, then click the link if you want to keep reading.
I know that many people picture one of the benefits of moving to a Latin American country being the cheap labor and the ability of having a full or part time maid. Well it is and it isn’t.
La Gringa’s current maid adventures have reminded me.
After you live here a while you forget some of the first problems you run into with maids. It is easy to just assume that all you do is hire a maid, give a few general instructions, grab your favorite book and go relax. Well dream on. Here in Panama, many people have maids. Just because you hire a maid that has experience, doesn’t mean that she will know anything about cleaning the way you want. Continue Reading
Filed under: Uncategorized
I mentioned in an earlier post about our goal of getting the kitchen put together during our recent visit. Some of our experience might help some future residents with this task. With only eight days in Boquete we wanted to purchase and install our refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, microwave/hood. We had done a little research online but not much “hands on” shopping in David. While some/most of these items are now available in Boquete, we decided upon David due to selection and hopefully pricing. As it turns out, spending money is pretty easy. We found everything we wanted (yes we made some comprimises, but are satisfied) at Audiofoto in El Terronal mall. (more…)
Filed under: Travel
We’ve been away from the computer for a few days in Cabo San Lucas. It’s been over 6 years since we were in that area and the American invasion seems unrelenting. Lots of luxury resorts, timeshares and more in the works. I have to say our biggest disappointment was in the price we paid for a shot of Tequila at our previous beach bar hang out. $3 six years ago for Don Julio reposado has turned into $13. Cervasa $1.25 to $5. Some of that money went into improved bathrooms, but we couldn’t afford to drink enough to make good use of them either. That said, the beaches are still beautiful and amazingly quiet just outside of town. The relative solitude of Boquete and Valle Escondido is much appreciated.
Keep an eye out for this colorful bunch. They’re cuising the narrow roads of Chiriqui on two wheels for fun and exercise. Terry Dalton sent me this photo and my comment to him was that I had not seen such a diverse group. Check out all of the different styles of bikes in one place, riding together. You don’t see that in the states often.
This bug looks more menacing than I think it is due to the great close-up photo that Fene Cartlidge (VG III) took. She said that it landed on the front enrty but left quietlly after posing on the dollar bill for scale. I’ve seen a few of these myself and I know they get to be 6″+. There’s probably many that we don’t ever see that are camouflaged by trees and money.
Filed under: Travel
Back in April, Rose and I were determined to drive to the Caribbean/Atlantic (still not sure if Panama’s ocean to the North is the Caribbean or the Atlantic). We wanted to know how long of a drive and how difficult it would be to get there from Boquete. I’m happy to report that the drive is spectacular, the road excellent and the experience an A+. (more…)
Filed under: Critter Cam
I had no doubts that there were snakes in Panama, but this is a picture of my first encounter with one. I was flying down hill on my way back from riding my mountain bike up towards the volcano (no I didn’t make it, turned around at the ranger station) when, too late, I noticed this guy in my path. I hopped my front wheel over his hind area but am pretty sure I had some contact with the back tire. When I turned around and rode back to take a look, he seemed fine. I nudged him to get him out of the road and he seemed a bit p’ o’ed and quite fine. I did manage to get him off the road as there was some car/truck traffic that day. I have no clue as to the species but would guess it’s some sort of brown snake (duh). I did find an interesting website in trying to research this snake. It’s on wilderness survival and covers lots of plants, birds and bugs of which Panama has more than its share. Let me know if you know what this snake is.
Since I’m thinking of it, I would love to post some pictures of various critters, bugs, birds, etc that you see that we share the valley with. I know you can do better than this lazy bug. Send me some photos and an explanation (gt@advancedpublishing.net) and I will post it to our new category.
I just took another look at the Valle Escondido HOA website and found an update with some interesting pictures taken during the recent rains. The pictures can be found from a link in the article about the rain. Rain photos
Hopefully all the homes are OK.
