2017
It has been months since I've
updated the site. So many things
have taken place since my last
note in October.
Panama is still our home - over
11 years since we first visited
in April 2006. Little did we
know when we arrived for 4 days.
Over those 11 years we've never
regretted our move from Alberta
Canada.
Our life here is not without
some challenges but the bulk of
the challenges are because we
were not a typical retiring
couple. When we moved we opened
an office to work with our
Canadian company.
Without the company the rest of
our time in Panama would have
been really quite simple. The
company would not be so much of
a challenge without the
employees. Don't get me wrong,
it is not the employees
themselves it is the Labor code
in Panama. It is so incredibly
one sided against employers.
The cost of living has changed
dramatically in the 11 years but
we still find it a treat not to
have to deal with taxes.
We get notes often asking about
something to do with Panama -
because we encourage people to
ask. We've been so fortunate
with our move and the people
that have helped us we are more
than willing to help where we
can.
Feel free to ask if you are you
just thinking of a vacation in
Panama or if you are thinking of
making Panama home we'd be happy
to point you at some resources
or give you some suggestions -
we have nothing to sell and
nothing to gain except maybe
meeting a new friend. We have
been really privileged to get to
know some great friends during
our past 10 years.
Some newsy stuff - while the new
3rd lane was under construction
it seemed everyone felt it would
be a boondoggle but in the year
it has been in use it has proven
to be anything but a boondoggle.
The size of ships going through
this new channel is incredible.
Our area of Costa del Este has
just continued to evolve. Not
all the growth has great - the
traffic in the morning and
evening is unbearable. But the
upside is all the new services.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
May 2017
Ten years ago when Donna and I
arrived in Panama to "see" it
might be "the place" to move to
from Canada one of the first
places we considered was Casco
Viejo - San Filepe - the old
city. We loved the charm and
feel but at the time we just
couldn't see it as viable as we
had an office to run and Donna
would be traveling from the
airport on the other side of the
city.
Besides, almost anything we
would have considered would have
required a total renovation and
I wasn't prepared for that and a
new office.
Donna and I wandered around
Casco again yesterday afternoon
and when we sat for a drink at
the roof top bar called
CasaCasco (across the street
from the park and back side of
the American Trade Hotel) we
both commented on how we'd enjoy
living there but we still have
the office and that isn't
practical. But Casco has changed
so much in 10 years. When we
first wandered around the only
area you could visit and feel
comfortable was the Plaza
Bolviar, the French Plaza and
the area near the presidential
palace. The further you wandered
the less comfortable you became
as there were very few renovated
buildings.
Where the American Trade is
today was just not an area you
would want to wander unless you
had a real "nose" for the
future. Today it is amazing as
is the area from it to the
French Plaza. All new
restaurants, all new apartment
buildings, hotels, bars - wow -
what a change in 10 years.
After wandering for a few hours
we ended up eating in a tiny,
tiny, hole in the wall japanese
restaurant called AKI - we chose
their sampler plate of
appetizers, then 2 more separate
appetizers to go with our happy
hour gin fiz lotus drinks - yum
yum yum. It was a tough choice
as we'd run into a new
restaurant that offers a back
garden atmosphere with a BBQ
menu.
Casco Viejo is not the only
place in Panama that has seen a
huge change in 10 years.
Virtually any area of the city
has seen improvement - some
more, some less. Outside the
city on the Caribbean side it
has taken years but almost
everyone now knows how pretty
that side of Panama is - if the
government would finish the
titling of all the land it would
blossom. On the Pacific side
from the city to the Azuero
Peninsula there has been too
much development for my liking
but it shows how popular it is
to most Panamanians. Even as far
as David, changes have taken
place - some for the good - some
not.
We get notes often asking about
something to do with Panama -
because we encourage people to
ask. We've been so fortunate
with our move and the people
that have helped us we are more
than willing to help where we
can.
Feel free to ask if you are you
just thinking of a vacation in
Panama or if you are thinking of
making Panama home we'd be happy
to point you at some resources
or give you some suggestions -
we have nothing to sell and
nothing to gain except maybe
meeting a new friend. We have
been really privileged to get to
know some great friends during
our past 10 years.
Some newsy stuff - for the third
time in 10 years a construction
site had a major chunk of its
hole collapse because of the
rain. This collapse was caught
on someone's camera and posted
on the net. Not being a
contractor I don't know if this
is a sign of sloppy workmanship,
planning or just bad luck. I do
remember reading about the
French and the canal and the
amount of mud and slides they
had to contend with over their
years.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
2016
August 2016
Making a foreign country your
new home is interesting. Ten
years ago Donna and I visited
Panama for the first time and we
spent four nights seeing the
sights of the city and the
canal. We were so impressed with
the infrastructure and the size
of the city compared to the
places we had vacationed in
Mexico we went home to Canada
and made plans for our move to
Panama. Within six months I had
moved here and had found an
apartment to purchase and an
office for rent. Donna had sold
off all of our "things" that we
either didn't want or couldn't
carry in our suitcases.
It was like starting over in our
marriage. We had to buy
everything. Furniture, cutlery,
linen, pictures - the works.
Thinking back we should have
kept a few more things but we
didn't know any better.
Vacationing in a place versus
moving lock, stock and barrel is
quite another. Even now 10 years
later we are still running
across things that just amaze
you on how different the culture
and lifestyle is of your new
country. Some are great and you
love - others, well they are a
challenge. It is the reason why
so many expats that move here
(or anywhere new for that
matter) don't survive beyond the
first two years. They just can't
adjust or find a way to deal
with the differences. Some
expats make it past the 2 years
but become very cynical.
Most of the things we struggle
the most with have to do with
the laws or the standards. Just
know anything you grew up with
'back home' is not going to be
remotely similar here.
One for instance is back in
Canada we all joke about
lawyers, but for the most part
we know that they are able to
handle most things with a
modicum of professionalism and
knowledge. Here, the lawyers
have gone to college for sure,
and have passed an exam at the
university that says they 'know
the law' but that is it. No bar
exam, no articling within a law
firm - they can leave school and
hang out their shingle. There is
also nothing here that comes
close to the understanding of
"conflict of interest" lawyers
and real estate people routinely
work for both sides in a deal or
argument.
One of the hardest things to get
over is the way the laws tend to
get 'interpreted' - depending on
who you ask and when you ask you
may get several different
answers and it is a crap shoot
on who you should believe.
This isn't bad if all you do is
move here to retire as it means
you will likely only encounter
this kind of issue when you go
through the immigration
department, when you buy or rent
a home and when you choose a
car.
In our case we chose to open an
office to work for our Canadian
firm. This means dealing with a
government office I never, ever
want to have any interaction
with - the Ministry of Labor.
Not only is the laws so one
sided toward the employee but it
is like trying to pick up quick
silver. No matter who you ask
the answer is slightly different
each time. One misstep can mean
thousands of dollars paid out.
We have gone through several
"lawyers" and boy I use that
term loosely. Each time I think
I've learnt the 'rules' only to
find their understanding is
somewhat different. None of the
lawyers we've dealt with are
willing to "fight" for our
rigthts or argue the case. Their
answer is 'that is the way it
is'. In some instances when we
run across something really odd
and we question the lawyers on
why we did it "that way' the
answer has always been " that is
what you asked us - or told us,
to do". When I ask why if they
knew it might end up wrong they
didn't tell us = the answer is
like a shrug.
This doesn't mean you can't do
business in Panama. Just walk
into anything here with your
eyes wide open and do not assume
that anything you are used to is
like what you are used to in
Canada. We've had to learn the
hard way.
Ask lots of questions - ask them
often and ask them in as many
ways as you can.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
July 2016
This weekend is an historic time
for Panama. This weekend Panama
opens the new 3rd lane of the
canal. After a little more than
100 years since the first 2
lanes opened to the world. The
Panama Canal was a wonder of the
modern world but it was built by
the Americans. These lanes have
lasted for over 100 years and
while they could have been
larger they have served the
world well with little or no
major issues. The third lane was
built solely by the Panamanians.
Always the optimist I have high
hopes for this new lane and for
Panama. It was a huge
undertaking, 9 years in the
making, billions of dollars and
lots of controversy.
Lots of our employees and
friends took advantage of the
free tickets to be at this
historic occasion. Months ago I
had the privilege to walk in the
locks where the boat is
traversing today. It was another
historic event. We couldn't go
this time as I could not get a
ticket for Donna as she was
away. Too bad.
We had a great time celebrating
Donna's birthday. We went to
Thai2112 again. This restaurant
continues to give us great food,
ambiance, prices and service.
What more can you ask in a
restaurant.
Last night we had another coupon
from OfertaSimple to try out a
place called Casa Jaguar in
Casco Viejo. When we looked at
the facebook page it sure didn't
look like a place we might enjoy
but we were wrong. The tapas
were great - we had sliders,
pork buns, and a plate of meats.
I am not sure we'd enjoy it
several hours later when the 20
something crowd arrived.
We wandered around Casco Viejo
and I never forget how impressed
we were with it 10 years ago
when we first arrived. If we
didn't have a business to run,
and if we could have retired I
am pretty sure we would have
chosen to live there.
Wandering around our
neighbourhood, Costa del Este, I
was struck by how some buildings
have tried to become more eco
friendly and how others say they
they are - like this one.
If you know LEEDS it is a
registration designates a
building as "LEED-certified
buildings are resource
efficient. They use less water
and energy and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. As an added
bonus, they save money. Learn
more about why LEED continues to
be the leading benchmark in
green building."
Well here is a LEEDS buidling in
Costa del Este - does this look
like a building that is eco
friendly? I had to laugh when I
saw the moisture on the windows.
Our office building is so much
more eco friendly with double
pane windows. We never have this
kind of condensation.
When we were out for our walk we
noticed a new construction sign
where the old car was located.
Our little area has so many
changes going on - this one is
Krispy Kreme - who would have
believed it - Krispy Kreme, IHOP,
Burger King, McDonalds, and so
many other North American
restaurants and stores in our
little area.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
June 2016
Donna is off again - this time
to Spain - Barcelona and others.
It is going to be hot - strange
to say coming from Panama but
the weather is showing hot. I
hope everyone is going to have a
great time.
I
posted a note in Facebook this
morning - it was one of those
"memory" photos - this one was
of Cricket hanging out of the
window of the car 3 years ago.
It was one of here favorite
things to do - a car ride and
able to be out the window
smelling everything. By then she
was not able to see much so she
loved to smell. Her second most
favorite thing to do was her
walk every morning and every
afternoon to this area. Ten
years ago she could walk all
around Costa del Este, but in
her last year all she could do
was go for a ride to the sea
wall.
During
my morning walk I started
thinking about how many changes
we've seen and how many more we
are going to see in the next 5
years. When we arrived 10 years
ago litter was a huge issue, eco
anything was unheard of
anywhere. Today on my walk I ran
across a small sign on a
commercial building here in CdE.
In a country of rain use of
potable water is still an issue
so i applaud their step to being
more eco friendly.
A
visitor recently to our area
said she could see why we chose
CdE - in 5 years there will be
enough services, businesses,
restaurants and shops so you
would never have to leave the
area if you didn't want to. We
have a new mall being build in
the town center of CdE - it will
be something like MultiPlaza
with shops, restaurants, and
even theatres.
I
mentioned last time that the
administration of CdE had
decided to take a chunk of our
park and make it into a parking
area and a sports area. Now that
they are digging up that area it
is easy to see that this whole
area was originally built on an
old garbage dump - check out
this picture I took this morning
in the new construction area.
I am happy they are at least
trying to preserve some of the
great old trees. Some of these
trees have to be very old
judging by the size. Here are a
couple that have been saved so
far.
I hope they choose to keep as
many of the other trees, except
for the eucalyptus trees maybe,
they are our least favorite.
Reading the latest Visitor they
were talking about the opening
of the new Canal lane this
month. There is a lot of
speculation about how much this
new lane will mean to Panama -
will it be a huge boon to the
economy or will it be a huge
waste of money. My bet is on the
former - all the post panama
ships need an alternative to the
suez or going around the horn.
That trek adds thousands of
miles to their trip.
I suspect the coming years in
Panama we will see many new
improvements - is it perfect -
no, not by any stretch, but I am
not sure Canada was either. We
made our decision 10 years ago
and we've not regretted it -
well we've had some times when
we questioned it - but then that
passes and we remember all the
things that make us love it here
- the weather, the economy, the
lack of taxes and the
opportunities that we've had
since we arrived.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
May 2016
Another month has flown by.
Donna has started her tours. She
is off to London on her Chelsea
tour and will only be popping in
for a couple of days when she
finishes to head back on her
Spain tour. I will miss her as I
always do but I know she loves
visiting all the gardens and
meeting her friends/guests.
The past month has seen the
raining season much to Donnas
pleasure - she so much prefers
the green season versus the
brown. When everyone asks about
what the rainy season is all
about in Panama unless the
person has been in a tropical
country it is really hard to
describe. The morning is
perfect, lovely to walk then mid
day it rains and then clears and
it is warm and muggy and it
could rain again at any moment.
Just carry an umbrella - the
rain is warm unless the wind
comes up then it feels cooler.
Unless I am wearing good clothes
I never mind getting wet. The
locals think Donna & I are crazy
out for our walks in the
pounding rain.
Our little neighbourhood is
changing again. When we
purchased our condo in Costa del
Este it was virtually the only
tower - there were several under
construction but we were it when
it came to occupied. One of the
things we loved about the condo
was its location. We were next
to a river, a park and we had a
great view of the bay. We were
told the park was dedicated to
the founder of the area and we
never dreamt it would ever be
touched. Well the unimaginable
happened. We received a notice
that someone made a decision to
"pave paradise to put up a
parking lot."
Don't get me
wrong, the parking around
Costa del Este because of
the office and condos is
atrocious and something
needed to be done. The
developers should have been
forced to create enough
parking for the office
towers or the condos but
they didn't. When I heard
about the parking lot I
thought, wrongly, that they
would build underground to
preserve the park but no,
they decided to make a lot
for 800 cars. The only
saving grace is they are
putting it down at the other
end of the parkl.
In addition to condos, office
towers and stores we've also
watched restaurants - I took
some pictures of a couple of new
ones - I am really excited
seeing Bario Pizza others I am
sure are waiting for the IHOP.
The other huge change in Costa
del Este in 10 years is the work
being done to reduce the litter
and trash. We've seen garbage
bins installed along sidewalks
and walk ways. We've seen doggy
poop bag dispensers put in front
of many apartment towers.
Along the coast of Costa del
Este every few week ends there
are groups setting up work bees
to do beach clean up. Today was
one such group.
Last weekend there was a small
festival type set up in the town
center area near the new mall.
This is the second one we've
seen and we wandered over to see
what was going on. There were a
number of merchants selling
everything from sunglasses to
homemade crafts. Donna talked me
into buying a pair of bamboo
sunglasses - kind of magooish
but I like them.
Now if they "they" could only
fix the traffic issue in our
area - two entrances/exits for
thousands of cars every day. I
am sure they will have something
in the works before they open
two new malls in the next 1.5
years as they will bring
thousands of more cars as will
the 10 or so more towers for
people and offices that will be
open in another 2 years.
We've never regretted our
decision to move to Panama - in
spite of the challenges we still
believe it was our best move and
we look forward to our next 10
years.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
April 2016
Here it is April already. It
seems like it was December just
yesterday.
Before I start talking about
food and restaurants I thought I
would remind you (and me) why we
chose Panama over anywhere else
to make our new home almost 10
years ago. In 2006 Donna & I
went to Akumal in Mexico for one
of the shortest visits we'd ever
had in Mexico. Because it was
only a week we decided for the
first time in over 20 years
visiting Mexico to rent a jeep
and see some of the Yucatan
Peninsula. We drove from Akumal
to the tip that faces the
Caribbean on one side and Belize
on the other. What was so
interesting is we started
talking about "could we live
here full time instead of just
visiting every year?" That led
us to consider some properties
and think about what it would be
like to move out of Canada full
time. By the time the week was
up and we were heading home we
stopped in Vancouver, talked to
our business partners and told
them we were going to be moving
to Mexico as soon as we could
either buy or build. Their
response was mixed, but mostly
supportive - I am not sure
they'd ever thought about moving
out of Canada.
One of my partners said he
agreed Akumal was a great place
to visit but before we decided
or purchased something we really
should go home, unpack, rest a
day or two and then get on a
plane and fly to Panama City,
Panama.
I am pretty sure that given a
minute or two I could have found
Panama on the map but other than
the canal and Noriega, I would
have known nothing and I think
we just thought it would be like
any other latin american city,
touristy and very 3rd world.
Were we surprised when we flew
in to Tocumen and saw all the
towers on the waterfront of the
city. We stayed downtown at the
Decapolis and our room had an
amazing view of Ave Balboa and
the waterfront. We spent 4 days
being driven around the city,
meeting people and doing some
touristy things like Miraflores.
Unlike this April we got soaked.
It rained so hard it was like
someone standing over us and
throwing buckets of water over
our head. What an experience.
But - having said that, we spent
the last night having dinner and
we both looked at each other and
said "I could live here - could
you?"
That was April. By August I had
moved to Panama, hired two
employees and found a temporary
office. By October we had
purchased a condo in Costa del
Este, Donna had sold everything
we couldn't fit in suitcases and
brought our little pup Cricket
to Panama to live. It was 3
years before we went back to
Canada to visit.
I am pretty sure all of our
friends and family thought we
were absolutely out of our minds
- Panama for goodness sake - why
Panama??? hence the name
of this site :}
We still agree it was the best
decision we've made and we
should have done it sooner. Will
Panama be our home in 10 years -
who's to say - but for now,
after 10 years, it is still a
great place to live.
In the past couple of weeks I've
finally got back out to
Portobelo to dive with Rey
Sanchez at GoldenFrogScuba - the
visibility was great (with one
short exception where we were
too close to shore). I am
looking forward to getting back
out again. In fact we've talked
about getting a group together
to dive at Boca Chica near David
as they have great sea life to
see. The Caribbean is gorgeous
and warm but the sea life is
small and colourful - we all
want to see some bigger fish and
maybe even a whale shark.
I've updated the food page to
include Solomons Deli and
Caliope in Casco Viejo. Check
out the notes. There is no
question we will be returning to
both. Solomons has great
sandwiches and poutine whereas
Caliope was so nice and quiet,
great service and food - tucked
away in the far reaches of Casco
Viejo.
When we first arrived in Panama
in 2006 and were driven through
Casco Viejo for the first time
we both agreed it was an amazing
place but at the time we
couldn't see ourselves living
there full time if we had a
business somewhere else in the
city. At the time the only area
in Casco that you would feel
comfortable wandering around was
a few blocks near the
Presidential Palace and the
Bolivar square. The further you
wandered from those areas the
more uncomfortable you felt. For
instance if you came out of the
French square by the French
embassy and turned left on Ave A
toward Santa Anna you would not
venture more than a couple of
blocks before you headed back to
the Plaza Bolivar.
Now, the area past the American
Trade hotel is really starting
to open up with restaurants and
bars like Caliope. We wandered
past the Teatro Amador and
Caliopoe to the next plaza only
to find someone is starting to
develop apartments and shops.
Ten years ago you would not have
dreamt of heading that far into
Santa Anna.
Donna and I had the pleasure of
being asked to talk to a couple
of very enthusiastic and forward
thinking businessmen that see a
huge potential in the area of
Santa Anna and Chorrio. They
wanted to pick Donna's brain on
developing one of their empty
parcels of land into a garden
that could be enjoyed by the
whole community. Amazing. But
not so amazing when you think
that only a couple of years ago
guys that were hard core gang
members are today doing walking
tours and preparing food for
tourists. Go figure - you have
to love Panama.
Are you a pet person? If so,
consider helping some of the
really worthy groups trying to
make a difference to thousands
of homeless cats and dogs in
Panama. I've mentioned them
before but it is worth repeating
- Hogar San Roque, the shelter
Mari Pily runs with the help of
volunteers, see them on Facebook
as
https://www.facebook.com/hogaralbergue.sanroque?fref=ts&ref=br_tf,
or
https://www.facebook.com/hogar.roque?fref=ts
and then there is Spay Panama at
http://pchan5.wix.com/spaypanama
- there are many more but these
two we have supported and know
how dedicated they are to
helping make the lives of
abandoned dogs and cats more
livable.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
March 2016
Met a new friend from Toronto
Canada looking at Panama as
a place to move to when he chooses
to retire. He contacted us
through a good friend in
Toronto. We spent some time via
email answering his questions
and giving him some ideas to
consider. We were thrilled when
he came to check out Panama just
a couple of weeks ago. This was
a fast trip just to see what
Panama City looked like and to
get a sense if it was the place
he might be interested in
looking at later. Even though we
told him via email, I think he
needed to see for himself that
the city is expensive for a 3rd
world country. It does offer a
lot, but it asks a lot too. Long
term I am not sure if Panama
will be his choice but I am sure
he will return another time to
look at some of the other areas
of Panama. With all the recent
excitement about Medellin
Columbia I suggested he venture
there at least one time to get
some comparison.
My friend John from St. Albert
has come and gone for the 6th
time. This trip was not the
typical for John, he ended up
ripping his Achilles tendon and
had to leave early to head back
to Canada as he was told he
should be undergoing surgery
immediately. His travel
insurance company agreed and
found him a nurse from Miami to
come to Panama and accompany him
home to Canada. Turns out Canada
prefers therapy to surgery so he
will be in a boot for sometime
but he will mend. When we
moved to Panama John said he
wanted to visit, not knowing how
much he would enjoy his annual
visits. I look forward to seeing
him again.
Donna left and returned from
India since I wrote last. I've
told you before but it is worth
repeating - when Donna visited
India the first time years ago
she swore she would never
return. She's now been there 5
times and she loves it - she
loves the color, the people and
the gardens. Quite a change in
heart.
She is off to Scotland next
month and has promised Jordan to
source out some amazing rare
scotch for his collection.
I finally got back to diving
yesterday after a long hiatus -
the visibility was excellent -
we dove on Sal Madines twice and
while there was some surge they
were both great dives. Here are
a few pictures
I am looking
forward to more diving in
the coming weeks and months
- we may even try to get to
Boca Chica near David. I'd
also like to organize a trip
to the Caymans to do some
diving and in 2018 if
Donna does Bali again I
really want to go and dive
the Truk Islands of
Micronesia - apparently this
is supposed to be some of
the best wreck diving
anywhere and that would be
really cool. Bali would be
great as I understand the
fish live around Bali is
spectacular too so it would
be a "two for one" trip and
I'd also get to visit
Singapore again.
Our good friends Rita and Jordan
lost their best friend Bobby
last month - he was 15 and was
so loved and will be so missed.
He was their companion 24/7.
Donna and I can understand the
loss - it has been 17 months
since Cricket passed away and
there is not a day goes by we
both don't think about her. I
understand some people don't
understand how a dog could be so
much a part of a family but she
was and will always be in our
hearts as I know Bobby will be
in Rita and Jordans heart.
We went with Rita and Jordan to
a performance at the Balboa
Theatre for a concert put on by
Frank Castagnet in support of
the United Nations initiative
against human trafficking - we
went to Solomons Deli in
Paitilla first for some of their
Montreal smoked meat, poutine
and onion rings. Wow was it good
- we will be back and will
likely take a pound to Alan &
Geri when we visit next as it
will be like home for them.
Are you a pet person? If so,
consider helping some of the
really worthy groups trying to
make a difference to thousands
of homeless cats and dogs in
Panama. I've mentioned them
before but it is worth repeating
- Hogar San Roque, the shelter
Mari Pily runs with the help of
volunteers, see them on Facebook
as
https://www.facebook.com/hogaralbergue.sanroque?fref=ts&ref=br_tf,
or
https://www.facebook.com/hogar.roque?fref=ts
and then there is Spay Panama at
http://pchan5.wix.com/spaypanama
- there are many more but these
two we have supported and know
how dedicated they are to
helping make the lives of
abandoned dogs and cats more
livable.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
February 2016
After having been in Panama for
more than 9 years Donna and I
are both still convinced it was
the best decision we made and we
should have done it sooner. We
still love waking up and finding
that the weather is still the
same and our biggest challenge
is what pair of shorts and
t-shirts to wear for our morning
walk.
A lot of things have changed in
our lives having made the
decision to move to Panama.
Take this weekend for instance -
we left the city Thursday
afternoon to spend the weekend
at a condo in Playa Blanca where
we walk the beach each morning
and sit in the pool in the
afternoon. We use our time here
on the Pacific coast or in
Portobelo on the Caribbean to
unwind.
Unlike so many of our expat
friends here in Panama, both
Donna and I still work full time
in our businesses so it is
really important to find some
time to relax and refresh. While
we love our condo in Costa del
Este the area is not serene and
easy to refresh and relax so our
times at the beach are critical.
We've talked a lot about "what's
next" - meaning what do we plan
on doing when we slow down or
stop working? Do we stay in
Costa del Este? Do we stay in
Panama? Do we sell everything
and rent or do we we keep the
condo? A lot of big decisions,
but thankfully we don't need to
do that for a number of years.
Donna starts her tour season in
February and my friend John from
St. Albert is coming to visit
during her absence. John does
this every year and it is always
fun :}
Hopefully I am back to some
diving soon - I miss my weekends
in Portobelo. When we went to
Asia, I dove in Thailand and
when we went on our Caribbean
cruise I dove in Belize -
Thailand was a huge
disappointment - no viz and
cooler water, Belize, the viz
was amazing but not much marine
life - and both cost a fortune
compared to Portobelo where the
diving can be really nice if the
viz is good.
Over the past 9 years we've
watched Panama grow and expand -
the most obvious demonstration
of these changes are out our
balcony window - we've taken 3
pictures every month and it is
amazing to see how our little
area has exploded - when we
moved in to our condo there were
two other apartment towers
finished - since then we've
watched more than 40 condo and
office building go up around us.
Incredible. The downside is the
exploding costs too. In 2006 the
prices were under 1,000 /m2 -
now in Costa del Este that can
hit 3,500 /m2 - 3.5 times
increase in 9 years. Not that
our condo in Costa del Este has
jumped 3.5 times - but a recent
appraisal did show it had more
than doubled in 9 year so not
bad considering.
Something Donna and I have
always wondered about was active
adult living facilities - in
Canada, it was quite common to
find condo like facilities with
various levels of adult care -
meaning everything from full
live alone and care alone to
full medical 24 hr facility in
one place. A place where adults
aging could grow old with grace.
Here the norm seems to be to
hire a live in or full time
nurse or live at home with the
family. Donna did run across one
advertising but we've never
checked it our nor have I heard
anyone in the expat community
talking about it - maybe you've
heard of it - ESTANCIA DORADA
Are you a pet person? If so,
consider helping some of the
really worthy groups trying to
make a difference to thousands
of homeless cats and dogs in
Panama. I've mentioned them
before but it is worth repeating
- Hogar San Roque, the shelter
Mari Pily runs with the help of
volunteers, see them on Facebook
as
https://www.facebook.com/hogaralbergue.sanroque?fref=ts&ref=br_tf,
or
https://www.facebook.com/hogar.roque?fref=ts
and then there is Spay Panama at
http://pchan5.wix.com/spaypanama
- there are many more but these
two we have supported and know
how dedicated they are to
helping make the lives of
abandoned dogs and cats more
livable.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
We add to the areas
of the site like people, sites,
and services as our experience
with each of them change so you
should feel comfortable dealing
with any of them.
If you want,
write us if you have
questions - we love to help.
Check out our site - we listed
People and
Services we have
found we trust - we also have
contacts for even a great
handyman - Juan
--------------------------------------------
Read the comments from the other
years
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News - 2014
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