Bud

Oops. Spoke too soon. http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Put_Back_on_to_OECD_Gray_List I still don't think this really changes anything in how I run my affairs.

Bonnie, sounds like a good idea. If someone is experiencing fires close to their residence, or just an abnormally high number of field fires in general, then maybe they could start a new topic here.

Happy to read that everything worked out well for David Burnet. Apparently his home was not affected by the fires. I'm still hoping for more details about the fires, but that is up to someone with first hand knowledge who is willing to share. I do see that David Burnet is a registered member of CL. Perhaps he could add the details?

We are considering a short visit, meaning a day or two, from Boquete to Bocas del Toro. I was last there more than a decade ago. Some questions arise, and we are hoping that someone more experienced would share their thoughts. Should we drive or use a shuttle service? We don't know the particulars of where to arrange for a shuttle, how much it costs, schedules, etc. Can anyone provide some details? Any recommendations for lodging? Any recommendations re "gotta eat at this place"? (Or, stay away from that place?) Neither of us are beach people (concerns about sunburn sensitivity), so what are the other things to see and do in Bocas? Are there any dates to target being in Bocas, or perhaps dates to avoid?

An interesting sequence of events as discussed above. Based on limited information, and perhaps flawed logic on my part, there also appears to be confusion on the part of Mr. Burnet going on here. With phone calls (plural) being unsuccessful, I find it unusual that a person would send an email in the hope that someone would see the need for assistance and summon the bomberos on behalf of Mr. Burnet. I obviously am not seeing the whole picture here. Personally speaking, I never would summon help in such a scenario via email; if telephoning did not work, then I would physically go to the bomberos unless I were desperately involved in extinguishing the fire myself. i am pleased that Rodny's tech support was able to fill in details on the telephone communications issue that is the main topic here. However, noting that Mr. Burnet never explicitly said it was Rodny that he was calling, I would like to see an AAC response to this topic as well. And why did Dottie presume the phone calls by Mr. Burnet were to Rodny rather than AAC? Going a bit further, what hasn't been addressed in this topic so far is the matter of multiple fires being in close proximity to at least one home. I presume from what I read that the fires were not of nearby homes or structures, but rather brush or field fires, likely set by someone who was clearing land. If they in fact were fires involving structures, then is there a chance of a pyromaniac being involved? Granted that they could have been fires from lightning strikes, but I really discount that possibility. To use Dottie's words, "I find it [multiple fires] concerning." What if Mr. Burnet had not been at home to protect his property? Would we now be reading requests for donations to repair/replace a burned out home? I am not trying to make more of this situation than warranted, but some aspects just are puzzling to me. And so my question is, can someone provide more details about the two fires?

I would love to know what was going through the maleante's mind during his arrest! He must be one of the stupidest criminals in town -- or did he want to get arrested?

According to: http://www.fatf-gafi.org/about/ regarding the Financial Action Task Force (FATF): Panama was on the FATF "Gray List". According to: http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Gets_Off_FATF_Gray_List, Panama is now (as of this week) off the FATF "Gray List". Methinks this probably is a good thing.

Apparently the blockade / truck strike has been terminated. http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Truckers_End_Strike

The blockade between Chiriqui and Costa Rica apparently continues. http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Blockades_Continue_on_Costa_Rica__Panama_Border

What a great attitude on the part of these "sweet apples". Thanks for posting.

My reading of this article is that incoming and outgoing merchandise will be affected by the transportation strike that is scheduled for February 15 and 16, including at the border between Panama and Costa Rica at Paso Canoas. Here is the article: http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Freight_Strike_on_Monday

Yes, yellow fever shots are available in David. Never checked into hepatitis shots. When I got my yellow fever shot a couple of years ago, I asked at Dr. Chen's office here in Boquete. He referred me to a hospital in David, but I cannot remember it's name. It is a government-run hospital in David, and is where the morgue is located. The shot is not available at Hospital Chiriqui or Mae Lewis; at least it wasn't at that time and I suspect still not. When I arrived I was told that I needed an appointment, but I took on a dismayed expression and commented that I had driven "all the way" from Boquete. The nurse said not to worry, and she asked me to wait. I did wait, but only for a few minutes. It turned out she was preparing the shot for me. After the shot, I was asked to pay a small amount, which I recall was only about $3.00. Take your yellow international immunization card with you when you get the shot. They will annotate the card after administering the shot. I guess everyone knows that yellow fever shots are good for ten years.

Simple, but very profound. Had not thought about life that way before. Thanks for posting this.

I live within 20 feet of coffee trees. We frequently talk about and sometimes boast about the specialty coffees from Boquete. I just presumed (should've known better) that Panama was a a major player in the coffee industry. Well, according to a recent website article, it appears that Panama is anything but. Please understand that I am not knocking the coffee industry, and especially not the coffee industry in Panama. I was just kinda dumbstruck to read that Panama is at the bottom of the list of Central American coffee production, and not even close to the next higher source. Am I overlooking something or misinterpreting these data (which admittedly has not been verified by me, but I have no reason to question these data)? Total production in terms of metric tons is increasing. Good news. Here is a link to the full article: http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Central_America_Coffee_Statistics__November_2015

Penny truly is a "Class Act". The world would be a far better place with more Pennys.

I saw the play when originally performed and didn't see anything wrong with it. I really enjoyed it. I seem to recall that Willy Edwards (a local Panamanian resident) had his debut performance in this play. Even if FKAE were politically incorrect, the arts (display, performing, auditory, etc.) are supposed to, among other things, jar people's sensitivities on occasion. I know Squirt (TwoDice2) and she hasn't got an offensive bone in her body. A soft, creative, caring, and talented set of bones, yes, but nothing untoward or offending in the slightest. Not hearing both sides of this story, I still am willing to say that I would be majorly disappointed in BCP if its apparent policy of political correctness caused a play like this to be pulled down. For the BCP board: let us hear your side of this story.

The last time we were in to see Dr. Chen or Gomez, neither were available. There was another doctor (from Brazil) who took care of me and he spoke incredibly good English. I have no problem with going to Dr. Chen's office, and just accept whoever will see me. Our last visit was about 5 weeks ago. I cannot recall the new doctor's name.

The following link is about a new law passed this week in the Asemblea that requires automobile dealers and importers to stock repair parts for the vehicles they sell for up to ten years. http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Obligations_for_Importers_of_New_Vehicles

And now I see a Prensa article about Panama Metro that indicates plans for up to eight lines by the year 2040. The article does suggest that progress toward this vision of the public transit network will depend on future administrations. Here is the Prensa article link: http://www.prensa.com/economia/Actualizan-red-maestra-Metro_0_4405059549.html. An English language summary of the Prensa article is available at http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Metro_Announces_8_Lines_for_2040.

Below is a web link about the future Metro Line 3. Included is a video that is rather interesting. The video is about 3 minutes duration, and in Spanush (as it should be). Because we frequently drive when going to PC, we get to see the enormous residential and commercial expansion that is going on just west of PC. I can't help but think the Metro 3 line would be both an economic success, but also an environmental plus. I say that because we see literally thousands of new homes going up. We call them "cookie cutter" design because they are all identical, street after street after street. Here is the link referred to: http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Metro_Line_3_The_Future_of_Panama_West

Not an expert on the internal procedures of Union Fenosa, but my knee jerk reaction is that this is a one time "adjustment" (read charge) for guaranteeing timely future payments on your part. The phrase "deposito de garantia" roughly translates as "escrow", but I don't think they use the phrase to mean an actual escrow. On a related matter, I am continuing to be alarmed at how high our electric bill is compared to others. A typical bill is a bit more than $200.00 per month. We have no electric water heaters, and only one small dehumidifier that runs only about 15% of the time. Lots of computer stuff and security stuff. The computers are turned off unless in use. And our "think" is that the security systems don't use that much electricity. I hear of only about three other expats who have electric bills as high as we do. We are now considering having a chat with ACODECO, given that Union Fenosa declines to do anything, such as verifying an accurate meter, etc.

Bonnie, We have been there recently (last November). Nice place. People are friendly, well dressed, customer service exists, prices reasonable, etc., etc. Lots of nice things to say about Medellin. Landscape is more hilly than San Francisco, so be sure to take (and use) comfortable walking shoes. A sweater or two, or perhaps a jacket might be appropriate. Medellin is approximately the same elevation as Boquete. It is a city of about 5 million, which is ~50% bigger than all of Panama. Also, we felt safe there, but were aware that the hotel staff was always keeping track of our movements, including taxi plate numbers and when and where we were going out of the hotel, and then acknowledging our return to the hotel. The poblado area is where our hotel was located. We used Hotel Park 10, which was very nice, and outstanding Internet access. Reasonable rates, great food in their restaurant, etc. Recommend that you at least once ride thei subway/tram system. And there is a national park that is accessed via a gondola ride of about 15 minutes. Fascinating stuff to see and experience. We had no problems at all. The taxi from the airport to our hotel was about a 45 minute ride, reasonable cost, but they only take Colombian money. We had none on our inbound leg, and so we convinced our driver to take US dollars. Credit cards will be accepted at most of the nicer hotels and eateries, etc.

"Mighty ambitious" is a gross understatement. Don't forget the planetarium and the observatory, etc. And no where did I see any parking. Wow. I almost agree with Brundageba's comment "We'll probably both be dead and gone before it's completed." My version would be "We'll probably both be dead and gone before it's even started, assuming it gets started." Who is going to pay for this? I have to say that the ~12 minute animated video was impressive. No one can fault the Panamanian's ability to dream big dreams.

I had heard about the problems with the new canal, but -- Gadzooks!!! What a horrible image. Hopefully that concrete wall has been repaired, better still replaced.

There is a shoe repair place next to Lasso, the barber referred to by TwoSailors. (Lasso is my barber and has been for years.) I believe the shoe place is literally next door to Lasso's place, but it might be two doors. I have never used that shoe repair man, but our housekeeper has and said she was very pleased with the repair job.