Bob-Cha off to Panama!

  Our T aiwan  Adventure We just returned from an amazing trip to see family in Taiwan! We had been planning this for a while, but we were a bit concerned about the long flight times and scheduling conflicts. Our son and his wife are busy professionals, and we wanted to ensure we could spend quality time with them without interfering with their routines.   Well, as often happens with the Hubs and I,  the stars aligned! We found a 10-day cruise departing from Tokyo and ending in Taipei right when our family started their summer vacation! The flight times were still long, but a 10-day cruise in the new time zone was perfect for adjusting to the jet lag. We flew out of Panama City, Panama with a stopover in Istanbul. The flight from Panama City to Istanbul was amazing, The food was delicious, and the service and amenities were top-notch. We flew out at night so a lot of time was spent sleeping and the flight, (a little over 12 hours), did not seem long at all. I wo...

Voting day in Panama can seem very different from election day in the United States.  Firstly, voting occurs on a Sunday, and preparations are impressive. Due to the remote areas, many citizens live in, the government provides structured transportation, including buses, to polling places, which are typically located at schools. Voting is primarily conducted with paper ballots. Sample Ballot What stands out about voting day in Panama is the joyous atmosphere. Candidates have a limited campaign period of about 30 days, during which they deliver speeches, appear on television, and engage with the public through games and discussions about key issues. There are around 8 presidential candidates and over 800 candidates for other local positions, such as mayors. Typical Voting Table Setup Panamanians take great pride in their country and view voting day as a celebration of their right to vote and express themselves. It’s a vibrant event filled with pride and joy, reflecting their apprecia...

Expats at the swimming hole! Let's take the easy question first!  Where did they come from? The answer is they come from all over the world! Many ex-pats in Boquette are from all parts of The U.S. but a good number are from Canada, South Africa, Germany, France, and The UK.  There are also a lot of folks who were born in Panama, moved, lived in the US for years and then returned to Panama to retire. Who are they? There are retired teachers, military, business owners, government workers, musicians, you name it, we have it!  I have been told that there are places in the world where the expat community consists of ¨the wanted and the unwanted¨, that is certainly not the case here in Panama. It´s interesting to note, that you must have a clean record to get a permanent visa in Panama. You can hear story after story about people who wanted to move here but because they have a DUI from 20 years ago on their FBI report they can not get a permanent visa.   That doesn´...

  VIVA PANAMA! Protesters in the Highlands Today marks the commencement of the fourth week of protests in Panama, with massive crowds taking to the streets in mostly peaceful demonstrations. It's crucial to acknowledge that these protests coincide with some of the most significant holidays in Panama. We've witnessed children diligently preparing for upcoming parades and celebrations, only to see them either canceled or significantly scaled back due to the ongoing protests. Despite some unfortunate incidents, it's remarkable to witness the majority of the population uniting to protect the beauty and ecosystem of their beloved country. As expats, we've experienced minimal impact because we tend to shop in bulk, keeping our homes well-supplied with ample gasoline and propane reserves. However, the situation is quite different for many Panamanians who rely on daily shopping routines. Unlike us, they can't afford to stock up on supplies, reflected in the smaller refriger...

Panama is not for sale!   For nearly a fortnight, the citizens of Panama have been flooding the streets to voice their dissent against the government's green light on a reworked deal with a Canadian mining company. The uproar has prompted school closures, with a diverse coalition including workers, educators, and indigenous groups united in protest. Their core belief is that the expansive open-pit copper mine, touted as Central America's largest, poses a dual threat to the environment and Panama's autonomy. The issue at hand is far from straightforward. Recent revelations have shed light on the fact that the mine isn't solely focused on copper; it's also yielding substantial amounts of gold and other precious metals. Many indigenous communities argue that mining is wreaking havoc on the country's ecological balance. They accuse the President of inking the agreement without complete transparency and a disregard for the people's voices. Despite roadblocks, can...

Panama boasts not only breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultures but also a unique gardening tradition that might surprise you. It's not uncommon in this tropical paradise for yard maintenance to be included in the price of your rent, ensuring your surroundings remain a lush haven. When I moved to Panama, I quickly learned that gardens here aren't just gardens – they're meticulously curated landscapes tended to by skilled individuals in a distinctive way. Picture this: it's 7 AM, and I'm just starting my day with a cup of coffee in hand. As I gaze out of the window, I spot three men donned in authentic Panamanian gear, effortlessly working in my garden. Admittedly, I wasn't caught off guard – I knew these gardeners were scheduled to tend to the landscapes today. However, what did catch my attention was the man who stood out with his mask, machete, boots, and the most captivating hat I've ever seen. These guys take their work seriously, and they are fully ...

Try a Slice of Paradise Boquete is renowned for many things, and its remarkable bread is no exception.  With a myriad of "panaderias", (bakeries), Boquete offers an irresistible array of options for Bread, rolls, pies, and other goodies! From traditional Panamanian bread like the beloved "bolillo" and the flavorful "pan de coco" to more international treats such as croissants and baguettes, there's something for every palate. I am convinced that the secret behind the exceptional quality of these breads is the absence of preservatives. Baked to be enjoyed on the same day, these treats provide amazing aromas and textures. It is very difficult to walk past a Pandaria and not at least peek in. For those who do venture in,  the sheer abundance of goodies can be both a delight and a challenge. My husband and I often find ourselves succumbing to the allure and buying more than we can consume in a single day, or even a single week! But worry not. We've dis...

Let's not lower our Guard now! This announcement from the ministry of health basically states the days when women can go out and when men can go out and when NO ONE can go out. Of course there are some exceptions allowed, but those require special permission. The white lettering in bold type at the bottom says, " Let's not let our guard down now!"             After months of planing and anticipation , we decided to to end our Panama visit early.  We intended to spend  two weeks exploring  David, Boquete and then Panama City.  But the best laid plains.... When you are planing to relocate to a foreign country there are many things you need to check out. For example, we wanted to make sure that all of our medications and supplements were available locally so we had researched the Spanish names of everything and made a list to take to the local  "farmacia" . We also needed to meet with our Immigration attorney to make sure all of o...

    I took this picture from the window of our hotel in David Panama just before the 6:30 curfew kicked in. Notice how empty these center city streets are.  They were teaming with people earlier, but here people adhere to the virus mitigation rules. They pride themselves in taking care of each other through such measures.   We flew into a city called David, (pronounced DA-veed) in Panama on Wednesday 12/16 after an almost comical travel debacle that turned our 6-hour trip into a 16-hour trip! David is about 6 hours from Panama City by car, but only an hour flight.   Once we got to our room and began to unpack we both commented about how sparse the room was. After our first night, however, we realized we were very comfortable, and we had everything we needed. There were no flourishes or artwork, but everything was there, the bed was sooo comfortable and everything was sparkling clean. All this at a price you would not believe -- with breakfast ...

I'm a lair. I really just made it completely private so that I can delete it later, when I'm stronger.  We have found that one of the hardest things to do is to give up on working!  Sure we stopped going to our 9-5's sometime ago, but we have discovered that we are still very much immersed in the work-a-day culture!   We are surrounded by books  and trade magazines, we have a whole wall devoted to certificates and (now meaningless) honorariums.  We have Linkedin accounts, and online resumes. For what? It is not my intention to ever work for anyone else. Never at all. I have no desire to write your grant, do your research, prove my point or justify my budget!  To that end I also deleted all the Performance Profiles I had collected over the years. Yes, I did! And as I did, I was struck by the amount of  soft-soap and apple polishing in those documents. I would never talk to someone like that now, nor would I allow someone to talk to me like that. Do...

Some People Just Know How to Party! In the town of Cuenca Ecuador the children dress-up as the Christmas story principals and prepare for the "Pase del Nino" parade that lasts all day on December 24th! What a party!   We spent Christmas of 2016 in the small town of Cuenca Ecuador.  Mostly I remember it as a blaze of music  and color seasoned with the constant, softly spoken "buenos dias", "bueno tardes", "bueno noches" from the locals. These people NEVER pass another human being without  acknowledgment.  It may just be a wave or a smile, but the acknowledgement is always there. The Children are so proud to pose for your camera. I'm sure they participate in putting together their out fits.   Getting to Cuenca is an amazing adventure in its self. It was 3 hours of breathtakingly beautiful vistas. Breathtaking is not used lightly her.  Some of the mountain roads are down right scary, but our driver was amazing. My daughter commented that he re...