We are back in the USA. Our travels back were uneventful - thankfully!
We want to go back to Panama for an extended stay in January. Panama allows Americans to stay in the country six months without applying for resident status. Of course, you can always visit a Costa Rican beach resort for 3 days and return to Panama with a fresh 6 months.
In the meantime we are researching Playa de Carmen, a small town 45 minutes south of Cancun, Mexico. We are considering spending October there in order to get in some serious beach time and work on our Spanish.
Stay tuned......
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Panama City
We found a cheap hotel in downtown Panama City. Our cab driver did not like the one we had picked and with a few English words and a lot of Spanish (while driving in rush hour traffic) talked us into another one at the same price but with air conditioning and hot water. Turns out it was good advice.
We went for an evening stroll along the Pacific seawall. On the way back we got turned around and lost with darkness falling. We finally hailed a cab for $3 (Always ask before getting in or it will be $20) and found out we were only a few blocks away from the hotel. I doubt we would have found it on our own without going back to the seawall and retracing our steps. Not a good idea after dark.
Got up early and took a cab (again $3) to the old city. Played tourist for a couple hours, then off to the Panama Canal. The taxi driver wanted $15 to Miaflores Locks but my frugal wife negotiated him down to $10.
At the Museum I ran into our morning cab driver and with a few Spanish words and a lot of sign language we will be picked up at the hotel tonight at 10:00pm for the trip to the airport.(I think....I hope...)
We went for an evening stroll along the Pacific seawall. On the way back we got turned around and lost with darkness falling. We finally hailed a cab for $3 (Always ask before getting in or it will be $20) and found out we were only a few blocks away from the hotel. I doubt we would have found it on our own without going back to the seawall and retracing our steps. Not a good idea after dark.
Got up early and took a cab (again $3) to the old city. Played tourist for a couple hours, then off to the Panama Canal. The taxi driver wanted $15 to Miaflores Locks but my frugal wife negotiated him down to $10.
At the Museum I ran into our morning cab driver and with a few Spanish words and a lot of sign language we will be picked up at the hotel tonight at 10:00pm for the trip to the airport.(I think....I hope...)
Monday, August 1, 2011
Packing up
Our return to America has been touch and go. The eternal spring time, gorgeous scenery, endless hiking opportunities, and friendly people make it tough to leave. Coupled with the low cost of living we can understand why this is considered the top spot in the Western Hemisphere to retire.
We looked at a 2 bedroom apartment this evening that was recommended by a couple that has lived here 6 years. Including cable, Internet, and utilities the rent would be $350 per month. It also came furnished.
Because it was sprinkling we took our first Boquete cab ride. We had some difficulty describing to the taxi driver where we wanted to go, when suddenly he said “Mr. Ralph's?” “Si!” we cried out together. He knew the Americans up that hill and assumed we were going to visit them. It's a small town. The ride was 80 cents and I tipped big. De Anne chastised me for it. “He will expect that from now on”. I stood corrected.
We decided we had some family matters to attend to back in the States and did not bring enough things to prolong our stay indefinitely, so we are packing up with the intention of returning in a few months.
We will leave tomorrow morning and visit the Panama Canal Wednesday.
Another reason to leave - if I stay any longer I have this urge to buy a machete. After all, every other male over 6 years old here has one.
We looked at a 2 bedroom apartment this evening that was recommended by a couple that has lived here 6 years. Including cable, Internet, and utilities the rent would be $350 per month. It also came furnished.
Because it was sprinkling we took our first Boquete cab ride. We had some difficulty describing to the taxi driver where we wanted to go, when suddenly he said “Mr. Ralph's?” “Si!” we cried out together. He knew the Americans up that hill and assumed we were going to visit them. It's a small town. The ride was 80 cents and I tipped big. De Anne chastised me for it. “He will expect that from now on”. I stood corrected.
We decided we had some family matters to attend to back in the States and did not bring enough things to prolong our stay indefinitely, so we are packing up with the intention of returning in a few months.
We will leave tomorrow morning and visit the Panama Canal Wednesday.
Another reason to leave - if I stay any longer I have this urge to buy a machete. After all, every other male over 6 years old here has one.
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