Happy Halloween

Day 33 – Monday (Lunes) – 31/10/2011 – Playa Coronado

Yes, we are back to the beach area from our stay in the city.

Let's talk housekeeping today.  OK so no matter where you live we all wish someone else could keep up with our housekeeping.  You know, cleaning the floor, doing the laundry, etc. etc.  Well here in Panama you can very easily afford such luxury and have someone else do the cleaning for you.  Here's the skinny.  Living in Panama City, in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1100 sq ft apartment, having a housekeeper come twice a week will cost you $30.  That's it folks, $30 and she will make it all happen, from scrubbing the toilet, to washing the floor and everything else in-between.  Now you can have someone come in more often, but here's the rub on that.  If you hire any Panamanian for 3 days or more per week, they are now considered on your payroll and you have to pay their Social Security.  Not the end of the world of course if that is what you want, as many folks have maids quarters right in the home for live in housekeepers, but beware the laws of the country so you do not get surprised.

Now how is that for some trick or treat information?

Sunday in the city

Day 32 – Sunday (Domingo) – 30/10/2011 – Panama City

Easy does it today.  We have found since we have be staying in the city for the past 5 days that Panama is very very hilly. Reminds me of San Francisco to some degree.  It has made for good walking.  Today we did what a lot of natives do, we ate at a local Supermarket called Riba Smith.  OK so it is a cafeteria, not a fancy white table cloth restaurant, but let me tell you, the food was out of this world.  Simply put, 2 of us ate for $4.85. What did we have you ask, well I was about to tell you.  One plate was Rice, Plantains, and Chicken Pie. The other plate was Rice, Plantains, and Pork Legs.

We did not walk away hungry.  As always a couple of pics for your simple enjoyment.  O, there must have been 30 or so folks in there eating at the time we were there, and a pretty steady line of folks coming in before they did their shopping.

Hey who put those pictures of that Jamaican Beer in this blog?

Day 31 – Saturday (Sabado) – 29/10/2011 – Panama City Fish Market

It was City Fish Market Day today.  A simple walk down the Cinta Costera from the condo we are staying at and you walk right into the Fish Market.  We have plenty of pictures to share below.  Here is what we bought.
5 lbs of Large Shrimp - $17.50
5 lbs of Sea Bass (Corvina) - $11.25

There is a restaurant upstairs, buy what you want and bring it up and they will cook it for you.
Outside there are fruits and vegetables, and also little Ceviche stands.

If you like seafood, this is certainly a must stop.

Enjoy our pictorial.

Day 30 – Friday (Viernes) – 28/10/2011 – Panama City

Legal mumble jumble today.  You will find out, when you move to a different country it is always best to network through other folks who already did what you are looking to do so that you can locate a trustworthy attorney.  We have done just that and have had a relationship with our Panama Attorney for about 1 year now.  Although many laws are copy-cat from the USA they still need to be translated for you as of course everything here in Panama is in Spanish.  Relationships are very important when venturing into another country, so don't be shy, ask people who have been there and done that.  We may now know all the "Right" answers but we can certainly tell you what we did "Wrong" so you will not make those same mistakes.

Just ask and you shall receive.

Salud.

You are looking at the Bay of Panama taken from a condo where we are staying at this week.

Day 29 – Thursday (Jueves) – 27/10/2011 – Panama City

Lunch.  We feel like we are on the Travel Channel.

Meet the owner of the French Lunch Truck - Le France.

Yes, this is where we had lunch.  Stood with those guys to our right.

So we shared a Marsella Sandwiche, 12" Baquette loaded with Carne (Beef) and Papas Fritas (French Fries). The deal is everything is within the sandwiche, even the fries. Washed down lunch with a Refresco - aka Canada Dry Ginger Ale.  Oh, lunch was a total of $5.50.  Muy Bueno!

Day 28 – Wednesday (Miercoles) – 26/10/2011 – Panama City

Hola Amigos, we have changed locations for this blog and the next few days forward as we are in the City of Panama for a few days.  Always exciting in the city, let's allow the pictures to speak.

Enjoy!
Can you see the Ninja window washer guys?

 Below is a Diablo Rojo, otherwise known as the Red Devil.  These are going to be history and no longer part of the Panamanian culture. Modern Buses are taking over.

Cool Building

Beautiful Church Downtown

What can we say, and NO the Panama Man did not go here.

Street Scene, can you spot Nancy?

OK, so we were in this section of town.  Again, the Panama Man did not partake.

Day 27 – Tuesday (Martes) – 25/10/2011 – Playa Coronado

Hola Amigos, sometimes you just want to take a step back and observe.  That is today's blog.  See below.

Hasta Manana

Day 26 – Monday (Lunes) – 24/10/2011 – Playa Coronado

Time flies when you are having fun.  Hey forgot to mention in yesterdays blog that we went to the Musuem to see a Pirate Exhibit.  500 years of pirates being nasty to anyone who got in their way.  Best part of all?????  It was ALL in Spanish, way to go amigo!!

Okay onto today, wanted to impart some simple logic when it comes to electrical outages.  Since we moved to Panama we have only incurred 2 outages, but it brought to mind the need for surge protectors to protect computers, refrigerators, tv's, ac's, washer, dryers etc...  I don't think this is any country specific thing but make sure you keep this in mind to keep your electrical items save and secure.

Day trip to Casco Antiguo - Panama

Day 25 – Sunday (Domingo) – 23/10/2011

Today was a bright and sunny day, could do pretty much anything outside you wanted. We decided to drive into Panama City, get with some friends and head over to an old part of Panama called Casco Antiguo. This place is excellent as depicted in the pictures below.  This is home to the Presidential Palace.  If you have been to New Orleans, it will remind you of the French Quarter, except this was here long before any French Quarter in the USA.  I also included views of the Amador Causeway where Cruise ships dock and a Picture of the Bridge of Americas that goes over the Panama Canal..  There is a picture of a Kuna Indian, and also a great Panama City Skyline picture. Enjoy the pics.