The Mail

Fly fishing?

Hi Richard-I came across your site and blog. What fun being an expat in Boquete!

My husband and I are travelling to Panama in January, 2010. We are taking the all day canal transit tour on Jan. 16th. ( We are not cruise ship people) We live in the Sunriver Resort, south of Bend,Oregon. Perhaps you know of it or have been here.

We were thinking of visiting the Kuna Indians at one of the San Blas Islands. i.e. El Porvenir or Playa Chico or ? Can you recommend which island to go to for a night or two to experience their culture? Also, my husband is an avid fly fisherman. Do you know of fly fishing either in the ocean or rivers in ALL of Panama?

Next, we have friends that live in Boquete (your home) where we want to explore your area. See a coffee plantation, etc. We don’t know how many days to allocate to see your area. Any ideas? Then we fly from David to San Jose, Costa Rica. Thanks in advance for any assistance, guidance, recommendations you might have for us. We’ll only make this trip once in our life time so we want to do/see all we can. Haley Dahlquest

Hi Haley! Well, let’s start with your last comment . . . “We’ll only make this trip once in our life time”. That’s what we and a whole lot of other folks who live here now as expats thought! So, good luck! I know Bend is nice . . . my daughter went to Willamette . . . and you may be surprised by Boquete. We’d lived in Colorado for six years, and many times as I’m driving down the mountain I think Boquete is like Colorado without snow. I’d plan on at least 4 or 5 days in Boquete . . . there are coffee tours, river rafting (our water is warmer than yours!), hiking . . . lots to explore. I’m not a fisherman and know nothing about fly fishing, but I have heard that if you get high in the mountains above the coffee farms that there are native trout and fly fishing. My neighbors in Boca Chica, Bruce at www.gonefishingpanama.com can give you the lowdown on fishing in the Pacific.

Unfortunately we haven’t had time yet to get out to the San Blas. We had a trip all planned, then something came up. I know that it is pretty undeveloped as a tourist destination by choice of the Kuna. There are some small hotels that are run by the Kuna and they would be your best bet.

I’m sure some of my readers know a lot more about this than I do, so maybe they will chime in and share some advice, which I will pass on.

On Carnival Miracle . . .

Hi Richard! I have enjoyed your links through Cruise Critic as I being my research for our upcoming cruise. We are sailing on the Carnival Miracle in February 2010, this will be our first time visiting Panama, and we are scheduled to be in port from 0700 to 1700. Traveling with me are my 77 year old mother (who is in good shape!) and my two sisters. My youngest sister is a stroke survivor, and has some mobility issues, but she can walk distances, albeit a little slower than most. We always make a point of enjoying some of the culture of the country we are visiting. Do you have any recommendations for tours to avoid (because of age/mobility) or ones we should consider. We usually venture out on our own and steer clear of the ships excursions because of the size of the tours, so we are not fearful of doing that. Our safety is of utmost concern to us (and my husband, who is not coming along on this cruise!) My mother would like to see the canal and locks, my sisters the wildlife, and I am easy to please! Is there any tour you are familiar with that would cover those particular sights? Thank you for any advice you may have for us! And we will happily stick with the ships tours if you think that is the best option for four women! Thank you in advance! Gail Foley

As an aside . . . I’m glad Carnival has started coming up with names like CARNIVAL DREAM and CARNIVAL MIRACLE . . . the old run of ships . . . ECSTASY, FANTASY and SENSATION . . . all sounded like condom brand names!

Hi Gail! For wildlife I would suggest the “Gatun Lake Safari” where you go by a small boat – 20 or so people – out on Gatun Lake. The guy who runs this tour lives on a houseboat in Gatun Lake and knows where the monkeys and stuff hang out, so you will see wildlife. They do a nice Panamanian lunch on his houseboat, and you will be crossing the Canal itself at several points and see the ships going across Gatun Lake and some of the work going on to enlarge the channel. You won’t see the locks. You will have to get in and out of a boat, but the boat guys are very helpful and the only walking involved is on and off the bus and to and from the boat.

To see the Canal there is a tour that will take you by ferry-boat through Pedro Miquel and Miraflores. You’ll see the locks and the main part of the Canal and get a glimpse of Panama City. Again the only walking is to and from the bus. Experiencing the Canal on a small ferry-boat is different from on a large ship and you can reach out and touch the sides of the Canal. Unfortunately, no wildlife.

So it is a choice which you want: wildlife or Canal. I would definitely recommend going through the ship and not attempting this on your own.

Looking for a deal . . .

My husband and I want to do a trip to the Panama Canal in Jan or Feb. We have only done one cruise before to Acapulco. Now I am looking for a good deal—to maybe only do part of the canal and more ports in the Caribbean. My husband just was forced to retire—laid off from his job. Lily

Life is change and growth and there is no growth without change, so good luck to both of you and I know you will make the best out of your situation and hopefully look back someday and think that was the best thing that happened to us. [Check out my earlier post on THE AGE OF THE UNTHINKABLE, an interesting book which applies not only to geopolitics and economics, but also to the challenges of our personal lives.]

Right now there are still some good deals . . . steals? . . . out there as cruise lines fill their ships at any price.  I’d look at the 10-day cruises that go into the Canal and are round-trip from Florida, like ZUIDERDAM. 

Any insight into . . . life??

Aloha Richard, We are considering a Panama Canal cruise this March-May. I think one leaves on May first. Are there must see, should skip ports? And also any insight into ships? We have been on Princess and HAL only, but not these ships. Thank you, Sharie

Sharie . . . Sharie . . . Sharie.  Try my Panama Cruise page, my Cruise page, or just click on the sidebar to the right on Cruising and Travel and you can enjoy all my fount of knowledge and insight.  That’s kinda why I took the time to put all that stuff here.   Then, if you have more questions, shout.  Aloha.

Snakes . . .

Richard, We will be on HAL Oosterdam (11/02/2009) and will enter Canal at Cristobal at 5:00 a.m. 11/08, exit Canal at Balboa at 7:00 p.m. and depart Fuerte Amador at 5:00 p.m. 11/09. I really want to visit the Embera Village but am very concerned that I may see a snake! I am terrified to even be in the vicinity of one that may be brought by me for viewing! At a distance I would be ok. Is it “safe” for me to make this tour? Any other suggestions for what to do at this stop? My husband will probably do one of the other tours – Observation Center or Panama Railroad.  Thank you for your help. Lynne

Lynne, you should be so lucky as to actually see a snake in the wild.   Go in peace.  It is a very “safe” tour for you and others.  The only tour I know where they bring out a snake . . . a nice boa . . . and let people who wish hold it, is on the “Gatun Lake Safari” tour.    People who take the Embera Village tour love it!  And no snakes!

Smaller ship in Canal . . .

Hi Richard I am doing some background work on cruising thru the Panama Canal. My husband is not interested in cruising on a large line but we also have at most 10 days to play with. We are also bringing my 76 yr old mom with us. This is one of her dream trips she is in good shape but does tire. Can you suggest where to look and what to look for I was reading thru cruise critic and it seems you know a lot but the trips thru the canal. Any help would be appreciated thanks Dawn Davis Keidawn

Princess has four ships described as being like “a day aboard a 5-star country inn”.  One of these is the ROYAL PRINCESS where I am heading in exactly . . . 21 days.   These ships hold only about 600 guests.  The ISLAND PRINCESS is doing 10-day trips into the Canal round trip from Florida and would be ideal for you.

Injustice . . . what’s new?

Richard:  I read your blog today on the above subject [US drug strategy] and thought I would add another recent twist. Not only is Prohibition not working in America it is also affecting the sovereignty of the country to the north. In a complete act of injustice (because we in Canada have reciprocal laws of extradition with the US), the Canadian authorities have been forced to hand over Marc Emery (the Prince of Pot) for selling marijuana seeds south of the border.

An act, that at worse would maybe get a month in jail in Canada, has netted Mr. Emery (a Canadian citizen who has never even been in the US and an active advocate of marijuana legalization) a sentence of 5 years in an American prison! This is wrong!  I am ashamed of my country for allowing this to happen to a Canadian citizen and am completely at odds with the complete waste of money and short-sightedness of my American neighbours in this regard. Garth Liseth,  B.C., Canada

Garth, I too am often shocked and ashamed by the injustice of the US court and legal system.  We do not behead people . . . but we do take their lives, sentencing them to life in prison without possibility of parole for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time, like Brandon Hein.  What makes it worse is that the US sets itself up as the judge of perceived injustices in the rest of the world, while committing atrocities like with Brandon here at home.

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” -Jesus, Matthew 7:4

Karl, who disagrees with me on Brandon, but is not an ogre . . .

Here’s a low-cost drying solution for your coffee. Probably too late this year with your planned work ahead, but fine for next year. This type of dryer will work rain or shine, and even if overcast, will collect sufficient heat for drying coffee in Panama.

http://www.fao.org/ class=”hiddenSpellError” pre=”">docrep/T1838E/T1838E0v.htm

( I’m not always an ogre, and enjoy the majority of your posts. )

Thanks, Karl.  I will check that out.   We need all the help we can get drying this stuff.  And, for the record, I didn’t call you an ogre . . . almost everything else, but not an ogre.  Thanks for thinking of me . . . and hanging in here!

“Gatun Lake Safari”

I saw your comments about wildlife during a Panama Canal cruise, and specifically “Gatun Lake Safari”. I searched the Internet, but could not find the tour operator. can you give me contact information.

I’m not sure that you can book this tour independently since it requires a certain number of participants and the availability is limited.  If a ship is in the ship’s tour operator has booked the tour completely.  You need to book it through Shore Ex on your ship, either in advance on the Internet or on board.

Day in Puntarenas . . . with kids!

Richard, I know that you’re the expert on Panama, not costs Rica but….. we’re in port @ Puntarenas for one day. Would you have any suggestions of things that we should do w/ twin 11 yr old boys in tow? Thanks so much! Bonnie

There’s really not much to do in Puntarenas.  There is beach, right in town, within walking distance of the ship, that’s used a lot by locals.  On weekends it’s crowded with families.  There is a zip line tour, depending on the size of your twins and the requirements.  The tropical train, rafting (again depending on size requirements) and eco-jungle river tour would be interesting.   A lot of the Puntarenas tours require a lot of bus time so it depends on how your kids do on buses.

A dildo by any other name . . .

I was in the U.S. Air Force and assigned to Japan in 1950. I did some train rides during my off duty days and on one of my adventures I chanced to be in Komaki in the middle of March. The city was at a standstill with the parade and crowds all celebrating Honen Matsuiand. I took some pictures of young girls walking out of the crowd and smooching giant replicas of the male organ. While wandering the crowd, I bought a small cardboard box inside of which was a 6″ hand carved wood penis. I still have it. One of the only things I brought home from the Korean War. J Morris

Man, are you lucky the TSA wasn’t around when you came home from Korea!   “Attention all TSA personnel: we have a dildo alert at position three.”   

So the 240 pound highly trained and educated TSA screener with tight black pants, a shirt with the tail hanging out in back and overbearing military manner says, “So, sir . . . you look like a straight shooter, and having survived Korea . . . what the hell are you doing with a 6″ dildo in your luggage?  Flesh-colored, soft latex we can allow provided you keep it in your luggage at all times and do not remove it, use it, or fondle it during the flight, but, but a 6″ wooden dildo.  Sir, that’s a dangerous weapon of terrorism and must be confiscated.”

Later . . . in the break room, “Hey Mabel, look at this baby!   This straight-looking Air Force dude . . . I didn’t ask and he  obviously wasn’t telling . . . tried to smuggle this onto the plane.  Come to momma, baby . . . “

Counting the days . . . until I leave on ROYAL PRINCESS . . .

So whose calendar has the bigger X’s on it marking off the days until you leave for your big trip..yours or Nikki’s? Dinah

Nikki’s, I am sure!

Coming home . . .

Hi… I just found this site of yours through Google. Amazing! This is what I’ve been looking for many months now! You are a gem of knowledge to me. I am a Panamanian native, born in David Chiriqui. I have lived in California for many years and now wish to move back to my country, yet I am very, very Americanized. Even though I am Panamanian,with dark skin, they still look at me  ”>differntly. I was in David and Boquete two years ago with my wife and first son. I am 29 years old, married with two small children …. I want to move to Boquete! My plan is to build and pastor a church in David. I was considering to buy a house in “Los Montes Del Caldera”. I have many questions before I sell everything I own in California to move back to Panama and do a work for God and be with my family. Would you, sir be willing to assist me with the practicalities of a Panama life style. Thanks, Arcinio Arauz

Arcinio, welcome home!  I took my car to a local “shade tree” mechanic the other day and bumped into a friend of his, a young Panamanian guy who’d gone to the states, fallen in love, got married, and had lived about 15 years in the States.  About 8 months ago he’d come back home to Boquete and was so happy to be back in Panama.  I know that people leave Panama, just like they leave the States, for many reason.  And for many in Panama the States seem like the promised land of opportunity.  But . . . good Panamanian friends of ours have family that live in Simi Valley, California, close to where we lived for 18 years in Ventura.   They LOVE Simi Valley.  Simi Valley!   They talk as if it is almost heaven!  And they are from Boquete!!  Go figure!   I guess to each his own.

I’m sure that many folks who are looking to “escape” to what they perceive to be a “better life” will shake their heads.  But home is home and right now I think there is increasing opportunity for Panamanians who understand the anglo world outside of Panama to come home, bring back some of their experience and apply it here.  The current mayor of Boquete spent time as a young man outside of Panama and as a community we are better for for it because he has brought ideas from North America to Boquete that are tremendously helpful in this time of growth.

Like moving into any community, even if you are coming back, it takes some time to fit in and adjust.  Acknowledging your Americanization is a good start.  Frankly, aside from the fact that you speak Spanish, you may have the same troubles adjusting to Panama as the rest of us.  It ain’t California!  But if God is calling you . . . what can you do?    Let me know how I can help.  What church or denomination are you affiliated with?  Training?  Background?

Working in Panama . . .

hello im thinking of moving to david. i am a university trained american nurse with a speciality in cardiology. is there much employment for nurses in david? Or do you know of any web sites i can Judy

First, the bad news. If you are not a Panamanian you can’t be employed in Panama. Even as a nurse. We have a friend of ours, Dr. Newton Osbourn, who was born up the road from David in Concepcion. He got a scholarship to Yale, then went on to the University of Michigan, and practiced in OB-GYN ending up at Walter Reed. He is one of the world’s experts on treating women with AIDS and lectures all over the world. When he retired he moved back to Panama and was our neighbor when we lived in Valle Escondido. He wanted to be of service and to work in the local Indian clinic, but Panama would not recognize his medical training or experience. He would have to intern in Panama! Incredible, but true! And so, determined to serve, he did! He jumped through the hoops and now is offering his expertise on the staff of the Women & Children’s Hospital in David. But he is Panamanian. Judy even if you were to jump through the hoops here, as a non-Panamanian citizen my understanding is that you could not be employed.

However . . . the work around is to consult. You can set up your own business of one and be a consultant. Or you can develop a related business, like being a “visiting consultant” (“visiting nurse” would imply a medical practice, which you don’t want) who assists and consults primarily with some of us “aging gringos” who now need, or are going to need, that kind of assistance.

Two Years!

OK, questions and comments . . .

Plan my cruise . . .

Hello sir, After reading your interesting blogs in cruise critics, I would like to ask you for some suggestions/tours to take. We are planning to take a Panama Canal Cruise on early Dec/January/Feb, we are on our early 40’s, in a tight budget but would like to have some unforgettable time on the following ports.
ARUBA
FUERTE AMADOR, PANAMA
PUERTO CALDERA, COSTA RICA
PUERTO QUETZAL, GUATEMALA
PUERTO CHIAPAS
HUATULCO
ACAPULCO
This will be our first Panama Canal Cruise. Thank you. Julius Cristobal

Hey Julius, like your last name, Cristobal . . . as in Christopher . . . as in Cristobal, the section of Colon where there is a pier that many of the Canal ships use. Check my page Panama Cruise for more . . . depending on how long you have in Fuerte Amador, which is really the Amador Peninsula area of Panama City, I have some suggestions for you on the Panama Cruise page. Aruba . . . go enjoy the beach! Take a $2.50 city bus from the station across from where the ships dock and have fun! Acapulco . . . the best view is from the ship IMHO. Cliff divers are highly overrated, again IMHO. Huatulco, not much to see where the ship docks. I usually just spend some time on the tiny beach. Puerto Caldera . . . beach in town, but other than that there’s nothing there unless you take a tour. Guatemala . . . definitely get up to Antiqua! If you don’t want a ship tour, get a few other couples together and rent a van. It’s worth the trip. Enjoy!

Get off the ship!

Hi…i really love your blog. Could you please tell me if you would recommend that I stay on the Mercury to cruise through the Panama canal…or should I take a shore excursion? any help would be great! thanks, Irene

Irene, I don’t know what itinerary every ship is doing . . . depends on MERCURY itinerary, and what your options and choices are. My Panama Cruise page gives a lot of information that will help. Generally I think you should be on for at least one lock experience, and then, when possible, take advantage of the opportunity to see some of Panama . . . you’ve come all this way! Suggestions for Panama tours depend on your areas of interest . . . again, that’s why I wrote the Panama Cruise page! You’ll love MERCURY!

Popular retirement destinations . . .

Didn’t know if you’ve seen this. Re: recent retirement rating destinations.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/RetirementandWills/RetireInStyle/the-worlds-best-places-to-retire.aspx

Iaorana! Bob P.S. Can you tell we’re getting ready to go on a 33 day HAL Rotterdam/French Polynesia cruise in January?

You’ll love the ROTTERDAM Bob! Susan Wood, one of my favorite cruise directors, is often on the ROTTERDAM, although I heard she may have left Holland America, and I understand that Joseph Pokorski may be heading to ROTTERDAM. I’ve worked with Joseph as cruise director and also as one of the stars of the new entertainment approach Holland is rolling out on the smaller ships. Joseph is a fantastic tenor with experience in opera and Broadway. You may be in luck!

That’s an interesting article . . . and you note that Ecuador is just a few points higher than Panama on International Living’s rankings. I know several folks who’ve moved on from Boquete to Ecuador. One is back in the States . . . the other hasn’t been there that long. 8,000 feet elevation rules a lot of retired folks out . . . I understand the cost of living right now is cheaper. The fact that Panama uses the US dollar was an advantage . . . I thought. Time will tell. You gotta find a place where you feel comfortable.

Elizabeth Taylor (really!) asks . . .

Hi I am going on a cruise around the Caribbean to Aruba,Colombia, Cristobal pier, Costa Rica and Gran Cayman I am coming from England and leaving from Miami.Could you please tell me if I need any Visa please Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth, I’m not the person to ask about this . . . for US citizens I know that no visas are required. I would doubt that it’s any different for UK/EU folks, but to be sure you need to check with your travel agent and/or the cruise line. I know cruise lines are increasingly ducking these kind of questions, telling you to check. The fine print in most cruise contracts tells you that the cruise line isn’t responsible for anything, and I suppose their lawyers have told them to shift the burden back on the passenger. I’ve found some of the bigger visa service sites are a quick and easy way to find out and generally very accurate and up-to-the-minute. Enjoy your cruise!

Responding to my post about hospital costs in Panama, David says . . .

Do not forget about Jubilado Descounto. If you are over 55 for women or 60 for men you can ask for a discount at pharmacies, hospitals and hotels which can range from 10 to 50% off. David Maples

Technically, you are correct . . . BUT . . . in my opinion the “Jubilado Discount” . . . offered to Panamanians who are over a certain age and to expats who have been granted a “Pensionado” visa, is the most overhyped thing in Panama. Folks selling Panama love to opine about the “Pensionado” benefits . . . There are sometimes you would have to be totally insensitive to ask for the discount, other times . . . like with medical stuff . . . you have know way of knowing what the regular fee is. Maybe they’ve just inflated the regular fee since you are a gringo and “all gringos are fabulously wealthy” and they figure you’ll ask for the discount anyway, so you still end up paying more than a normal, working Panamanian who walks through the door. I know that’s not the law, but unless you’re ex-Canal, know these people, and speak Spanish fluently . . . how are you going to complain, much less discuss it. Most restaurants in Boquete automatically up the price to adjust for the discount, especially if they have a big “gringo “clientele. I look at the prices and can tell pretty quickly if they are “gringo” or “Panamanian” prices, and we have both . . . although not legally . . . on everything. Send your maid to the farmer’s market, and if they don’t know she’s working for a gringo, you’ll be stunned at the prices she’s paying for produce, compared to what you pay. Unfortunately there are some Panamanians who aren’t sure how long all this is going to last, so they want to get theirs while the getting is good. I have a neighbor who was going to lay cement blocks for me and agreed to work for $15 a day. A fair rate. The next day when he was supposed to start work he didn’t show. I’m sure he went home and his wife said, “For a gringo! They have all kinds of money! You should have asked for $30!” And I just might have paid it then . . . not now. I’m scouting around for shipping containers and the going rate is about $2500-3000. I was talking with the wife of a local guy who brings these up from Colon when he’s making a trucking run empty. She had quoted me $3000 for a 40-foot container, delivered to my farm. I went back to see her and a so-called “friend” of this family was there, and the wife wasn’t. And he, knowing I was there to see the wife said, “Oh, I can get you a container!” trying to beat out his friend for the business. I asked, “How much?” And I could see the wheels turning as he paused to consider just how much he could get from this stupid gringo while at the same time beating out his friend. “$10,000.” I could go on and on, but won’t.

2 years and 200,000 visitors!

Who knew? Certainly not me when I started this October 16, 2007, not sure anybody would read it! 200,000 visitors later, and folks from all over the world, all I can say is “Thank you!” It’s been fun, a lot of work, but still fun. And what I enjoy most is meeting folks on cruises and around Boquete who first met me online and when we talk about something, or I say, “Nice to meet you”, respond with something like, “Oh, I know all about you!” scary, huh? And I enjoy your comments and questions, so keep reading, and keep the comments coming!

Reluctantly I have concluded that at this point, and with my commitments to cruise lines, I just can’t post a new blog every day . . . so, starting today I will be blogging on even-numbered days only . . . whenever that is possible. There are times onboard ship when we’re not getting the satellite signal, or there is some interference, and the Internet is down, but as much as I possibly can, I’ll be here on even-numbered days.

I thought you might get a kick out of seeing how all this has played out!

Thank y’all for the mail!

As a Southerner born and bred, I’d like to set the record straight on “y’all” and “all y’all.” “Y’all” is NOT singular. It denotes a number of persons greater than one. “All y’all” means everybody in the room (or wherever). Bonnie Williams

Ignorant, naive or both?

In response to my request for prayers to correct the horrible injustice visited on Brandon Hein . . . life in prison without possibility of parole . . . I received the following:

Your blog entry doesn’t give all of the facts, and its incompleteness serves to blunt the truth. I read the trial documents and the appeal documents, and I don’t agree.

This couldn’t happen to me because I pay attention to what my kids are doing, who they are with and where they are. I am instilling values in my children – that’s MY job, not someone else’s or the government’s. MY kids won’t be out looking for pot, or getting in fights, whether it is to buy it or to steal it.

I too wrote a letter to Gov Schwartzeneggar , but asking him to ignore this appeal. Karl

Karl, I’m going to try to be nice here, not that you necessarily deserve it IMHO. You certainly have a right to your opinion, but . . .

You “read the trial documents and the appeal documents” – I congratulate you, since the trail took 10 weeks and the court record for the trial alone is over 40 volumes, over 10,000 pages. And that’s just the trail, and you read all the appeal documents too! Wow! Who is watching over your kids while you are doing all this reading?

You state, “I too wrote a letter to Gov Schwartzeneggar , but asking him to ignore this appeal.” Thank you and I’m sure the Governor’s staff will give it full consideration, especially since the “appeal” is with the US Circuit Court of Appeals 9th District . . . which is something quite different than the Governor’s office. And it is a federal court, not a state court. And by the way, his name is Schwarzenegger, but not to worry, I’m sure he is used to a zillion variations . . . “If I am not me, who da hell am I?” –["Total Recall"]

Lastly, about your kids . . . I certainly hope you are right! But I suspect you are a pretty young parent with a whole lot to learn about raising kids, and life, for that matter. ALL of these parents . . . the parents of the murdered boy, the parents of the drug dealer, the parents of the boys, now men, in prison . . . ALL of these parents tried to do what was best for their kids! They ALL could have said, just as you say now, “This couldn’t happen to me because I pay attention to what my kids are doing, who they are with and where they are. I am instilling values in my children – that’s MY job, not someone else’s or the government’s. MY kids won’t be out looking for pot, or getting in fights, whether it is to buy it or to steal it.” But guess what, Karl . . . shit happens! You can’t be with your kids 24 hours a day! When your kids get into their teens you just got to pray a lot, listen a lot and hold on tight and hope they live through adolescence! These were all goodkids, who just got tragically lost and all ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. The cop and his wife were secure knowing that their son was hanging out with his childhood friend . . . never knowing. The drug dealer’s mother was a teacher, busy molding kids and grading papers . . . no idea. All of these parents were bush wacked! So you’d better get a grip now, Karl, and wise up or you are going to be the one facing tragedy. For the sake of your kids, don’t be naive and stupid. Your kids and any other kids out there can find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I’ve been amazed through the 14 years I’ve been friends with Brandon, associated with this case and his Web site, and reading comments from around the world. A lot of comments have come from kids who knew and went to school with these guys in Agoura Hills, and were into the same stupid teenage shit . . . and who managed not to be caught at the wrong place at the wrong time . . . and are now parents themselves (who hopefully won’t forget what it was like when their own kids become teens), are professionals, active and engaged citizens contributing to the world.

These guys were at the wrong place at the wrong time and singled out by the rage of folks like you.

Karl, I was trying to be nice . . . that was the “nice” me response to your comment. Not being the President, I can’t invite you to the White House for a beer . . . but we obviously see the world from two very different viewpoints.

To the rest of you . . . thank you!

I feel that nobody should have to be put through this even if they commit the crime or not its wrong and the court is wrong. Even though Jimmy’s dad is a police he should of known what his son was doing and not so much of judgin other people of their kids. Its was wrong what happen to his son but his son was no angel – he wasn’t perfect because everybody is not, but you can’t be like that. Everybody is entitled to speak the truth and to be able to be free to speak without nobody callin them a liar, but to tell the truth because the truth will sent you free . Angelique Holman

Thank you Richard for bringing this injustice to thousands of people. I wrote to the Governor of California and forwarded the information about his case to all my California friends. Brandon is in my hopes and prayers. ” As long as hope remains, only the coward will despair.”—Bertrand Russell Teresa

I have prayed and will continue to lift this young man up to the Lord. Dinah

Coming to Boquete . . .

Hi Richard, Is it easy to “Rent by Owner” for a couple of months in Boquete or would Isle Verde be the way to go? My husband & I would love to visit Boquete for the months of Jan. & Feb. in 2011. I used to live in Panama City in the 70’s and Boquete was my favourite get-away. The Panamonte was the only hotel at that time and I loved it. My husband has never been to Central America so I would love to share this with him. I would also like to take a Spanish course at the Boquete Language School. I find your Blog so interesting – thank you so much! Margot Williston

Hi Margot! Welcome back! There are lots of rentals that might be available for two months . . . some folks have casitas on their property that they rent for short periods and there are some nice apartment rentals as well. Isla Verde has the advantage that it is within walking distance of “downtown” Boquete. Check out www.boquete.org  where there are frequently postings by folks who have places for rent.

Church . . .

Does Boquete have a center of activities for Christians? Wendy

Wendy, I assume you’re referring to services in English? For locals and Spanish-speaking there is a very active Roman Catholic church, a large Assemblies of God church that is affiliated with the mega-church Hossana (Panama City – over 25,000 members), and smaller Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Mormon and a number of other independents. There is no English church per se, but there are several groups . . . There is a large mission effort out of the US working with Gnobe Bugle in Volcancito, and they have a Sunday evening service in English. There is a missionary-type family affiliated with Trinity Broadcasting that also has a service in English in their home. And a new “home church” has started meeting Sunday mornings in the Fundadores Hotel. I know of at least one women’s Bible study, and I’m sure there are other things as well. So you will find lots from which to choose.

Thank you!

So glad I stumbled into your website. Its 7:30 pm Sunday in San Francisco Peninsula town of Redwood City, cA – am trying hard to find interesting tours for my husband Bob & I on our 1st Panama Canal cruise on Princess departing Oct 31st. Kept reading about Embera Village in Tripadvisor.com – will contact Ann as you suggest then read your fascinating blogs! Love what I’ve seen so far…. best wishes from California. Pamela Ezra

REALLY enjoyed your site! I was stationed in Panama (at Ft. Clayton and Amador) in 1988 and 1989. Reading your page was like reading a science fiction novel. Its amazing how the country has rebounded in 20 years. I loved the people and the culture and have been contemplating going back for a visit. I would like to show my wife the “real” Panama, and not the made-up touristy places. Thanks for the information and the entertainment! Casey Duncan

Your Comments & Questions

Have a heart . . .

Richard, Are you able to able to share the name of the cardiologists both in Chiriqui and P-city that were recommended to your wife Thanks, Mountainman

Sure . . . the Cardiologist, whose office is at Mae Lewis Hospital in David, is Dr. Franklin Anguixola Santos [507-774-2453] and the surgeon, Dr. Norberto Javier Calzada, [507-204-8300 Ex 811] Cardiologos Associados de Panama, in Panama City at Hospital Paitilla.

New home construction . . .

I am a student researching the homes of the Indigenous people of Panama and I will like to get more information on how they are built. I have seen pictures, however I need more detailed information on how they are constructed (materials, structure).Can someone point me in the right direction?Celia Evangelista

 Celia, Come on down and see for yourself! For Kuna, Embera and Wounan, almost all of their houses are primarily palm. Different types of palm are used for the sides, thatched roof, and flexible flooring. Bamboo is also a popular building material. Over around Bocas del Torro wood is the primary material. My Embera friend tells me it takes about a week to build a house, and it is a project in which the entire village helps out. The Embera houses are generally open on the sides, except during the windy season, when they put up palm siding. Tradition is very important, so the Embera used a notched log as a front stairway. Usually the “kitchen” is made by putting down layers of banana leaves, then dirt, then more banana leaves until you have a non-flamable base sitting on top of the flooring, You add three big logs, to support the pot, and voila! – a stove. Our local Gnobe Bugle prefer a “fagon”, the outside raised cooking platform, to the little gas stoves we supply because they are able to better control the heat and flame with the open fire. My Embera friend’s house is a lot cheaper to build, goes up quicker, and has a whole lot less problems than mine!

Veragua Rainforest . . .

Is there any way to arrange in advance a taxi to bring (pick up later) my husband and me from the cruise ship port to Veragua Rainforest? Or is it easy to arrange that at the port after we arrive there? Kyung Mueller

There are lots of cabs right at the end of the pier. The red cabs are the licensed ones, and the ones you should use. There are also several local tour operators who will take you out to Veragua with others in a mini-bus. Take a raincoat or poncho along since it rains in the rainforest!

Private tours in Panama . . .

Found your address at a cruisecritic blog. I’m from Tampa Florida and taking a cruise to the Canal with Island Princess. We will be there Friday October 16. I was originally told that I could only do the Cruiseship tours, but then I found a posting on a Friends of Mario that does tours. Seem you live there and have experience cruising. Can I tour with private tours when ariving on a ship? Anyone you recommend? Thanks, hope I’m not overstepping by asking for your assistance. Madeline Tejera

There are lots of questions about this on Cruise Link. First, check out my Panama Cruise  page . . . A lot depends on which ship you are taking and the itinerary. Princess has a variety of options and without spending a lot of time on their Website, off the top, I don’t know what ISLAND PRINCESS is doing on October 16th. If the ship is calling on the Pacific side at Amador (part of Panama City) you can do whatever you want, same thing if it is stopping at Colon (Colon 2000, RCL pier, or Cristobal) . . . If you have enough time. Remember, Panama looks small on the map but traffic is horrendous especially in the afternoon just before a lot of ships are sailing. If the ship is dropping anchor in Gatun Lake to let off guests there for shore excursions, in Gatun Lake you cannot get off the ship unless you are taking a shore excursion booked on board. You tender off to a place called “Gatun Lake Yacht Club” . . . where there is not a yacht or any other kind of boat in sight! There is nothing at Gatun Lake Yacht Club but a parking lot where the tour buses are waiting. It is the Panama Canal Authority, not the cruise line, that only allows guests to disembark who have purchased shore excursions. (Man, I know that line backwards and forwards!) Reason: it is a secure area of the Canal with no public access: no cabs, no vendors, nada.

I don’t know anything about Mario. He either has a big following, or a lot of family members who post on Cruise Critic. I do know Anne Gordon who offers independent tours of the Embera Indian Village. She is a gringa from California, married to an Embera man from the village, so she knows a lot about Embera life and has many unique insights.

My advice is generally to take a ship tour. You spend all this money on a cruise, why go through the hassle and risk of doing your own thing? A ship’s tour is generally the easiest, safest, and most efficient way to get the most out of a relatively brief time in a port. The cruise line vets operators to make sure they have insurance, monitors their performance, and will never leave if a tour bus is late. If you go on your own you take your chances. The further the attraction is from the pier, the more important it is, IMHO, to take a ship tour.

I know folks don’t want to feel they are in a “herd with Red number Eight” stickers. Well, folks, I have news for you. Take your independent tour to Ephesus . . .and there will be 4 Holland America groups behind you, 6 Royal Caribbean groups ahead of you, 3 Princess groups to your left, and a bunch of crazy Germans from AIDA eves-dropping on your “private” English guide. Go to the Colosseum and you’ll stand in a line of thousands waiting to get in along with all the ship tour groups. I don’t get it!

Start with the blog . . .

Hi Richard, I got your e-mail off your posts on Cruise Critic (OhioLair on CC). I have been doing research on what to do, where to do it and so on by scouring the boards. Everytime I found something informative and interesting, it was one of your posts! Thanks for all the info, and if you have any other suggestions I would appreciate a reply. We are sailing on the Statendam Oct 30th from San Diego… with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco (I liked your Carona suggestion), Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Chiapas, Fuerte Amador (The causeway sounds like an interesting area) and Cartagena! Always on a budget, any inside suggestions, hints or tips will be greatly appreciated. I am also going to check out your blog when I have a few minutes.  Thanks, Larry Potts

Hey Larry! I’ve tried to put a lot of effort, and certainly a lot of time into this blog to answer most of these questions. Start with my Panama Cruise  page, then go to the right hand column and click on the “Cruising and Travel” category and it will open a whole list of blogs on cruising and travel.   I realize the cost of tours booked through the ship is more than the cost if you book independently, just like the cost of a Coke or a beer is more onboard.  That’s how the cruise line makes its money, especially if you look at the prices of cruises right now.  Believe me, I understand “saving a buck”, but when you go on vacation you need to loosen up the sphincter a bit and enjoy life!    There are ports where I’d say, “Do your own thing!”  If you are going to Portofino, just go ashore independently, find a nice cafe, pay $50 for a cup of coffee and sit there and soak up the ambiance.  But there are many ports where the attractions and the things you came to see aren’t right next to the ship, and those are the ports where it is easiest, most efficient, and often cost-effective to take the ship’s tour, even if it is more expensive up front.

* * * * *

Well this morning is a spectacular Sunday morning in Boquete!  Absolutely stunning!  This past week has been “the week that was”, which I’ll tell you about later.  The guy who usually works on Sundays for me doing concrete and block work fell last week on his regular job, and can’t work this morning . . . A day with no workers!! No questions!! No struggling with Spanish!! Also no progress, but . . . hey!

I’ve got a dozen “Sailaway” and “Sailin” presentations to work on . . . so I’m off to sit on the front porch, relax, and sip our own coffee.  We just had the first batch of last year’s harvest roasted and it is wonderful!  This year’s coffee is looking great and our harvest should begin next week.

Have a great day!

David and The Mail

Ah . . . David! Turns out we need 22 more thingies for the ceiling at 39 cents a piece, and HOPSA only has a showroom in David. So I either let the project redoing the casita for my brother stall, or drive all the way to David, $20 worth of gas, to pick up the damn thingies! Panama’s new President, Ricardo Martinelli, has promised a new four-lane highway between David and Boquete, with construction starting next year. The construction period will be a zoo, but the existing highway is inadequate and unsafe for the volume of traffic.

David is booming! As an Panamanian attorney friend told me, next to Panama City, Chiriqui is the richest province in Panama. The chance since we moved here over 5 years ago is amazing. Despite the world wide financial problems, there are tons of big new shopping areas being built in David, and a lot of big stores from Panama City are opening in David. Now if they only keep some inventory in Chiriqui, so that you don’t have to wait for everything to come from the warehouse in Panama City.

And, again despite the world wide financial meltdown, Panama isn’t doing badly, with 2.4% economic growth during the first half of 2009.

OK, on to the fun part . . . the mail!  And the Shady Lady from Costa Rica . . .

Ooops!  Make that “Shade Lady” from Costa Rica!    Shade Lady coffee from Costa Rica . . . I like this stuff, even if it is grown in neighboring Costa Rica, and not Boquete. Actually it is grown in the same type area as Panama, just across the border. An expat gringo buys beans from local farmers, roasts the beans and then takes them down to Puntarenas to sell when the ships are in. Whenever I’m in Pantarenas I buy a bunch for my wife. Yes, we grow gourmet coffee, but coffee like wine has different flavors depending on where it is grown. If you had a winery in Napa, you’d still appreciate and want to taste fine wines from other regions: same with coffee. So Francine asks . . .

Hello. I live in Canada and have purchased Shade Lady Coffee in the past. I really enjoy the flavour and sadly, I have now run out. I’d like to order more. Can I order through you or can you can direct me to someone I can order from? Francine Kurk

The last I heard John was selling his Shade Lady Coffee directly and shipping to the US. [We've looked at doing the same thing with our coffee but the cost of shipping anything from Panama to the US is horrendous! I'm not sure why Costa Rica gets to do it cheaper, but they do . . .] Here’s the last email I had for Shade Lady . . . cofejohn@racsa.co.cr  Tell him I sent you [Richard who used to be on Holland America]. 

I received a couple of nice comments about my blog “Through The Fog” . . .

Very well written, Richard. We have all done things in our youth that we would not consider doing when we gain experience and “worldliness”. That your father passed from this world at the age that he did is testament that trial lawyers are not as smart as we think. They are, however, more selfish than we think. It’s all about them! Someday we will find out that plastic shopping bags are more hazardous to the environment than paper bags; that whole milk, eggs, and butter are better for us than skim milk, egg beaters and margarine. Until then, live life, enjoy life, and share your love. Just as your father did. And don’t worry about the smoky fog in the morning. Enjoy the view of the stars at night. Radar

And if they did, Dick, you will still follow your Father’s voice and remember to Lean on the Everlasting Arms…with that kind of comfort, what more could you ask for. Dinah 

“Steamship Row”

I will be on the Zuiderdam cruise in Nov 2009. I was born in Colon, lived in Cristobal for 9 years as a child. What is left to see in Cristobal on Steamship Row. Will you be with us as our guide. Thanks L P Helgason

LP, I will miss seeing you on the ZUIDERDAM . . . as well as all my friends on the Zuidy crew! Right now I’ll still be on vacation in November, and the end of November head off to Rome to join the ROYAL PRINCESS.

Of course everything has changed in Panama since the US left. Panama suffered the US invasion, which altered the landscape heavily in areas in the line of fire, and since then has been on a building boom. And the shipping industry is part of that boom. There are huge container ports on either end of the Canal. In Colon you have the Colon 2000 port, the new port facility Royal Caribbean built for it’s own ships, and Pier 6 Cristobal, which is the one shown in the old “Steamship Row” post card. Of course the steamships are gone, but ships like the QUEEN MARY, the CORAL PRINCESS and the ZUIDERDAM use Pier 6.

Finding a driver . . .

I am traveling to Panama 11/30/09 to 12/6/09 with my husband and 6yr old twins and two other couples. I will be staying at the new resort ”breezes” in Santa Clare. I would like to have a private driver for us [prob. two cars] can you please suggest a company or person. My travel agent is not sure who to contact. Thanks alot . Jeannine Iorio

My suggestion would be to either work through the resort, or the way I would do it, is wait until you get to Panama and talk to the Bell Captain. He will have a couple of cousins who have vans and who will do this for you . . . a lot cheaper than setting it up in advance.

“Cuidado!”

Hello Richard Detrich, Whew, needless to say you have some well written and interesting articles regarding Panama and all are a reminder to me how true you speak of Panama. I spent sometime there while serving in the military at Ft Clayton. I am considering purchasing a home site at Altos Del Maria do you know of any interesting factoids I should be aware of when considering purchasing property/living in Panama? Thank you for your time. Karl Merritt

Hi Karl! Check out my page on “Real Estate in Panama” . . . have a good lawyer, and proceed with caution.

The big question . . . what is a “farrier”?

Hi Richard, I really enjoy your blog, particularly when you talk about your experiences owning horses in Panama. FYI, a farrier is the person who keeps your horses hoofs in order and shoed, assuming you keep shoes on your horses. Bringing an expert in from the US is a great idea as there are constant new discoveries on how to deal with problems that cripple many horses. A real winner for everyone. Chuck Hart

Well, you learn something every day! Thanks! Chuck, We never owned horses . . . we just rented horses, and my wife was thrown off because the bit was old, wired together and came apart.

Check out my blog!

Hi Richard, I got your e-mail off your posts on Cruise Critic (OhioLair on CC). I have been doing research on what to do, where to do it and so on by scouring the boards. Every time I found something informative and interesting, it was one of your posts!  Thanks for all the info, and if you have any other suggestions I would appreciate a reply. We are sailing on the Statendam Oct 30th from San Diego… with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco (I liked your Corona suggestion), Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Chiapas, Fuerte Amador (The causeway sounds like an interesting area) and Cartagena! Always on a budget, any inside suggestions, hints or tips will be greatly appreciated. I am also going to check out your blog when I have a few minutes. Thanks, Larry Potts OHIOLair

Hi Larry! First, start with my Panama Cruise page . . . My general advice, “Get off the Damn ship!” Cartagena, particularly the old city, is wonderful! Don’t miss it. Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco . . . sorry, I’m not a big Mexico fan. Sit on the beach and sip Corona with lime! Panama City, without knowing your exact itinerary . . . would depend a lot on how long you are in Panama City (a/k/a Amador). Some ships stop there for only a couple of hours, and I’m not sure what the point is of that. Enjoy! The old STATENDAM was one of my early HAL ships.

My MBA cohort friends in Europe want me to do their work . . .

Dear Mr Detrich, thank you for your prompt reply and of course we will give you credit.   1. In addition to this what in your opinion, which are 5 most important issues that will affect Panama´s development in the next 10 years? Why?
2. What measures should be taken for these issues to be properly solved? Thank you very much for your reply and kind support.  Kind regards, Hanne Pinholt

Well for extra credit, I’ll do a lot.  Actually, I’ve been so busy with the casita renovations that I haven’t gotten around to this.  It turns out that they asked the same question of Valle Escondido developer Sam Taliaferro, and although Sam didn’t have time to do their homework for them either, they did cull through Sam’s Panama Investor blog and came up with a pretty good, if pretty long, summary of the things Sam has been saying.  “What are the top 5 important issues that will affect Panama’s development over the next 10 years?”

* * * *

Thanks to you, we pushed through 180,000 visitors!  Writing a daily blog is a little like grabbing a tiger by the tail!

Well, it’s off to David!  Whoppee!

A Rainy Night in Boquete

The weather this “rainy season” in Boquete has been strange . . . not that much rain. Usually by September it is raining every afternoon, but not this year. Usually the rain is a welcome relief and a good excuse for me not to work, a chance to sit back and read a book or at night have a fire in the fireplace to take off the chill and the dampness.

My project right now is finishing the remodeling of the little casita our worker lived in, to get it ready for my brother Ed to move into. And we are making very good progress. It’s a good example of the fact that you don’t haveto spend a fortune to live in Boquete. Figuring in the value of the land, the original investment, and the remodeling, it will be a very nice 900 sq ft casita for under $35,000.

Now some business . . .

Ron, who read my “18 Rules for Retail Businesses in Panama”  had some of his own suggestions . . .

Good morning, Richard: If you ever decide to re-issue your “Eighteen Rules”, you might consider the addition of two more:

19) Never permit your employees any measure of authority or responsibility to accommodate a customer without referring the matter to management. This could lead to the dreaded state of customer satisfaction.
20) Never permit a customer to breach the barrier that isolates management from the real world where the employee interacts with the customer This could lead to management having to actually deal with a customer’s problem with the same terrible result as item 10).

A very good Panamanian friend of mine, who chooses to be anonymous, but acts as my “conscience” when I disrespect the bounds of cultural awareness and differences, responded to the same blog . . . Here’s some of what he had to say . . .

Some of your statements in my opinion are absolutely correct . . . I always have good customer service and sometimes not only good but very good . . . And I believe this has nothing to do with the store policy. I did notice alot of differences depending on who the employees were dealing with [locals or extrajeros]. . . . I wondered if you ever get a good customer service from Panamanians? To me, Panamanians are very nice people, though when it comes to been an employee in my opinion they are managed like cattle . . . Since reading this blog, now I feel as a Panamanian, that [the perception is that] we do not give a good service.

Please, share how you would manage a retail store or any other business. And very honestly, I consider you a very good critic, a man who see the both sides of the coin. It would help foreigners who plan to invest in Panama and some Panamanians who are maybe dealing with a project and have no idea of of how to manage people, or have no MBA, but simply want to start a little store.”

My friend knows how to poke me, gently, but in the right places. I promise more. There is a real need here. As I’ve mentioned before I see so many folks who want to go into business, who have a sign painted, make a logo, and open for business . . . and three months later are closed having only lost money. It’s one of the reasons I’m excited about the new university project I alluded to a few weeks ago, that eventually will make business courses available to anyone in the country with Internet access.

Lynn McKee, who has the Century 21 franchise here and in Bocas, wrote . . .

This is so funny and mostly true! Although the other day just to put it to the test I bought an ice cream sandwich in a cup which turned out to be mush when I got to the car. So I trotted back into the Romero in Bugaba and showed them my problem and was allowed to go pick another one which I took from the very back of the “freezer”. Excitedly I returned to my patiently waiting spouse in the car and opened up the new “treet” to find – yep -more mush! So I decided not to give up as I usually do and headed back one more time. I was cheerfully given my refund and an apology to go with it!

After returning to the parking space and my long suffering spouse (who hasn’t said a word about my diet) I looked out the window and saw (in the store next door) a Dos Pinos freezer in the front window! Score! I walked in with intrepidation and picked one out of the freezer, felt it and there it was, nice and frozen! At this point I didn’t even care how many times it has been frozen. It is hot out, I am hungry and I am on an ice cream mission. The nice cashier (who is surprisingly not talking on the phone or to another employee) pleasantly takes my money and actually asks me if I need a spoon (for my ice cream sandwich in a cup) to which I cheerfully respond; no Gracias, it’s perfect just like it is. Every once in while we are surprised with good service and it is, shall we say, “remarkable”. Lyn McKee

The freezer that frustrates me is Deli Baru in Boquete . . . the only place to get Häagen-Dazs . . . best diet food out there . . . usually your choice of ONE flavor, and usually frozen, thawed and refrozen, at least once!

Bonnie has a new one on logos . . .

Speaking of logos, I saw an intriguing motto painted on a service vehicle in David: “It’ll itch your ass.” Couldn’t tell what the product was, but I assume the motto is a loose translation of “It’ll tickle your fancy.”

Cartagena . . .

Reading forums on Cruise Critic you are so knowledgeable about ports in Panama and Panama Canal ports, do you have any recommendations on independent tours in Cartagena? Thanks. Marge

Sorry, Marge. With independents you pay your money and hope for the best. Sometimes they are great, and save you money . . . and sometimes they are disorganized, push you into their brother-in-law’s shop (as opposed to the “preferred stores” of the cruise line!), and once in a while they get you back to the pier after the ship has sailed. You can look for others recommendations on line, then work by email and PayPal and hope for the best, or you can let the cruise line do all the work, monitor the tour operators performance, be sure they have insurance, etc., and pay a little more, and go with a group. With only a short amount of time in a port as marvelous as Cartagena, I think the best and most efficient use of your time is to book a shore excursion with the cruise line.

Dam ship . . .

Hi Richard. I have been reading about you all through the Cruise Critic boards. Any chance you will be on the Oosterdam’s 11/2/09 transit? I hope so… Linda

Hi Linda! Right now I’m scheduled to be home until the end of November, and then I’m off on ROYAL PRINCESS until the end of March.

Embera . . .

Richard, This is our first Panama Canal cruise and so we don’t want to miss the experience of going through the locks but I did want to see the Embera Village people. Is there another place where I will see them, see the kids dance, buy their wares? Marlene

Marlene, If you are docking at Cristobal Pier in Colon there are always groups of Embera there from two different villages. They sell their craft work and usually perform dances in the area with the bar just as you come back into the pier from your tours. Their craft is usually set up right beside the gangway.

Living Will . . .

From Dixie Elwell . . .

MY LIVING WILL

Last night, my husband and I were sitting in the living room and I said to him,
‘I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and
fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.’

He got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine.

Well . . . that’s a deep subject!

Just starting to build our house this week, between David and Boquete…thanks for all the advice. Maybe we should quit while we’re ahead. But hey, I’m up for the adventure. Can you tell me if you recommend a well driller? Linda

Unfortunately, no. My advice in the Boquete area is forget drilling a well. I have two. One works . . . but only in the wet season! Guess why I spent a lot of money to drill a well . . . I wanted a back up water supply in the DRY season. I understand these guys have better luck in the lowlands.

Been there, done that . . .

Thanks for all the info on the Panama Canal. Thinking of taking the cruise in 2010. What ships do you think have the best cruise there. No children; adults 60+. Thanks, Betty

Generally, the “mass market” ships [Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL] cater more to families and havelots of kids, particularly when kids are out of school. The more expensive cruise lines will generally havefewer kids, and particularly on longer cruises. Makes sense. Most of the Panama Canal cruises are longer, and more expensive, so they rule out a lot of families. Sometimes grandparents will take all the kids and their families, but usually this is only during vacation times. You won’t find a cruise line with a “no children” policy, but generally on Holland America or Celebrity, on a longer and more expensive cruise, at a time when most kids are in school, you will have few if any kids. On ZUIDERDAM we would usually have 6-10 children, most involved in a well-run “Club HAL” program. At Christmas . . . 250 kids! In generally Holland America would be a good choice.

The marvelous Internet . . .

One of the fun things for me has been to have friends from my past with whom I have lost contact, find me online, and re-establish a connection . . . Ray Hommes, with whom I went to junior high; Richard Canter whom I worked with in college for several summers at camps; Jay Groendyke my best friend in college . . . and others who’ve stumbled on my Blog! Now two more old friends . . .

What a world this technology offers us! I won’t even try to explain how I came upon your website. Suffice it to , I did! And the first thing I read was this piece about Robert Stauter. All the memories of my AIM year came back- and more. I must say you sound well and your life full. Good for you! And mine is the same. 20 years now as a Catholic priest. And life keeps moving on, and I sometimes just try to hang on for the ride! Stay well, Richard. I will enjoy tapping into this website often to read of your adventures! Tom DeVries

Dick, What are you doing in Panama? I haven’t heard hide nor hair of you in years. I was actually looking for Henry Kwant and when I typed in his name, your piece came up. Let me know what you’ve been up to. Harry Kooyman

Did we all “get played”?

“As The World Turns in Dolega”

This is the last I will comment on this story, but since I shared the problem of the Miller’s . . . who may go down in Panama’s oral history like “Canoe Man & His Wife” . . . and in fairness to Citrico, who certainly looked like the big bad wolf and maybe does need a new PR consultant . . . here’s the latest take of Don Winner of Panama Guide [a commercial Panama news, rumour and opinion site and not just a personal blog with no financial interest, like me] . . .

“We All Got Played: Everyone who owns a website and covered this story. Everyone who wrote and email in support. Basically, I’m not happy. Can you tell? Screw this… I still get suckered into this kind of bullshit every now and again. The only difference is that now it takes me less time to figure it out.”

You can read the latest chapter on Winner’s site here.  I’ve never met these people, the Millers, and I’m sorry that the story seems to end in this way.  It certainly does illustrate both the power of Internet social communication on tools like blogs, Twitter, Facebook and the like, and the need for companies to be cognisant of and utilize electronic public relations.  It also illustrates the perils of commenting or expressing an opinion on “news” . . . but that’s a risk you always take when you express any opinion.  It’s just that online . . . it’s out there!

However, the point I made in “Things that go bump in the night” remains . . . as expats we are living in a strange country, with laws and ways of doing things and a legal system which is totally different than what most of us were accustomed to “back home”, wherever that was.  To these kind of issues . . . and the confusion of the Miller issue remains, regardless of whether or not all of the “facts” and background were disclosed in the online discussion . . . still give expats sleepless nights.

OK, on to happier things!

Well, almost!

Comments

I received this email from an unhappy Alma **** . . .

“Why are you using my name on line and private information, when I don’t know who you are.”

So after my initial thought, “Who the hell is she and what is she talking about?” I did some searching back through my blogs and found the initial comment she had posted using the “Comment” section of the blog, and it read . . .

“Could you recommend a doctor for a hernia operation? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Valma”

And the Comment showed the user name on her computer which included her last name. So, since she had read my blog and responded, she obviously knew who I was. When I responded to her question I did not use her last name and just answered her question as best I could.

Well I removed her initial “Comment” post, and we are now friends . . . again, and hopefully her surgery went well. But to this Valma, and all the thousands of other Valmas out there, just remember that when you post a comment on blogs and Web sites it is likely that it is going to be “public” and online for all to see.

Arthur asked,

We are booked on the 10 day Panama trip on the Zuiderdam in November. I have narrowed down Gatun Lake tours (51/2 hrs) to either the Gatun Lake Safari or the Canal Experience. What advice can you give me?

Hi Art! You’ll enjoy the ZUIDERDAM and the cruise! Answers at http://richarddetrich.wordpress.com/canal-cruise/  Just FYI, neither tour is generally sold out before the ship sails, so don’t feel pressured to have to book on line. If you like you can wait and chat with the shore ex people and listen to the lecturer, and make up your mind then.

Concerns from Down Under

Dear Richard, I don’t want to sound like a repeat album but I am an Australian citizen travelling on a cruiseship AND going on a pre organised tour to Miraflores THEN REBOARDING THE SHIP IN colon. I AM WONDERING ….Do I need a tourist card for Panama.??? The embassies don’t talk about cruise ship situations or maybe you know a link that does.?? We appreciate people like you who help the misinformed or not so informed like us !! I Blame it on the cruise lines for not wanting to commit an answer. They should tell us what docs are required. Many Thanks once again, Mel cruise person. !!

Mel, The “Port Paper Officer” on the ship prepares a pile of paperwork for the Canal and Panama authorities with print outs of crew info and guest info. Generally they don’t want to see anyone or any passports, unless Interpol is looking for you or something. The cruise line should be able to advise you of what you need . . . and I’d push them hard for an answer.

I have never seen anyone actually checking anything for tour guests. If you have your cabin key card and a copy of your passport I would think you would be fine. I knew Aussie crew members who were on and off in Panama all the time, and I don’t think they had any special visa.

I know you don’t need to purchase the tourist card when you are on a cruise ship and get off for a tour. I doubt very much that you need any special visa, but the cruise line has the final answer since they must answer to the local authorities.

Tired of the Samba in Brazil

I JUST FOUND YOUR WEBSITE AND I AM TRYING TO READ IT COMPLETELY. OF COURSE IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME AS THERE IS A LOT TO READ. I AM CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL. AN AMERICAN TRANSPLANT FROM DESTIN FLORIDA WHO HAS LIVED HERE FOUR YEARS. I HAVE MADE A TRIP TO COSTA RICA AND RULED OUT THAT AREA. I HAVE MADE TWO TRIPS TO PANAMA AND HAVE DRIVEN FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER AND RULED OUT ALL AREAS BUT THE DAVID AREA. I AM AMAZED AT THE REALTORS AND HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND PROPERTIES. I WONDER IF YOU HAVE NOTICED THE PROPERTY ON THE RIGHT AS YOU COME FROM BOQUETE TO DAVID CALLED ****. I HAVE STOPPED BY THERE AND SPOKEN WITH THE OWNER/BUILDER. HE STARTED AT **** AND HAS NOW COME DOWN TO **** AND I THINK HE COULD DROP TO **** BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SECURITY AS THERE IS NO GATED ENTRANCE AT THIS TIME AND I WONDER IF WE EVER WENT TO A MOVIE WOULD WE RETURN HOME TO FIND THINGS MISSING? THERE IS NO YARD AND THE ROCKY SOIL SOMETIMES MAKE ME THINK PLANTING A TREE IN THE YARD MAY REQUIRE DYNAMITE. SINCE I LOVE A NICE YARD WITH PLANTS I MAY HAVE TO REQUEST A LOT OF DYNAMITE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE AREA AND ARE THERE MUCH BETTER AREAS TO PURCHASE?

MY HOUSE IN BRASIL IS 5 BEDROOMS, 5 BATHS AND A PRETTY WELL LOADED WITH CREATURE COMFORTS SUCH AS JACUZZI AND SAUNA. IT IS 406 SQ METERS (4076 SQ FT) IF YOU INCLUDE THE HUGE VERANDAH AND 334 SQ METERS (3594 SQ FT) IF YOU DON’T COUNT THE VERANDAH. THE PROPERTY IS 1400 SQ METERS. THE BEST I CAN SELL IT FOR IS **** DOLLARS. YES, IT IS TOO LARGE FOR ONLY 2 PERSONS. IT IS HARD TO LEAVE THE NICE HOME TO GO TO DAVID BECAUSE I WOULD BE GOING DOWN IN SIZE AND INTO THE UNKNOWN OF THE AREA. SOME OF THE REASONS TO THINK ABOUT MOVING FROM BRASIL ARE THE EXPENSES OF THE AREA DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT IS FLUCTUATING CURRENCY. WHEN I PURCHASED MY HOME IT WAS ONE DOLLAR EQUALED 2.7 REAIS AND NOW IT HAS DROPPED TO 1.83 REAIS. LAST YEAR CAR TAXES/PLATE COST $875.00 AND HOUSE TAXES WERE $425.00 GASOLINE IS $5.55 PER GALLON BUT ALCOHOL (WHAT I USE IN MY FLEX ECOSPORT) IS $3.40 PER GALLON. FOOD IS VERY REASONABLE BUT RESTAURANTS ARE GETTING HIGHER ALL THE TIME. PASTA DISHES AT THE MALL FOR 2 IS $22.00 INCLUDING MANDATORY 10% TIP…… A BRAZILIAN BARBECUE RESTAURANT IS A LOT OF FOOD AND 2 CAN EAT THERE FOR $49.00 INCLUDING TIP. ANY VISAS FROM THE GOVERNMENT ARE VERY DEMANDING, INCONVENIENT AND COST YOU OUT THE YING YANG. IF I STAY HERE MY NEXT VISA WILL COST ME ABOUT $3,300.00 AND IT WILL BE VALID FOR 2 YEARS BUT WITH SOME RENEWAL FEES WILL BECOME PERMANENT.

SINCE YOU ARE STILL THERE YOU MUST FIND IT ENJOYABLE. WHAT ADVISE DO YOU HAVE FOR ME? STAY PUT OR MOVE TO DAVID? BEST REGARDS, RAY

First of all, Ray, Ray, Ray . . . LEARN TO USE THE DAMN SHIFT KEY! When you write online in capital letters IT IS SHOUTING!! . . . and bad form. Now, Ray sent me pictures of his gorgeous home in the mountains outside of Rio!! I think his house is now under contract, but it was beautiful! So here’s my response . . .

First, ****. Right now nothing is selling and I’m sure you could get a “deal”, but is that really where you want to live? Frankly, I’m not impressed by the development or the location. The yard in your home in Brazil looks lovely! It’s not just the rocky soil at ****, but it is the wind. We get strong Northerly winds in the dry season, winds peaking around January, February, March, and I mean STRONG winds!! Some areas nothing grows except a few types of trees. We have a friend who has a gorgeous home overlooking the quebrada (in the same area) . . she has tried all sorts of things, and spent lots of money on plants . . . all of which have died. About the only thing that grows is ficus . . . which could be why the landscaping there looks a little bleak.

The only development with any kind of real security in Valle Escondido . . . just sticking up a gate, and a gate house, and a few Price Smart cameras, with a sleeping guard isn’t going to do much. And Valle Escondido has even had occasional problems. But if you come back home and are suspicious . . . we never were . . . but we have friends there who have called security, security has come out with a shotgun and gone through the house first to be sure it is “clear.” Just having a guard means nothing if he has three jobs and sleeps all night. Valle Escondido has guards, fences, a naturally protected setting, and patrols all night. When we lived there I sometimes got calls from neighbors who were out of the country, and when they left they had forgotten to lock all the windows . . . and Valle Escondido security called them.

Boquete has tons of micro climates, so you need to do your homework. For instance where we now live in Palmira it is VERY dry during the dry season, and windy. Whereas in Boquete you get almost daily bajarique in the later afternoon. Over around Arco Iris it rains constantly. So you need to check things out and see what fits your expectations and lifestyle.

Your house in Brazil looks awesome!! There are always folks in the expat community who are looking to move on, maybe it’s just that the grass on the other side always looks greener, or it’s that their situation has changed, or they just like new adventures and new cultures. You might think about joining Boquete.org and listing your Brazilian place there. You just might find someone with a nice home in Boquete who’d like to try Brazil, or even work out a home exchange for 6 months with someone to see if you like it here, and if they like Brazil.

Prices are going up in Panama as well because we use the US dollar and as the dollar devalues, and since we import a lot, prices go up. The price of oil is another factor. Right now diesel is about $2.47 a gallon. It costs me about $80 to renew my car registration. A pasta dinner is going to run about $20-22 at Valle del Rio, plus mandatory 10% tip. A Brazilian barbecue is a whole lot of fantastic food: I can taste it now, and you guys have good beef! Dinner at Panamonte, probably the nicest restaurant in town, is going to run about $55 with tax and tip. You can of course eat at Central Park or Sabrosa (local Panamanian places) for less than $4 a person. So it is a matter of choice. The reason to come to Panama is the lifestyle, not the cost.

We like it here. It’s not perfect, but no place is. Hope that helps!

OK, now I’ve got to stop having fun and go get some work done!

Celebrating 95 Years . . . in The Dentist’s Chair

Happy 95th!

Yesterday was the 95th Anniversary of the first transit of the Panama Canal by the SS ANCON in 1914.

Although the building of the Canal had been a worldwide dream, and although the whole world watched the failed efforts of the French, and the successful US effort to ,in effect , “sponsor” a revolution to acquire rights to build a Canal, and then bring off one of the greatest engineering feats in history, even to this day. . .  the actual opening of the Canal was eclipsed as a news story by news of a world on the brink of war.

Although I won’t be on a ship doing the Panama Canal this season, I decided to use some of my time off to reread the three primary books about the Canal including Matthew Parker’s PANAMA FEVER which I had not read before.   

If you are only going to read one book before taking a Panama Canal cruise the one I would recommend is PANAMA FEVER instead of the oft-recommended, including by me, tome by David Mc Cullough, THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS.  Parker gives equal time to the awesome effort and tragedy of the French attempt and is a much more readable and engaging work than THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS.

So if you’re planning a Canal cruise, here’s the reading list . . .

David McCullough, THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS – “The” definitive history of the construction of the Panama Canal. A little tedious at points. As the Captain of the ZUIDERDAM once told me, while he was reading McCullough, “It puts me to sleep.” If you get through the first 200 pages, you will be hooked.

Douglas Galbraith, THE RISING SUN – No, it’s not about Japan. “The Rising Sun” was the name of a Scottish ship that established the first settlement in Panama with high hopes of digging a canal by hand! Based on actual notes of the expedition’s clerk who was one of the few to survive, this is a fantastic historical novel and amazingly is a “first book.”

Matthew Parker, PANAMA FEVER – Another version of “The epic story of one of the greatest human achievements of all time – the building of the Panama Canal.” Of the three books – McCullough, Green, and this one, this, in my humble opinion, is the most interesting read. If you are only going to read one, this would be my recommendation.

Julie Green, THE CANAL BUILDERS – The newest “groundbreaking history of the Panama Canal offers a revelatory workers’-eye view of the momentous undertaking and shows how it launched America’s Twentieth-Century empire.” Heavy on the sociology of the social stratification during the building of the Canal. Helped me understand the genesis of some of the issues we still face in Panama.

Almost a million passages have been made between the oceans using the Canal since it opened, and sometime next year . . . probably the ZUIDERDAM and I won’t be there!! . . . the millionth ship will make the passage. And what will happen? Free passage? Probably not. Probably just balloons and free key chains. The big celebration will be in on the 100th anniversary and when the new Canal expansion project is completed.

So how did I celebrate?

In the dentist’s chair in David having implants put in. Yuk! My dentist is great, but his assistants . . . I think graduated from the Dick Cheney International Correspondence School of Waterboarding. I grimace at the cost . . . $1500 per implant. However a dentist from St. Louis who was on the ZUIDERDAM last year told me how much he charges . . . and told me my dentistry in Panama was a bargain. This could be the reason why medical tourism for elective proceedures and dentistry is becoming a big business in Panama.

Ok, I’m off for another pain pill, and to smell and drool over my wife’s left over supper while I feast on yogurt and soup.

Authentic Embera Indian Village Tour

This is my favorite Panama tour for a number of reasons:

• It is an authentic cultural experience, visiting folks who are trying to preserve a lifestyle that has existed pretty much the same since before Columbus came to the Americas.   That’s tough in a country rapidly moving from “second” to “first” world status.
• It is something “right out of  NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC” and unique to Panama.
• These are warm, welcoming people who love to share their heritage and since their homeland is now part of the Panama national park system are unable to hunt as they traditionally have done and support themselves from tourism.  It is a good model for sustainable tourism which has been good for the Embera, good for the country, good for the environment and good for Panama.
• These people are our friends and in large part the reason why we discovered Panama as a retirement destination.
• This tour is a unique experience and folks come back to the ship saying things like, “That was the best shore excursion I have taken – ever” and “That was the best experience of my life.”

There are about 7 Embera Puru villages in Chagres National Park that are used by the various tour operators.  You never know which village(s) are going to be used.  Often, so as not to overwhelm a single village, a ship will use several villages.  The decision as to which village will be used is made by the tour operator, the Embera village chiefs, and environmental considerations such as the depth of the rivers that must be navigated to reach the villages.   And to answer the question guests always ask, “No, there are no highways to the villages that you can’t see.  They are what they are.”  The villages are different.  Some have very primitive facilities for guests and others have put in flush toilets and tiled bathrooms for guests.  I prefer the primitive!  The villages are all authentic where the people live and work.  Some have small schools in the villages or nearby that are provided by the government.  A few have Peace Corps workers in residence.  There are variations in the traditions of the villages in terms of dress and ceremonies, but they are all pretty much the same. 

I have a friend who is the head of the anthropology department of a European university who has studied the effect of tourism on the Embera.  His research indicates that it has been very positive.  Traditionally in Panama Indians are looked down on, and particularly the Embera since they were viewed as being more “primitive” because of their style of dress, or lack of dress.  Suddenly these people are popping up on tourism posters and videos and the country is waking up to the tremendous treasure of Indigenous peoples.

There is little oral history of the Embera people.  Long before borders, and long before the creation of a country called Panama, these folks lived primarily in what is called Columbia, and remember that before the US-encouraged “revolution” in 1904, Panama wasColumbia.  Today the Embera are strongest in the Darien region along the Columbian border, but about 50 years ago a few Embera, looking for a better way of life, came down from the Darien and settled in the Chagres River areas of Panama, in and around what is today known Lake Alajuela originally constructed by damming the Chagres by the US as an additional water reserve for the Canal, and known as Madden Lake. Several of these pioneers worked for the US Army teaching jungle survival techniques to soldiers and the first US astronauts.

In spite of this valuable contribution, many of the US Zonians looked down on the Embera, primarily because they dressed with few clothes. They were looked on as savages, and there are accounts of people who grew up in the Zone who were told by their parents not to leave the US Canal Zone because there were “savages” and “cannibals” living in the jungles.

These were hunter, gatherer people who, yes, did use arrows dipped in poison made from some of Panama’s notorious poison tree frogs. They settled around Madden Lake and the tributaries that fed the dam. They hunted, farmed, and fished, fish being one of the staples of the Embera diet. After the US turned over the Canal and US-occupied territory to Panama, Panama realized the rain forest and watershed around the Canal was essential to Canal operation, and so much of the area, including the areas in which the Embera had lived, suddenly became protected national park. So, no more agriculture and no more hunting. This was a bleak and hungry period for the Embera who suddenly saw their livelihood taken from them. A few adventure tourism groups began visiting the jungle villages, and eventually tourism has become the livelihood of the Embera living in the Chagres. They welcome tour groups to the villages where they live, introduce guests to Embera culture and sell their amazing hand-crafted baskets and carvings.

This is not a “Polynesian Cultural Center”: these are real Embera living in real villages who are committed to preserving a traditional lifestyle and sharing their traditional values and art with the more “civilized” world. They are articulate, sensitive, intelligent people who are very aware of the world outsidetheir village, yet manage to preserve a culture, and maybe even an innocence that is welcoming and accepting of others who come from outside and who have different lifestyles and values.

I have often pointed out to my friend, Erito Barrigon, who is the chief of one of the villages, how ironic it is that here he lives in a tiny palm hut in the middle of the jungle, and people come from all over the world to listen and hang onto his every word.

If you are on a cruise, or visiting Panama, a visit to an Embera village is an experience not to be missed. It is like stepping into the pages of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. It is an experience that is unique to Panama. And the amazing, and tragic, thing is that so few Panamanians have ever taken advantage of the opportunity to visit and get to know their Embera neighbors.

The Embera Puru community of San Juan, with only 123 people, is the least touristy of the Embera villages, probably because it is a little more difficult to reach, but these are wonderful people, warm, hospitable and anxious to share. It is well worth a visit!

Passengers on cruise ships stopping in Panama often have the opportunity of visiting an Embera village. You can also make the journey yourself. From Panama City you take the road to Colon, outside the city past where Corridor Norte intersects the road to Colon, you turn off to the tiny village of Nuevo Vigia, on Lago Alajue or Madden Lake. From here you take a dug out canoe across the lake and up the river for a spectacular 1.5 hour trip. On our most recent trip we saw amazing birds, turtles, even a monkey and a huge alligator!

Anne Barrigon [ http://www.emberavillagetours.com ] does conduct independent tours to the authentic Embera Indian village at Rio San Juan de Pequini. You can contact Anne directly for information. Hers is an interesting story. In 1956 five missionaries were killed in Equador and their story was immortalized in a book written by the wife of one of the martyred missionaries called, “THROUGH GATES OF SPENDOR.” In 2004 a Christian movie company decided to make a movie about that story and used the Embera village of Rio San Juan de Pequini as a setting for filming, using the Embera to play the role of the Ecuadorian Indians. The movie was eventually released in 2006 as “THE END OF THE SPEAR.” Anne Barrigon worked on the film . . . and ended up falling in love with and later marrying one of the Embera men.

And and her husband live in Panama City and she conducts tours to the village. Prices depend on the number of participants, but for 6 to 8 people run around $75-90 per person.

I recommend getting to Nuevo Vigia about 9:00am which will put you back about 4:00pm. The Embera have spectacular baskets and carvings that they offer for sale at the village. Tourist money is pooled but the money from the craft work goes directly to the seller. Take enough money because the Indians don’t take American Express, or Visa or Mastercard, just US dollars (which isthe Panamanian balboa).   Ship guests would always complain to me, “Richard, you should have told me to take along more money!  There were so many beautiful things I wanted to buy!”  Take some money and spread it around.  Don’t assume . . . well, I paid $95 for the tour . . . of that amount only about $15 goes to the Embera tribe.  And if you buy something, have your picture taken with the person who made it: it will make the souvenir so much more meaningful!  And this is not Mexico, so don’t bargain.  Sometimes the artist will offer you a “special price” on the spot: take it!  If not, it is polite to say you really like something and ask for a “special price” and they may knock off 5%.  Some of my worst souvenirs are where I beat someone down on the price to save $5 . . . and then went back on the ship and dropped $20 into the slot machines without thinking.  Am I shilling?  YOU BET!  These are my friends and when you see the quality of the craftsmanship, you will be happy to pay them for their work.

You will be amazed to learn of the many plants the Embera use for natural healing and to hear the stories of modern pharmaceutical companies who have visited to learn the secrets of jungle plants.

Flak and Flattery

One of the things I most enjoy about bloggingis the interaction with readers, whether in the comments you make online, or the emails I get. So keep talking: I’m listening!

Our poor, undernourished and underpaid Congress . . .
Mea culpa! Jeff Simon sent me a cute forward complaining about the US Congress and Social Security and I mistakenly reprinted it because I thought it was cute, funny and generally pointed out a problem in the US. I did not fact check it and it turns out it is one of those Internet things that takes on a life of its own and is filled with inaccuracies, and that was my mistake.

Jo-Ann Simon, who assures me she is no relation to Jeff Simon, called me to task. . .

The letter you posted from Jeff Simon (no relation!) contains many falsehoods, the main one being that congressmen do not pay into social security. They do, and they also pay into their pension plan. No argument that they are compensated far more than the average American and seem to be only screwing things up…but still, we need to be careful what we post. You can check all claims on snopes.com or factcheck.org , and here are a couple of links that refer specifically to this issue: http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/pensions.asp
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/do_members_of_congress_pay_social_security.html

 So in defference to all of those Congress people who work long hours for peanuts, and whose only interest in life is serving the people, while getting no reward for themselves, and who have accomplished so much to make the US the country it is today . . . I should have checked.  So what that these guys and gals who retire are only getting $4,063.50 per month on average, and I’m getting $1,600, and a lot of people are getting a whole lot less than I am . . . but Congress people deserve the government largess since they have sacrificed so much to make our government as efficient and effective as it is, and vote for their own pay and pension plans, and they are working so hard to proactively solve all the nation’s problems.

Which tour on “Canal Day”?

Richard, I have read many of your posts on Cruise Critic. I was wondering if you could give me an opinion. We are on the Island Princess Nov 20th and have narrowed down to 2 tours that I have listed below. I wish there was a combination. We will go thru the Gatun locks and will see those and thought the train may give us more of the Panama “flavor”. Otherwise we will be on a boat the whole time. Maybe neither are very good. I am open to your thoughts. Thanks, Pat Gibson – “Carolina Cruise”

Panama Canal Railway Journey (1938 Vintage Deluxe Observation Car) – Travel the hemisphere’s first transcontinental railroad, built in 1855, and see the Panama Canal in style in a deluxe railway car.
Board your transportation for the short transfer from the tender dock to the Colon railroad station. Originally built in 1855, this first transcontinental railroad was restored in 2001 and features elegant, air-conditioned cars. Your dome car has an upper deck withfull-length observation windows and booth seating, as well as two restrooms and a bar. Leave the Colon station on your approximately one-hour-and-15-minute trip to the Pacific terminus of the Panama Canal, passing Gatun Lake and the isthmus’ dense rainforest. Your guide provides commentary on the railroad, Panamanian history, and the canal. Arriving on the Pacific Coast, board your air-conditioned transportation for a scenic drive that takes in Fort Clayton, former headquarters for the US Southern Command; the Panama Canal Authority headquarters; and the old U.S. Navy base at Amador. Stop on the Amador Causeway to enjoy views of Panama City and the Pacific. The final stop is at the new MirafloresVisitors Center. View an interesting film about the Panama Canal and spend some time on the observation deck with an official Panama Canal guide who will explain how the canal operates. A complimentary light snack and beverage will be served on the train portion of the tour. SPECIAL NOTES There are no pre-assigned seats and capacity is limited. The train may operate only in one direction and by bus in the other. The drive back to the ship is approximately one hour. Tour sequence may vary. Ship sightings in the locks are not guaranteed.

OR

Panama Canal Experience By Boat – Experience the full wonder of the Panama Canal with a partial crossing of the canal by tour boat. Travel by ship’s tender to the Gatun Yacht Club, where you board air-conditioned transportation for the drive through the isthmus to Gamboa. Embark on your ferry tour boat for a partial transit of the canal. Cruise through the GaillardCut where you crossthe Continental Divide. Enter the Pedro Miguel Locks, which lowers your vessel 28 feet on its way to the Pacific. Sail across Miraflores Lake to the Miraflores Locks, which lowers your tour boat the final 56 feet, matching the level of the Pacific Ocean. A light lunch is available during your scenic cruise. Your cruise ends at the port of Balboa in Panama City, where you board your air-conditioned ground transportation for the return trip to the ship. SPECIAL NOTES Tour duration varies. Canal transits are scheduled and controlled by the Panama Canal Authority. The return drive from Panama City to the ship is approximately one hour and 15 minutes. The transit itinerary for this tour is subject to change depending on your cruise ship’s transit times through the locks.

Hi Pat! I’ve included your information from the Princess tour book . . . and since the cruise lines all use the same few companies it is the same for everyone . . . because I think both descriptions are very accurate. People who come back to the ships with complaints are usually those who haven’t read or listened to the information provided.

The train is a train. If you are into trains, or want limited walking, it’s good. You catch GLIMPSES of the Canal. The original Panama Railroad was on the other side of the Chagres and is, of course, now under the Canal. The present day railraod exists mainly to move containers from one side of the Isthmus to the other, and was never designed as a “tourist” route. The one passenger train has US rolling stock from the sixties. The Miraflores Visitor Center is where we take out-of-town friends who want to see the Canal, but it doesn’t compare to the experience of actually being in the Canal on a large cruise ship!

Given the choice between these two tours, I would definitely opt for the “Panama Canal Experience by Boat.” Going through locks on a small ferry boat gives you a totally different impression than you will have from taking the ISLAND PRINCESS through Gatun Locks! You can actually reach out and touch the walls of the Canal.

Cruise Comments . . .

Richard, Thank you for taking the time to gather the information pertaining to my Embera basket. I am thrilled I now have complete details. I was surprised and honored to see my picture included on your blog. That was very nice of you. I will be returning to Panama on the QM2, Dec. 1, 2009. I never thought I’d be getting back so soon. I haven’t seen the tours offered, but I will select one of them. Unfortunately the QM2 is too large to go into the canal. I read on CC that you will be with Princess next contract term. Definitely HAL’s loss. Best wishes with your new assignment; change is refreshing. Regards, Beverly Achenberg

Thanks, Beverly! Have a great time on QM2! The QM2 has been in Ft Lauderdale with us a couple of times, but I have not been on board. The last time I was on a Cunard ship was back before Carnival bought Cunard on one of the many, many partial remodels of the QE2. Hope our paths cross again! Regards, Richard

My wife Carla and I were aboard Zuiderdam in Feb, 2009, and both agree it was the best of our 4 cruises so far. Your tour background programs on the ship’s TV station and in person were priceless and one key reason for our love of this cruise. You obviously enjoy your work and it shows. Will we see you on any other Holland America ships? Ah, I just read you will be on Princess this winter. We are shooting for another HA cruise before year end. Thanks for your great tour info on our Panama Canal cruise. Rich Huizenga

Thank you Rich! I’m not done withHolland America and I sure hope they aren’t done with me! I’d really like to get on the Inaugural Season of the new NIEUW AMSTERDAM. Hope we see you again on another Dam ship . . . or Love Boat! Regards, Richard

Old sections of Panama City . . .

Jan had asked about “Old Panama” and Casco Viejo, and Olivia has some advice . . .

this is some information for Jan that would like to visit casco viejo in september. i too, have problems such as you mentioned with mobility. i live in panama and have stayed in casco viejo in september. my advice is to have a private guide meet you at the ship and take you around at your own pace. i know of a very reliable one that speaks englishand i have used him. he would probably park and walk with you if needed.very reasonably priced! it is humid in septemberbut the ocean breeze and daily shower will cool you off. take an umbrella with you. be sure to get an ice cream cone if you go there..best ever! good luck.
olivia

Kerri Ann’s arachnophobia . . .

Hi Richard!~ ok, I don’t know if I am leaving a message in the right place or not….so please forgive me if I am not! I am just not all that great on the computer and can’t seem to find a general forum to write you a note. Anyhoo….I LOVE your site, my husband and I are just tickled that we came across it because we are thinking of moving to Panama sometime in 2010 (we live on Long Island right now) …now, I have searched all of your site…and have gotten a wealthof info, just about everything we could wish to know about the place….except one thing! So, give it to me straight….what kind of bugs do I honestly have to worry about running into?? I mean, will I be up screaming nightly with a flip flop in hand ready to attack as I summon my husband to take care of some bratty little intruder? Or wait….I guess I would be the intruder wouldn’t I ?!~ Now I am totally aware of the fact that the tropics=bugs….yes, I get it….just curious how often they come to scare the crap out of us New Yorkers who are used to seeing nothing more than an annoying summer beetle or a rare spider chillin’ in the corner of the ceiling?? Just curious what I am up against and how many pairs of flip flops I will need!

cheers !~ Keep up the great work with your beautiful site! see you soon neighbor

In all honesty, we have every kind of bug you can think of and being in a tropical rain forest, more bugs than anywhere else in the world. But . . . you learn to live with them and be amazed since you are always discovering a new one! Like anywhere else, we spray the house every three months with a pesticide that kills bugs and is harmless to us and our animals. Periodically we spray around the outside as well, and our farm workers are always getting rid of ant colonies near the house. But you learn to live with bugs and occasionally to take off your flip flops and wack one. In the tropics you come to understand that there are more of them, in numbers and volume, than there are of you, so you come to an understanding. Do your thing bugs . . . just stay out of my house. On the plus side . . . incredible moths and butterflies. My “butterfly garden” looks like a freeway in rush hour at high noon!

And the guy in the picture . . . was in the carport, not in the house.