Panama
Parting Ways with Panama
One last trip to the big city to return our rental car, check out with immigration and bus back to the marina in San Carlos. Bye-bye Panama! As you read this, Cindy and I are sailing approximately 1,000 miles or 7 days to Galapagos. We have finally left Panama after a very long enjoyable stay […]
Feeding the Traffic
While Mark negotiates the traffic at rush hour, I have time to take it all in. We know our way around now so my navigation duties are on hiatus. I came to a realization while sitting in traffic in Panama yesterday. The reason there is so much fast, erratic driving back home in the USA […]
We are Tourists
Before we arrive in a new place I like to read about the etiquette. It is important to me that I don’t upset anyone or their values. Recently an article I was reading had a paragraph about how to fit in and not stand out as a tourist. It occurred to me that I can […]
Check Ups
A warning to any readers in the United States, this is probably going to upset you. If it doesn’t, it should. In previous posts, I have mentioned more than once about getting Cream Puff ready for our next passage. We are getting ready to go to the boonies. The next two legs will be […]
2019 in Review
I think we might have broken a record in 2019. We only sailed about 700 miles. For two people on a wacky sailing adventure traveling the world, this is pretty pathetic. This has to be some sort of new record. So, why didn’t we move very far? The simple answer is we fell in love […]
Lunch With Friends
We are hanging about on the Puffster. Okay, technically we are not just hanging about. We are working our butts off for a jaunt to Galapagos and French Polynesia. Cindy has done a ton of research about what is available and what is not available on these islands regarding food. I am guessing […]
Crazy Stuff
My brain just gave me a presentation. I had no idea it had access to PowerPoint. One of the slides it emphasized was stating I had 125 days this year where I was sleep-deprived. I disagreed. I said it was 126 because having this conversation in the middle of the night wasn’t going to help. […]
We’re Going to Buenos Aries
Buenos Aries has been on the bucket list for a while. Often referred to as the Paris of the Americas, I have long wanted to see if it lives up to the reputation. It is quite a long hop from Panama to Buenos Aries, about 7 hours by plane on a direct flight. We’ve watched […]
Pacing in Panama
Why do credit cards have an expiration date? It isn’t like they are going to go stale, moldy, lose their nutritional value, or crumble because of age. Imagine the money the card companies could save if they abolished the expiration date or considered tripling it to extend years into the future. They would no longer […]
Sloths, Bus Stops and Air Conditioning
A visit to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort proved to be a fun day. The resort is a favorite for eco-tourists. As you would expect by the name, it is set in the rainforest on the Chagres River. The hotel offers all sorts of tours for guests and visitors. The attractions that really got our attention […]
Puttering About Panama
I think Panamanian people are born with an umbrella attached to their hand. The few times we ventured off without our umbrella, we’ve been forced to pay the price. Most recently when we went shopping at a massive shopping complex called Albrook Mall, we found ourselves stranded inside for a couple of hours due to […]
Boquete – Panama
The five and a half-hour drive to Boquete treated us to panoramic vistas of the lush green mountainous Panamanian countryside. The main road up and down Panama is the Panamericana Highway. Once away from Panama City the road becomes much less congested and the four-lane blacktop smooth highway makes for an easy drive. In Panama, […]
I Guess We’re Going to Gamboa
It’s funny how sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry. And then, as if by magic, things work out and the day is one to remember. The rain here in Panama has started to become a little more frequent as we progress deeper into the rainy season. Having to look at the weather for any […]
Mystery Solved!
We have been stumped by something recently. Every time we go to a fast-food restaurant, a manager has come to the cash register and enters a code. The total price goes down a little bit. At first, we thought we might be doing something wrong when we placed our orders. But, how can we be […]
Visa Renewal in Panama
Panama has become a top destination for expats. There are good reasons for this. The cost of living here is very reasonable. Healthcare is excellent and affordable. Gaining a visa or residency permit (not the same thing as a citizenship) is not very difficult. And, there are tons of special benefits for expats and retirees. […]