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Panama’s Country Shut Down by Indians

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 06:45:17 -0500

The Indians of Panama are protesting again. They are protesting against the development of mines in their lands, as well as the hydroelectric projects which are destroying the beautiful countryside.

I don’t blame these people but their methods are extremely devastating to the future of Panama. Panama has been taken hostage by these people as they have blocked the only road connecting the Western part of the country to the Eastern part, where Panama City lies. To the West, is the province of Chiriqui which is the breadbasket of Panama. Goods from the province are remaining in the province and milk, vegetables, fruits, meat, etc. are unable to reach Panama City. However, fuel in Chiriqui has been depeleted and no one is able to travel very far.

My parents went for a three day holiday last week. This holiday has turned into a nightmare for them. They left last Sunday from Boquete to go to Santa Catalina. While they had a wonderful time there, their return to Boquete has devalued the positive part of that trip. For three days, they were stranded in Santiago and stayed at the Hacienda Hotel. They were not the only ones. Several first-time tourists to Panama were there as well, and were very unhappy with the situation. Some people save up for vacation and plan their holidays around the limited days they have as time off work. Unfortunately, the Indians and the Panamanian government don’t seem to care about this.

Since Wednesday, February 1, 2o12, the Panamerican Highway has been blocked in about 4 or 5 locations between Santiago and Bocas del Toro. Even the road between David and Boquete has been blocked in one location. No one will be able to go anywhere until the situation is resolved.

My parents left the hotel yesterday for Playa Blanca. Fortunately, I have good friends who are there and they offered accommodation for as long as this is going to take. I leave for Panama Monday, and I worry that the situation will cause much disruption in airports, buses, taxis. Panama City still has fuel and travel between Panama and Santiago appears to be unaffected. Thus, I too, will be heading for Playa Blanca to stay with friends, until further notice.

Canada vs. Panama Crime

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:22:09 -0500

Many people actually believe that Canada is a safe country. Well, I can tell you that this is the furthest thing from the truth. I have lived outside Canada for over 17 years and I’ve never experienced personal violation, theft, or damages outside of Canada as I have just experienced in Canada.

I have been robbed in Canada. During my lifetime in Canada, I have had two incidents with guns pointed to my head, I have had two home robberies while being present inside the house, and now most recently, I have been thieved of personal information and valuable sentimental items (family heirlooms) of significant monetary and emotional value.

I am currently in Canada trying to investigate a theft of my belongings and come to some resolutions. My personal belongings were placed in a mini storage facility. The contract with the Mini Storage facility shows that they were placed and secured on December 17 2011. Two suitcases containing valuables were stolen from the locker and a good samaritan found these suitcases in a field January 4, 2012. The contents of the suitcases were strewn everywhere in the snow. He believed they had been there for some time. He notified police immediately but they never investigated the matter beyond a few telephone calls, none of which were to me. I was informed by the front desk clerk of the mini storage company of vague details. The individual who placed the items into storage is the one and only suspect yet the police have done nothing to pursue the matter. They did not recuperate my stolen property (when they said they had) and they took weeks to communicate with me.

Three weeks after the incident was reported, I was finally provided with the details by the police, and decided it was necessary to fly from Panama to Canada. It is here, I found that nothing had been done to pursue the suspects and nothing had been done to recuperate my property. I found my suitcases lying in the snow, with personal papers and clothing strewn everywhere. The police claimed they could not find the site which was so easy to find, and so easy to drive to with a 4x4 pickup truck.

The corruption and lack of integrity in our local law enforcement makes living in Canada questionable. I made the decision to move back to Canada last year, but this incident forces me to question my sanity and consider reversing my decision.

Panama has been safe for me, thus far. I don’t preach that it is totally safe and secure as petty thievery exists there as well. I do not feel however, the same violation as I have repetitively experience in Canada....unfortunately.

Wake Up with Makeup available in Boquete

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:11:02 -0500

It wasn’t until this particular season when my mother bought a coupon book from the local recycling group, that I found out there were so many “beauty” offerings in Boquete. Included in the coupon book were discounts for laser facial rejuvenation, manicures and pedicures, acrylic nails, and permanent makeup. All of these treatments in Canada cost more than double what it cost in Boquete, and the quality is no better.
So I decided to take advantage and remove some telltale age spots from my face, and have Santiago, the “permanent” makeup artist, do my brows, eyes and lips. They don’t look all that great now as it has been only 2 days since the treatment took place. My lips are swollen and the shape looks a bit rough but after about a week, they should look like this:

To have the option of all these beauty treatments in tiny Boquete is fabulous and the specialists are finding that there are many interested clients. I thought I was going to be one of the few people, taking advantage of Santiago’s services, and the laser treatments, however, I now know of several people who have proceeded and loved their results.
Permanent makeup is great and although some may think the cost to be high, the benefits far outweigh the pain and costs. Permanent cosmetics are ideal for anyone who is:
• Currently using eyebrow pencils, eyeliner or lip liner.
• Allergic to conventional cosmetics
• Finding it difficult to apply makeup due to a visual or physical impairment (this is me)
• Wanting to camouflage a scar or recreate an areola after a mastectomy
• Wanting to save time putting on make up
• Have alopecia

So, this is just one more reason why places like Boquete are very popular to visit and live!

Paradise for Weather, Riding, and Friends

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:06:45 -0500

I was asked recently how long I had been in Panama and I kept repeating that it was something like four (4) years. Actually, it has been five (5) years and it is now going on to six (6). When I first moved abroad, aI was told that a person is truly not adapted to their environment until they have been away from home for at least 3-4 years. I left Canada in 1994, 18 years ago. I have recently decided that I need to repatriate, but only for financial, and economical reasons. I truly do enjoy being away from the cold live of Canada, in Paradise.

What happened a few days ago was that some friends arranged to go horseback riding up a mountain trail, to the Tree Trek location, where a restaurant and Zip Line operation exists. None of the riders were interested in the Zip Line, but the restaurant promised a nice mid-ride stopping point. The one thing that we cannot predict in Panama, is the weather. We can hope for the summer season to continue offering sunshine, blue skies and fresh winds, however, it doesn’t always happen that way.

On Sunday morning, Lauretta called her truck driver to come and pick up the horses and he asked her if she really knew what she was doing because there was a norteño and that meant winds, cold, dampness....all from the North. Ah, but we only wanted to ride ! So five of us trekked to the beginning of the Tree Trek road at 10:30 am on Sunday, and the bajareque was just pouring down....bajareque, smarareque...it was raining cats and dogs. We decided to go anyhow.

We rode for about one hour, up the 4.1 km dirt road to the restaurant up at the Tree Trek lodge. By the time we arrived, our saddles, clothing, boots, and whatever else we had.....was drenched. The fireplace was on. The staff cooperated while we all took off pieces of our clothing one by one, to dry in front of the fireplace. The staff offered dry towels, and took our clothing to dry in the dyers while we ate and warmed up to alcohol and hot toddies. It was a reminisence of the days of skiing, and apres-skiing in the lodge. The fireplace did us wonders, as we enjoyed appetizers and a fine luncheon menu.

Only two of us brave souls decided to continue the trek back to our vehicles at the bottom of the hill. The others did not want to subject themselves to the wet, cold weather again. Lauretta and I rode our hardy steeds down the mountain and they were most appreciative because the cold rain had started to wear through their thick coats. They were cold, damp and shivering, until we rode them and warmed them up again.

It was one of the best riding trips I have had in a long time. I remember a similar cavalgata with the owner of the same horse I was riding....where rain and cold weather never inhibited us to do what we loved. Ride.

The end of this story is that with bajareque and rain, comes beauty in weather. Rainbows appear everywhere. The following morning, the rainbows were created so magnificently from the effects of the norteño. These photographs were taken outside the back doorstep.

Boquete Jazz Festival

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:38:59 -0500

Sunday morning in Boquete had been scheduled with horse back riding up in the mountains. My horse, Apache, has been sold to someone who will definitely “spoil” him and treat him with great care. Thus, I am now riding ‘other people’s horses’ and it gives me a chance to try out various trails, depending where the horses reside. The Sunday ride took me up the road past La Estancia in Volcancito, to some of the dirt roads that meander through rivers, coffee farms, and Indian homes. The bajareque was moving gently towards Boquete, and had not yet reached Volcancito, so there was plenty of sunshine for the 2.5 hour ride. Beautiful.

After the ride, I rushed down into the town of Boquete where several friends were holding a seat for me, to watch a free Blues concert with Boquete Blues Band B3. The Blues band played in front of Central Park for free, to entice spectators to participate in the upcoming Jazz Festival. Hits from the 70’s and 80’s as well as some other “bluesy” music were selected and the audience was moved to get up and boogy.

The Boquete Jazz Festival is scheduled for March 1-4, 2012 but there will be one more free Sunday concert in the park. Don’t miss it, February 12, 2012. It’s the last of several, before the Jazz Festival takes place. If you want more information on the Jazz Festival, visit: www.boquetebluesandjazzfestival.com.