Nancy, Author at Chasing Panama

The Mountain Towns of El Valle de Antón and Altos del Maria, Sorá

We just got back from a cool road trip to Cocle and Panama Oeste provinces to visit El Valle de Antón and Sorá, Panama.

El Valle is located within the caldera (a large crater) of what is said to be the second largest inhabited dormant volcano in the world. The crater itself is at about 600 meters above sea level and has a cooler spring-like climate. This has been on our bucket list for the past few years. The drive from Boquete to El Valle is about 5 hours with good traffic. The exit off of the Interamerican Highway up the volcanic mountain and down to the town itself takes about 45 minutes along a scenic zig-zagging road that will put your brakes to the test.

The town itself is bucolic living. El Valle is surrounded by 7 different mountains, ranging from 800-1000 meters. There are trails on each one that have vistas of the crater floor.

Because of its close proximity to Panama City (120 km), many upper-class Panamanians have made El Valle their weekend and holiday home. We visited during the week, however, and it was very quiet and relaxing. We stayed at El Valle Suites, a Panamanian style motel that was down the road from the Artisan and Produce Market. The suites are very basic with a living room, kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom that had a split AC. All in all, it was clean and the staff went out of their way to accommodate. The best part of the place was the thermal pool surrounded by a grand tree that shaded almost the entire outdoor area. There are people who live at the Suites full time and met some interesting people sitting outside in the evening.

What I like about El Valle is very walkable and bike-friendly. I took out a bike one afternoon and had a leisurely stroll. The Artisan market is really cool. Local art and handicrafts are sold, and Kuna Indians offered their colorful molas and jewelry. We purchased some hand painted tree trunk slabs with beautifully colored birds on them. Attached to the Artisan market is the fruit and vegetable vendors selling their fresh produce.

A visit to Nispero Zoo

A short drive from the center of town is El Níspero Zoological and Botanical Garden. It began as a privately owned nursery. The owner gradually started collecting animals and birds. Other people also donated animals. Many of the animals there had suffered an accident. It gradually turned into a public zoo with animals from all over the world.

The place itself is really laid back and priced at only $3 for admission. My favorite attraction was the spider monkey. One can see up close the resemblance to its name! Another favorite was the jaguar and the plethora of beautiful birds including toucans and parrots.

It was an nice attraction that the kiddos would really enjoy (and the grown up kiddos as well).

A visit to Arboles Cuadrados Nature Trail

I had heard about the “Square Trees”’in El Valle and drove a bit out of town to Hotel Campestre where they are officially accessed by paying $4 each. I really like weird and obscure things so this was something I had to see. The hike itself was very pleasant. Once we reached the handful of square trees that were specially marked, I still had a hard time seeing much of a difference to a normal round tree. In fact there are signs pointing to the square trees so you could find them. Although it is hard to distinguish the square features, they apparently have square rings.

Comparing El Valle to Boquete

As far as mountain towns go, El Valle is warmer than Boquete, but I found it to be quite lovely and personally did not find it oppressive. The evenings were cool in El Valle, but not cold like it can get in Boquete. Average temperatures in El Valle can range from 68-83 deg. as compared to 55-75 deg.

Being that we were there during the week and not on the weekend, I do not have a clear picture on how busy El Valle can get, but have heard that it this sleepy little town fills up. While there, I noticed a small amount of tourists and mostly Panamanians going about their day to day lives. There was a nice amount of places to eat but some only were open from Thursday to Sunday. Boquete has much more going for it as far as restaurants, bars and live music.

The mountains of Sorá, Panama / Altos del Maria

Overlook at our Airbnb in Altos Del Maria

We spent a few days on the other side of the mountain from El Valle in a pretty little town called Sorá. This is roughly a 6 hour drive from Boquete. Our Airbnb was in Altos Del Maria which is a gated community that is like being in a national park. It boasts a first-class infrastructure including miles of paved roads, vast common areas, waterfalls, rivers, hiking trails, observation decks, parks, lookout points, flowers and trees everywhere. It was a great place to relax, however a drawback was the distance to daily necessities such as shopping, restaurants and medical care . The majority of people with homes here use it as a second home or vacation getaway.

Since we were guests of an owner in the development, we’l were able to access the secret road just for residents that connects Altos Del Maria to El Valle which took just over 1/2 hour. Without this alternate route, it would have taken an extra hour!

It was really nice to see another part of this beautiful country checked off the bucket list.

What is a Mola?

Craig and I have been collecting them for 2-3 years now and want to share with you what exactly a Mola is, as well as a little history behind them.

Nancy holding a Mola — our first mola purchase

Molas are brightly colored textiles created by the indigenous Gunas of the Kuna Yala Comarca from the San Blas region of Panamá. Mola means “cloth” or “clothing” in the Kuna language. These panels of stacked cloth are used to make women’s blouses or upper garments. The colorful layers of cloth are cut, and hand sewn into designs for fronts and backs of Kuna women’s blouses.

The tradition is characterized by tiny, fine stitches, bold designs and bright colors. The traditional designs range from complex geometric patterns to depictions of turtles, jungle birds and other things found in the Kuna environment. Over time however, Molas started to evolve with the changing times and include references to the modern world. An important concept in the creation of a Mola is to leave as little unworked space as possible as the Kunas believe that evil spirits can settle into the free spaces. And the more finely crafted a Mola is, as well as the number of panels, the more valuable it becomes.

The Mola originated with the tradition of Guna women painting their bodies with geometric designs using available natural colors. In later years these same designs were woven in cotton upon the arrival of the Spaniards and missionaries who brought their wares to Panamá.

Over the decades, Molas were increasingly marketed to tourists. Today, Mola panels have many uses. They can be framed as art or made into pillows, place mats, wall hangings, or even face masks. They have become a major source of income for the Kuna people.

Our Mola Collection

We have been collecting molas for the past 2-3 years now. Initially I just wanted souvenirs for the family back home in the USA. It has since turned into a bit of a passion to share these beautiful pieces of art to the world.

Early on in our Panamá adventure, we became fast friends with Remy, a Kuna working in the hospitality and tourism industry in Panama City. We always stayed in touch and met up with him whenever we were in the city. As it turns out, his mother and other family members still make these molas!

molas in production — a few molas currently in production

Needless to say, our home will be decorated with molas that were beautifully matted and framed by Craig. And, we will also have some available for sale, either unframed or completely ready to hang. If interested, please feel free to contact me.

Hope you enjoyed reading a bit about Kuna Yala molas!

De Todo Un Poco (This and That)

Federal Mall

We took a drive this week to the new Federal Mall just north of David to check it out. We had heard there was a nice new grocery store, El Fuerte, that was 2 floors. I was very impressed with the selection and prices. The first floor is all groceries, and the 2^nd floor includes clothing, shoes, and various other items. They had an escalator-type walkway going to the second floor. A few flagship stores had taken residence in the new mall right before Covid hit, then everything was at a standstill. Things seem to be back on course and filling up. The mall itself also has 2 levels and once fully occupied, will have over 300 stores. It is advertised as a world-class shopping experience that is completely closed and air conditioned throughout. In addition to El Fuerte is Titan, El Costo, Steven’s, Felix, Arrocha Pharmacy, Madison Store, and Cinépolis movie theaters with the latest audiovisual technology. In addition will be a Food Court and entertainment venues for children and the whole family.

Jaramillo Hike

Today we did over a 4-mile hike on some back roads in Jaramillo walking on mostly gravel. The highest point of our hike was 1700 meters (5577 feet) above sea level and the views were spectacular. We passed by beautiful pastures with cows grazing (and seemingly anxious to say hello), as well as some friendly domesticated dogs.

Weather / Fires

Our weather here has been beautiful with no rain, maybe a bit of bajareque (fine and light rain that falls in the mountain areas of Panamá). Bajareque brings lots of beautiful rainbows! Since it is the dry / windy season here in Panama, fires in the canyons occur. The fire department (los bomberos) do controlled burns, but so do land-owners. It’s very possible for a fire to get out of hand. Here is a view from our terrace of a fire in the canyon.

Working Out

One of our favorite places in Boquete is The Haven Gym and Spa. In between hiking, we work out at the gym there. Upstairs they had recently upgraded all their cardio equipment and have Echelon bikes and a rower that connect to the internet. They have also upgraded their treadmills and elliptical machines. Downstairs are weights and various weight machines for all areas of the body. In addition, they have great masseuses in their spa, Fatima and Angelica. We treated ourselves this week to 1-hour deep tissue massages for $49.50 each.

Hasta luego…

JUST FOR FUN! On one of our recent trips from David, this man is entertaining people in their cars with machetes.

Hiking Pianista Trail

Yesterday was our first hike since being back in Boquete. We have always had the intention to hike the Pianista trail, but we hadn’t gotten around to it. Our friend, Jim (Route to Retire) invited us to tag along with him and his family as well as another family that are fairly new here. The beginning of the hike takes you through cow-dotted rolling farmland in a fairly steady uphill climb. Crossing through little streams and sketchy bridges along the way, I was glad I wore my hiking boots which saved me from having wet feet! We did a lot of chatting as we walked along (and a lot of huffing and puffing), getting caught up on things since we left in July. When we reached a fork, we were uncertain which way to go. We first went left, but turned around after a short distance. Backtracking, we took a right at the fork and continued for a while until we reached a hilltop with a small cow pasture that had a sketchy path that you had to climb down. None of us knew where it led or if we were on the right path at that point. The younger hikers (everyone but Craig and I) started to descend down. I gave it a go with Craig behind me. I was a bit nervous about it. One wrong step could lead to an injury so Craig and I decided to climb back up and head back down the trail on our own the way we came, but as it turned out, the rest followed us out as well. We never did get to see the part of the Pianista trail that goes through the jungle cloud forest. We will definitely try this another time after we do some more research. On our way out, we passed a lone female hiker. It made me think of a cautionary tale of two Dutch girls who went missing on the trail in 2014. Their remains were subsequently found.

It is summer in Panamá and that brings the annual Flower and Coffee Fair in Boquete (Feria de las Flores). We had visited this a few years back. The fairgrounds are adorned with beautiful local flowers as well as vendors selling their wares, food and drink stands, and nightly music. It brings a lot of tourists to Boquete. Finding a parking spot downtown is near impossible. Our house is up on a hill in Volcancito that overlooks downtown Boquete. The sound really carries and can hear the nightly bands playing. The first night of the fair was the loudest, with music and fireworks going into the wee hours of the morning. The wind must have been blowing in just the right direction that night! Summer season here also brings high winds. I’m still getting used to the sounds the house makes during these high winds. Afternoons, the breezes are warm and feel wonderful on a sunny day. At night, there is a big difference in temperature and ready for a sweatshirt and jeans.

According to my Altimeter app, we are at 1160 meters above sea level, which is about 3805 feet above sea level. Being up this high makes you more susceptible to the sun’s rays, even if it is cloudy. Sunscreen is a must. The Panamanians know this all too well as many of them wear long pants, long sleeves, hats or umbrellas to block the rays.

This is my view as I write this…not too shabby! But oh no, the power just went out as I write. I think I will end off here and pick up a good book to read.

Family Matters in the U.S.A.

Time sure flies and I have been neglecting our blog. My apologies for the lapse in our posts.

Due to a family emergency, we returned to the U.S. in July. We spent 4 lovely months in Boquete, but an unexpected death in the immediate family brought us back. We’ve pretty much been laying low since then. We had to let our Boquete rental go as we are planning to be here in the US until the end of the year. We boxed up our things to leave with good friends. We also left our car with another good friend. This will make things a lot easier on us when we come back to Panamá. We love Panamá despite its imperfections, the people that we have met there especially.

Something I have been giving much thought to these past 2+ years since getting our residency is I really do miss family. I thought I could deal with it better and of course I expected all of them to just fly on down to see us. Like on episodes of International House Hunters, they all say “I want extra space for all the company we’re gonna have”! Well, that just doesn’t happen unless money is not an issue. We were blessed to have Craig’s daughter visit us but that was our one and only visitor. Just seeing them once a year when we flew back just wasn’t enough for me. The financial burdens for family to fly down, especially with young children, it was very daunting. Between 4 children and 7+ grandchildren (another on the way), I was always thinking what I was missing. I felt a strong need to have a home base in the US once again (and get our things out of storage). Craig acquiesced and here we are. Yes, I know some of you might want to judge me on this…the problems here in the US are hard to dismiss. I had to look past this and do what my heart was telling me. We purchased a home in Florida close to Craig’s family, yet easy enough to take trips up north to be with the kids. And vice versa, the kids always have a place to come down south to for get togethers. We are heading back down to Panamá after the Christmas holidays and have secured a rental for half a year. The best of both worlds. We miss our Boquete family but we will be back!

Enough about that…what have we been up to? After spending some time in Pennsylvania, we started furnishing our new Florida home and are acclimating to our new reality. The beach is a short drive away, family time with the brothers-in-law, going to the gym, walking, cycling, tikis, etc. I’ve also been doing a lot of crochet projects as there are new babies on the way.

I hope you are all well and staying safe. Oh, and by the way, before we left Panamá we were able to get our second Pfizer shots (yay!) Here are a few random pics of family and what we’ve been up to.

¡Hasta luego!

We Got Our 1st Pfizer Vaccines!

In my last post I touched on the Covid 19 vaccination situation here in Panamá. At that time, we knew that Craig would be able to get the Pfizer vaccine since he is over 60 years old. They opened things up in our province of Chiriquí a few weeks ago, however we needed to wait until it was time for Boquete district. This past week there was mass vaccine distribution of the Pfizer vaccine at the local schools. Craig had his appointment on Thursday and I went along to see if they would allow me to receive one. I am under 60 by 1 year and 2 weeks. I’ve read some online posts saying that they knew of people under 60 who had gotten vaccinated so I thought I would take a stab at it! Craig’s appointment was at the school in Bajo Boquete close to where we are living. There was no line to speak of. I was very hopeful that it would happen. Alas when they saw that I was 2 weeks short of 59, they turned me down and told me I would have to go to the David Fairgrounds to get the AstraZeneca. I had signed up on the website to receive the AstraZeneca but hadn’t received an appointment time yet. The next day friends of ours called and told us about a possible opportunity to get the Pfizer shot at the school in El Francis south of us. Minsa was trying to round people up to receive the shot. Apparently, they had extra and looking for volunteers but we needed to get down there quickly (maybe because it was a Friday afternoon?) Exceeding the speed limit, we rushed down there. Fingers crossed, I got in line and they led me along from checkpoint to checkpoint. There was a moment where I thought my age would be an issue once again, but they made it happen. After they filled out my paperwork, I was seated with a socially-distanced grouping of 6 chairs. The nurse went from person to person and when all 6 of us received our shots, we were led into another room to sit and wait 15 minutes in the event we had any side effects. Exiting the door, Craig was outside waiting for me with umbrella in hand to escort me to the car. The next day I had a little soreness in my arm but no other side effects.

We’re off for little beach get-away for a few days at Playa Barqueta. Feeling relieved and hopeful. Loving life, what a great feeling.

Vaccination Rollout

I thought it would be a good day to update the blog, it being a quarantine day in our province of Chiriquí. There has been a large increase in the number of Covid cases in Chiriquí and Veraguas provinces. MINSA (El Ministerio de Salud) once again decided to lock us down the last two Sundays. Apparently, Sundays are big family gathering and party days here in Panamá and people have become laxer. I don’t have the answers but I do not agree with their solution, as recent history has shown. On the bright side, it is one day out of the week. It gives me an opportunity to catch up on things I would otherwise put on the back burner.

Pfizer vaccines are being distributed province by province. Finally, it is Chiriquí’s turn. Last week, some of the districts in Chiriquí had vaccination clinics being held at many of the local schools. This coming week, Boquete district is supposed to have them available, but for people over 60 years old or people with health conditions. Unfortunately, I will have to wait a bit longer as I am not yet 60, but Craig will be able to get it. We have signed up on the official website and waiting to receive verification that he has an appointment. There is so much news on social media about this from all sorts of sources and I find it very bewildering. Additionally, the latest news is that there has been a delivery of Astra Zeneca available for men over 30 and women over 50 that want to get the vaccine. I don’t understand the age variations! There is a separate website to sign up for this which I am having difficulty with. I have to admit that I am a bit on the fence about Astra Zeneca. I am a proponent of getting vaccinated, but the reported blood clot issues, albeit a very low percentage, gives me a little pause. I do believe the benefits outweigh the risks. Many of our friends and acquaintances here have flown to the US to get their shots and have since returned.

Life goes on and we keep ourselves fairly busy. We had a small gathering of friends in our home last week which was a lot of fun. We also drove to David this week for Craig’s dermatologist appointment which he will report on later. A few times a week we visit the Panaderia and Fruit and Vegetable Market as well as general grocery shopping.

Caldera Hot Springs Hike

Yesterday we drove approximately 35 minutes from our house to Caldera Hot Springs with our Panamanian friend, Mily. What a big difference in climate in that short distance! We hiked along a very rocky road to some areas with small thermal pools. We did not go in as we did not bring our swimsuits. The pools looked a bit tricky to get into without slipping. I am not the most sure-footed person! Then we went further down to see the river. After our excursion, we went out to lunch. What a lovely day spent and bonus of practicing our Spanish.

We also continue to do our group hikes as often as we can. Being one with nature and the comradery of the group is so much fun.

Panama Post Office

We had an interesting experience shipping packages to the USA via the Panamá Post Office. We sent out 3 packages that cost around $11 total. It will probably take 3-4 weeks, but it was not time sensitive. First you do not seal the package. Second you need to bring your own glue, not tape. We walked into the office with our 3 bubble envelopes that were already pre-addressed. The clerk inspected what was going into the envelopes (coffee). She sealed our envelopes and I had to write my name across where she sealed the envelope. She then gave us the stamps that we needed to affix to the envelope ourselves with the glue that we brought. I think this may be because of Covid. No licking! We also had to affix a customs paper that showed what was in the envelope and the value. You cannot use a US address as the return address. Since there are no traditional street addresses and mail delivery in Panama, we used the address for Mailboxes, Etc. as our return address. Mailboxes, Etc. is the company we use to import our internet shopping. Fingers crossed, hopefully our packages will arrive intact!

The weather here has been so nice the last few weeks. Officially the rainy season has started, but not much rain has fallen of late. Various places on the mountain have different climates! You can experience a frequent light misty rain known locally as “bajareque”, and then a few moments later it can get really hot when the sun came out. I found this cool website that explains what influences our weather www.boqueteweather.com/climate. This sort of weather is what makes the coffee from Panamá so good!

If I’ve peaked your interest about Panamá, I recommend Panama Relocation Tours on-line guide where you can learn how to relocate to Panamá with total confidence. We took the group tour almost 3 years ago that cemented our lifestyle here today! The on-line guide will give you all the same information but without the worry of traveling during Covid.

We’re taking things day by day here and enjoying what each day may bring. We’ve been given this opportunity to not have to do the daily 9-5 grind. Panamá isn’t perfect by any stretch, but if you open up your heart and mind, who knows what experience could present itself. There is so much more out there in this great big world than the US and gaining this new perspective is invaluable.

*Central American Agouti (Ñeque) in back yard*

Settling Back into Life in Boquete 2021

It’s been three weeks since we got back and we have been settling in like we were never gone. Finding a place to rent, visiting with old friends, hiking, shopping, exercising, and of course relaxing, have been on the agenda. We wake up every morning to the songs of so many kinds of birds…¡PARAÍSO!

Valle Escondido

We have landed in the gated community of Valle Escondido in Bajo Boquete on this particular stay. Browsing through a short-term rental website gave me a lead in finding our small one bedroom, one bath apartment attached to a grand home (up twenty-nine stairs…very good exercise!) We rented this apartment for one month while we were searching for something longer term. It really has a splendid view on the terrace and is my favorite part of the apartment. As luck would have it, we were able to negotiate a great deal for four months on the house downstairs as it is currently vacant. In Panamá it really is about connections and word of mouth as little is actually advertised on the internet. After that rental we will probably return to the US for a while for some business matters, but we will go with the flow.

Banking

One major thing that we needed to do was go to our Banistmo bank office in David and straighten out a problem we were having with our “soft token”, which is a two-factor security authentication that is used to authorize the use of their service. I had been using my banking app to make payments and transfers while we were in the States without a hitch until about a month before we arrived. I was getting all kinds of error messages. I needed this to work as this is how a lot of banking and payments get done here. As part of the Covid protocol, only one of us was allowed in the bank, so I masked up and waited in a socially-distanced line for my turn to speak with a customer service representative while Craig went to Panafoto for a battery back-up and some other miscellaneous items at Do-It-Center. There were actually two lines at the bank, and I really hoped I was in the correct line. One was for customer service, and the other for teller business. When it was my turn, I spoke (in the best Spanish I could muster) to the rep about my issue. He had me replicate what was happening by doing a transfer from my checking to savings which did work, however the proof of its success was whether I could make a third-party transfer or pay a bill, which I did not try there as I had no one to pay. I was pretty flustered, and I guess satisfied at that point that the soft token was going to work. So, I thanked him for his help and out I went. This had taken quite a bit of time and Craig was done with his business, so he had walked to the TGI Fridays in the same strip mall and I met him there for a beer (which I really needed at this point)! I am happy to report that my soft token is working, and I can accomplish everything I need to, so it was not a waste of time.

Groceries were another big to-do and required visits to several different stores to stock up on supplies. You generally will not find everything you need at one store, and if you are looking for particular products, grab them when you see them because who knows when you will see them again. I had really missed the fruit and vegetable stalls at the public market in town. We stock up there about once a week with plenty of fruits and vegetables for less than $6!

We were also anxious to get back to the gym! We had a membership at The Haven before Covid hit last year and gyms were forced to close. The people there are so warm and friendly and they have good equipment for our needs. And, they recently purchased all new treadmills and ellipticals! They had put our membership on hold last year and let us use up the days we had previously paid for! They also have an exercise pool, hot tub, infrared sauna, steam sauna, various exercise classes and treatments including massage (which was one of Craig’s first priorities).

Hiking was another activity I was ready to get back into and we were able to hook up with a small group of people who meet every Wednesday, rain permitting. I had really missed the social aspect of this as well, catching up with people while enjoying nature. Today’s hike was cancelled due to rain, so Craig and I went out in the rain on our hike own close to home. The rainy season seems to have started early this year! It does make the landscape more beautiful with vibrant and lush greenery.

Boquete 110th Anniversary Concert

Last weekend we attended an outdoor concert in the town square with friends. It was part of the celebration of Boquete’s 110^th anniversary. The band was comprised of some very talented local expats who performed some jazzy numbers. Of course it was drizzling, and as it got heavier, we headed out and grabbed some burgers at La Cuchilla (a nice new burger joint in town) then continued the festivities at Boquete Brewing Company where a live Panamanian band was playing both American and Spanish rock music. What a great night! It was so great to see things open and people going out and having a good time. They do take Covid seriously here and it is mandatory to wear a mask even while you are outside walking around town. We feel it is a small price to pay to get back to normalcy.

Waiting Things Out in Sunny Florida

Four and a half months ago, we returned to the US to wait out the Coronavirus crisis here in our home country. We have been enjoying the Florida lifestyle, the sunshine and outdoor activities that go along with it. When we were debating this while under quarantine in Panamá, we knew that we wouldn’t be going back to Pennsylvania. Although our family is there, we were so done with snow and cold weather. My brother-in-law here in Fort Pierce, FL was able to find a fully furnished rental for us that was vacant (a condo unit belonging to the brother of his close friends). We are actually off the mainland on Hutchinson Island, an area within walking distance to beaches, the intercoastal and inlet…a very touristy place with a laid-back vibe. We are truly blessed!

We knew that this was temporary though. One of the reasons for moving abroad was so we could afford to retire early. Obviously with us back in the states, our expenses were raised dramatically. And the biggie…health care (we are not yet eligible for Medicare). We were self-insuring in Panamá because it is much less expensive than in the US. We could certainly do nothing and pray, or bite the bullet. Because we had a life-changing event that happened outside of open enrollment, we were able to get on a Health Marketplace plan in September. And because of our ages, it still wasn’t exactly cheap, but was much more affordable than buying privately. With no work income except social security and investment distributions, we qualified for a subsidy based on the numbers on our 2019 income tax return.

Our initial plan was to stay through the holidays. I had started the search for a rental for our return in January, reaching out to friends, Facebook, Encuentra24 and Panama Craigslist. Surely Coronavirus would be under control by then…NOT! Most places have seen a resurgence of the virus because of colder weather bringing everyone indoors, holiday gatherings and just complacency in general. And new strains of the virus have been discovered in England and South Africa. Panama had loosened up on restrictions the past few months with everything reopened. But in November, a month filled with many Panamanian holidays, they had an uptick again in cases. MINSA once again decreed that there would be total quarantine again the weekends surrounding Christmas and New Year’s, as well as back to the gender-based days for men and women to grocery shop and do essential business. And they have just announced that January will have more quarantines and curfews. I fear that strict guidelines will be in place again soon so they can get things under control while they wait for the vaccines to arrive. President Cortizo just announced that within 90 days they will start the vaccination process.

So, it looks like we are putting our return on hold. We will stay put until we feel it is safe to travel again. We’re hoping to be vaccinated here as soon as it becomes available. The quick approval of the vaccinations is very controversial, but we have decided it is right for us. Watching the news last night, I saw a piece on how people may have to show proof of vaccination digitally in order to travel in the future. What a strange new world we live in.

Here’s wishing you and your family a Happy and Healthy New Year filled with much peace and love.

*having a socially-distanced libation on the water*

Flooding and Mudslides in Northern Panamá

2020…the year that keeps on giving!

Hurricane Eta has caused significant flooding, mudslides, and road damage in Chiriquí Province, our 2nd home. Panamá’s National Civil Protection Agency (SINAPROC) is monitoring the situation on the ground and working to assist individuals in the affected areas.

_{“Media sources report that flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall and rising levels in the Chiriquí Viejo River has impacted multiple areas of Chiriquí Province. Updates indicate that one person was killed and approximately seven people are missing in the Tierras Altas area. Updated sources report that at least 1,000 people and families in Chiriquí have been evacuated. The Hornito highway in Gualaca that connects Bocas del Toro province has collapsed and left an unspecified number of people stranded. There are several landslides occurring in the area. At least 500 residents have been evacuated in the area and housed in evacuation centers as search and rescue operations are underway. At least six people were rescued. At least 214 homes have been damaged or destroyed in multiple locations by floodwaters and fallen trees. Seven homes have been damaged in Boquete District, 15 homes have been damaged in Majagual sector, one home in David District, and 30 homes have been damaged in Baco, with an unspecified number of homes damaged in Corotu, Los Marias, and Baru Districts. At least seven landslides have been registered in Cerro Punta and Volcan and the Ngabe-Bugle region. Several other communities have been isolated by the flooding, and crops have been destroyed. Emergency services are continuing relocation operations for those families affected by the flooding. Resources continue to be mobilized to those affected. Floodwaters are reportedly receding in some areas; however, rainfall is expected to continue across the province. No injuries have been immediately reported. A Yellow Alert has been issued in Chiriquí for Thursday, November 5.”}
_{The Flooding in Northern Panama Crisis Response Facebook Page}

According to the PanaTimes, it was reported today that authorities are now confirming the deaths of 5 people in Chiriquí.

Although we are safe and sound in Florida at present, we are very distressed and pray for our Chiriquí friends and family. The Red Cross of Panama and many other organizations and residents have pulled together collecting donations of all kinds for the homeless and affected.