The News From David, Panama
The Good News: It is impossible to describe the excitement in this country the Gold Cup soccer match between Panama and the U.S., much less the furor when Panama won - their first-ever victory over the Yanks. You have to see it to believe it - and then later you're not sure. Keep in mind this is a country that goes into slow motion when a N.Y. Yankees' game reaches the 7th inning just because National hero Mariano Rivera MAY come in 'in relief'. And when he does come in - by the time he has walked in from the bullpen the country has come to a stop - literally. I have actually seen cabs sitting in the street running with the doors open because the driver and the passenger have run into the bar or department store to see the game on TV. Interestingly every Yankee game is telecast live because of Rivera.
Well they REALLY go nuts when the soccer team is playing AND this game was against the U.S.! Really David and Goliath! The bar across the street has a 2nd floor balcony that overlooks the park and that is where several of us Yanks watched the game (thru the window) because we can smoke out there. When the ref. thru up his hand signaling the end of the game, before my brain could even process what he was signaling, what few cars there were on the street all started honking their horns simultaneously. And everybody RAN out of the bar to get to their cars so they could join in the honking parade. Went on ALL night.
And then, a couple of nights later, Panama ties the game with Canada literally in the closing seconds. Oh my God. I can guarantee you that they well still be celebrating tonight (2 nights later) and it may go on all weekend. They are also planning a big Welcome Home shindig for when the team returns to Panama - the latest national heroes.
Bad News: Heartbreaking! When I first arrived in David (4 years ago), one of the hotel maids would brings her two kids to work with her on Saturdays and the 11 year old girl and her brother (9) would visit me. I would take them to park for sno-cones or the ice cream store. Oft times people would look at me (old skinny gringo) and then at her (pretty little Panamanian girl), and ask about her. With a grin I would say she was my novia (girlfriend) and people would chuckle.
Her mother straightened out her Saturday baby-sitting problem and I did not see the girl for a long time. Then about a year ago, when she came by to say hello, I realized it had been quite some time since I had seen her. She was now a beautiful 14 year old going on 25. I realized right then to drop the 'novia line' or I would end up in jail.
Well, after another year's absence, her mother brought her by to hello this week. The girl 'is due' in August. The baby is scheduled to be born a month after her 15th birthday. So sad. And even sadder when you realize it is so common here. Grrrrrr.
Worse News: Panamanians are noticeable non-violent. But there can be exceptions. Two men from the area are in custody - 1 in jail, the other in hospital. Seems a 28-year old guy impregnated two teenagers - same guy both 14 year old and her 15 year old sister. He is in hospital missing a hand. Father's stated intention to cut off his head was thwarted when the guy put up his hands as father swung the machete. Gulp.
Did You Say 'Vampire Bats?'
Yes, vampire bats! More than 20 cattle in the northern sectors of Penonomé and Anton have been attacked by vampire bats, a situation which has alarmed farmers who fear an outbreak of rabies in cattle. A resident of El Valle, who looks after cattle in Loma Grande, said the situation is very alarming indicating that on the estate of Carlos Grimaldo, 20 cattle have been bitten. A director of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), Cocle, announced they will inspect the area, but clarified that these animals can only be caught when the moon is full. 'We will make a strong campaign to capture vampires on the 20th and 21st of this month," he said. A MIDA veterinarian Romel Rosas said that the bite of an infected bat may carry rabies, a disease that is fatal in cattle. (El Siglo)
Meters in Taxis - Panama City
Taxi meters will be subjected to a three month trial period and then it will be decided whether or not they will be implemented in the taxis in Panama. The meters calculate the cost of a taxi ride based on a rate, the distance traveled, and the time a passenger remains in the vehicle while reaching the destination. It is hoped that the meters will eliminate the current practice of drivers who don't want to accept certain trips, as well as making the system once again "selective" meaning that each taxi will take just one fare instead of trying to pick up several passengers with similar destinations.
You would think the drivers would not like meters. Don't they 'get rich' ripping of naive tourists? No it turns out taxi drivers don't want to accept fares. The current rate charts in use are based on simple geography, and they fail to recognize the simple facts of life when driving in Panama City. At some times of the day a trip can take ten minutes. At other times of the day that same trip can take an hour. However, the current charts only allow the taxi driver to legally charge the same flat rate. The logic behind the new meters - which allow for a base rate and then addition money for the distance traveled and the time spent on the trip - eliminates the injustice in the system. So the taxi drivers generally like the new system because they are compensated for having to sit in heavy traffic (their wasted time).
Noriega Returning to Panama?
1) The president of the Republic Ricardo Martinelli, believes the former strongman of Panama, Miguel Antonio Noriega will be returned to this country "soon". The president added that he "do not know on what flight he's coming in on or anything like that. I have heard he is coming soon and he comes to serve his sentence here in Panama." French prosecutors expected the US to give them the green light for the return of the former dictator to Panama, to be tried for the crimes he committed when he was in charge of the country. (La Estrella)
2) The government called for a new auction of the principal residence of the former dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega on 16 June. The Ministry of Economy and Finance reported the estimated value of the property of the former Panamanian strongman is $2.6 million dollars. Located in the capital district of San Francisco, the property is abandoned and until recently was used by homeless squatters and drug addicts. The residence, located on a 3,245 square meter lot, was expropriated from Noriega after his ouster by the US-led invasion on 20 December 1989. (TVN)
Don Winter (Panama Guide) Comments: The government has tried to auction off this property on several occasions. The auctions were cancelled because no one was willing to pony up the minimum asking price. Forget the building - a 3,245 square meter lot in the middle of the city is very valuable, but it's probably zoned for single family residential. It will always be the site of Noriega's former house ... 22 years and they still have not been able to dump it. Must be the voodoo stuff at work.
Panama Immigration - Bucket of Worms
Panamanian immigration authorities have deported 166 foreigners during the first five months of 2011, according to the National Immigration Service (SNM). Among the grounds for deportation are entering into Panamanian territory without having sufficient funds, reentering with an existing impediment, and presentation of false documents. A spokesman said SNM was also strengthening of controls to prevent illegal entry.
The Real Story = The people who were deported were the ones who either would not, or could not, pay bribes. Immigration uses this threat of deportation as a weapon against foreigners. While of course they do occasionally discover and apprehend illegal immigrants and justly deport them, for the most part they spend a great majority of their time extorting bribes from people who are in the country legally. And, they can't file a complaint for fear of being deported.
Larry Notes: Panama’s immigration law was changed last year so that Americans here on a tourist visa are requires to leave the country for a minimum of three days every 180 days. It was previously 90 days. So for 3+ years I have gone to the border at Paso Canoas several times a year, processed out of Panama and into Costa Rica and, after spending a few days visiting friends in Golfito, reverse the process and returning to David. So I am a veteran of border crossings.
EVERY time I processed back into Panama there was a new and different entry 'requirement'! A roundtrip bus ticket Panama City of San Jose, Costa Rica as proof that you were going to leave Panama before 90 days was up. (Note that the fact that you were not going to either place had nothing to do with it.) The next crossing when you handed them the bus ticket you were advised that the requirement was now a roundtrip David to San Jose - no exceptions. Then a requirement that you have at least $500 cash on you. (There was a lot of backlash on that one. Just what you want in a border town is that everyone in sight knows the reason you walked from immigration to the closest ATM was to withdraw that much cash)
Now 'everyone' knew that the real 'name of the game' was you were supposed to put a $20 bill in the pages of your passport before you handed it to the immigration officer, and the 'requirements' vaporized. Or you could pay one of the Panamanians that make a living 'helping' people process through the border. But, I refused to play the games. I started carrying an email confirmation of a future flight out of Panama and a copy of a bank statement and put up a minor fuss. And that worked but sometimes it took a while. And people who were new, or didn't know the game, could really end up jumping through hoops crossing the border.
The Darwin Award - Latino Version
Two Colombians were arrested this week at a bar in Panama City for attempting to defraud two sex workers. The foreigners were drinking in the bar from late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, and they tried to pay the hookers with three fake $100 bills. However the prostitutes, who are accustomed to being paid in cash, could see that the bills were fake. Both girls spoke to the bartender, who alerted the National Police and a half hour later the two men were arrested.
Here is a little background to let you appreciate just how stupid these two are. Having a $100 bill in Panama is like being broke - no one will accept 100s - not individuals or businesses. Some banks will 'break' them, but only after a bunch of paperwork where they document your passport info and the bill's serial number. If it turns out there is a problem with the bill, they will come find you! The point here is that, other than a few bank officials, the only people in the country who are familiar with, or have ever even seen, a $100 bill, are the hookers! And that is who you are going to try to pass counterfeit bills off on? And, bills that were poor replicas at that. Tweedly Dumb and Tweedly Dumb Ass.
My Book
Good News - Amazon has now reduced the price of the E-book format (Kindle) of my book, putting it in line with the E-book market. At almost $10, the E-book was more expensive than some best sellers. It is now priced at less than $4.
Judy Brown from Texas, sent me a nice review of my book. She also included this picture with is most appreciated and very clever. Thanks again Judy.
The links below are for my book in two different formats - take your pick. I have also included a link to my website where you can read excerpts if you want.
Paperback from Publisher $9.95
E-book (Kindle) from Amazon $3.95
Till Next Time. Pura Vida
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