Its a beautifull morning .....

One time a customer buying a car insisted that he wanted an "additional discount" from the available quote. The manager said: I am at $ 1.00 over cost .... Where do you want me to go? 50 cents over?  ... There is a limit to everything. In Santiago de Veraguas this business offers copies for 2 cents ... A prize war could take this to ..... a penny?

I was amazed of the number of bikes available for home delivery

This joint located on the Pan American hwy does have the best tasting chicken. No real BBQ around here, just grilling, they do have a decent seasoning. Now, how do you feel about meats just hanging in the open prior to grilling ? I did not get sick ..... Ta´Bueno As many bread stores as Santiago has you would think that it will be tough to find the best, but not really: Its Santa Librada hands down. The pastry in the provinces is not sophisticated, nevertheless this store has a variety of decent bread at fair prices. Ta´Bueno How do you feel about a laundry service that not only looses your clothing but blames you !!!. The lady said that she can remember that I was missing one sock: " Vino Viuda " , How about my other 2 pairs, my 3 shorts and my favorite polo shirt.... ? Give me a break !! Avoid this ....... business ? Ta´ pal´ gato

For all you Gringos hanging around the beaches or lost by the mountains, when you need to renew your visa in Santiago this is the office that will take care of your business. If I could I would post this in Dutch, German and French, there are a lot of you here, how did you find us ?

A picture is a thousand words. Yes, you better believe it. Here we have next to each other; A shop that repairs motors, an evangelical temple of the Assemblies of God and, a place that will provide food and drinks, properly named " The meanest scoundrel" .

This office for a developer advertises payments of $ 37.50, it does not mention the terms but its not unusual that quotes are provided for periods known as ... " quincenas ", that is every 15 days. Not to be confused with the ¨bubba¨ plan in the US of 13 payments per year. Here you have a modest home at a modest price. This insurance outfit advertise that they will insurance everything that is insurable. Now should I take that as: Complete service of policies available in this country or, will insurance anything as long as your premium is high enough to cover our risk. This independent agency has been in business for a long time and I am sure they will accommodate your needs. This one is special for those individuals or business owners that deal with compliance codes anywhere in the world. What you see here laying against the wall is cable conections from the power source to the building. Not any building, this is a full size super market.

If I could have a guest blogger to contribute an entry it would be for this one. You see it relates to bullfighting, and waitresses ...? A good friend in Miami, Mr. Bolas or Toñin that is, is a true ¨aficionado¨ who not only would understand the title but add with vivid detail to its meaning. Now in Panama you do not have bullfighting as we all know it; Here in regional fairs they will ride or chase a bull in a made up ring with people standing or sitting on fences, drinking, drinking a lot. The real thing takes place in two or three countries in South America and of course in Spain. ¨ Oye tu patita Bolas donde está ? ¨ ¨Allí ....." ¨Donde no lo veo ... en que tendido ? " " No allá .. en el medio del ruedo ... con Zileri ... y El Juli" There is a pass, or trick for you non purists, that matadors perform and it is called: Del Desprecio, now literally this could mean Despise, but I would qualify this on a more softer fashion. Looking away from the beast. The matador ...

When conducting any real estate transaction and you want to be assured that the final, definite word and blessing has been handled, the " Escritura " will come to this place. Your peace of mind is here.

If you can understand this word you have been around Latin America for a while, if you can pronounce it with no distinguishable accent you been around too long. Mostly used on the western seaboard of South America it denotes something that is; Beyond any doubt, without question, real, almost a fact, don't even doubt it, etc. Allow me a few samples ..... It is impajaritable that outside of Panama City 50% of lawyers cannot give you decent legal advice. The other 50% cannot spell " Consejo legal ". It is impajaritable that when you contact a lawyer he feels that all your business can be handle properly and without delay. Three weeks later you know how they make their living ..... "Bueno vea usted ... Esta coma cambia el sentido del documento, la cosa esta dificil, a ver déjeme ver la Ley"... Sir, you assured me that this was a simple legal procedure ..   "Si, pero eso fue antes de ver este acento , a ver si hablo con el Licenciado".... I t is impaj...

You can find signs all over the city concerning the protection of green areas, trees and the environment as a whole. You see messages on walls at schools or government buildings. You also can find detail instructions with good intentions as the one below. Not much of a green area but .... there it is. On the other side of this coin you have a scene that develops every weekend within 2 blocks of the club known as Coiba . Young people will hang around outside the locale and chat and drink. You will find no effort by the club , authorities or more important these man and women, that pollute empty containers and bottles , with complete disregard to all. Nobody assumes responsibility for this. It will stay on the ground for days. Even until the next gathering. No BS.

After cutting and re-cutting, logs are brought to side roads where loading is done by hand, which is certainly no easy task, to a small truck that will then unload to containers that will head to port. The weight of teak is specially heavy because of their water content.

I have been told by my lady that I am not being informative in my notes. Now I love my wife and will do everything she requests. After 28 years, how can I say no !! It will not be fair. OK. This is the main entrance to Escuela Normal Juan Demostenes Arosemena, school for underprivileged young girls in Santiago. It has a beautiful entrance and that style that will always be in style. This school was established almost 70 years ago with the purpose of preparing young women in high school age to be teachers, it provides room and board for over 150 young ladies. This structure has been refurbished many times with an special effort to retain its original personality. I hope that this receives that seal of approval from my partner and I would not be accused of being ¨ chabacano ¨, and looking for ¨cats with 5 legs¨ when there are none. I feel better now. Oh ... did I show the picture at the back of this building. I have not seen this quality wire since 68 at the stockade near Saigon. I do ...

This is what dictates the value of teak, the heart of it. Of course the greater the size and the older the plantation, the more quality and value that you will have. This is a small tree with a circumference around 65cm and a core of about 16 years. Once a tree has come down it is trimmed of side branches and it is ¨picada¨ in sections of 2.20 meters of length. This is whats convenient for loading, shipping and for use by the buyer.

Around town you will always find interesting comparisons to every day life in the US. Here is a notice at a building in Santiago where some of the Courtrooms are located. It notifies all and all: No firearms allowed, it makes sense. They will not allow mini skirts or t-shirts with a low cut. I know, how small the mini ?, and about those shirts is it the shirt or those big ¨ tatas ¨. Also, no caps, no hats, short pants and sandals. This last item handles ¨ campesinos ¨and Americans alike. Judges are just a true symbol of conservatism, ethics and true morals. ¨ andaaaaa !!!¨ Here it is, what do you mean what ? Its a Chevy man. A true model of things to come in the US ? I would say that this vehicle is built in Korea around a Suzuki model that has been around for a while. It looked to me that this work / delivery unit for a local cable company can handle its mission. Now can it handle that big " bubba " that is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 235 lbs ? It better, its coming.

As we evaluate the areas to start thinning the available teak, we run into a Mango tree that has grown aggressively by the back road of the property. At this time of the year in Panama these trees will deliver their fruit in generous numbers, it is not unusual that one full grown unit will provide over 250 delicious mangoes. Many will never be ready for export because of shape or color that the American market demands, but they are nevertheless great tasting.

I remember when I was about 7 or 8 years old that El Comercio daily in Lima, announced that starting Monday they would carry a new comic strip in their entertainment section: The Cisco Kid. Yes, I know. I am that old and you are not. Anyway, I had the brilliant idea to cut and paste them and I would have my very own comic. Well, that lasted about 2 weeks .... after all looking back there is something fishy about Cisco. He was always clean and neat. I don't care if he was on his way from Waco to Amarillo or Sonora to El Paso, his outfit was ready for a parade. To add to suspicion you have this .... hefty compadre Pancho. Come on, this guy did not miss many meals. Being on the trail in the west had to be tough and to be fat was really tough. The story starts when Pancho tells Cisco that he had this unusual dream, but he could not tell him about it, because he had not had breakfast, you see he believed that mentioning anything would eliminate any possibility of this dream coming true...

If a great deal of success of any business is location, location, this dealer has taken the high ground. Its a dramatic site about 10 meters above road level, you cannot miss this one.

The nice lady at this bread store was not short of words for the sign company that added an " e " to Panaderia. A very common description for this business. No rocket science and no scholar needed, there must be about 35 bread stores within central Santiago. But this is special ..... Will she get it replace ? Stay tuned...LOL Just for you buyers out there, here is one that advertises good deals for used clothing. Its just that missing " p " that has me thinking about these goods from the good old USA. It will probably be a shopping experience considering that she had everything for a Dollar, at those prices if it sells, she would be killing the bear.

I did not want to get too close to this restaurant, after all how many eateries have bars as strong as the ones at the ¨Joyita¨ (Jail near Panama City), But this place still can provide a steak and white rice dish for $ 1.50 That is correct you saw it first here. As local food joints provide what is called Comidas Criollas or Corrientes at fairly low prices, this one located just one block from the bus terminal, has them beat. ¨ Ajo compa .... Pan con huevo con sorpresa .... Cual es la sorpresa?, Que el pan no tiene huevo.....!! Don't tell me I am not trying to save you money !!! Now this place also has bars at the door .... Why would you break into a barber shop ?? After all it is called ¨Great Family¨, friendly enough. A haircut at this fine establishment is only $ 1.50, which is low even for this town. The outside decor is flashy enough and I am sure it goes with the music that I heard blasting from the inside. No, not me. No way. What?.... cant hear you !!. Estas seguro que ...

For a country of 3.5 million people, Panama has produced a great deal of world champions in boxing: 24 to be exact. Boxing is always a great draw for bars and restaurants, and unlike the US where you have Pay per View on most important events, here they are all on open broadcast. This local chicken BBQ joint started with the improvement to their facility by building a ¨ Ranchito ¨. One the workers posed for the camera after the frame had taken shape. Palms were delivered and rapidly took their place. These guys were really moving, you could see that this was not their first job. They estimate that a unit like this one should last with no problems for 4 to 5 years, with minimal maintenance. These are structures that have evolved from the country side to the backyard of modest and fancy homes in the city. You also see them at entertainment facilities. They got the screen up and it is almost time. Time to Rrruuuummmmble ...... Ladies and Gentlemen !!! Introducing ........ From Panama C...

A friend asked me if I had found a cheap place to eat in Santiago. Well I found quite a few interesting and unusual places. I think by now you get the drift. I will provide my view of different restaurants, business or anything worthwhile. No stars, no spoons, no tires or thums up; That would be really unfair. We will have the following: Ta´Bueno , Will be for the kind of place that you should stop if you are around here. Ni Chicha Ni Limonada , A saying that undefines anything, it may be or may not be. Ta´pal Gato , Dont blame me. I told you so. Lunch today at the Galeria Hotel and Restaurant . Most likely the best eatery in town. I had a small chicken consome then Octupus in garlic sauce with rice, decent bread, two cold beers and black coffee. With a Dollar tip it was $ 13.00 out the door. Their menu is quite diversed and the facility is confortable. Sometimes service may be slow, because anybody who is anybody in Santiago will stop by this place sometime during the week. Ta´Bueno ...

There are many things we dislike, some a little and some with a passion. I dislike getting those calls at home: " May we speak with the lady of the house? ¨ I use to get upset, well I still do, maybe the best option to that is just say: Sure ... Hold On .... And then just leave the phone off the hook. Having been in sales, you develop this negative feeling for ¨strokers or tire kickers¨ I don't care what it is, they are not buying anything and only wasting your time. I also dislike talking of Vietnam....What a f..&%&ing waste of resources and precious lives that was. And that brings me to the most annoying and disgusting thing: Getting outflanked...? There is this little main plaza in Santiago with a nice small gazebo in the middle. As I was siting around early in the morning, waiting for a business that handles copies of survey plans to open, I noticed this lady and 2 guys just looking around, but just not looking around .... searching. Yes they were on a mission, you...

A friend of mine once told me ¨You just watch too many news¨as she was stomping her right foot, that was correct and I was the first to admit it. Things are a little different around here, as Telenovelas dominate the airwaves in the evening and news coverage is more concentrated early in the morning, when I am on the move. Nevertheless as I saw a clip of George W on the Internet or Internets as he says, I had to follow up. For all you guys who did not see it, here is a brief unbiased transcript; - Welcome Mr President , ¨Yes Welcome je je...!!¨- Mr President there are a few months left in your presidency, what are your thoughts? ..... (He pauses) ¨Oh yes, That we have kept this country safe from evil¨ - Mr President do you feel that you have accomplished your mission? ¨We have these terrorist that want to do us harm, these are bad people you know...¨ - Have you been successful? "We are the only ones that can keep America safe from these extremist, these are bad people¨ - How long...

My father in law was a great person and also a great entrepreneur, not necessarily the best administrator, but always a great guy. I remember his comments in regards to how governments, institutions or local authorities and private individuals had made things tough for him. As he said: ¨Yo no le deseo a nadie la mitad de lo que yo he pasado¨. He made more than one fortune and lost a couple, but in the process he left a legacy of courage and wisdom. I will need that. Imagine that you wake up one morning and the road company that won the bid for the road construction by your property, goes broke and leaves town. Companies in Panama are accustomed to low bidding to get the contract and whatever happens later, it just happens. The outcome is that all of sudden you have no access to your property. What...???? How to handle this crisis? .... Get a lawyer and sue the shit of them....of who?.... crisis 28. I must think outside the box, the important thing is that I must have access; next wee...

Enough of the good life in Panama City, its time to head to Santiago and take care of business. I am able to take the 4:30 AM bus from the Albrook station that leaves on time with not many customers. The fare is $ 7.50 for the 250 Km trip. This ride will not be DIRECTO , no, it will stop along the way and pick people here and there, for short and medium rides. It is all good, just relax and go along with the program. We arrived around 7:50 Am. All well and good. All hotels in Santiago de Veraguas were pretty much full, luckily a friend was able to find me a room at my second choice. There is much activity with government employees from Panama city during the work week, there are also many foreigners just snooping around for real estate deals on beach front property. We will talk about that later. You have a better chance of getting a room if you arrive on a weekend. Your best choices are Galleria, Grand David, La Hacienda and Piramidal. Decent quarters, specially if you have been in t...