Six suitcases—OMG! For our move to Panama, we took three suitcases and two carry-ons each for a total of ten bags! This week has been life-changing and exhausting!
Monday, September 1
We moved the six suitcases and carry-ons to a hotel near the airport to accommodate our early departure the next day. During the evening, we stopped at Menchie’s for a yogurt treat then drove to our realtor who’s going to sell our Tahoe. Then she drove us back to the hotel.
Tuesday, September 2
We flew to Panama City via Houston. We had a long layover in Houston which provided us with a leisurely lunch and time to relax instead of rush around like we did on our first trip to Panama.
When we arrived in Panama City, our trusty Uber driver, Joel, was there with his friend, Robert, to drive us to a hotel near Joel’s home. We had told them we had six suitcases but said nothing about the four carry-on bags, so Robert’s SVU could barely hold the bags and Lin and me. I was squashed into Lin with no leg room for my bad leg.
So we had to regroup. The options were drive two cars or Robert driving Lin and me, leaving our favorite Uber driver home. So, we decided to do two cars, even though it was more expensive than the original quote. We couldn’t leave Joel behind—he organized this!
Our hotel was a family owned establishment by Joel’s family. It was spartan but okay for the night!
Wednesday, September 3
The alarm went off early, and Joel drove us to the Immigration Office for our 7:00 AM appointment. That place fascinates me. At 7:00 AM everyone stands for the raising of the Panamanian flag, then the action begins. Our immigration lawyer, Tamara, met us and ushered us downstairs. She always gets early appointments because the electricity goes off regularly in the afternoon—a new norm! We easily got our permanent visa, so we are now residences of Panama.
When we finished, we called Joel and returned to the hotel and enjoyed a delicious breakfast next door to the hotel. We brought down a couple of bags we needed the night before, and the guys loaded the six suitcases and our carry-on bags into the two cars. That was worth it right there.
I rode with Robert; Lin rode with Joel. We both had delightful rides, us practicing our Spanish and them practicing their English. We stopped at a bus stop cafeteria in Santiago and experienced traditional Panamanian food. Yum!
The ride took about seven hours! But I experienced the Pan-American highway and coming out of Panama City, I saw the ships waiting to enter the Panama Canal, sugar cane fields and lots of wind turbines.
When we arrived at our house in Boquete, once again the two young guys brought the six suitcases into our house—again worth the money. Our neighbor, John, welcomed us with open arms—I danced with him and his wife years ago! Lin danced with his wife! Our two chauffeurs were funny, because they didn’t want to leave. We took pictures and they promised to return! Robert identified us as their parents!
Thursday, September 4
John became our chauffeur and we hit the ground running. First, we had a delicious breakfast at Sugar and Spice restaurant. Then we went to the Thursday Market and bought homemade goodies. After this stop, we shopped locally at a fruit and vegetable stand. Then we bought basic foods at the grocery store. We ended the afternoon with getting internet.
That evening, we went to two bars to see if they were showing the Eagles’ game. The first one—no. The second one, the Tap Out Bar had big TV’s, but the crowd was watching Panama’s soccer team. The waiter assured us we would be able to watch the Eagles’ game, and when the electricity went off, it cleared out the bar. So, we watched the Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys. Friends from New Mexico that moved here a couple months ahead of us came over to welcome us—what a warm welcome we received!
Friday, September 5
Because the saleswoman of the internet said we needed to have our TV, getting a TV topped our list. So, we drove the thirty miles to David, and it became a buying frenzy. We bought a 65” TV. Then we went to a furniture store and bought two rocker/recliners, a loveseat, a kitchen table and chairs and a mattress. Then we went to PriceMart (Like our CostCo) and bought two computer chairs, dishes and glasses and more! Whew! All this buying tied up two of my credit cards—one credit card company thought it was fraud and is issuing me a new card. The other one is checking mine out!
Gradually during the day, I felt sick and I went to bed when we got home from our shopping spree.
We got a message that the workman setting up the internet would be at our house on Saturday
Saturday, September 6
So, this was a waiting day! We waited for internet workman to come, no luck. I was in bed all day and evening—horrible cough and felt bad. I hated losing this day, but I was out for the count. Lin unpacked all our new possessions and continued unpacking bags.
Later in the day, I tried to purchase our furniture with a link the saleswoman texted me, but three times my credit cards was denied. Finally, Lin’s worked, but this tied up two of my credit cards.
Sunday, September 7
I had hoped we’d be watching the Broncos game on our new TV that’s on the floor. We haven’t bought an entertainment center yet. But the internet workman didn’t come today. So I found the radio station, 850am, on iHeart radio. I accidentally closed the app and we couldn’t get back to it. After about 45 minutes, I found a website where we listened to the game on a Titan radio station, and the Broncos won—yahoooo!
Six suitcases contained all we need to start our new life here—yes, we knew we had to buy lots of things we couldn’t bring with us. We had an estate sale, then we gave away a lot. It was quite a job going through all my things and deciding what to bring, but I did it. Also, I will be going to back to the states in November so I can bring more back with me, and I will return 3-4 times a year for ranch business, so gradually we will get all we want in Panama.
Finally,
The buying spree will continue this week because we have more to buy—and I’m afraid Lin caught what I have. Oh, no!
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