We Went to the Vetrinarian

This week has been full of firsts for us. We were supposed to have surf lessons on Wednesday, but to unfortunate luck, we had to cancel and take our little dog to the veterinarian. Our lesson was rescheduled for Friday. 

For any of the readers who are squeamish, now may be a good time to stop reading since I am going to be discussing why we had to make the visit to the veterinarian. . 

Original photo

Original photo

About a week ago our little dog had a weird discharge coming from his anus. I didn't think anything of it; maybe it was just dirt from outside or maybe it was an upset stomach? Wrong! It turns out that the problem was progressing and he had a ruptured anal sac. Anal sacs in dogs are like an Appendix in humans; they are pretty much worthless-at least for domestic dogs.  

We discovered what may be going on in the evening, too late for the veterinarian to be open. After a to of research, we decided that our little dog would be okay if we waited the night and took him in to get checked out the next morning. He had to be put under a local anesthetic, with the needle stuck in his arm (and wrapped of course), received a deep cleaning of the area, had antibiotics given to him and several prescription medications; the total bill was $78. 

Deep cleanings and local anesthetics have been a daily ritual Wednesday through Friday. He goes back in Monday for a check of the area. In the mean time our little dog gets to wear "the cone of shame" when one of us cannot monitor him, which he is not fond of. The antibiotics seem to be working also, which means unless he is outside, he'll be sitting on the couch with a towel under neath him. Our little dog has seen better days and hasn't been his chipper, normal self. Who could blame the little guy?

Surfing is coming along. As I mentioned earlier, we haven't really been able to go this week as much as we wanted. I thought we had a lesson first thing Friday morning. The manager seemed a bit caught off guard when I mentioned the lesson, so she asked us to go check out the waves as she did not think they would be appropriate for our skill level. 

Robert and I stood looking at the seemingly endless set of waves for about 20 minutes. Further down the beach the waves, according to the manager were at least 6 foot waves, which is what she surfs; she has been surfing for 5 years. The jellyfish are gone and now the big waves are coming in. I look forward to the day that we can ride these waves, but for now we will ride the wave after it breaks (see picture below)

Robert and I had a good session. Yesterday was the most number of times Robert and I caught waves. It is gratifying to see that just five lessons ago we couldn't stand on a board for more than a few clumsy seconds and now we are beginning to learn about the boards and stand up a little bit longer each time. Our lessons are two hours long and I think I could have been out there for another hour at least.  

This week I thought I would try to find a good ketchup recipe to try. For whatever reason, I do not really like ketchup in Panama. If I really wanted, I could probably try to find the ketchup I used in the US, but ketchup really only consists of tomato paste, vinegar, and some spices/sweeteners. Why not?

Despite the heart shaped spot of honey I put into the ketchup, the recipe was not loved. Luckily there are plenty of other recipes to try!

Work is keeping us both busy, but we remind each other daily how much we like the pace of Panama. Time does not seem to stop for anyone, but the pace of life is nice. I could not imagine wanting to be anywhere else. Panama is very foreign to me in many ways and although I do not fully understand the  language and culture, but in the short time we've been here, it feels very much like home. 

Catching a Wave, and Other Milestones

We continue to stay busy with a lot of new things, including work. We continue to explore bits of Panama and hit a milestone that the dogs have loved, which involves the fact that they are now out of in home quarantine and got to go on regular walks. We have also officially sold our house in Arizona.

This past week Robert and I began taking surfing lessons. This sport is by far one of the most difficult things I have done, probably second to hiking down the Grand Canyon to Plateau Point and back in one day (which is a 12 mile/20 kilometer hike).

I have found surfing to be mentally and physically challenging. The mental part of it comes from all of the physically challenging aspects. We have had four lessons and there has not been one where I have come out with some kind of souvenir/injury on my body. 

Day one is the day I got stung by jellyfish. Go figure, now is jellyfish season and there are a lot of little broken up pieces floating in the water. Those feel like quick little needle pricks that go away as fast as they hit. I get pricked by those, but I also had a more serious one on my arm. Vinegar and shaving cream took the sting away. Lesson number two resulted in a cut in the arch of my foot. It probably wouldn't be so bad except for the location and the fact that sandals and tennis shoes irritate that spot. Surf lessons number three and four resulted in bruises on my hip bones. This was something I was expecting, since you have to keep your chest lifted (think Cobra pose for yoga) when you are paddling and are trying to catch a wave; that is a good sign, right? 

Jellyfish sting on my arm

Robert seems to be faring a little bit better. He has avoided any big jellyfish stings,  but has had his share of cuts and wipeouts.

Because of all of the physical stuff, your mental abilities get really challenged. This sport is masochistic and is a hard workout. To put it in perspective, Robert burns roughly 1,200 calories when he surfs for two hours. As hard as it is, Robert and I are both addicted. Both of us have caught several waves which makes the hard parts worth while.

Processed food is some what hard to find and can be unreasonably expensive here. I have been trying to make a lot of food from scratch. While you can find mayonnaise pretty easily, I decided I would take a shot at making it for no other reason than the fact that I had what I needed: eggs, oil, and mustard (in my case, I found pineapple mustard that is amazing). With my emersion blender at hand, within seconds the sight of mayo was coming to life.

It's magic!

I am not a fan of mayonnaise, but this was not awful and Robert seemed to enjoy it. It was suitable for a classic egg salad, which was perfect for a lazy/tired after surf snack. I have also become proficient at making refried beans and have found a decent taco seasoning which we both seem to like. It is simple: canned beans with a healthy dash hot sauce (Caribbean hot sauce) and some cumin, heated in a pan-we do not have a microwave. We go out to eat less and less frequently and as a whole, have been eating healthier. 

When we moved the dogs down here, they had to be in home quarantine for 40 days, meaning they could not be around other dogs. There are multiple reasons for the quarantine, including the idea that the government does not want there to be a rabies issue. The dogs are very happy that they now can anticipate a daily walk...and they do!

On another note, we also have officially sold our house in Arizona. All I have to say is thank goodness for the internet and email. It was a good house to live in and a great neighborhood, but I do not think I ever anticipated on growing old in that house. 

The most interesting experience with the house was trying to find a notary down here to sign some of the documents. At first we thought we would have to go to the US Embassy in Panama to get a US notary in order to have a notary from the US notarize the documents. The wait was going to be at least two weeks. That did not work so other possible options included flying to Colombia, Costa Rica or Miami, Florida.

For whatever good luck on our side happened, we were informed that a Panamanian notary would work. We were able to find one about 45 minutes away from us. The challenge was the common theme for locations in Panama is there really aren't addresses here. As we asked for directions, we were told to go straight and find the park. Sure enough, we did and the notary was easy to find. The directions given and talking to the notary were all in Spanish. I think Robert and I are starting to get an ear for the language, but being able to speak it is going to take time. 

Time and time again things in life continue to surprise me. If you would have told me even five years ago that we would be doing what we are doing now, I would have told you that you have lost your mind. Now I am finding it more and more unusual to not have a conversation in Spanglish with people other than Robert. Things in Panama are simple and relaxed. The more time I spend here, the more time I understand how people in Panama are the happiest in the world. 

We Bought a Car

We are fortunate enough to have been able to borrow a car. We live approximately 10 minutes away (13km or 8mi) from the town where our business located so having a car is important to us. However, like all good things that come to an end, it was time for us to return the car and purchase one for ourselves.

There are several challenges when looking for a car. First, Robert and I needed a car with specific towing abilities. I like trucks, but since this car is going to be our only car for the foreseeable future, I was hoping not to have a truck and a full sized SUV, if possible. I was not sure whether or not this would be possible, but a girl can dream, can't she?

Ultimately we narrowed our list of desired vehicles we were searching for. The main car on our list was a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, or newer. If that was not possible, we were hoping for an affordable Toyota Land Cruiser (not the Prado version), or a Nissan Armada (which we did not find out until later that those do not exist in Panama). If an SUV did not work out, our next options included a Toyota Tundra, or Nissan Titan. Of course, we had a specific budget we were aiming for also.

Another challenge is the language barrier. Robert and I are gradually getting better at our Spanish. Congratulations to us, we probably have the Spanish vocabulary of a 2.5 year old. The final (and scariest) challenge was finding a good car. There are no lemon laws here so many people take a trusted mechanic with them to make sure the engine is not going to fall out as you are leaving the lot. With a specific budget and a very specific list of cars, let the hunting begin.

Robert and I read quite a bit about what to expect when buying a car from Panama. Unless you buy a brand new car, it is likely your car is going to need some kind of work, whether it is new tires and an oil change, or something a bit more drastic. There is a place in Panama City where cars go to die and get reborn again. This isn't always the case, but I've also read it is not an uncommon practice.

Original photo 

Yay, we are walking into a death trap and have a very narrow list of cars to pick from! This is the place where it is common for dealerships to turn back the miles on the car so they can get higher prices. My anxiety was high but what better way to be welcomed to the big leagues. May your Spanish speaking abilities serve you well!

Original photo

Hmm...maybe it wasn't that bad, but I was still on edge.Robert and I were hoping to be able to drive the cars, but we quickly saw that many car dealerships pack cars in like sardines, making it like one of those slide puzzle games to get the cars out. 

Robert had an idea of two dealerships that sold the Pathfinders we were hoping for. When we went to our first stop, the person did not speak English and we spoke limited Spanish. Luckily we can say "¿Tienes un Nissan Pathfinder?" "Do you have a Nissan Pathfinder?" was a very quick way to get our needs met. The first person said yes and had a driver take us to the body shop where it still needed a bumper. The car was nice but we wanted to see if there was anything else for us.

We went off to our next dealership, which looked like a mechanic shop. We asked the mechanic if he had cars for sale and told him what we were looking for along with our price range. All of this was in Spanish...very, very, broken Spanish. The mechanic said yes but to give him one hour. We thought we would continue to look around in the mean time. 

The mechanic we found seemed nice and eager to help. He said he found a truck for us but no Pathfinder. He tagged along with us to several other dealerships until we found the vehicle we ended up purchasing, which also happened to be one of the original dealership we were looking for.

I was hoping to have the mechanic look at the car to make sure nothing major needed fixed. The person who sold us the car was English speaking and said the mechanic wanted to change the oil and do routine work on it. No big deal considering. Plans to use our newfound mechanic did not work out and we ended up dropping him back off at his shop, unsure of exactly what condition our new purchase is in.

We have had the vehicle for about a week now. So far the only major things that the car needs include a brake light and we got the oil changed. We'll also need to get the tires changed eventually, but they will work for now. While this experience was somewhat stressful, and very overwhelming, Robert and I are both enjoying our new car. It has everything what we need and the dogs seem to like it (our big one keeps trying to jump inside for a car ride), which is another bonus. 

El Valle de Antón

We upheld week one of our goal and ventured around Panama this week to El Valle de Antón (or El Valle for short). While we have been to El Valle on the first trip we took to Panama, we got to visit this time around with a bit more knowledge and understanding of the country and Panama itself. El Valle has a lot to offer and to my surprise, we got to go to a hiking spot with a waterfall, a zoo, and an orchid garden for a whopping total of $20. 

El Valle is a dormant volcano which has many surrounding peaks. The most famous chain of peaks is known as The Sleeping Indian Girl. People can hike the chain of peaks, but we did not do it as my hiking shoes did not make it with me on this trip to Panama. You can read more about the legend here.

   

                          

Our first stop was the market. This market sells a variety of things, including produce, souvenirs, and flowers.  I have read that Sundays are the best days for the market. Surprisingly enough, there were more Panamanians than there were non-Panamainians. We noticed there were a lot of buses that took people to and from El Valle. 

A important rule that I am quickly discovering when it comes to bathrooms in Panama: always carry quarters, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. During a previous trip, I was told that bathrooms charge in order to discourage people from stealing the toilet paper.

If I could have, I might have taken him home. If only...

May I introduce you to a new special Panamanian treat called raspaos. I have read about these and up until last week I had not seen the opportunity to try them. Street vendors shave blocks of ice and drizzle syrup and condensed milk. This guy only had cherry flavored syrup. I am not a fan of cherry, but this was the one and only exception.

Our next stop caused us to reminisce the first trip we took to El Valle last June. This is where we went zip lining. We didn't go this time, but we did get to walk around and do things we did not do before. My favorite part? All of it; the area was busy, but it is also a nice change of scenery from the beach and filled with dense green jungle and the smell of fresh river water seemed to have a cleansing effect. 

This picture was taken in June

After watching people zip line for a bit, we headed off to a zoo. Personally, I am not a fan of zoos but I read that this particular zoo has a highly endangered frog specific to this area. For me, this was a must see. Entry for both of us into the zoo was $6. 

Much of the animals consisted of fowl, but we did see two tapirs, which, according to one blog I read, were rescued from one of Manuel Noriega's hideaways. For those who may be unaware, Manuel Noriega was a dictator of Panama in the 80s. Tapirs are related to horses and hippos. Who knew!?

A tapir

After walking around for a bit, seeing various types of parrots and peacocks, we came across the Golden Frog. The main reason they are endangered is deforestation and people like to take them as pets. 

The Golden Frog

We also saw a sloth!

After the zoo we got lunch and then went to an orchid sanctuary. This place had orchids of all colors and sizes. We also learned that vanilla (the stuff that you and I bake with) is an orchid. We also saw orchids that were best seen a magnifying glass.

Vanilla close up

The vanilla orchid from afar

This flower grew as part of the same plant as the picture below. 

Tall orchid plants!

As we were heading back down the windy mountainous road it was hard not to ignore the buses and diablo rojos driving past us. These buses are very much iconic to Panama. Although they drive very crazy, I am developing a fond appreciation for them and them.

Our weekend day trip turned out to be a lot of fun and a lot more educational than I expected. I learned about the rainforest, got to try new foods, and also learned a little about where some of the food I use comes from. It was definitely a great way to start upholding our promise to ourselves!

Business as Uusual

Life in Panama is business as usual. I wish I had some exciting adventures to share, but right now life is becoming ordinary for us. Robert and I continue to stay busy with our jobs, which is not always the most blog worthy thing to post about. We've been trying to explore the culture and the food a little more.

One thing I discovered this past week was that the best way to tell people your location is to use a map. I was trying to find a location for a hotel in the area. When I found the location on the website, instead of finding a "123 Main Street" I found a map instead with a pin pointing to the location of the building. I honestly was not expecting a street address, since when describing locations we usually use landmarks, but I think I was expecting more than just a map. At the end of the day, all you can do is laugh and enjoy the simplicity of what is.

We also got our water bill for the first time this month. Because there are no mailboxes, we had our bill slipped into our gate. In order to pay your bill you walk down to the local market which has a station specific for the utility company, and pay the amount. 

Beans, tortillas, and eggs are breakfast stables for us. I was reading another blogger who mentioned a traditional breakfast in Panama. This breakfast consists of a corn tortilla, eggs, and cheese. Yumm! These corn tortillas are thicker than Mexican corn tortillas and are typically deep fried. These tortillas are roughly 1/4 inch (6mm) thick and about 5 inches (12.7 cm) in diameter.

The texture of these tortillas was very different than what I was used to and they were more like a cake rather than a traditional tortilla that I am used to being able to fold. Despite the fact that I cooked these in a pan with a little oil rather than deep frying them, I can honestly say that this made for a hearty breakfast. 

Panama continues to be a new adventure for us on a daily basis, whether it is learning to navigate the areas, trying new foods, or simply soaking up the culture of Panama. Robert and I have discussed trying to explore the area more, which is a goal we intend to keep. Life for anyone is an adventure, and we'll continue to see where ours takes us.