Friday, 11. January 2008 by Bruce Brown
Hi, this is Bruce, and I’m returning to my blog. Last time I wrote anything of substance I was about to drive from Mexico to Panama. I can’t say why I haven’t been posting --the trip was hard and settlings had it’s difficulties, and I haven’t’ been inspired to post. But, now I want to, so here goes. I was reminded of my blog when I decided to start supporting Mike Huckabee for President and wanted to put a Huckabee image on my site. I decided that I should also post an entry. So here goes.
The picture is of a place to which I hiked a few months ago. This is a part of heaven owned by a friend of mine. Breathtaking.
My trip driving from Mexico was extremely eventful --as I drove my 1997 Jeep Cherokee from Acapulco to Boquete Panama. Maybe I’ll write more about it later. The general advice of drive during the day, and don’t cross borders at night are born of experience-born wisdom --I now know!. But, I couldn’t follow the advice, because I had sent my family ahead to Panama by plane, and I was taking our belongings, and two English Shepherd dogs, in my jeep --and couldn’t stay in insecure hotels. It happened that I did cross borders, almost always at night, did hit multiple times of trouble, having to pull out a knife one night on the Honduras border to keep people away, and would do it again in a heart-beat. I ended up staying any place with security, never paid over 30 dollars a night for a hotel, and these hotels generally were built for unscrupulous activities. I never was displeased with the quality of my accommodation nonetheless.
Boquete, Panama is a dream --we made a wonderful decision to come here. There are other families our age coming (we’re in our forties with a 6 and 13-year-old. Since being here, we went through what remains of the rainy season --and loved the drama of the rain each day. Due to finding oil in my coolant in the Jeep, I pulled the head, had it ground, and replaced it only to find the oil was transmission fluid --so I had the radiator repaired. Prices for the parts were very good.
There are many people our age here. Great friends already made. We’re so happy. If you’re 30 something to 50 something --come to Panama, you’re kids will have friends. Our friends all seem to like or do music, and I’m getting to sing and help write songs. I’m also practicing guitar. I’ve created a site I call SongConstructors to help us collaborate on writing songs. I post lyrics in the Wiki so the guys can make suggestions on lyrics, and then we post current versions on songs. Almost all the songs need substantial work even to be good enough for us --but I never would have imagined I’d be doing this. My life’s been “unrich” for many years, and it’s getting so interesting. My past hasn’t been so uninteresting, I guess, as we;ve spent recent years in interesting places --but this place seems richer.
This was almost the election where I was going to stop voting. Then, last summer we started giving a little money to Huckabee, thinking nothing would come of it. Now we’re excited and asking others to consider supporting him. I’ve never done that before --as I’ve been pretty upset at our government for awhile. I think and hope he’s different. I’m not that sorry to plug him even though it’s irrelevant to this post. He’s seeming to always have to apologize for caring for the underdog. But as a disabled person, I’ve thought I had more in common with Democrats than Republicans for awhile now --however, Huckabee strikes a balance for me. I’m not posting this to start a Huckabee debate, but just to take note of him and my unexpected interest in this election after being dismayed for awhile with our nations politic. Consider hitting the link at the right and donating to his campaign --he needs the money I’m sure.
Panamanian people are very nice. And I find Panamanians to be bright and interesting. The USA is not hated here as we experienced some in Mexico --but, Panamanians do resent USA some, but seem to love Americans.
I’m running on now, so I’ll quit.
I’ll enjoy writing more about my trip over the next few weeks.
Bruce
Thursday, 27. September 2007 by Bruce Brown
We’ll I arrived to Boquete about 3 weeks ago. I haven’t posted anything yet as we don’t yet have internet. I have some interesting stories about my drive here from Mexico and some great information about Boquete. From all impressions so far, we are very pleased with our decision to come to Boquete. It is beautiful here, and we love the people and culture. As I said, just waiting for internet at the house. More later.
Friday, 24. August 2007 by Bruce Brown
This is the home we’re leaving in Acapulco. A total of two years in our home; a great place to be with very good people living near us at the monastery/convent.
On on to the logistics of us getting to Panama. I’ve purchased the plane tickets for the family, but now realize it’s going to be too expensive to get the dogs/some things and our car to Boquete. We have a 97 red Jeep Cherokee Sport Country that we love. It goes anywhere. And, although the general consensus seems to be that we should sell our jeep and purchase in Panama. We’re going to keep the jeep. We may regret it --but we’re leaving everything behind in Acapulco --so we’d like our Jeep. We also have two dogs. So I started adding it up. In Mexico, 170 dollars each for a qualified crate to ship the dogs. $86 per dog for airplane tickets. A bunch to ship the car. A lot of money to take extra baggage on the plane. Money’s an issue. So I decided I can’t fly --gotta drive. Sharon and the kids will fly. I’ll leave a few days early, and meet them there. I get a challenging/trip alone --and I think that’s going to be good.
We came to Mexico with two trailers. Both trailers broke from the weight in remote places. (That’s a great story that involves a great welder guy in the middle of a small town in Mexico.)
So, the last several days I’ve been preparing the car for the trip. Balance the tires & alignment ($25). Synthetic oil change ($45). New wipers ($12). Fixed the drivers-side window so I can roll down the window rather than open my door ($60). Check brakes --new rear brakes ($30). It’s all fixed --and I’m pleased with the price --Mexico prices. The car’s ready to go.
I’m excited to drive the Pan American highway. I’ll be able to say I did it until I’m old and be glad I did.
Now, I want to find a trailer hitch for the jeep. We have a tray that fits in a trailer hitch and I’d like to use it to take some more boxes on the trip. Just a few of our things.
I’m going to drive with my two English Shepherds, some stuff, and treat it in my mind like a vacation, not a move. It’s a good trip --one people plan for for years and want to do it. It’s not a chore, it’s an adventure. I’m going to pay attention to everything along the way.
I’ll take notes on my laptop --and post them when I get to internet. There are going to be obstacles, and a lot of wonderful experiences.
Monday, 13. August 2007 by Sharon Brown
My home for nine days in Boquete was at the “Villa Marita”. It is a wonderful lodge-type resting place with quaint little cabins, a wonderful owner (Senor Rodrigo), attentive staff, and beautiful birds....which include (2) naughty, but sweet parrots, and my new friend “Tooki”. I had never been around Tucan birds before, and was amazed how beautiful, calm, and funny they are. Tooki would be up high in a tree...seeming as if he was wanting to hide from us...and when I would talk to him, he would hop to a different part of the tree and hide behind some branches and leaves....as if to avoid looking at us. I could see his little eye looking down at us through the branches. Today he flew over to the table where I was eating breakfast, and began helping himself to the left-over egg scraps, and dunked his big beak into my cup of coffee. He is such a sweetheart! Our family is thinking that we would like to get a Tooki bird when we live in Panama.
Monday, 13. August 2007 by Sharon Brown
Leaving Boquete seemed very strange today…it started feeling a little like home there….except I really need my family and miss them terribly. It has been so nice staying connected with my husband by cell phone and email…being able to send pictures and some little movie clips, to give my family a feel for what it has been like for me on my visit.
I have met such wonderful, kind, helpful people and know that when the little snags come along when moving anywhere, especially to a new country, there are many people ready to help my family out. I have so longed for my family to be with me here on this trip, and am so thankful and excited that we all will be together in Panama very soon.
Now comes the time of packing, sorting through what we definitely need to bring for the first (3-4) months, selling a car, getting our (2) dogs ready with the proper paperwork, and making arrangements for when we land in Panama! Whew! It’s a time for a little hard work, patience, prayer, and extra prayer for our entire family as we try with God’s help to get it all done.
I am so thankful to my precious husband Bruce for all the wonderful arrangements he made for my stay in Panama city and in Boquete. Thank you honey for your love for me and for taking the time to research and find such neat and beautiful places for me to stay and visit. Thank you for your patience with me, for praying for me, and believing in me that I could make this trip to Panama.
Monday, 13. August 2007 by Mahlin Brown
This is what our 5-year-old daughter says about moving to Boquete. This is a picture of her in Acapulco, with some things that the Catholic Missionary sisters we worked with gave her to wear for fun while they were preparing a dinner.
Hi, I’m Mahlin. My Mom and Dad said we’re moving to Boquete, and I think I’m going to really like it there, and my brother Josh too. And I think there’s going to be lots of birds. And, we’re going to have some birds that we’re going to keep. And, my brother Josh is going to get a pet monkey [edit by Bruce --not in a million years] and I’m going to get a pet parrot. And, I think we’re going to like our house. And, I think we’re going to like it a lot.
I think we’re going to the waterfall and my brother Josh says maybe we can climb up the waterfall. And the monkeys and Tuckies and parrots are very nice. Dad taught me to snorkel in Acapulco. We could get some shells and snorkel in Panama. When you snorkel, it’s really nice, you can get fins and you can go really faster, and you can see fish and get shells.
I think my dogs Monte and Resee will really like running around in the grass. But, we’re giving away our cats.
In Acapulco it’s very hot. I really think when we get to Panama that we’ll really, really, like it.
Monday, 13. August 2007 by Sharon Brown
Well, the day has arrived for me to leave Boquete. I fly to Panama city, spend the night at a wonderful bed and breakfast “La Estancia”, and then fly home tomorrow to Acapulco, Mexico. I have had an amazing time and am so, so thankful to Rodrigo and all the staff here at the “Villa Marita” for their help and kindness in so many ways! Senor Rodrigo is the owner of the “Villa Marita” here in Boquete and he took care of me like a daughter. Also, I want to thank Ron for all his help and look forward to visiting more with he and his wife when they come back in the fall. Lee and Jennifer were so helpful and started me off in the right direction upon arriving. A big thanks to Rob who helped our family in showing me our rental home and helping with all the details of making that happen.
I can’t believe that we as a family will be arriving here in a few weeks! I thank God for His protection and guidance along the way, and for bringing such wonderful people into our lives to help and assist us during this time of transition.
I look forward to showing my family around Boquete and the surrounding area (what I know of it so far at least). I will write more later....but now....I’m heading down to town to sign our rental contract and make our deposit. Thank you to all who participate in this blog and share your comments with our family!
Monday, 13. August 2007 by Bruce Brown
After help from a lot of nice people, Sharon decided on a house.
Inexpensive 3 bedroom rentals are hard to find in Boquete. There seem to be enough 2 bedroom places, but once you get to three bedroom, the choices are more limited if you want to stay under $1,000 per month. But, we found this place, that Sharon loves. The down-side is that it’s for sale, so we’ll need to be looking for another place sometime soon, I suppose. But, we’ve found our landing place.
I like that it’s colorful. It has a loft with a little office and master bedroom. It’s on a quiet pine-lined street.
When Sharon told me yesterday it was a go, I purchased plane tickets for the family from Acapulco to Panama City. Flying August 31st. Total cost, around $1,200 dollars, plus $150 total for our two English Shepherd dogs on Mexicana Airlines. If your flying from Mexico. Mexicana has consistently had the best rates and flight-times.
(UPDATE: Actually, we didn’t get the house in this picture --we found one at about half the price, $450 --and love it. It’s an old A frame that feels like living in a comfortable cabin.)
Monday, 13. August 2007 by Bruce Brown
On Sharon’s last Sunday of her trip, she went to mass, and was asked to do the readings and the prayer intentions at the service. The place is welcoming. The service at the English-language mass was attended by not-to-many, but they were nice people, offering to help Sharon with advice and welcome.
After mass she went to a waterfall nearby. I really like waterfalls --I’ll go here often, I think.
The kids will love playing there. And, Sharon will be careful to remind them quite often about the slippery rocks. I think I’ll read a book while the kids play and Sharon worries.
Thursday, 09. August 2007 by Sharon Brown
I headed to Volcan yesterday and spent the night. The drive was very easy from here to the edge of David, and then onto Volcan. The drive is so beautiful...so beautiful. At different times throughout the drive I felt as though I were in the mid-western part of the U.S., or in a tropical jungle area, or what I imagine Sweden or Switzerland to look like. It was so lovely to see the beautiful pastures....farmers tending to their property and animals...the horse families running and walking on the rolling, mountainous land, the misty clouds rolling by.... I was trying to soak it all in....and trying to imagine what my family might think of the drive.
I met some wonderful people in Volcan. They were so helpful in trying to connect me with the right people that may have some rental homes, and told me about the area and the community there. Volcan is much more rural, and the town is much more spread out than Boquete. I went to the 6:00pm Mass last night, and met some very sweet people, then went to eat at a wonderful Greek restaurant! If you’re ever in Volan, definitely stop there to enjoy a very good meal there. The owner was very kind and knowledgeable about the area, and it was so nice visiting with him.
After only spending one day in Volcan, I decided, and just felt that for now, it was not the place for our family. I feel that there is more of a community feel in Boquete, and being closer to the city of David is a plus as well. Volcan is a beautiful town and may cost less to live there for now, but overall.....for this move....I am choosing Boquete for our family.
I am looking at more rental homes today and trying to connect with the other real estate agent I have been working with to show me some others. It has been a bit of a challenge to coordinate seeing homes here in Boquete. It just requires a little patience, which I have had the pleasure of working on while I’m here.
