January 16, 2012

Just when you think there is absolutely NO way the weird experiences and adventures that happen here can possibly continue, you have a week packed full of weird things. And this was the week. From traffic to doctor’s appointments to driving to eating to exploring new places to language difficulties. These adventures just seems to go on and on and on! So I decided this week I just had to take a chance and get out into the horrible traffic. I drive around near where we live, but never down in the city with all the road construction, crazy drivers, people that make four lanes out of two lane roads, others that make a left hand turn on red from the far right lane. But I just had to give it a try. So I went to visit a friend on the other side of town and from there, I had to go to the doctor’s office. It “should” have been a simple three right hand turns, then a left to get me to my destination. But with the roads as they are, it just isn’t that simple. Needless to say, I missed one of the turns and ended up several miles from where I meant to go. So I tried to find a place to park (impossible) along the street and eventually found a private parking lot that you had to get a ticket to enter. Fortunately, there was an empty spot. Got parked and called Wayne to see if he might be able to figure out where I was. Since the only landmarks I saw were banks (but then there must be a million of them here), I had to get out and walk a couple of blocks to actually find a street sign. Wayne finally figured out where I was and directed me back in the right direction. I mean, who could I ask on the street? Can’t even say “lost” in Spanish. Something tells me I should pay a little more attention to where Wayne drives, since he seems to be able to maneuver around the city pretty well now. The one good thing is that traffic here usually moves at a snail’s pace with all this construction mess and lots of car, so that helps.
And to top it all off, we are experiencing our first “dry” season, since it never really happened last year. NOW, I understand the word “paradise”. The weather is wonderful, less humid and sunny every day. And you know it will be exactly the same amazing incredible weather until sometime in April or May when the rains once again start. I am just so glad that I getting to experience it. I love it.
Yesterday I met with the group of ladies that I go to lunch with once a month. We had a rather unique experience this month and went to the new Trump Towers in Panama City to eat. Talk about a decadent place! Prices for the condos are upwards to $2.5 million. I guess it is the first Trump building to be built outside of the USA. And it is one of the tallest, if not the tallest building in Panama. What a beautiful place. It was so much fun. Funny story though, I guess Donald himself came to Panama for the official opening last July. However, we were having one of our massive rainstorms, the streets by the towers flooded and his SUV go stranded in the flooded streets right in front of this place where you can buy a 2.5 million dollar condo. OK, so the infrastructure still isn’t the best.