November Update
My highly competent and adorable Spanish Teacher Jasmin with her 2 Malamutes ‘Blue’ & ‘Sky’ at her home where I enthusiastically and optimistically learn the language of Panama.
This month started with Panamanian Public Holidays and lots of them!!!
This first weekend:
- November 3: Independence Day from Colombia, commemorating Panamanians' revolt against Colombia in 1903
- November 4: Panamanian National Symbols Day, celebrating the country's flag, national anthem, and coat of arms. So a 4 day weekend when the American Highway is so busy they have 3 lanes north on Friday & Saturday - 1 on the southbound lane. And the reverse when the City dwellers are returning home. Very confusing from time to time!! Even with 3 lanes there are many traffic jams…..
- November 5: Colón Day, Panama's version of Columbus Day, commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. November 10Cry of Independence, mainly celebrated in La Villa de Los Santos. Another long weekend with heaps of traffic Friday Saturday & Monday.
Monday 04 today and went for our usual early morning walk with Jazz. Very muddy and wet after a rainy on and off day yesterday and just returned from my 9-10am Spanish lesson with Jasmin.
Sitting on the terrace here at home enjoying a coffee, iced orange, a warm breeze and trees with the ever changing bird life.
Usually we are here alone but now there are 6 other units full of families because of the long holiday weekend. We enjoy the laughter, squeals of delight from the children and the older children playing soccer, watching the balls come over our way, seeing the adults sipping wine or beer alongside the pool. Just lovely. They talk and laugh loudly until goodness knows when - we don’t hear them in our bedroom so we sleep the night away.
Of course all quiet when we leave for our walk and just coming out slowly at midday now haha!!! I can smell the BBQ’s getting ready for a big meal…..
A few months ago J met a NZ couple briefly in Novey’s, a store similar to Bunnings. They exchanged phone numbers and kept in touch a couple of times. They were returning to NZ after a short stay here when they purchased an apartment in Punta Barco Village - 5 minutes drive from our place...
We were invited to dinner at their apartment last night (along with a Canadian couple who have been here only a few months and love it) - it was a most enjoyable evening.
In NZ they sold their property and returned here to their fully furnished large immaculate apartment and 2 stray dogs they have rescued. Both around a year old. The dogs were so settled and well behaved because of their caring. Very impressive! We will be keeping in touch now of course.
Enjoyed Bridge yesterday even when we came last!
The days are becoming warmer and sunnier.
Jazz enjoyed his walk early this morning - Wednesday- without his cone after a stressful couple of days. He was groomed and then castrated Monday morning and when we picked him up he was very relaxed!! We have to keep him away from his stitches as he would love to tear them out- so Monday J sat up with him all night in his chair keeping him away from the stitches. Yesterday he really performed when we put the neck cone on him again but he has accepted life is tough and settled down now.
Christmas is coming soon and heaps of decorations stack the shelves in a couple of supermarkets and the $2 shop here in Coronado. We have been invited to a Christmas Day dinner at the gorgeous home of the Bridge hosts so privileged indeed.
Yay! We have found a new Fast Post Shop close to us in Coronado. You only pay for receiving the post. (When we were new arrivals we paid USD300+ subscription for a year!).
Our new mailing address is:
………………………………………
John & Coral Jonesse FBC 72396
1345 NW 98th CT Unit 2
Doral, Florida
FL 33172
United States of America
……………………………………….
Nearly the end of the month and next update will be my Christmas Special!
Hope your lives are healthy and happy as ours are in this enjoyable country of Panama.
Keep safe
Love
Coral 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼