2 Retire In Panama?
NEWSLETTER
Volume 4 October 19, 2020
The economy of Panama continues to open...
...and people here are anxiously waiting for the beaches to reopen. The condos have opened the pools. We seem to be getting back to normal if you can call it that. We still have the Sunday all day and the nighttime quarantine between 11 pm and 5 am. Masks are required anytime we are outside our own home. With the majority of restaurants open we have been able to enjoy eating out on a few occasions. There are a few areas that remain under partial shutdown.
My first attempt to put the newsletter out to all of you seems to have worked well. I deleted those email addresses that bounced back, and I can see that a few people unsubscribed who do not wish to get this newsletter. I am producing the newsletter free for those interested. I will once again remind you that we do not store any information on our subscribers, other than a first name and email address. Please, accept my apology if you did not want or expect to receive our blog and/or newsletter by e-mail. You are always welcome to scroll to the bottom and unsubscribe.
With the reactivation of international flights at...
...Tocumen International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced that nationals, residents, and foreigners who enter the country and do not have a Certificate of Swab Test / PCR or negative antigen, the cost to perform the test at the air terminal will be $50.
As of last Monday, three Swabbing Centers strategically located and duly signposted for the attention of travelers, in the Central Area, North Pier and Satellite B within Terminal 1 of the Tocumen International Airport began operation. Travelers will be able to obtain the results in approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
If the rapid test result is negative, the passenger will be exempt from complying with the mandatory isolation.
If the swab/PCR or antigen test is positive, the person will go to mandatory isolation in a hospital hotel designated by the Ministry of Health. Seven days later the passenger will have an antigen test. If the result is positive, the passenger must complete the fourteen-day isolation and if the result is negative, the isolation ends. It is my understanding that the traveler is responsible for all the costs.
Technical crews, auxiliary crews, mechanics, and humanitarian personnel are exempt.
This information came from a statement released by the airport.
Jen and I have been fully immersed in a bathroom remodel...
...this week. It started on Wednesday with a small crew doing the demolition. Our biggest lessen, aside from the language barrier, is that remodeling anything in a high-rise condo has many challenges. The tile coming out has to be bagged and carefully removed daily. Special mats have to be maintained outside the entrance to limit the tracking of dust throughout the building. In our building the administration must be satisfied with each of the contractors performing the work.
We are removing a large whirlpool tub and replacing it with a large walk-in shower. We are also replacing all the tile, the toilet, mirror, and vanity. We are adding an on-demand water heater for the bathroom, additional outlets, and new lighting.
The demo was completed on Saturday. I have ordered the new bathroom vanity, and the electrician is starting today. Jen and I scrambled to find the glass block that will enclose the new shower. It seems that the glass block is widely available, however no place had enough of the design we wanted so we had to go to several stores to secure enough of our choice. We are 11 blocks short and the scavenger hunt will continue until we have enough of our chosen pattern.
The guys who are doing the demo are going to be doing the construction of the glass block walls and the plumbing work. They will also be lowering the ceiling in the shower, glazing the surfaces to be retiled, and getting everything ready for the new tile. I have not been satisfied with the tile work in Panama, so I will be doing the tile myself. We will be shopping for tile and granite countertops in the next few days.
Adolfo Gaffoglio, manager of the Ipsos poll, explained in a recent PanaTimes article that 50% of Panamanians have had to make use of almost all of their savings during the last 6 months of work suspensions. Jen and I have witnessed stories of poverty and hunger during this time. Our church and several other charitable organizations have been providing food to many in the area.
Jen and I are committed to providing work to local people and buying materials locally sourced and from local family owned stores. These people and shop owners have had a rough time during the government-imposed lockdown.
I remain committed…
…to keeping this newsletter under 2 pages and sharing good information. It would benefit the whole readership to have feedback. Please reply with any questions or suggestions for next week.
Remember that you can get a copy of my book by clicking the link here, or the link on the blog. It is only available on Amazon or Kindle. Kindle Unlimited subscribers read it free.
Blessings from paradise,
Greg
