We're Late

Yep, the Newsletter is late, Of course, this IS a Panama Newsletter and you shouldn't expect it to be on time every week. Being fashionably (or even shamelessly) late is just part of the culture, so you could say that I'm helping you to learn a bit about living in Panama. This week I was supposed to write about Day Two in Azuero, but events, a sore back, more business than we expected, and the near-impossibility of getting around town on Carnaval weekend prevented me from doing an acceptable job of writing about the wonder and beauty we saw in Azuero. Rather than give you a poorly written account, I will delay it for next week.

The Jeep

El Cubano has once again done a bangup job of building a new radiator for me. I think this is the fifth radiator I've had repaired by them over the years, all on different cars. In case you don't know, most cars built within the last 20 years have plastic tanks on their one-core radiator, and it doesn't take too much crud buildup in them to greatly reduce their cooling capacity. The Jeep was experiencing higher than normal temperatures in heavy traffic and when climbing steep mountain roads, so on Thursday, I removed the radiator and took it to El Cubano in Parque Lefevre, hoping to have it disassembled, cleaned and reassembled. Unfortunately, it too had plastic tanks, which can be disassembled, but not reassembled. Once again, the options were a new radiator (not available) or a scratch built. I chose to have them build a two core with brass tanks, which they worked late on Saturday to complete for me. This is not a cheap route, but I've never experienced serious problems or continued overheating after having them build me a radiator. This one cost $210.00, but on a trial run up Cerro Azul Sunday morning, the temperature never went out of the normal range. Keep these guys in mind if you have overheating problems with your car. They're located on Via Espana, Calle 77 East #10. Telephones are: 224-1943/224-8688,

Today (Carnaval Monday) I took the Jeep to Auto Vicente, San Antonio which is located beside the Esso Station after the San Antonio Barriada, coming from Tocumen Airport, and just before you reach Los Pueblos Mall on the left. I've used them several times in the last few years, and have all our cars inspected there. They're friendly folks who do a good job for a reasonable price. They only took a couple of hours, and while they were working I took a walk to Los Pueblos, where I slipped on a rain slick tiled sidewalk and fell flat on my back. No, that's not why my back is sore, it was already sore when I fell on it. I fault the shoes I was wearing, so will throw them out. I'm getting too old for that nonsense. Anyway, when they finished and I drove away, I had to double check and make sure they gave me the right Jeep. This thing is beginning to feel like a new car.

OK folks, this is Carnaval Week, so I'm going to do what the rest of the country has done and take some time off. See you next week.

Service and Assistance for Retirees Who Want to Live in Panama