ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO A WAIT.

To see how we made it to this point, my blog started out as www.2WannaBRetireesinPanama.blogspot.com.

How could we top yesterday's excitement?  Today was the day Ray and I would find out if we would really become residents of Panama.  And then, we would not have to leave the country every 180 days, and we could participate in some jubilado discounts that are afforded to retirees in Panama.  Again, we were up early.  One of these days, this nonsense will stop.  We walked today to the attorney's office.  Six months ago we took a taxi, because we didn't trust that we knew where to go or how long it would really take.  Like in New York City, the blocks can be longer than they appear, and sometimes that highrise "over there" is not really just over there.  But the walk took no more than ten minutes, and we were again at Hashtag Cafe early.  Our appointment with the attorney was at eight thirty.  We ordered arepas with cheese toasted ("la plancha" which can mean iron or on griddle--I took it to mean something like a panini maker).  They did not have that delicious bowl of fruit that I had had last time.  This is important to note, because breakfast consisted of really nothing.  Coca Cola Light, and for me, a half an arepa (kind of like a corn tortilla) with cheese.

Hashtag Cafe for coffee, tea and breakfast

Arepas with cheese

While on the elevator going up to the twenty-third floor to our attorney's office, we bumped into Mario, our attorney.  He opened the office door for us and within minutes, we were then sitting in his office talking about the past seven months.  His office is no pretense.  He is very friendly and personable.  He talks to us as if we are great friends.  We share stories.  He tells us to be careful as new expats in Panama.  Not to get bored.  Heidi, his assistant, shows up and starts making copies of everything (passports, temporary visa cards).  We say goodbye to Mario, and we hope we will not have to meet with him again until he helps us with our E Cedula cards (which will be like our ID in Panama).  He tells us if he needs to appeal anything, there is no additional fee, but he is hopeful that all will go well since the paperwork came back as such in April.  Heidi then drives us to Migracions.  The Panamanian Immigrations office.  We stop and have copies made again of papers.  When we enter the building, I am asked to put on a sweater to cover my shoulders.  I had a sundress on, and the straps were as wide as Heidi's, but I guess I was showing to much skin.  You know me!  Letting it all hang out.  I also had closed toe shoes in my Mary Poppins bag, but I was allowed to keep my flat sandals on.  When we approached the desk to take that dreaded number, the woman asked me my age.  I guess if I were older, I would have been given a better number!  But alas, at age forty-nine, I was put in the batch with all the other young folk.  At nine forty am, we were given E152.  They had just called E120.  We were doomed.  But Heidi said, "it will go quickly".  For whatever reason (stupidity or not thinking we were going back to this office), I did not bring my tablet to read my book or any paper to take notes.  It was not until hours later, I realized I could have played games on my phone (without service yet, there was not much we would do).  I guess I was optimistic that we would not be at the office for THE DAY.  Heidi immediately went to the desk to make sure that since our papers were approved April 24th, and this was some time ago, that our file was in the vicinity.  "No worries, and take a seat".  We waited.  We chatted.  We had very good conversation with Heidi.  We learned about each other.  And we waited some more.  Last week there was no air conditioning in the building, so thankfully, today there was because I had that sweater on!  At noon, our number was shown on the screen!  Yes!  But, our file was downstairs.  Heidi was optimistic that the file would be called upon by some employee that would just race down those steps and march right back up efficiently with that folder full of our papers!  Heidi waits close by Window 22.  A woman comes up to the window with two covered paper plates with food.  Our woman at Window 22 disappears outside with the food.  Heidi asks if she took a lunch break.  "Oh no, she went to look for the file". hahaha  Ray gets soda from a cooler outside.  It is one dollar per can.  A security guard tries twice to get soda from the machine that says "SOLD OUT" but in English.  Guess she cannot read English.  We bump into a man and his wife getting their drivers license there.  Is he even in the right place?  He tells us that he is over his ninety day stay without crossing the border to renew his tourist visa.  He laughs about the bureaucracy.  At twelve forty-five now, Heidi talks to someone else at the window.  Then, she gets called upon.  She gives us two thumbs up.  We are approved.  Someone had found the file.  She now has to go downstairs to pay at another window.  Then within ten minutes (it is now one ten pm), she is back at Window 22 showing receipt of payment.  Time to get a number for our picture.  No wait, we do not need a number.  WTH!  No number?  That is crazy talk.  I am getting a bit delirious here.  Ray is excited.  At one thirty we sat down for our pictures for our permanent residency card (and yes, the machine ran out of ink, so we had to wait for that repair).  And at one forty-five, a mere four hours after our arrival, our cards are produced and we are now permanent residents of Panama!  WOW!  We walk out to the car stopping at the kiosk to make copies of all the new cards and paperwork we just received at Window 22.  And then the rain came.  And it poured.  And it thundered.  Did we have our umbrellas?  Yes, they were in the car.  We stood under the tarp and waited out the rain.  And held our hands against the tarp, so the rain wouldn't collapse on our heads.  Would we ever get out of there?  Heidi and I first posed for a picture under the tarp!  The important things that really matter must be attended, too.

Immigrations upstairs (at least we had windows here)

Waiting for E152 to show

Heidi is at Window 22, with Ray to the left of her (in green)--he was bringing her our passports

Heidi trying to get our file figured out





And we did! The rain left as quickly as it came, and Heidi dropped us off at our hotel.  We will see her in October for those E Cedula cards!  Once back at our hotel, we grabbed our phones and headed over to the mall to Mas Movil.  Fortunately we timed it just right, and the only English speaking employee had just returned from Carl's Jr for lunch.  Alexis was of great assistance!  This took time, also, but once we had the contracts filled out to have data put on our phone as well as minutes, we then had to go to the window and pay one cent per contract.  Once Ray gave our two cents, seriously, he came back to the desk, and the phones were activated.  We now have cell service.  $60/month for both phones.  And no, we still have not fed me.  Off to Crepes and Waffles, because Ray had had a hankering for this.  The menu was extensive, but I zoned in on crepes with chicken, mushrooms and asparagus.  Ray selected chicken Mexican style.  The menu was entirely in Spanish, and the waitress spoke no English.  But it was pretty simple.  Our meal was ordered, and it was now almost five pm!   This is what our crepes looked like, and they were delicious (mine was not quite a crepe).

Mine in a bread bowl with huge chunks of white chicken meat

Finally, our day was coming to a close, but we first had an expat mixer we thought we should attend.  It was in the city, and since we are here for a few days, we thought could make some connections.  I think I will save this story until tomorrow.  Let's just say, we met people, had a good time, and I was called up to the mike!  I will leave it at that for now.  Time to sleep, and I am thinking perhaps the gym tomorrow?  Because we do not have any plans or appointments until tomorrow afternoon.  Sleep in Tuesday?