DAY OUT FOR FERNANDO

It was a big morning for me and Fernando, (now the name of our new car, since seven whole votes were cast--it was neck and neck, but in the end, I think I made the best decision).  Nervous Nelly Ray handed me the keys to the car and suggested I drive.  Well, it has been almost four weeks.  I wonder if it will be like riding a bike?  On Panamanian roads, I doubt it.  Let me just write that my ten minute drive went off without a hitch.  Oh sure, I dodge the usual eighteen wheeler trucks, the vans that like to drive alongside the road and then possibly pull out without warning, and a few cars and cabs here and there, but all was in tip top shape upon arrival to the Punta Chame Resort/Gym.  And when I asked Ray how he felt about the whole experience, he said it was just like driving with me any other time.  It was really like driving with anyone, because he just doesn't like being a passenger.

Well, yesterday was a big day for Ray and Fernando.  He was driving us into the city along with Clyde and Terry showing us the way.  Ray had an idea of where the stores were on Tomba Muerto, but he wanted confirmation.  Clyde and Terry had a little shopping to do as well.  I was excited that I was finally getting to Discovery Center and PriceMart!  I was ready to do some shopping for really nothing which was my normal when I would shop at Costco in Virginia.  Ray and I would go there for an item or two, and we would spend a hundred dollars.  But the sampling was always the best part.  This seems common for most people that shop at Costco--you can never come out without spending a hundred dollars or more.  You sample a little, and sometimes sit down for a cheap lunch!  And with just a little bit of  congestion once we approached Discovery Center, it took not more than one hour to drive to the shopping centers.  The Discovery Center and PriceMart are on the same road as the Migrations Building, so we had passed it often, and we had browsed here with Clyde and Terry on our last visit.  This is how google shows directions to Discovery Center:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//Tumba+Muerto,+Ciudad+de+Panamá,+Panama/@9.0245104,-79.5602029,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x8faca8309779cfe1:0x88b716ea90885a5e!2m2!1d-79.52587!2d9.024512

This is how Discovery Center looks from the road.  You would never know it was a huge Walmart, Target, PetSmart, Advance Auto, Home Depot, you name it and it has it in there, kind of store!

We shopped for snorkeling gear.  Our trip to San Blas Islands is coming up next week.  We have to get some practice time in (will try it out at the pool soon).  And I found the all exciting shoe racks for the bottom of our closets, and then Clyde and Terry found the perfect accessories for us to pack next week.  We bought (pictures soon), and for just $2.99 each, bright yellow trench coat-type ponchos.  It's rainy season, and the Caribbean side of Panama can get a lot of rain (160 inches in a year, I think).  This is why the deal was so great on Oferta.com!  We are prepared to take a boat ride in our bright yellow coats, and not get too soaked (we might be a little hot under there, but not wet).

Mops and brooms.

Gloves.

Dog leashes.

Soaps and shampoos.

Once we got over the excitement of this treasure we found, Clyde suggested Ray drive us to El Dorado mall and a strip plaza that has a plethora of Chinese stores and restaurants.  This area is shown as El Dorado when looking at a detailed map of Panama City.  My dad would have been in heaven.  He loved the Orient.  In these stores, we walked top to bottom looking at chicken feet, spices, wifes cakes, moon cakes, noodles, but wait, there isn't any rice?  Surely the store has rice.  Oh yeah, at the front of the store by the registers.  How could we miss the fifty pound bags next to the HubbaBubba Bubble Tape gum.  There were also shops that reminded me of Pawn Shops.

Roasted duck (it was bought up right after I took "his" picture)

Festive decor with bags and bags of rice at front of store

Chicken feet in the snack food aisle

Panama City in the background.  This is the plaza we browsed in.

We walked El Dorado mall which is one of the city's older malls.  Darker corridors, low ceilings, many cell phone stores, a Panafoto (an electronics store and more which reminds me of Best Buy in Virginia), a food court, clothing stores, so pretty much a mall.  Just smaller in scale than the newest malls in the city.  The Hawaiian Grocery Store was next door and deserved a look.  I found my first mean cashier (she was rude and curt), but there is always going to be one.  I bought some spices for a recipe I want to try out tomorrow night for dinner on my dear friends, Clyde and Terry (muhahahaha), and then it was lunch time.  We opted for Chinese food, of course, and after stuffing ourselves with chicken fried rice, chicken chow mein, warm soothing tea (while it poured rain outside), wonton soup and spring rolls, we were on our way FINALLY to PriceMart!

Huge portions

Huge tables

PriceMart on Tomba Muerto is smaller than any Costco I have shopped in, but who cares.  The nice lady at the membership desk issued us our cards for $37.50/year.  She was quick, efficient and friendly!  The not so nice lady with the Hershey candy bar samples did let me take a piece of dark chocolate off her glistening silver tray (it was missing the white doily).  The friendliest of all ladies was giving out samples of Tinto Vino (red wine!), and then I was given free feminine products, soy milk, Queso light on bread (a small square of what seemed to be American Cheese on white bread), Dole Jello fruit, but the Frosted Flakes lady was on break.  We shopped, I compared prices to the States (walnuts, balsamic vinegar, almonds, toilet paper, tissues, napkins--although still small in size, peanut butter--not Jif, but Ray will try Planter's, Ink Cartridges for printer we have and had in the States, tomato sauce, and cashews) are all less expensive by several dollars.  The Famous Amos cookies, not so much.  The tortilla chips (Kirkland brand) cost the same.  The Utz snack mix was the same.  The food that we could buy if we stayed for lunch was the same, BUT we used our jubilado discount on the ice cream we shared at the end of a long day and, another fun filled day!

PriceMart tablets, tvs, printers and more

Check out

Now a diamond member 

The day had come off of a nice evening and happy hour at Picasso's restaurant in Coronado.  We joined Clyde and Terry for dinner, and another couple we had met at the previous happy hour we had been to last week also joined us.  Ray and I met many new people, and I think we remember their names.  Clyde sang (he sings mostly Caribbean/Jimmy Buffet music along with some country music), and I played photographer for him.  The food was good, and the sangria delicious (I have never had it with rum added to it).  Two very large Sangria for $4.

Have to try the pizza soon.

Clyde's stage

Terry and Clyde

Picasso Bar and Restaurant Coronado, Panama

With it being Friday now, I can honestly say I really don't want to relive the earlier part of the week.  The day we were at the DMV, and then on Tuesday there was a water pipe that broke around the corner from our subdivision.  I thought they were just conserving, since there hasn't been much rain in this area.  We had a little pressure Tuesday morning, so we opted to shower after going to the gym.  Once home, the water was off.  It was off until Wednesday afternoon.  We had a back up plan!  Always have a Plan B in Panama!  We would go back to the gym if we didn't have water and just shower there.  But wait, while working out, I thought of an even better plan.  A Plan C for the future.  We could pull into a pushbutton, take a shower, have air conditioning, nap, bring in lunch...the possibilities would be endless.  Think motel when thinking of pushbuttons in Panama, and if interested in more information about them, go to this link:
http://www.playacommunity.com/en/news-mainmenu-149/community-news-mainmenu-214/5486-panamas-push-button-motels-push-for-peace-privacy-or-pleasure

Another week has gone by, we have been in Chame for two weeks, and it looks like the weekend will be a quiet one.  But next week we get to head into the city just one. more. time.  Soon the "tasks" will be complete?  Doubt it.  We waited more than six days to return to the bank for our checks that we ordered (we waited nine days).  We were told to come back in two more business days.  Martes (Tuesday).  "Six days" can be twelve in Panama, just like "2 hours for the water to be back on" can really be five.  TIP.  We are enjoying it one day at a time.