Summer

Summer starts in December and goes through March when the kids are out of school for summer vacation.

This is also the dry season.

I know, Panama is in the northern hemisphere and summer is technically June through August. But not to the people here. After all, isn't summer really when you get out of school on vacation rather than some seasonal dictate?

Strangely enough, it is cooler in summer with stiff winds out of the north flowing down the continental divide. Riding on the wind is the bajareque, the fine mist of the cloud forest. Even though rain is rare, the bajareque will get you wet, on one side, the one facing the wind.

Yesterday, I told our builder that it felt cooler with the winds from the north. He said "summer." Summer is synonymous with cool, windy days. I remember last year, he would make a similar statement in the middle of the rainy season when a few days were cool and windy.

It has been summer for a couple of days. A nice reprieve from the rainy season. I think this is a quaint way of describing the days, by how they feel rather than the time of year.

I do like the rainy season. Calm days, sunny in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon with rain almost every day in the mid afternoon.

But, a little change once in a while is good for the soul.

Moving on....

I learned how to mail a letter to the US today. What? How come you can't mail a letter, you say? Well, there really is no mail service here. They claim to have it but it is ridiculous and completely ineffective. No one uses it.

Most of us use mail forwarding services like Mail Box Etc. Our mail is sent to Miami, bundled up and forwarded to a private mail box here. It is pricey. That is why we ask everyone to avoid sending us anything unless it is important.

I sent a 9 x 12 envelope priority mail. It cost a whopping $20 and will take about a week. I used an independent service, located off the beaten path in an alley. Anything to save a buck.

And this is by far the cheapest service in Boquete. Mail Box Etc. wanted $42 for UPS. I don't think so!

On another subject...

We were supposed to get our occupancy permit today but Panama strikes again!

When our builder went to the city engineer to present the final papers, he said one more inspection was necessary. It is supposed to be an automatic inspection (Fat chance that will ever happen).

It is always something here.

Survival requires letting it happen at it's own pace and not trying to force it. Believe me, I have learned the hard way.

Not worth it.