Dodged a Bullet

I have been worried about our electric service for over a month.

We haven't received any invoices or bills.

Typically, once a month, a guy rides a dirt motorcycle up to the electric meter and reads it. He returns in a day or two with an invoice which he puts God knows where...and that's the problem.

It can blow away, get picked up be someone else, thrown away by a passing kid or whatever.

It our rental house, the invoice was always put in a different place and frequently we had to go looking for it. It may be on another house or on the ground.

So I was worried because I know how Union Fenosa works. No pay, they cut you off...fast!

It doesn't matter to them if they GAVE you a bill, you have to divine the amount and pay it...no matter what.

I asked a Panamanian friend to go to their office in Boquete with me to translate. I had little hope that the local office would be able to help.

We arrived and sure enough, I was on the disconnect list, just issued yesterday.

It is always interesting here. Their computers were down, probably for a couple more days. Somehow, she got the David office to fax the October and November bill and we paid it.

The added a $10 charge for the disconnect. I pointed out that they didn't actually disconnect it but this makes no difference.

Somehow, after being here for a year, this made sense.

I didn't care as long as they didn't turn the power off.

Dodged that bullet...whew!!!!! Who knows how long it would take to reconnect the power once off.

Then I headed to David for an action packed day.

I paid the annual corporation taxes. I saw the lawyer about a problem some friends of ours in the US have on their property in Coronado. She can help.

Now the big one...I actually found the bicycle shop!

This is a real feat. It was in a part of town I have never seen. They didn't speak any English and my Spanish, as you know, is inadequate.

After much hand and arm waiving, finger pointing and a smattering of Spanglish words, they are going to fix it.

I had little hope that anyone could do this. I have disc brakes, not something I have seen here. I pick it up tomorrow so I will see how it goes.

Then on to the doctor's office. I tried calling them but no one speaks any English anymore. Of course, when I got there, someone spoke English so I made an appointment.

Then on to Super Baru, which sells the best soup bones for dogs. Noooooooo!!!!!!! You can't just get any bones! They have to be special!

I ate at the Steak House, a Chinese restaurant. Why is it called a steak house? I don't know.
The food almost tastes like Chinese but that is as close as you get outside Panama City.

Then home.

A good day in David and Boquete!