Charles Robinson Returns To Panama
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been back in Panama for over two months already this year, and I can’t remember the last time that my life was so stress free. The weather and the women are both beautiful, the people are so friendly, and the food is always good. I know that some of you have been following me on my Adventures in Panama Facebook page, but for those who don’t, here are some of my activities so far this year.
I flew in on December 30, and spent a week getting settled into the new apartment and getting the biometrics set up in their system for access to the building. In the social area, there is a pool, gym and free workspace for those who don’t want to work in their apartments. There is also a bar and restaurant on the social level, but they also allow you to bring your own liquor and beer if you just want to hangout and chill while taking in the view. On the 36th floor, there is another restaurant and bar, along with a zip line. Once I got settled, I couldn’t wait to try the zip line and although it was just a short ride, it was awesome. I enjoyed the zip line at the apartment so much that a couple of weeks later I went to the Gamboa Rainforest and spent four hours going through their jungle zipline course where there are 13 different platforms. The Gamboa zip chews up a lot of energy, but in the end, it was a great experience, and I would highly recommend it if you ever have the chance.
My apartment is across the highway from the Cinta Costera, which is a 4-mile strip that runs along the Pacific Ocean. I can see everything from including sunrises, ships waiting to pass through the canal and the causeway lights. It’s an awesome sight for the rent that I pay. It is also where the annual carnival and a host of other concerts are held so it’s very convenient. The seafood market is also just across the highway and walkable, so on Sundays, I get my 5 mile walk in and stop at the market for fresh crab claws and langostinos. Each morning, I get up and head to the Cinta Costera for my three-to-five-mile walk. After I walk, I drink some coffee while I cool down and get some breakfast and prepare for my day in the office, but I only work between three and five hours each day, except for Fridays when I only check email.
Last year I used uber almost exclusively to get around, but since I’m right next to a metro stop, I decided to use metro this year. The cost is .35 to take the metro train no matter how many stops you ride, and if you take the bus, it’s .25, both are hard to beat, although I haven’t braved the bus yet. I try to play golf every Thursday afternoon, but the truth is that I’m just not as in love with it as I used to be, so once a week is more than enough, and there are just so much more to do.
If I told you everything that I’ve done since getting here, it would take forever, so below is a list and some photos and video of my stay to this point.
Carnival & Culecos, Procession of Queens, trip to Penonome where I went swimming under a waterfall in the jungle, spent the day on the beach at Playa Blanca and Buenaventura, attended the jazz festival, a Panama Metro’s baseball game that lasted almost 6 hours, a professional golf tournament, and I’ve played a little golf.
I still know very few people down here, and honestly, I like it that way. I have a couple of guys that I play golf with, but only one that I hang out with on occasion, the rest are just guys to play golf with. Life is very quiet and peaceful, and I am truly enjoying myself. Next week my granddaughter is coming for a visit and at the end of March, I have a couple of State Farm friends coming down, so I will remain busy.
Someone asked if there is anything that I miss back home, and when I thought about it, the only things that I could think of are my king size bed and my Chevy Silverado. If that’s all that I miss about America, I think that it’s time to move on, so when I return in May, I will start working on a permanent visa and probably leave for good in a couple of years.
I sincerely hope that all of you are doing well, both physically and mentally, and that you too are living out your dreams. If it’s true that life is short, the older we get, the shorter it is, so as my good friend Joe Mullee and I tell each other every time that we end a conversation, “Don’t Wait”.
Over the next 2 months I’m going to start seeing some other parts of the country, so be sure to keep up with me on my Facebook page at Adventures in Panama.
