It is easy to forget that my every day life is interesting to other people. So, I am going to try to post more about daily things. One thing I see almost every day is my neighborhood, and the two mile route between there and the shopping area where we go most often.
I stopped by the vegetable market and looked south. The Pan-American Highway is down there past the Honda dealership on the left and Toyota on the right. The folks carrying bags are coming from The supermarket in the shopping area one block to the left. They have recently put up the tin walls around the lot on the near left. Maybe they are going to build something there.
We are at the back of the vegetable market here looking north. There is a car wash ahead on the left and a few other businesses up the road.
A little farther up the road is a distribution center, and the yellow bit is a part of a commercial center under construction beyond it. On the right are the car mechanics who have the calf staked out in various places where there is some grass for him to eat. Farther up on the right are more houses, and beyond the commercial center under construction is The American School.
One block to the right of the street in the last photo is this residential street with a lot of nice homes with pretty yards.
A little farther up it is all residential with some open lots like the one on the left
There are many large expensive homes in this area like the ones ahead. The field on the left is one of the good places to see Volcan Baru in the distance (when it’s not hiding in the clouds). .
They are building apartments behind this house.
Another pretty house we pass on our way home. On the left is a very large open field. The sign says there are lots for sale there, but I don’t see any utilities. Someone told me the lots are huge and very expensive.
Farther up is another area of fields. On the left is a dirt road that leads up to the water tank on the hill. The area on the right was fenced not long ago, and now there are three horses living there. Someone told me this land belongs to the government, and I don’t know what is up with the fences and horses but I enjoy seeing them as I go by.
That is paint on the road. It seems the common way to dispose of paint is to put the can in the road and run over it. There are a few places where the paint can has become embedded in the asphalt, and it is common to see paint stains like this one. These are some of the pretty houses just outside our neighborhood.
The entrance to our neighborhood, with the red and white archway.
As you enter the neighborhood you pass this lot on the right where the kids play a lot of soccer.
This is our neighborhood of nice homes and pretty yards, with some vacant lots still available. The small wall structures are for the electric meters. The beige one about in the center of the photo has a sort of cage below it. This is for trash. If it’s closed up the dogs can’t get into it and make a mess in the street. The fountain on the right is one of the neighborhood landmarks “You remember the fountain of the boy peeing? It’s just past that house.
Cedo’s house has an empty lot on either side. Someone apparently has made a deal with the owner of this lot on the left where if they keep it clean and trimmed, they can use it to plant food plants. It has yucca and plantains now.
This is our street, this little dead end street and we are in the yellow house. All along behind the house is woods. I was told that in the past there was a road that went down to the river but now, if you go much farther down this road you will go down the cliff! The lot on the near left has the same arrangement as the one mentioned earlier. They can use it to plant food crops if they maintain it.
This is what my world on the north side of David looks like. It’s doesn’t look that different than many places in the US. Maybe it’s not as manicured, but it’s still people living in houses, growing flowers in their yards, going to work, playing with their families, putting the trash out on Mondays, and just living their lives.
The Panama Adventure 
Nicely done.
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Gracias amigo 🙂
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Nice to see these pics! Great job Kris.
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You are moving here soon, right? Or do I have you confused with someone else? If not, soon this will become your daily life too, and you will be very familiar with the location of these photos.
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No confusion, the pic change might have done that. Hasta pronto!
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I tend to get confused a lot, especially with people I haven’t met yet :o) Welcome to the neighborhood 🙂
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LOL, yes, that is expected. And, Gracias!
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Da nada 🙂
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What a charming neighborhood, so lovely! Thank you for the tour, Kris 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂 We really enjoy where we live.
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Loved the pictures and the descriptions. Thank you for sharing.
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My pleasure, glad you enjoyed them.
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I really enjoyed this, Kris, thanks! My friend Lisa just moved to Boquete last week. She had rented there for two months last fall and loved it so much that she bought a house. She’s just getting settled in now, and wants me to come join her. I manage a liquor store in the Cayman Islands and was planning on retiring in two years when I’m 60, but I might have to leave sooner to go join Lisa! She likes the cool temps in the mountains, but I prefer warmer weather. I told her I could just rent a place farther down the mountain – closer to David – and be in the warmer temps but still close enough to her! So that’s my tentative plan, and I follow your blog closely since you’re living in that area. I’m looking forward to meeting you and your hubby someday, and getting some pointers about renting and living in that area.
Thanks again Kris! Take care.
Diane Harrison
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Hi Diane and thanks for your comments! Have you visited here? Boquete is very different from David. It’s full of tourists and expats, lots of expat activities to join and restaurants to visit and that sort of thing, and it is very beautiful up there. But, for me, I like the warmer temperatures down here and living among Panamanians, so David suits me much better. There are a lot of options and I figure everyone has to see for themselves where it feels right. If you visit let me know, and we’ll get together 🙂
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It’s interesting to see how things differ from home. I spent lots of time in Africa and see similarities in housing style with metal fences and walls around some houses. The tropical plants are also similar in many ways. Thanks for the up close and personal view of a neighbourhood in David.
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Really? How interesting. I would love to visit Africa someday. I never thought of it being similar but I supposed there are parts that have a very similar climate so it makes sense.
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Kris,
I always like to look at pics. This looks like many places in the US – especially the poorer rural areas. Living on a quiet street would be nice. Our house is located on one of the wider roads in our little town and sometimes the drivers wiz past as if they think they’re on the freeway and not in a residential area. I don’t like that part of it. It’s gotten a lot busier since they built a school at the end of the road.
But I guess our backyard makes up for it because there’s nothing but desert landscape and walking trails back there so it’s very quiet.
Sunni
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I had a house like that in Kansas, highway in front and woods in back, and the quiet back was nice. Here too some tend to fly up and down the street outside the neighborhood, so I’m glad we’re back here.
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Kris,
I really enjoy reading your Blog. I grew up as a child in Panama living on the Military Base. I returned with my youngest daughter about 10 years ago and was amazed at the changes since I had left 30 years prior. I have family in Las Tablas and Chorera. Your blog really makes me want to come back and visit. I will one day be back. Thank you for the reminders
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I hope you can come back! I’ll keep writing and reminding you what a wonderful country this is 🙂
Thanks for stopping by the blog and leaving a comment.
Touringonmybike huh? I’ll have to keep an eye on your blog and see what you are up to. That is something I want to do too.
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You know your audience Kris. Yes, we (I) love seeing everyday things. Most of us have hopes and dreams of retiring to Panama. Coming down soon to see the “middle” of the country. Then on to David next time. Like seeing the houses in the area also. David.
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OK good, thanks, I will keep on with some every day things 🙂
I hope you have a great time on your visit!
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