Our veggie guy has been out for a couple weeks, so we went to one of the markets down the street for some fruits and veggies. The bigger market is closed to prevent crowding, so you have to stand at the doorway and ask for what you want. The smaller market, however, is open air and you can go in and pick out your own items. Both have a drive up option so you don’t even need to get out of your car if you don’t want to.
The smaller market has everything we need, and the owner and her staff are super friendly so it’s a pleasure to shop there. She seemed really pleased that I wanted some pictures to share with you all in the US and other countries around the world. I told her that she will be a little bit famous! She was only embarrassed that it was Sunday and the market wasn’t as well stocked as it would have been during the week, but it still looked good to us.
Sometimes WordPress drives me nuts! I’ve finally gotten the descriptions to post with the photos, but on my computer I have to click the down arrow to see them. Oh my tablet it seems to work to scroll down a bit. Anyway…
We are very fortunate to live in Chiriqui province where most of the produce is grown, so we have fresh fruits and veggies all the time. I included a price list in the pictures. I don’t know how this compares to your prices, but we find produce here very affordable. And, it’s picked ready to eat, shipped to the markets the same day, and it may not look beautiful and perfect all the time but it sure is delicious. I don’t mind an occasional worm or bruise if it means less chemicals were used in growing, and less goes to waste because it didn’t look absolutely perfect. We eat this fresh produce every day, produce that is grown in this rich volcanic soil, and I think this is a big part of why we feel better and healthier here.
On the way to the market, we passed maybe flowering and fruiting trees. The dry season is interesting because it is the time when many beautiful flowers appear, and many of my favorite fruits are available.
I have also collected some miscellaneous pictures, which I’ll share here…
So, that’s what we did Sunday in the morning. In the afternoon we had band practice with our drummer which went really, really well. We are excited to get out there and play some music when it’s finally allowed. The virus statistics continue to do very well, and they continue to vaccinate people as quickly as they can with the limited supplies that are arriving. So for now we continue to be as patient as we can, and give thanks that we are safe and comfortable here with everything we need. But, we, and you, and the whole world continue to look forward to the day when things are more “normal”, whatever that will be on the other side of all this.
Oh, and it’s summer again. We had a couple days of clouds, rain, and cooler temperatures. Then, yesterday and today, it’s like summer again with blue skies and hot sun. We’re in transition between seasons, but even now it’s not as hot as it was last week so we’re happy.
And, we had water yesterday all day!! Power and internet are pretty reliable here, but water not so much. It’s either too dry and there are rolling outages, or it’s too wet and they shut off the water to clean out the system. Or, like now, they are fixing something. They have been working in the area where the big water main broke, and they are also working on a big project to bring more water to both us and the area on the other side of the river, so the water has been off in the daytime while they work. We are thankful for our reserve tank, and living here sure has made us thankful for clean water! So much of the world has to carry water, and many don’t have any clean water. It’s easy to take so much for granted when it’s always there.
So, that’s about it for today. Keep on keeping on, and keep on taking good care of yourselves and each other.
The Panama Adventure 
Dear Kris! Thank you so much again for this lively post again!
If i don’t forget by then I’ll stop by this fruit market when i get there in June, and tell her that i tead about them on the internet. 😝😇👍🏾
I am so looking forward to all the fresh-from-the-tree fruits! Such a difference to what we get here in the north. I mean, we’re really lucky to get all that we do get – but if you ever had a banana or pineapple that ripened completely before being picked, you can’t help but dream about being again where this is possible! 🥰
All my best!
Thomas
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June? That will be here before you know it! She will probably be pretty surprised to learn you read about her from afar. Enjoy the fruit, and everything else 🙂
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So where are you in the vaccine queue?
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Moving up, not fast enough, but it’s coming. They are doing the over 60 people now by province – Panama, Panama West (where they are now), and then Chiriqui (us!). With the current rate of supply it will be a while before they get even the over 60’s covered, but they are actively looking for more vaccine from Covax, China, and Russia. This may help us, and it will certainly help the general population when it’s their turn.
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Hi Kris. I know this is your latest post but I just wanted to send this your way since it is happening in David. It is by Lief Simon of International Living fame. Many don’t take those people for much more than “used car salesmen” but this is interesting. I just thought you’d like the read…
Take care and hope you can get your jabs in soon! We are all good here on Whidbey Island. Alan Marshall
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwLtkTMHPKkZwzBLrNKmwlqksfr
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Thanks, but that link takes me to gmail, and I can’t get what you are trying to share with me.
They are starting vaccines here May 10th! Glad to hear you are all well. News from your part of the country isn’t good, so hope you and yours stay safe!
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Sometimes Kris when I read your posts it reminds me of the things I take for granted and humbles me, thank you. Saturday I will receive my second vaccination for COVID and I have been wondering why they heck it took so long. Then I read your posts and realize how very fortunate I am and how much I really take for granted and I take my humility pill. I wanted to make sure before I get there in June that I was vaccinated. Now for an entirely different reason I am glad I will be. There are people there who have been and will be waiting much longer and need it much sooner than I did and I am glad that I will not be taking that away from another person.
See you soon,
Kristi
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That’s wonderful that you are getting your vaccines. It’s a problem the world over that vaccines can’t get to everyone who needs them quickly enough, but it’s in the works.
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But, just like everywhere else in the world, bumbling incompetence muddles things up. I got my second shot from a clinic that the state Health Department shut down later that same day, for protocol violations! Thousands of vax cancellations ensued, and then an official email arrived, with such ambiguous and indirect language that you simply don’t know whether to get another “second” shot, or if you have to do the 2-dose series all over again! I suspect I’m OK, as I had a mild reaction the day after the shot, but who knows if that’s because I was given a bad dose?! My phone calls and emails seeking guidance are…you guessed it: unanswered. LOL. BTW, thanks for your lovely photos and updates!
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