Getting Acquainted

Following breakfast, we set out in the car for David, to visit Price Smart, Panama's equivalent to Costco. Although smaller, it was similar and offered a good selection of cheeses, meats and other products we were more familiar with. Wine, beer and spirit prices here are significantly better than Boquete.
David is about a 40 minute drive from Boquete on the new, almost complete Panama American Highway. Basically, we followed our nose and signs to Centro Commercial, where most of the retail businesses are found. Although it was a short drive, the temperature in David is about 20 degrees (F) warmer than Boquete, and humid. Saturday was not necessarily the best day to visit Price Smart since everyone was on their weekly shopping run.
Susann found whole  beef tenderloin, smaller than we get back in the US, but it was only $16.

Somewhat skeptical about the quality, we had chateau briand for dinner, and it was every bit as tender and tasty as back home, and a whole lot less costly.

After loading up with meat, cheese and wine we made a quick exit, and on to look for Rey, a large, modern supermarket, offering much greater selection than Boquete. Don't misunderstand, Boquete has most everything one needs, just not a big selection, and being new here, we were unfamiliar with brands etc. Parking was a challenge on this busy Saturday.
Susann has been fighting the flu, and sent Alan into Boquete to one of the small Legumbres Fruitas for some bananas, onions and carrots (which actually taste like a carrot used to, and not like an orange piece of cardboard). For $2, he came back with 4 bananas, 6 large carrots and 6 onions.

Life has been quiet here with Susann recuperating, but we have enjoyed the tranquility and beauty surrounding our new digs.

Along with the casita, we inherited India, a black cat. She shows up to be fed each morning and evening, and lets us know if we are running a little late. With Susann's allergies, and not being cat lovers, we don't let her in the house, but she does lounge on the verandah when we have our morning coffee and evening happy hour.

We are still in the get acquainted mode, and have lots to learn. It is apparent that meats, fresh baked bread and local produce are very reasonably priced, but as one might expect, gringo comfort items are considerably more costly. A big jar of multi vitamins at Price Smart was about $25, and at Costco would have cost less than $15.

This weekend is the start of the Coffee and Flower Festival. It runs for 10 days, and we are told they import 2 large, portable discos so the Panamanians can party on into the wee hours of the morning. We are looking forward to partaking in some of the festivities and seeing the flowers etc. It is a big thing here and we are told that to date, 100,000 tickets have been sold. Boquete, a town of 15 - 20,000 people will be bursting at the seams.