some random stuff

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Perhaps you haven't, but if you have ever wondered what happened to old school busses, well wonder no more.  Many of them end up here in Panama City without muffler and with a new paint job.  This one is one of the more family friendly ones that I have seen and this being a family friendly blog, well you know what I mean.    These bandidos, as they are affectionately called, start early, blow loud horns, in case you did not hear the motor back fire or just plain sound like a motor cycle repair shop.  They also run late.  Calle cinqqunta (50) a half block in front of my apartment is one of their main routes.  Lucky for me I guess.

Few portions of the bus are left unpainted.  Including the front windshield.  When you are loud and large, who needs to see where you are going?  And yes that does say racing along the front fender of the bus.  and no I have not ridden one.  It is on my list.

A couple of days ago Stephen, Jen and I were having lunch out on the causeway, watching the fishing boats come in (if these guys would have had me along, there would be more fish in the ocean today) and this was happening below us.  So thinking quickly, I said to myself.  here is a photo opportunity.  and here indeed it is, -- after most of the fish were cleaned.

Also on the causeway, I created a bit of a stir for a father and daughter.  I think they thought I was a bit odd looking or something, so at any rate, when they sit around looking at photos, they will have one of me -- taking a photo of them.  Got 'em.

random thoughts.  I think Panamanians like cats.  Here in Panama City, I see lots and lots of cats, healthy cats.  So I figures lots of people must be setting out cat food for them.  This is one of the cats that lives near my apartment building.  I like him/her because he reminds me of our Deacon and Sweetie Pie, both now deceased.    Deacon from our time in Wilkesboro, and Sweetie Pie from Cole St and early Edgehill Ct.

and lest you think it is all roses and sunshine, this scene below is from a bridge I cross regularly.  It is on a street with shops, restaurants, a hospital and empties into the bay at the beginning of the Cinta Costera.

Some business owner is avoiding those pesky burdensome environmental regulations for his waste that would cost him money so he has just shifted his waste costs to all of us. (there is not tooth fairy and someone has to pay).  so we ll pay in dead flora and fawna and just plain stink - cause it does stink, especially at low tide in the bay here in front of the city.

Panama is probably a generation away from getting this type of thing addressed according to several people with whom I have spoken.  The potential problem is of course corruption and lax enforcement.  Same problems that plague parts of the US of A. ( See cancer ally in La. )

the other difficulty for Panama ( and for us ) will be lack of political willpower,  someone will have to pay -- either the public or the waste generator.  There really is no tooth fairy-- or you can always just say it is not a problem -- sorta like pretending there is a tooth fairy.  you would not be the first person to do that.