our neighborhood pt 2

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Our neighborhood consists of a couple of tall apartment buildings like ours, and two square blocks of single family homes, all surrounded by the city.  We like it here.  We have begun to notice stuff.

As is true for most places here, there are guards and other people with no apparent purpose at the entrance to a building, so it is for our neighbor, the Escula de Japonesea de la Panama.  These guards wear long sleeve shirts and dark uniforms, some are armed, most have a wand (to check for weapons I guess).  

Below is the balcony at the side of the school and where most of the non classroom activity that I have seen takes place.  One day in particular there were about 20 students dressed in traditional robes swinging bamboo poles in a most vicious pattern and shouting harsh sounding words and going through some serious routine.  We are talking do not get in their way.

Now the playing field which we walk past every day is nearly always empty.  and no wonder it is some kinda hot here. and when it is not hot it is raining so this playing field which I have seen used exactly one time is pretty useless.

Now across the street from the school is the embassy of the nation of _____ can you identify the flag.  Andrew can I bet in about 2 seconds.  Sometimes there is an armed member of the national police force standing at the corner here.  (how about the timing of this photograph?  got a good wind out of the south took about 10 photos and ta da)

Just up the street is a very typical site.  A small tienda or store in a residential neighborhood.  It is called a Chino.  So identified because it is owned and operated by a person from China.  So the little stores are called "Chinos" and everyone knows what you mean.  the machine out front is for ice- a most useful commodity.  The inside is not much larger than a new house walk in closet.

Our neighborhood is surrounded by tall buildings.  and a feature I did not get a photograph of is dog walkers.  with all the tall buildings, most of which are apartments like ours there are lots of dog owners so there are lots of dog walkers.  some are maids, some are girl friends, and some are just the owners.  You can tell the difference.  If I had a long lens, more patience than I do and could find the right sight lines, there is a story to be told in photographing dog walkers in Panama.

some of the houses are a bit ostentatious. see below  One of the vacant houses just a block away from this one is for sale for $1.7 million if you are interested -- It has 7,000 square feet but needs a lot of work from looking at the outside.  I am thinking potential.

and I am not sure if Pablo Escubar lives here or not, but whoever does is safe — there are electric wires above the rather modest security fence for the garage.  There were four or five strands, so it was not a modest effort in my opinion.  There was no beware of dog sign, though there was a dog inside.

Now his across the street neighbor had less concern for security and even had yard art.

This guy had security, but not as "in your face" as Pablo's house. Iron grates about everywhere but tasteful.

and just around the corner, you would have thought someone missed the Tuesday pickup of garbage, last Thursday and the Thursday before that too.  This pile we get to walk past every day.  Lucky us.

and just to let yo know that it is not all luxury, we also have vacant buildings for "vende"

but across the street from our apartment is a small little park for little children where maids and young moms bring pre-schoolers.

and at our apartment door is one of several staff persons to greet us.  This is our favorite, Victor, who by the way has family in California, has been to California, but prefers Panama City.  Though here Victor is dressed in his normal "uniform" for our building tonight when we got here he was wearing a jacket.  Yes a jacket.

  It had been raining off and on most of the day, and it was perhaps  89 degrees, with a bit of a south breeze, quite pleasant if you were to ask us.  Victor was not the only citizen of the city we saw with jacket on this evening.  (we took a taxi to our evening out in order not to work up a sweat walking even though  the distance was short) ( I offer that last comment for a frame of reference as to the relative comfort of the weather and the necessity for a jacket.).

We had house guests and babies were the order of the day

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We had guests, yes, we have friends and yes they come to see us.  Heidi, Edgardo  and 10 month old Elliot here came Monday evening to stay with us.  Parents had business and Patt and I volunteered to baby sit.

  Elliot, is one heavy, strong, fast crawling, loud 10 month old.

 We pushed the furniture together, got some toys, kitchen utensils and had a grand time.  Patt even got him to take a nap with no fuss or muss.

 In addition to having house guests, we had visitors.  Jen and Raleigh came to visit.  I went to meet them as they were coming though the neighborhood.  these new baby strollers are really amazing- big wheels, high seats, low gravity - with the stuff in the lower carrier and roll easily.

 Heide came back from errands and the moms compared baby notes and such.  Apparently in ten months babies grow a LOT .

 then Edgardo came back -

 then we headed off to Stephen and Jen's, no small undertaking I may add.

 Deuce was really interested in the new child (probably any child)— Somehow Stephen and Jen have taught Deuce not to lick Raleigh and he did not lick Elliot despite really wanting to, you could tell Deuce wanted to lick the new kid.  Deuce put her nose  up close — well actually Elliot put himself right up close.

again and again - -and finally towards the end of the afternoon, Deuce got in a good taste of Elliot's leg— big ole lick or two before being caught.  ( I was watching the interplay and enjoying it as you can imagine)— Elliot by the way has the cutest happiest smile.

it was a good day

we do not hold him all the time

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I realized that you all may have thought Raleigh was seldom not held.  But I did feel it necessary to document that he indeed was occasionally on his own.  Seen below in blanket Patt made and looking cute.

 Seen below, busy figuring out complex interrelationships between physical objects, sounds, distance, and how to get attention.— did not take long.

 safe, secure and not about to roll off the couch

 perched on the the what ever it is called and about to roll off the couch- but that is Jen's leg is the photo so not really in much danger - nor actually far away.

 and held by Lou, their helper and maid, cook and dog walker.

at the beach Playa Bonita

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Today we went out to Playa Bonita — I think all Latin coastal countries have one of those,  probably several, anyway, one of Panama's is quite close to Panama City and either the Hilton or Westin, I forgot which, we went to, is having some big sale on visits, so we went to investigate and have breakfast.

 The place, which ever one it was does not lack for pools.  (both or them had bunches of pools next to the ocean, complete with waterfalls and such.—We did actually go to both of the resorts- and I can not remember which was which.  They were both approaching over the top on the pool situation.

 The beaches were nice, not spectacular, and for a North Carolina beach person, left just a little bit to be desired,

 but the trees in the water are a very nice touch, and you have to admit just a bit exotic.  Water quality was pretty nice too.

 There was a strong breeze and good view of the ships waiting to enter the canal in the far distance

 but mostly it was nice to hold a sleeping baby -and enjoy the view.

 Patt thinks so too.  Raleigh really does sleep so nicely, During the day --

 But Jen reports night sleeping is getting better, got a way to go but getting better.

 After leaving the beach, we went bowling, just like it was an MYF trip or something which may have been the last time I went bowling at a fancy bowling lane,

 And Raleigh continues to sleep right through the sound of the ball clattering down the alley and knocking down some pins.

a little time in Casco

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Today after spending some time in the gym, I spent a little time walking around the neighborhood.  It is quite interesting.  Just outside the door I found this game going on.

This concrete soccer "field"/ "court" is just outside the gym in Casco Antiguo.   It is the site of many games involving the neighborhood kids.  Today, despite the threatening weather play involved  teams with uniforms and a game official.  That is the building the gym is in the background.

 Play was fast, hard and intense.

 I think these are church sponsored teams to keep the kids out of trouble.  That is a strong I think, because though I have now had three formal Spanish lessons and am fairly fluent, I may have missed a phrase or two from what was being told to me by the two men were talking to me about the games I was watching.  I was in several pictures with them, so when they have their slide show somewhere I will be noted.

 These are the teams that are next to play  and are between 8 and 13 years old, again information I gathered from my listening skills.  These kids would help most teams they would join if they were in the USA.  They play very very well.

 This is the view down the street on the same city block, just up from the ocean.  The sign points to the Spanish School where Patt and I are students.  The stairwell to the school looks down on that soccer "court"

view further down the street.  the streets are kinda interesting in Casco.  I enjoy riding my bike here a lot.

A group of tourists in one of the main squares, either Canadian or American, not sure.

more tourists, I think from other South American countries.  There are a number of tourists here from Argentina and Columbia.

The hats go for $20.

And this guy is hustling some young guys with stories about the US invasion that took down Norigea in 1989,  or at least that's what he told me last time I was here.  Then he asks for money of course.  But the stories are interesting.

restaurant review # 22 A Taste of India

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Photo below taken from the steps to Stephen and Jen's apartment building.  Sabor de la India (you do the translation) is really close.  Among those who know and like Indian food, this is THE place.  

 The view from across the street and yes that is the kids building to the right.  As you can see the Sabor is pleasantly elevated.

 Elevated right into sight lines of power lines.  But you get used to them and hardly notice

 Well not really "hardly" notice.  Perhaps after I have been here longer I will hardly notice.  Through the maze of power lines you can see a German restaurant famous for its sausages and kraut and beer.  That pretty much characterizes German food I reckon.

 That would be me sitting in front of my food.  Pretty much it was Indian. Behind me is another restaurant, do not know what it is recognized for, if at all, but it is there. Just to my back right is an Argentine restaurant that we like a lot that has salsa dancing on Thursday nights that fills the street with cars.

 Ah, there is chef Hori, watching TV and on the lookout for more customers.  This is restaurant row as just up the street is a Panamanian restaurant that comes with live cultural entertainment (and not That kind of entertainment) also a Columbian steak house, quite good, and a very expensive formal live music Brazilian restaurant.  If you note below Patt is barely in this photo.

and how did I know the Chef's name was Hori, check out the sign, and once again, Patt is again barely in the photo.

Patt and Chef Hori are clearly in this photo- as is my glass of mango juice.  Don't you like how helpful this narrative of the photos is?

 and on the TV - you can bet it was not ESPN or CNN or but a loud Bollywood movie with lots of saris and singing and dancing and dancing damsels and manly men.  See photo below for sari clad damsel and manly man.  Both sing and dance.  Not sure if Hori  sings or dances— did not ask.

Pretty much just Raleigh

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If you are getting tired of baby updates - best skip this post.  We are not tired of baby Raleigh !  I was sorta worried that I was writing to much about Raleigh and then went back to my October 2009 posts — the first time I was visiting grandchildren since I started doing this blog - nah - I am not overdoing this.  Go ahead check it out — I am not overdoing the grandchild thing.  Aren't grandkids the greatest!  

Raleigh is such a delight and the fact that he does not sleep at night does not keep us awake in our apartment.  Now for Jen it is another matter.  He does sleep during the day.  Jen is a walking sleep deprived person.

However Raleigh  is spending some more wakeful day time time — like a little puppy or kitten, opening his eyes a bit more very day and interacting a bit more with the world outside so perhaps night time sleep will improve.  His Dad and Aunt Laura were not good models in this matter as best his Grandmama and I recall.

and goodness he can  play the game "pull my finger"  yes indeed -make you proud —   just like his Dad, body sounds are a speciality.

I do like the lump on the chest  and the faces he makes — like I said if you do not want a baby post this one is not for you.

see what I mean — just way to cute.