The local
moving company came out and assessed the quantity of our stuff. We got the
quote from the company in the States and the local company will be back on the
20th to pick up what little we are shipping back.
We did the
hours long process of filling out the online visa form for India and after
doing that you have 7 days to present yourself and all of the paperwork to the
embassy. We had hoped to go in late morning since even though we are only an
hour or so from the city, if you go too early and hit rush hour traffic, it can
take up to 3 hours. (forcing you to leave really early to make sure you make
the appointment on time). However, at the end of the online form it had you
make your appointment. It gave the next available appointment with no choice of
times. So, instead of getting up in the wee hours we decided to spend the night
in the city and walk the half a block to the embassy. The hotel was across the
street from Iglesia de Carmen. (Church of Carmen).
They looked
over our applications and the provided copies of everything they asked for as
well as a list of all countries visited in the past 10 years. (since there
wasn’t enough room on the actual online application) They told us it would be 5
business days, but when we looked online they were done after 3 days. We has
lunch with friends planned so after lunch we took the bus down to the
transportation center and grabbed the subway which has a stop a block from the
embassy so that was convenient.
Indian Embassy
A Cruise Critic
friend had told me that his wife got a 10 year visa, but he only got a 1 year
visa since he was in the Army for 2 years a long time ago. Since Greg was in
the Navy for 4 years we thought he might only get a year as well. When we
picked up our passports the lady said they granted you each 10 years! When we
came in for the initial appointment she said it was rare to grant longer than 6
months. Then she said that’s for Panamanians and generally they were more
generous with U. S. citizens.
We can’t
apply for our China visas until the day we return to the States. We will fill
out the online forms with CIBT and have it all ready to drop in the mail with
our passports. Those should be good for 10 years as well.
Greg and I
went back and had our cavities filled and since they were so small, we didn’t
even need novocaine so she just used a topical. Easy Peasy….
Before
moving here, I had digitized all our old photos (pre-digital) and now before
moving back we have put them all online and on a passport type hard-drive. So,
now we are tossing all of the CDs and DVDs of photos.
The packers came and picked up our stuff. Phew! Glad that
is done.
We dropped off 4 bags of clothes and shoes at Louse’s house
to be donated to the “hill people”.
We had lunch with friends that spend about 6 months here
and they had just returned. It was great to “catch up” with them.
I had the dermatology appointment and I got the cream for my
face, which is supposed to make the spot redder, itchy and burn like crazy.
Gee, that sounds fun. He said after 5 days if it’s not doing that, to start
doing it twice a day instead of just at bed time. After 2 weeks, he wants me to
email him a photo of it and he will decide if I need a 2 week rest period and
then another 2 weeks of the cream. Or, if it’s not reacting to the cream, to
come back for a biopsy. The cream really is to stimulate my immune system to
attack the spot. Well, as an update I can tell you the cream is working. I have
this hideous looking spot on my face now. In 4 days I send a photo to him to
see what the next step is. Luckily, it’s not too painful or itchy…just looks
awful. (I have a second tiny spot under my eye which is reacting well too.)
before treatment
after treatment, now to rest for 14 days and go from there
We had a few great days at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. The
first day it pretty much rained all day, but with the canopy it was tolerable,
but not great birding. If we did find them they were preening and looking like
“wet birds”..I guess because they were. We did come across a large troupe of Howlers. It started to rain a bit harder and we
took cover at the Discovery Center Tower. We had packed a picnic lunch that we
ate while watching the hummingbird feeders. Then, we hiked some more.
crossing the bridge across the Chagras River right beside the train
across the bridge onto the road to Gamboa
I never did find this guy....
Wattled Jacana
Howler Monkey
his version of giving us the finger?
Greg about stepped on this small caiman, he heard it's jaws snap shut and saw him. What he was doing so far away from water, we don't know.
Bicolored Antbird
we're waiting out the rain in the tower
the rain let up a bit so we went to the top
Blue-black Grosbeak - male & female or young bird - the male courts his mate by feeding her or it could be a young one being fed
very wet and preening Collared Aracari
Spotted Antbird
Spotted Antbird
Fulvous-vented Euphonia
Gray-headed Kite
Blue-crowned Manakin - male
Blue-crowned Manakin - female
Rufescent Tiger-Heron and Wattled Jacanas
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Mealy Parrot
Gray-headed Chachalacas from our balcony
Keel-billed Toucan & vultures
vultures on the cell tower
Agouti with baby
young Agouti
kayaks on the Chagras River
Chestnut-sided Warbler - female
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
maintenance of the Teleferico
The second day the morning was sunny and beautiful and we came across another troupe of Howler monkeys and saw quite a few birds. We had the rest of the picnic lunch we had packed and started to hike again, but alas the rain was having no part of letting us finish our day. We waited it out, but it was not letting up so we called it a day. On the drive out we noticed that the rain was slowing and we wondered if it was only raining in the area where we were so we drove to the Summit Ponds and birded there for a while. On the way back we noticed an accident that involved a Canopy vehicle right at the turn off to the Tower. We hope everyone was OK. (we have since heard everyone is just fine)
Wattled Jacana
Wattled Jacana - juvenile
Howler
Red-throated Ant-Tanager
Golden-hooded Tanager
White-whiskered Puffbird - female
Slaty-tailed Trogon
Violet-bellied Hummingbird
Whooping Motmot
Checker-throated Antwren
Kentucky Warbler - not a great shot, but it's a rare bird for Panama
This guy was on our picnic table
Checkered-throated Antwren
Checkered-throated Antwren - baby
Pipeline Road
Striated Heron
Striated Heron
Striated Heron
Purple Gallinule
Red-throated Ant-Tanager
trail near Summit Ponds
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Gartered Trogon - male
Gartered Trogon - female
Green Heron
Mono Titi - Ggeoffroy's Tamarin
Tropical Pewee
Our last day was beautiful. Warm and sunny and after so much rain the birds were out in force. We saw a ton of them. We hiked all morning and then went back to the visitor’s center to freshen up and change clothes to stop for lunch at the City of Knowledge (Ciudad del Saber) before driving home. The City of Knowledge is a government-sponsored cluster of academic organizations, technology companies and non-governmental organizations, managed by the foundation of the same name. It is located just across from the Miraflores locks, in what used to be United States Army South headquarters, Fort Clayton.
view from our balcony
our balcony
Gray-necked Wood-Rail - injured
Greater Ani
Keel-billed Toucan
Howler
Blue-crowned Manakin - male
Blue-crowned Manakin - female
Blue-crowned Manakin - male
White-whiskered Puffbird - male
Cocoa Woodcreeper
Cocoa Woodcreeper
Cocoa Woodcreeper
Purple-throated Fruitcrow
Long-billed Hermit
Streaked Flycatcher
crafts for the Panamanian holidays at the visitor's center
unknown immature bird
Chestnut-sided Warbler - female
Crimson-crested Woodpecker
Olivaceous Flatbill
Blue Morpho Butterfly
Blue Morpho Butterfly
Whooping Motmot
American Pygmy Kingfisher
American Pygmy Kingfisher
Howlers
entrance to the City of Knowledge
Panamanian Flags decorating their lawn
I missed the shot where there were at least 30 workers all standing in one spot
We don’t think we saw any new birds, but it was an enjoyable trip. I even got to say goodbye to the resident “pool cat” that has slept on my lap a few times in the past while hanging out by the pool. We did see a lot of birds, but photography was tough with the weather.
All of the hiking brought out another case of “Disney rash”
on my ankles. Which went away quickly with the help of cortisone cream. However,
the mosquitos were the worst we have ever experienced there. We spray to the
max, but Greg still got clusters of bites in a few places. They didn’t like me
as I only got one bite on my little finger.
Here are some photos from our usual daily walks:
shrimp boat
really low tide - our building is the tall one
Dirce Beauty
teeny little frog (would fit on your little fingernail)
tree trunk on the trail - holes made by the Golden Ceiba Borer?
Anhainga
the young ones are growing
another really little frog
Lesser Goldfinch - male
mushroom or porn; you be the judge
Eastern Kingbird
Swainson's Thrush
Baltimore Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
immature Roadside Hawk
immature Roadside Hawk
view from the condo
part of the trail before you go up to the dry forest
pretty mushroom in tree trunk
wild orchids along the trail
female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Short-tailed Hawk
Short-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
this feisty crab was on the beach
this dog was going on our beach walk with us and he barked for eons at the crab
Magnolia Warbler - immature or female (rare for here)
Mississippi Hawk - juvenile
Golden White
Yellow-headed Caracara on a balcony rail below us
this butterfly kept landing upside down under leaves
We made reservations for Los Mandarinos in El Valle for our
anniversary November 22. (married 25 years, together for 30) The oferta
was only good for 2 nights and they wanted an arm and a leg for a 3rd
night so we opted to spend one night at the Golden Frog Inn. We have been
wanting to try it out so we don’t mind packing up and spending a night there.
So, we will be in El Valle for Thanksgiving. Sadly, we are missing out on a
couple of holiday parties.
We have planned out the "Kanies Farewell Tour" for group lunches and one final visit to Picasso. Four weeks to go!
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