How to get a ride with the Policia in Panama City

(no, I didn't steal cheese)
Ask a simple question and you find yourself in the back of a police car. We went to Panama City today to check out the Canal Museum. We are thinking it would be right at the canal and we'd be able to dangle our feet and watch big ships go by. Hellooooooo. Dos stupidos. Any way, the museum was ok but not what we were hoping. Spent some time walking around the city and noticed 'Policia de tourism'. Bright idea, let's go ask them about this 180 visa we are reading about on the internet. Maybe we won't have to leave after only 3 months. We find someone who speaks a little English, we tell him what we want to do. He says 'ok, sit!' So we sit. Two very big policemen come out and say to us 'vamos' (let's go). so we go. They point to the back door of their car. OH MY FRIGGIN GOD what have I gotten us into. We get into the back of the car and we are a little nervous because....HELLOOOOOOO, who wouldn't be. Our nerves did settle some when over the radio there was a lot of talk about 'monkey's' which in turn got our men talking about monkey's too. I'm thinking if they are talking about monkeys then maybe this won't turn out so bad. After a 10 minute drive through the city (Panamanias do not care if it's a police car or not, they will drive right smack into you if you get in their way) they bring us to an immagration office and say 'ok'. OK then. Thanks for the ride. We look back and they are gone. I guess it was a one way ride. We go to immigrations to find out NOPE. They passed the law for a few days but then 'unpassed' it. Alrighty then. We are now 10 LONG minutes away from our car. 1st cab said $15 to bring us back. 2nd cab says $10. 3rd cab says $3. Now the price is right! So we got a little tour of the city in the back of a police car, accomplished nothing else and headed back. Oh we did find a great little Chinese place and had lunch for $7.

I've also attached some pics of the trip to Panama City today on the blog site. You will see them on the left hand side when you go into the blog. http://hahaiguana.blogspot.com/

Wish us luck. We bought a truck on Monday. it's been interesting. We stil don't have the truck but they do have our money. Keep your fingers crossed. Will let ya know how it turns out. We are pretty curious to find out too!!!!

Test

so if you are a follower, do you automatically get something that tells you I just posted something? I guess we'll find out soon :))))

Celebrating our cell phone purchase

Celebrating our cell phone purchase at an award winning bar. They had the tropies to prove it. Cock fighting trophies that is. Celebrate a cell phone purchase you ask? Believe me, there was reason. It wasn't easy and when you whip out $100 bill, well that brings over the store managers, passports are scrutinized, paperwork has to be filled out...where are you staying, how long are you in Panama, phone #, etc., etc. This while an armed guard stands by the door...armed as in fully automatic weapons. It's pretty much the norm here though so I'm guessing I won't be stealing any cheese in Panama. HA!!! (for those of you who know my stinky little secret!!!)

Blogging for the first time

I'm not sure what I'm doing. This blogging thing is new to me. So this is just a test.