Wednesday - August 13 - 10:40 PM Filed in:
Panama
We are packing for our
return to Panama City from Los Altos de Cerro Azul
after our nine day stay and have a few observations
to share. First, we are very happy that we changed
our plans and made this trip. It was worthwhile and
we learned a lot about Cerro Azul and the surrounding
area. Is Cerro Azul where we want to live in Panama?
Maybe, maybe not - it’s too early in our search to
tell. We can tell you that Cerro Azul has moved from
a place we where curious about, to one that is now on
our list of possibilities. Our observations:
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more
Tags: Cerro Azul
Saturday - August 09 - 09:25 PM Filed in:
Panama | Extras
Nothing really
exciting today - sun shined and it rained. But we . .
. . (everyone knows to hit that pesky
little “read more” link to see the rest of this
insightful “extras note”, right?)
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more
Tags: Cerro Azul
Friday - August 08 - 08:49 PM Filed in:
Panama
Rained most of
this morning, just another Rainy Season day - sun
peaked out a couple of times, then the clouds rolled
in. Quite amazing how fast the conditions change:
rain, sun, clouds in the valley, clouds on a
neighboring ridge and sometimes we are actually IN
THE CLOUDS.
The sun pops out and we decide to explore parts of
Cerro Azul a little farther off the “yellow brick
road”. Away we go. If my earlier pictures gave the
impression that all the houses are small, modest
affairs - check these out.
and these. Read
more
Tags: Cerro Azul
Thursday - August 07 - 09:17 PM Filed in:
Panama
Got up this
morning to clouds and rain showers (at least I did).
Jane, who is the early riser, saw a little sun before
the clouds rolled in and enjoyed a chilly 64° for her
early morning walk with Wags. After breakfast I
worked on a pot of black bean soup for later in the
day (great soup weather here in Cerro Azul) and then
went out for a short walk and got invited to a
neighbors house to get a resident’s take on the area.
Smitty and Rachelle
have been living full-time in Cerro
Azul for about a year and a half, have a great house,
two Australian Shepherds and enjoy their new
lifestyle. We talked about everything and certainly
came away with a better understanding of what it’s
like to live in Cerro Azul. Our visit with them also
highlighted the obvious - you ALWAYS receive the best
information if you can take your time, look around,
make connections (planned or otherwise) and actually
sit down with people that have already done what you
are thinking about doing. No amount of reading (this
blog or any other), research, or “experts” telling
you what is best, can provide the kind of information
you get when talking directly with everyday people,
like you and me. Read
more
Tags: Cerro Azul
Wednesday - August 06 - 10:51 PM Filed in:
Panama
Our first full
day at Cerro Azul started with a quick tour by Paul.
Just wanted to get our bearings so we could wander on
our own without getting big time lost. No straight
roads in this place, lots of dead ends, curves and
hills - driving is interesting. One of the useful
things (for us novices) the developer has done is use
yellow paint for the dashed centerline on the Main
Road and a white dashed centerline leading to the
clubhouse/restaurant and pool.
So .... you can
follow the “yellow brick road” until you end up at
the front gate or use the white line to the clubhouse
- either place you can get directions to where you
really wanted to go (maybe). By the way, the
remaining roads in Cerro Azul have NO centerline
marked - probably not a big issue, except for those
of us that have spent the last nine years (or maybe a
lifetime) driving on the left. “You’re on the wrong
side again” is a frequent reminder I hear from my
navigator. Read
more
Tags: Cerro Azul
Tuesday - August 05 - 09:39 PM Filed in:
Panama
We’re in the
mountains and a couple of things are strikingly
different from the city - it’s cool and quiet! About
twenty minutes after leaving Panama City we started
the climb to Cerro Azul and arrived at our new
(temporary) digs about forty minutes later. The
changes during the hour long drive (total) were quiet
amazing. - We left the city on the modern multi-lane
toll-road (Corredor Sur) and finished on a winding
two-lane country road that could use a little work.
The high-rise towers of the city were replaced by
towering pine trees. Paved streets by chicken farms.
Honking horns by singing birds. Best of all, I can
look out the window while typing this and see the
lights of Panama City - it’s that close.
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Tags: Cerro Azul
