Holy Jungle Batman

The last week has been kind of a blur. Not because I've been partying, but because I've been busy. Work has been great, and yesterday topped all work days. I haven't commented very much about work on this blog, so I will make more of an effort with this post.

I met Mr. Jorge, a Panamanian Civil Engineer from David, in Boquete to see some of his property that he would like to unload. He picked me up and we headed up to Jaramillo first. Way up some 4x4 trails, the views were amazing with the major volcano and the Pacific Ocean on the horizon. We turned onto an even steeper road and somehow managed to get stuck. Jorge put the truck into 4L, but for some reason, only the back right wheel was moving. The truck dug in, and against a barbed wire fence. We went under the fence and tried to put rocks, bark, twigs, the floor mat, and other things under for traction, and even with rocking the truck, it just became worse. It was while lying face down in mud and trying to wedge things under the wheel that the army ants declared war on us. At one point, I had a hundred ants from my feet to my waist trying to devour me. Luckily, I was wearing jeans and socks with my Keens, but they still got me pretty bad. Jorge was a sopping mess and also full of ants. His 1.5 year old daughter and her nanny were with us, and they retreated to higher ground to get away from the millions of "hormigas" taking chunks out of our legs. Then came the flies. They look like little nats but when they bite, they leave a large, bleeding welt. My arms and neck were soon covered. Jorge called a friend for help. Just then, another 4x4 came by and a white man looking like he belonged to a militia got out with his female Panamanian friend carrying a rambo knife on her side. They were accompanied by a Pit bull that looked like a Holstein and they exclaimed they had been tracking a Puma. The man helped rock the truck with Jorge while I worked the gas and we were soon free. The man wanted to know what we were doing and when we told him we were walking into the unimproved jungle property, he thought we were crazy for not having knee-high rubber boots on because of all the vipers. Yes, vipers. Fer de Lance, Coral, Bushmasters, and other little nastys have apparently been out in numbers because of all the rain lately. Jorge did not seem fazed so on we went, him in the lead (thankfully). The property was beautiful with little rivers crisscrossing several points. We were ankle-deep in mud at a few points.

It was then I decided I will be buying some of those boots, and a snake bite kit. After seeing Jess's vipers which she killed and put in her freezer to send to scientists, I now realize just how small they can be, and how much they blend into their surroundings. I told her the above story yesterday and she said it's not the little guys you want to watch out for...It's 6 to 14 foot long Bushmasters you want to worry about. Now, I've lived in Arizona and California long enough to know it's almost a treat to "get to see" a rattlesnake, tarantula, scorpion, or Gila monster...but here, I not yet sure if I would call an encounter "lucky."

After all this business, Jorge and I started talking about beer and I learned that his family started the "Panama" beer brand. He studied in Boston and developed a taste for micro-brews and we discussed a business plan for starting one in Boquete. He took me to the only restaurant in Chiriqui Provence that sells micro-brew, which was pretty good. We then went to see some other properties and talked with local farmers about what they knew.

That night, I met with a local agent for dinner...all-you-can-eat ribs that literally disintegrated from the bone the second I tried to pick them up. Funny, but this was the same restaurant I was at earlier that afternoon with Jorge! The waiters were amused.

So, this is a typical day of what it's like to work in real estate in Panama. Especially if you are working with unimproved land...and I think I'm going to love it!

I've been spending quite a bit of time with my new friend Jess over the last two weeks. We are work-out partners and keep each other motivated to run, lift, hike, and very soon for her, rock-climb. I've hardly met anyone else here as dedicated to fitness and with a willingness to get muddy, which is a must for any hike during the rain season. I spent part of the afternoon shoveling horse shit in return for her letting me ride horses (and just cuz I'm a nice guy)...I love mindless physical labor anyway. Cesar and I have been looking for a place to build an indoor climbing area to wait out the rain season, and Jess is considering letting us use her 40-foot high horse coral!

I finally got my registration and insurance squared away today, so I CAN NOW DRIVE!!! So exciting! I can't believe how much I've missed driving, and now with a big diesel 4x4, life is going to be even more interesting!