livin

I went to David yesterday with Jess because she had to go to the dentist, so I was able to visit my office for awhile...something I only do about once every two weeks. I love working remotely, even if it is cooped up in my room that I do most of the not-fun work. After the office, Jess and I went to visit Fred in the hospital. Jess picked flowers for him ahead of time which was nice because the hospital is very dull (no TV or pictures anywhere). We arrived at the visiting hour and the guard stopped us. He said we could not enter because we both had flip-flops on, and I was wearing shorts (the exact same thing I was wearing the first time we visited Fred). Jess used her blond gringa charm to try to convince the guard...he eventually let her go, but not me. She went up and I waited a few minutes, and tried again to persuade the guard to let me pass, but no luck, he was flexing. So, me being me, I started pointing out all the other people (Panamanians) who had on flip-flops, shorts, and short skirts, which was every 4th person. He exclaimed there was a difference between me and them. I asked if the difference was because I was a gringo. He didn't like that. I waited until he turned his back and I ran up the stairs to the top floor. That worked.

Fred was looking better, but still in pain and dazed from the meds. He was talking on the phone to his grandma who is trying to wire money to get him transferred to a private hospital with better care. We spoke with the doctor and he seemed to be very professional and on top of his game with Fred though.

Jess and I headed back to Boquete because I had to get ready for clients today. I set up several home tours, picked up my clients at their hotel at 9am, and went to the homes. Steve, a new addition to my team, assisted me in putting the tour together which was a huge help. We will be working together to dominate the market here. We have a lot of work to do, but it will be great having a more-experienced partner to work with.

Last week, 24 nurses from a University in Florida took over my hostel. They were working in the jungle with indians and needed a two-day break to refresh. Several of them wanted to go climbing, so Cesar and I took them. I used my vehicle to shuttle the 9 girls to the crag in two trips while Cesar free-soloed four ropes to the anchors. It was a good time, and Cesar took care of me by splitting his pay, my first income! Three hours of fun covered my rent for two weeks :) We are now discussing starting a multi-day climbing clinic for people more serious about learning how to climb. Also, Jess has agreed to let us start to build an indoor climbing wall in her horse arena to possibly open up for climbing lessons (and fun for us) during the rain season. Cesar and I went over to Jess's farm to see about setting up a multi-pitch rappel over the side of a cliff into the jungle river canyon. It will take some serious work of setting ropes and clearing jungle, but could be another source of income. We had a great afternoon of hiking around the farm and the jungle looking at the possibilities.

Jess kills Tolingas (Crows from India) and hangs them around the barn as a warning to other Tolingas. They are bad because they eat the eggs of every other bird.


Jasmine the Dalmatien doesn't like me yet. She growls, but wags her tail at the same time, and smiles on command as seen here.


Cesar and I in the jungle.


Jess and I walking in the muck (no snakes in the water).


Jess and I on a cable bridge.


Cesar and Jess crossing the cable bridge.