We sold our big home on 10 acres in Alto Jaramillo in March of 2021 and after renting the home of a friend, we found a perfect new house in Valle Escondido. Of course, we had to do a little renovating to put a new ceiling in the kitchen and putting in a big new bathroom in the guest suite. Now the home is perfect. Check it out. https://youtu.be/4igHRMxWRZo
Posted by: pennyinparadise | February 27, 2022
Our New Home
Comments Off on Our New Home
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: expat, expatriat, expatriats, expats, latin america, Panama, retirement
Posted by: pennyinparadise | February 27, 2022
This & That in 2021
We’re still under Pandemic rules in 2021…..masks are mandatory. But vaccines are not mandatory, although more and more businesses are requiring proof of vaccines to enter. But the government here is not mandating vaccines for employees or entry into businesses….it is up to the business to require them.
The big news is my meeting Micaela Huisa, a 7 year old Peruvian girl who now lives in Panama with her parents. She has a 3 year old sister. Micaela is the joy of my life. She is very special and talented. Check her out here: https://youtu.be/aXcRqy9cIa4
Comments Off on This & That in 2021
Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off on About 2 months after the downstairs apartment was finished, our home unexpectedly sold. We had to move to a temporary rental while we searched for our new home. We focused on Valle Escondido, a gated golf course community in town. We found our perfect place….of course, Jim had some renovation ideas, so for the first 3 months we were living with jackhammers and dust. In the final analysis, it was worth it. Here’s a video of the way it was before construction.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: expat, expatriat, latin america, retirement
Posted by: pennyinparadise | December 12, 2020
Luxury Apartment for Short Term Rental
When we came back from Mexico in late February 2020, we were greeted with a lockdown for Covid-19. We took advantage of that 8 months to create a truly unique rental for short term stays. It is a 2,000 sq ft apartment below our house (Villa La Rosa) with 1 1/2 baths, a large king size bedroom, a queen size Murphy bed, full laundry, fully appointed kitchen, living room, dining area, game area, utility room all furnished completely for your stay.
Penny & Jim. US Phone: 321-215-7678. WhatsApp: +507 6948 8255.
See Villa La Rosa Abajo. Give us a call if you want to visit. Our rates depend on time of year, length of stay, etc. We require a 3 night minimum. You will need a rental car as we are on Alto Jaramillo mountain….a 15 minute drive to downtown Boquete.
Comments Off on Luxury Apartment for Short Term Rental
Posted in Boquete, Panama | Tags: Boquete, central america, chiriqui, expat, expatriat, expatriats, expats, latin america, Panama, paradise, retirement
Posted by: pennyinparadise | December 9, 2020
Return to Panama from Mexico
In January of 2020 Jim and I decided to return to Boquete, Panama from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where we lived for over 2 years. We decided to return to Boquete to complete construction of a 2,000 sq ft apartment downstairs. Of course, we just got started when the LockDown occurred and we could not get more materials. Here is a video of our return.
When we returned to Villa La Rosa and we were immediately put into LockDown for the Coronavirus. Panama’s president reacted to the virus in early March by shutting down ALL businesses except grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and gas stations. The road into/out of Boquete has a checkpoint with police who spray down the vehicle with antiviral and take your temperature before letting you enter Boquete. Women are given Monday, Wednesday and Friday to shop at those 4 places sometime between 11 and 1. Men are allowed out at the same time on Tuesday and Thursday. Saturday and Sunday everything is closed and no one is allowed out of their houses. Our mayor really wants zero cases before he considers it safe for us to go out. This lockdown lasted for almost 4 months, when finally we were permitted out of our homes from 5 am to 7 pm, and hardware and auto repair businesses opened.
As of this writing, which is December 10, 2020 we are still in partial quarantine, but restaurants are open at 25%. We still are mandated to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Temps are taken at entrances to businesses and feet and hands disinfected. Here in Chiriqui in western Panama we are pretty low in rt numbers, but the city has higher numbers and may be locked down for the holidays. Liquor sales will be limited also.
Wanda and Kevin will be coming down for my birthday, which happens to be the date for the Presidential Inauguration….that should be interesting.
Penny & Jim
Comments Off on Return to Panama from Mexico
Posted in Boquete, Panama | Tags: Boquete, central america, chiriqui, expat, expatriat, expatriats, expats, latin america, Panama, paradise, retirement
Posted by: pennyinparadise | December 9, 2020
After the Pandemic
Jim and I were locked down in Panama for 8 months. We are finally reopening some restaurants, but with masks and social distancing mandatory by law. We took advantage of the “time off” from our normal world to reflect on our lives in Panama. I’ve been here 16 years now and am a Citizen of Panama, complete with passport. Jim joined me here 7 years ago. We enjoyed living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for a couple of years but, as always, returned to Boquete.
So….here’s a video interview of us done by Panama Location Tours of our thoughts and comments.
We have finished construction of a 2,000 sq ft apartment downstairs, and furnished it beautifully. It will be available for short term Airbnb rental. Check it out at https://youtu.be/klAusOK_GXY
So come down and visit…
Penny & Jim
Comments Off on After the Pandemic
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: pennyinparadise | January 4, 2020
European Trip
In late September Jim and I flew to Ireland for a week on the Emerald Isle. FABULOUS. Jim has been trying to get me to Ireland for years. I resisted and now sorry I did. I can’t wait to go back this summer and see even more of this amazing country. Here’s some videos on our trip (click on the blue links for each video.
After Ireland we flew to Rome, Italy to board Holland America’s newest ship, the Nieuw Statendam. Our spiritual teacher, Dr. Joe Dispenza, hosted 800 people on this ship where we attended 10 workshops with Dr. Joe and made several shore excursions. Monte Carlo and Florence were scratched from the shore excursions due to high seas, but instead we stopped at the Island of Corsica. Corsica has been owned by both France and Italy throughout history, and is now French. Napoleon Bonaparte was born here and you’ll see his home in this iMovie.
We loved Corsica and have decided to spend 2-3 months there and on to Ireland for another 2-3 months. We’re leaving San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where we have been for the last 2 years. We’re ready for a new adventure and learning a new language. They speak both French and Italian on Corsica, but not much English. First, we’re going to our home in Boquete, Panama (which is on the market) to finish a construction project downstairs at the house. We’ll be there for a couple of months before heading off the Europe for 4-5 months. We’ve rented our second home in Boquete, to a wonderful single woman, and we have a live-in caretaker in the big house….so we’re free to go to Corsica.
Stay tuned…..more to come
Posted in Boquete, Mexico, Panama, Vacation Visits | Tags: Boquete, central america, Corsica, expat, expatriat, expatriats, expats, Ireland, latin america, Mexico, Panama, retirement, San Miguel de Allende
Posted by: pennyinparadise | December 25, 2018
Mexico Update with iMovies
I’m just loving making iMovies….they make my blog posts so much more interesting than those old still photo galleries. The first 3 below are new posts and those that follow have been here for a while. Just click on each link to view the iMovie.
I’ll be making more, especially when we go to Ireland in late September, 2019. After years of asking me to share his love of the Emerald Isle, I look forward to it. From there we will fly on to Rome where we will board Holland America’s newest ship for a 10 day Mediterranean cruise with our spiritual teacher, Dr. Joe Dispenza. The ship will visit Gibraltar, Cartegena, Sevilla, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Marseilles and Florence before returning to Rome. There will be lots of movies to share about this trip, to be sure. In the meantime, enjoy the links below.
We’re living large in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
We turned 76!! – a look back as we move well into our third quarter of a century!!
Golf in Mexico – a view of a few of the courses we’ve visited
Music in Mexico – a sampling of the incredible music we have enjoyed in San Miguel
Mini-Vacations in Mexico – clips showing different places we’ve visited so far, here in Mexico
Becky The Boston Terrier – clips of Becky from her puppyhood to her new life in Mexico.
Also, I’ve made movies about our houses in Panama.
Villa Escondido – a villa I built for my mom in Boquete, with a caregiver apartment below. Unfortunately, mom passed away 2 weeks before we could move her here, so now it is a rental unit.
I hope you enjoy these…..and will visit the blog and share it with others. Have a happy holiday for 2019 and please keep in touch. We love to hear from you all.
Penny Ripple & Jim Wasson
Vagabonds at Heart
Posted in Boquete, Mexico, Panama, Vacation Visits | Tags: Boquete, central america, chiriqui, expat, expatriat, expatriats, expats, latin america, Mexico, Panama, paradise, retirement, San Miguel de Allende
Posted by: pennyinparadise | September 1, 2018
I’m Making Movies!!
WOW…I’ve learned how to make iMovies on my computer. Here are my 2 first efforts.
Comments Off on I’m Making Movies!!
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: pennyinparadise | September 1, 2018
Life in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
I cannot find words to express our joy in being here in SMA (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico). It is totally different from Panama in many ways. First of all, it is desert, not rainforest. Second of all it is higher elevation (6,600 ft compared to 4,500 ft). And it is charming, charming, charming…with tons of cultural activities, art, music and Mexico is filled with different and exciting places to visit.
I know….I know. You are all saying MEXICO!!! How can you live in Mexico where all the cartels and crime are? Well, we’re not in the drug business so we aren’t part of the crime of cartels. We exercise the same caution we used when living in Panama and in the 9 months since moving here, we have had no experience with crime. On the contrary, we feel very safe and know the people here to be kind, courteous and easy going. As a matter of fact, I feel much more unsafe when I visit the USA than I do in Latin America. It was the same in Panama and Ecuador when I lived there. Every time I tune in to American TV news (which I avoid whenever possible) I am appalled at the shootings in schools, parks and buildings there. So when people ask “Are you safe there?” I just have to laugh.
I’ve also learned a new technology called iMovie, which will provide a more convenient way for you to see our photos….so here goes…. https://youtu.be/KPNSwTngzwE
I haven’t had a chance to capture photos of all the art galleries, music concerts and restaurants here..I’ll do that soon so stay tuned!
Posted in Mexico | Tags: expat, expatriat, expatriats, expats, latin america, Mexico, retirement, San Miguel de Allende
Penny In Paradise 