Tropical Dreaming

We passed our destination at  7:55 and continued on toward PriceSmart (Panama’s Costco) because there’s no parking at immigration.

Unfortunately, we passed PriceSmart inadvertently and a series of u-turns cost us 15 minutes. When we finally got there, a bicycle Security Guard at PriceSmart wouldn’t let us park and walk out of the lot  — even though PriceSmart isn’t open yet and we actually plan to do some shopping there when we’re done here. We had to go park at a nearby bank that has paid parking. Another 15 minutes lost. 

We started walking toward the immigration office, maybe a half mile away, but Krista’s having a bad pain day so we flagged down a cab (first cab ride in Panama!) and  FINALLY made it to the immigration office with only 10 minutes to spare.

That tall, thin guy in the background with the burgundy shirt and a vest is our attorney, Will. (Actually, his wife is the attorney and he’s basically her paralegal who does all the work on immigration cases.)

Being here, foreigners in a strange country, asking them to accept us and let us live here is a very odd experience. Neither of us, ever in our lives, expected to have this experience. It’s humbling and makes us both glad that we’ve always shown compassion for immigrants to the U.S.

At around 11:00 last night, I heard TinkerBelle outside barking ferociously and incessantly. I went out to see what was going on and she was chasing a big toad. (Bigger than my hand.) She was inches from it’s back end.

Cane toads are common in Panama and highly toxic to dogs. Their skin secretes bufotoxins, which can cause vomiting, seizures, and even death if a dog bites or licks them.

One of the first things we did was catch the toad and toss it in the laundry sink that’s outside the kitchen door. I wanted to identify it and make sure that it was, in fact, a Cane Toad. Krista was instrumental in helping me catch it but we were both a little freaked out, assuming they’re also toxic to people. (We since confirmed that’s true, but since people only get the toxins on their skin and not in their mouths, it’s nowhere near as dangerous as it is for dogs. Mostly it just causes skin irritation and maybe some nausea. You just have to wash your hands quickly.)

It’s critical to treat dogs promptly if they get ahold of a Cane Toad but we didn’t know of any vets in this area that are available 24 hours for emergencies. I put out feelers via WhatsApp messages with the few people we know here — the people we’re renting this house from, our friend, Roger, in Punta Chame, our attorney, Will, another friend from Facebook who lives nearby, and the realtor we’ve been talking to about properties in Coronado. 

I knew most people were probably already in bed so I proceeded to search Google for emergency veterinarians in the area, while simultaneously getting as much info as I could from ChatGPT about Cane Toads and dogs, home remedies, and anything else I could think of.

Based on information we got from ChatGPT, Krista got a towel wet and started wiping out Tink’s mouth. She had her drink water and gave her some coconut milk.

Meanwhile, Roger saw my message and responded within a couple of minutes, giving me a number to call. The vet answered but didn’t speak much English so we switched to messaging and I used the translator app on my phone. This slowed things down, which (time being of the essence,) added to the stress of the situation. 

As I continued to chat back and forth with the vet, I found out that A) he makes housecalls, B) we could pay with a credit card (we don’t have any cash around at the moment), and C) the price would be $50 for the housecall and around $85 for the tests that we’d need. By this time, though, 30 minutes had gone by — and Tink wasn’t showing any symptoms. Symptoms of Cane Toad toxicity come on very quickly. Depending on the size of the dog and the amount of toxins ingested, a dog can actually be dead in 30 minutes! I felt like everything was probably OK. I sent the vet some videos and he concurred so we didn’t have him come but he told us that he’d be standing by if we needed him.

I kept an eye on her until 2AM and she seemed fine and was sleeping comfortably. This morning, she was totally fine. We’re very relieved.

TinkerBelle’s playfulness, happy-go-lucky fun-lovingness, and puppy antics add so much joy and laughter to our lives. It would have been devastating to lose her.

Ultimately, I believe her fearfulness was stronger than her (remarkably strong) prey drive and that’s why she’s still alive. We’re going to be working on that prey drive, though. And before we move on to the next beach town in early April, we’ll be finding out where the nearest emergency veterinarian is and know how to reach them.

(Aside: If you’re not yet all aboard the ChatGPT train, you should be. It performs the same internet search Google does - probably even using Google search results - but you don’t have to wade through page after page of links — it just gives you the answers you seek, quickly and mostly accurately. You can go to chatgpt.com on any web browser but I recommend the free app; I have it on my Home Screen and it’s my go-to resource for answers.)

Everyone at the San Fernando Clinic/Hospital was extremely nice. Plenty of English-speaking doctors, nurses, and front-desk staff meant that communication was unimpeded and I was very comfortable and understood everything that was happening.

The doctor examined my toe, gave me a local anesthetic, and spent 20-30 minutes gently, carefully cutting away the dead/bad flesh. Because I’m diabetic, he prescribed antibiotic injections rather than oral/pills. He wrapped the toe and had a nurse give me the first of four antibiotic injections. (I have to go back tomorrow and Saturday, but they’re closed on Sunday so on Saturday, Krista will go to my appointment with me so the nurse can show her how to give me the final injection.)

Going to the front desk to pay before leaving, I thought about how much time the doctor spent and how much this was going to cost. My guess was between $200 and $300 and I was OK with that considering that the cost in the States would almost certainly exceed $1000. But the bill was a mere $68 and the follow-up injections would be less than $7 each, for a total of less than $85. 

I went home and told Krista that based on the quality and cost of care that I received, I’d be perfectly fine with aborting the rest of our exploratory travels and committing to settling down right here in Coronado. We’re already sold on so much about the area, from restaurants and entertainment options to local stores and shopping, to the proximity of the beach. And for everything else, Panama City is only 90 minutes away.

Good healthcare is so important with the health issues we already have; as we get older, it will only become more so. The San Fernando Clinic has my trust and respect; I feel good knowing they’re nearby.

 

 
P.S. Sorry for the shamelessly misleading clickbait post title.

About Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo, also known as Casco Antiguo, is the historic district of Panama City and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded in 1673 after the destruction of the original Panama City (Panamá Viejo) by pirates, Casco Viejo features a blend of Spanish, French, and American architectural influences. The neighborhood is known for its beautifully restored colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, and vibrant cultural scene, including museums, churches, boutique hotels, and some of the city’s best restaurants and nightlife. It’s a popular destination for both tourists and locals looking to experience Panama’s history, art, and cuisine in a picturesque setting.

 

Lastly, the district is known for its lively social scene, with rooftop bars offering stunning views of the Panama City skyline. While Panama is largely religious and conservative, Casco Viejo is LGBTQ+ friendly. Despite its small size, Casco Viejo plays a central role in the city’s culture and history, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring Panama.

With its beautiful plazas, cathedrals, and museums, Casco Viejo is decidedly very touristy — but not, as far as we were concerned, in a negative way.

Gift/souvenir shops were plentiful and Donnie now has a genuine Panama hat! Krista has a new apron, hot mitt, keychain, sarong, necklace, refrigerator magnets, and gifts that we have no idea how to send back to the States! 🤣

Dog Friendly

The plazas, as well as the restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, outdoor dining areas, and even the laundromats were dog-friendly! There’s no ADA in Panama; even seeing eye dogs are treated as “mascotas” (pets) but our babies were not only welcomed - they were celebrated!

Casco Viejo is surrounded on three sides by water. On arrival, we were greeted by this beautiful bird…

Playa Casco Viejo

We didn’t find it until we met a very nice, helpful expat resident named JR, but at the end of the next street over from our inn was a small beach — where TinkerBelle and LoloLu had a wonderful time swimming and (mostly) bounding (the water is quite shallow) around. It’s not exactly picturesque; in fact, there’s a lot of garbage (that collects where the beach meets the buildings of Casco Viejo at high tide). As a result, poor TinkerBelle got a urinary tract infection afterward — but they had a great time and neither of them got eaten by alligators 😱 so it was a good day!

The Food

We had an absolutely exquisite meal at CascoMar - from the fresh-baked bread to the incredible sangria (best we've ever had by a wide margin!) to the amazing fish entrees (I had tuna, Krista had seabass) - all the way to the excellent dessert! We would have eaten there every night if our budget allowed. We also had very good sushi, pasta, pizza, and Lebanese food while we were there. And while we did find some great coffee, everywhere we tried to get pastries disappointed.

Our Lodging

The AmazINN Places Boutique Casa Arias (see our YouTube video for more) did not disappoint. It was comfortable, cozy, and quiet; it oozed charm and we enjoyed our time there.

Lots of wonderful rest and relaxation was had here…

The biggest problem with our lodging was that it had no parking — and parking in Casco Viejo can be difficult to find. Once we managed to get a good parking spot that was close to our inn, we were loathe to move the car so we walked everywhere - to get coffee in the morning, to go eat/pickup takeout, to go to the grocery store to get ice for our cooler (the mini fridge in the room was really small), to go do some laundry, and of course to walk the dogs. I did quite a bit more walking than Krista, and as a result I ended up with a big, nasty blister on my right big toe. Due to my neuropathy, I didn’t feel it until it was pretty bad. Fortunately there’s a really good medical clinic at our next place in Coronado…

General Conclusions - AmazINN Casa Arias

Things We Liked

• Beautiful decor throughout 
• Interior ‘secret garden’ patios/balconies that look down onto the pool
• Lovely rooftop terrace with very nice views
• Shared kitchen area was well-equipped 
• Mini-fridge in the room
• Nice shower with hot water!
• Easy check-in/check-out
• Very reasonably priced 

Things That Could Have Been Better

• Reserved parking spots
• For all our luggage, an elevator would have been really nice
• Where the TV is mounted, one person (watching from the bed) has a bed post blocking the middle of the screen.
• Swimming pool was very shallow (mid-thigh) and the water was cold 🥶 

General Conclusions - Casco Viejo

It’s a beautiful place and I’m really glad to have spent some time there. I think it’s probably the very best part of Panama City and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s visiting Panama. For anyone who, like us, is thinking of coming to Panama to live, I’d suggest you allow Panama City to put its best foot forward by making Casco Viejo your first stay. But it's not the spot for us. Condo/apartment living isn't a good fit for the dogs; we're looking for a single-family home with a swimming pool and a nice beach nearby. Casco Viejo just isn't the place for that kind of a property.

One reason we moved to Panama is because the cost of living is less.  This hasn't held up for some things, but eggs? WOW!  I was in a local grocery store and saw this huge display of eggs. Thought I would make people back home a little jealous.  That's right, 30 eggs for $5!!!

 

We weren’t thrilled with it from the start — it was very dark inside (even on a bright day), the pool was dirty, all the furniture was uncomfortable and/or broken, and the ‘kitchen” had no sink! — but this morning, tree trimmers showed up early and took things to a whole new level of awful.

The sound of chainsaws would have sucked more than enough — but these guys were dropping huge tree limbs directly on our roof  with a huge CRASH! that sounded like a bomb had gone off!!

Poor TinkerBelle, in her (not quite) 2 years on the planet, the closest experience she had ever had to this was really loud thunderclaps. But huge tree limbs falling on your roof, while not quite as loud, is way more percussive. She was so freaked out.

And that wasn’t even the worst part.

As I was trying to get all of our stuff taken out and loaded into the car, I kept coming out to find big tree limbs on the sidewalk. (Along with tools and rope and debris.) So I’d have to wait for them to clear the sidewalk. (Meanwhile the clock was ticking and checkout time was getting closer and closer.)

Eventually, I got everything loaded and away we went… until I realized that I didn’t know how to get to our new place and my phone wasn’t working. (No service/data.)

One of the first-world luxuries that we take for granted is “611” which connects us to our cellular service provider — even when our service has been mysteriously suspended — so we can get the problem taken care of. If Panama has such a number/service, I don’t know what it is. So it was off to the mall to talk to Mas Movíl and figure out why our service had been disconnected — again. (Turns out they had tried to charge my card — the one that was cancelled due to fraudulent charges.)

Happily, this sad story ends well. Our new place is wonderful! Five days will go by much too quickly in Casco Viejo. But more on that in another post — and YouTube video!