Thread: Worst thing about Panama

It is not "expired" Balboa or the Royal deshiteron resort as a whole or their lack of customer service or even that every bus is a flag bus and makes too many stops.

It is that Leonardos Pizza sells everything except garlic bread and expensive pizza as a combo with pop. No juice option from the soda machine. No substituting hot chocolate or juice and paying three difference. No taking 50 cents off the price of the combo like you can with the garlic bread.

If you do not like or want a pop your options there are very limited.

Originally Posted by adamruns

It is not "expired" Balboa or the Royal deshiteron resort as a whole or their lack of customer service or even that every bus is a flag bus and makes too many stops.

It is that Leonardos Pizza sells everything except garlic bread and expensive pizza as a combo with pop. No juice option from the soda machine. No substituting hot chocolate or juice and paying three difference. No taking 50 cents off the price of the combo like you can with the garlic bread.

If you do not like or want a pop your options there are very limited.

lol i hope somebody looks into this issue soon so panama will be a better country to live in.

I think it is more a reflection on how stupid companies can be. That is why I have no sympathy when companies go under. In Panama, US or Canada.

5 employees were standing around trying to understand what I wanted. I am sure none of them will care to voice the concern to upper management even the only on wearing the red shirt.

At El Rey, when they over charge me, which is all to frequent, it takes about 5 minutes to get it corrected. Today they wanted me to sign something. I told them it is not my problem.

At pricemart I was going to purchase 2 mattresses and was told by the guy on the floor that delivery information is given at the cash register. That held up the line for 5- 10 minutes.

The taxi driver today and most times have no idea where it is that I tell them I want to go.

In NYC, taxi drivers just off the boat know the city better than people who have lived their whole lives there.

My apartment is another story. The shower did not drain properly so they were going to redo it and started using brown tiles in an all white bathroom because that is all they had and they did not know where to get the same white tiles from.

The other bathroom they wanted to wait and see how it turn out when the level was clearly showing the water would not flow towards the drain. Then they one tile to do today. Which means it will take another full day to wash the tiles and check to see if it was down properly or close to it.

Originally Posted by adamruns

I think it is more a reflection on how stupid companies can be. That is why I have no sympathy when companies go under. In Panama, US or Canada.

5 employees were standing around trying to understand what I wanted. I am sure none of them will care to voice the concern to upper management even the only on wearing the red shirt.

At El Rey, when they over charge me, which is all to frequent, it takes about 5 minutes to get it corrected. Today they wanted me to sign something. I told them it is not my problem.

At pricemart I was going to purchase 2 mattresses and was told by the guy on the floor that delivery information is given at the cash register. That held up the line for 5- 10 minutes.

The taxi driver today and most times have no idea where it is that I tell them I want to go.

In NYC, taxi drivers just off the boat know the city better than people who have lived their whole lives there.

My apartment is another story. The shower did not drain properly so they were going to redo it and started using brown tiles in an all white bathroom because that is all they had and they did not know where to get the same white tiles from.

The other bathroom they wanted to wait and see how it turn out when the level was clearly showing the water would not flow towards the drain. Then they one tile to do today. Which means it will take another full day to wash the tiles and check to see if it was down properly or close to it.

you are right. stupidity is a global trend. or probably its more about not caring. but those same people scream when theyre business goes down or they dont get their promotion. weird stuff.

Originally Posted by adamruns

I think it is more a reflection on how stupid companies can be. That is why I have no sympathy when companies go under. In Panama, US or Canada.

5 employees were standing around trying to understand what I wanted. I am sure none of them will care to voice the concern to upper management even the only on wearing the red shirt.

At El Rey, when they over charge me, which is all to frequent, it takes about 5 minutes to get it corrected. Today they wanted me to sign something. I told them it is not my problem.

At pricemart I was going to purchase 2 mattresses and was told by the guy on the floor that delivery information is given at the cash register. That held up the line for 5- 10 minutes.

The taxi driver today and most times have no idea where it is that I tell them I want to go.

In NYC, taxi drivers just off the boat know the city better than people who have lived their whole lives there.

My apartment is another story. The shower did not drain properly so they were going to redo it and started using brown tiles in an all white bathroom because that is all they had and they did not know where to get the same white tiles from.

The other bathroom they wanted to wait and see how it turn out when the level was clearly showing the water would not flow towards the drain. Then they one tile to do today. Which means it will take another full day to wash the tiles and check to see if it was down properly or close to it.

and were you expecting something different when you did all your reasearch on Panama ? a 3rd world country

no but it is still annoying. Inflation and the devaluing of the US dollar is really going to be felt in Panama.

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

and were you expecting something different when you did all your reasearch on Panama ? a 3rd world country

I dont think it is a 3rd world thing. I have experienced all these things in europe and usa as well. Here it just seems more accepted.

Running into American drunks with a hooker on each arm in Via Veneto slurring Woo-Hoo.

Trash everywhere ..... and the ignorance, laziness and/or bad genetic wiring to do anything to change.

You guys are not convincing enough - I am still with the "forced combo" at Leonardos. Shape the fuck up!

Originally Posted by adamruns

It is that Leonardos Pizza sells everything except garlic bread and expensive pizza as a combo with pop. No juice option from the soda machine. No substituting hot chocolate or juice and paying three difference. No taking 50 cents off the price of the combo like you can with the garlic bread.

Haha! Great post!

The post is so eloquent and tortured in its non-depravity in trying to describe something that cannot even begin to describe the depravity of Panama.

It's a keeper!!!

Originally Posted by Thomasjefferson

Haha! Great post!

Originally Posted by adamruns

no but it is still annoying. Inflation and the devaluing of the US dollar is really going to be felt in Panama.

well dont blame panama for what obummer and Ben are doing to the USD

No I do not blame Panama. But the people and businesses here will have to change their ways to survive.

Post that here: thirdworldproblems

Originally Posted by adamruns

No I do not blame Panama. But the people and businesses here will have to change their ways to survive.

I am not so sure they would have to change their way , the local people accept this as normal , it is the gringo that does not , and even if we all left , they would survive .

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

I am not so sure they would have to change their way , the local people accept this as normal , it is the gringo that does not , and even if we all left , they would survive .

I agree. But i also believe that if they could change this mentality they could improve their situation. This country does have some potential. But im not naive enough to think they ever will.

Originally Posted by janl

I agree. But i also believe that if they could change this mentality they could improve their situation. This country does have some potential. But im not naive enough to think they ever will.

changing their mentality is the hard part , do not take this as a slur but they are just a bunch of indians . they really dont have that many years under their belts from being tribal people

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

changing their mentality is the hard part , do not take this as a slur but they are just a bunch of indians . they really dont have that many years under their belts from being tribal people

How could anybody take that as a slur? Amazing...

Perhaps you are right. How dare those Indians not aspire to being like true westerners. It is about time they took the bull by the horns and begin raping the planet, enslaving minds with the Bible, and enforcing their agendas upon those unable to defend themselves at the point of a gun. Once diabetes, overweight, tooth decay and heart disease run rampany among their ranks, they will have obtained civilized status.

Food is abundant. Sea is bountiful. If they are happy and contented, why change?

Originally Posted by explorer

How could anybody take that as a slur? Amazing...

Perhaps you are right. How dare those Indians not aspire to being like true westerners. It is about time they took the bull by the horns and begin raping the planet, enslaving minds with the Bible, and enforcing their agendas upon those unable to defend themselves at the point of a gun. Once diabetes, overweight, tooth decay and heart disease run rampany among their ranks, they will have obtained civilized status.

i did not say I wanted a change , half of the gringo here do though . they want it to be just like their home country but only cheaper . if you knew the mentality of most north american indians you would know what i am saying , live for today and worry about manana , manana .

Being in part a decendent of some of those of who you speak, I find it more and more disturbing that you find nothing wrong with your point of view.

Sad, really. You seem to have no idea how much bigotry your words belie.

Actually, it is about time I ended my participation here.

Too many bigots and political extremists for my taste. Likely only a matter of time before this site is under scrutiny by some governmental organization; I don't want to be mistaken for one of the nut jobs.

Bye.

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

i did not say I wanted a change , half of the gringo here do though . they want it to be just like their home country but only cheaper . if you knew the mentality of most north american indians you would know what i am saying , live for today and worry about manana , manana .

There is nothing wrong with wanting to live in a place that is clean, safe and where the people are honest, dignified and VALUE THEIR TIME. If Panama does not fit the bill then by all means the best thing to do is leave because it will never change.

Originally Posted by explorer

Being in part a decendent of some of those of who you speak, I find it more and more disturbing that you find nothing wrong with your point of view.

Sad, really. You seem to have no idea how much bigotry your words belie.

sorry if you can not handle the truth ,

Originally Posted by explorer

How could anybody take that as a slur? Amazing...

Perhaps you are right. How dare those Indians not aspire to being like true westerners. It is about time they took the bull by the horns and begin raping the planet, enslaving minds with the Bible, and enforcing their agendas upon those unable to defend themselves at the point of a gun. Once diabetes, overweight, tooth decay and heart disease run rampany among their ranks, they will have obtained civilized status.

Actually I want to avoid Diabetes, over weight, tooth decay and that is why I wanted just a pizza or just lasagna or a combo with juice.

I think a good start would be soap in every bathroom and not using everywhere but garbage cans as garbage cans.

I went in to a Pizza Happy in Santiago when I was living there ordered and paid for a pizza. While I was waiting went to use the bathroom, no soap, check the womens and no soap. I then ask the lady about getting hand soap from the kitchen. As surely the kitchen staff use soap. She comes back with powdered dish soap. I got my money back and left. Foolishly, I went to try the other Pizza Happy in Santiago and there was soap in the bathrooms but the pizza still tasted like shit. Not literally shit but bad.

[QUOTE=adamruns;64360]Actually I want to avoid Diabetes, over weight, tooth decay and that is why I wanted just a pizza or just lasagna or a combo with juice.

Diabetes is bad already in panama , and with the amount of pop they drink it and being over weight is only to get worse , but they will die of brain cancer from the cell phones long before that happens . I have watch people stocking shelves in super 99 with a cell phone in there hand , like they are waiting for the lottery office to phone and tell them they are millionares .

Originally Posted by explorer

Actually, it is about time I ended my participation here.

Too many bigots and political extremists for my taste. Likely only a matter of time before this site is under scrutiny by some governmental organization; I don't want to be mistaken for one of the nut jobs.

Bye.

sorry to hear that explorer : (

only a matter of time before this site is under scrutiny by some governmental organization

Does anyone actually think that they aren't under scrutiny by some governmental organization? Just one example - all the facial recognition systems being installed.

On the other hand, telling happy people that they should better themselves by being more like you isn't a winning strategy.

Originally Posted by jonr

Does anyone actually think that they aren't under scrutiny by some governmental organization? Just one example - all the facial recognition systems being installed.

On the other hand, telling happy people that they should better themselves by being more like you isn't a winning strategy.

Where would Panama be without any foreign investors? You really think a campesino could afford to drive a Hillux without some foreigner buying their inherited family land for 10,000% profit? You think these municipal workers could afford to drive Prado's on their paltry salary? They moonlight gouging the foreign investor who bought the campesino land with hopes of doing a project. Look around you. For such a poor country there sure are a lot of well dressed people driving expensive cars.