In planning our move we have a few questions about general utilities in the area. I really appreciate your feedback.
1. Call us old fashioned, but we have quite a collection of DVD movies we love. I’ve noticed that many of you mention T.V. shows and good movies are easily available through Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. For many people they simply download these shows and movies to their laptop computer. We have to admit, we’re not there yet. We still love watching moving on a big flat screen. We noticed that quite a few rentals seem to be furnished with flat screen T.V. My question is, do you have what we have in the states, and that’s either cable or satellite T.V.? In other words are there good providers that offer American programming and movies through one’s T.V.?
2. Also, are we silly to pack some of our favorite DVD’s. I suppose we can buy a DVD player down in David?
3. Can you share how electric power is in your area and what areas you feel have the most reliable electricity?
4. Also, what do you feel is the best internet provider? What areas do they serve and what do you typically pay?
5. Just curious: is there anywhere in downtown Boquete that has free wifi? Or, is that only available in our homes if we have wifi there?
6. Lastly how’s the water pressure there? Are there areas that have better water pressure? I’ve heard that shower water there is warm, but not hot. Is that true?
Replies
Now there is something to investigate with a couple of cold Panama Light's!
Hi Deborah, I'm certainly not an experienced local but let me give you my 2 cents on what we observed on TV while we were there. If memory serves me right we found a couple of the major cable news networks that were broadcast in English. Like normal when I start watching in a location that I'm not familiar with I hit the guide button on the remote and start scrolling through chanels looking for something interesting. Everything you will find from this method has a Spanish title and appears to be a Spanish speaking program, not so quick. If you just start going through the stations and watching for a few seconds quite a few English speaking programs can be found, mostly old movies, 10 to 20 years I would say but once in awhile you run across one that interests you and is fun to reminisce.
I personally watched a lot of sports, you don't need to understand all the announcers have to say. I will also watch Spanish speaking programs that you can follow along with to help further my grasp of the native language.
Download to your computer leonflix https://leonflix.net/ plug your hdmi cable from computer to tv and watch any movie or tv show for free!
Thank you James.That's one of the simplest and best answers I've gotten. Thank you!
PS If you want to watch live tv go to http://watch.ustvnow.com/guide set-up account, plug hdmi from computer to tv and watch for free, you get 7 channels for free always, ABC,NBC, etc.
That's great James. Great tip!
Your welcome, enjoy!
Really, seriously consider renting here for at least 6 months before selling in the US & moving. The expat life is not for everyone, and you really need to try it first. I do love it here, the people, both expat and Panamanian are friendly. Lots of volunteer opportunities, in anything you would like to do. You can stay busy,...or not! Scenery gorgeous. Where I live is much dryer than across the valley. Gardening is easy! But, this is not the US. You do need to learn Spanish. This has been a bad week for me. Happens, occasionally. No internet for three days. My internet at best is1.5mb. Only one provider for this area. Unable to get fast Cable Onda. Then none between 6:30-10pm. No water for 4 days. Broken pipe, MEDA didn’t want to fix, because they said it wasn’t their problem. Electric has been really good, lately, the outages are for less than 20-30 minutes each time. They are improving! Frustrated trying to get my car tags changed from Panama City to Boquete. Got up at 4am twice to get a low number for the dept to check the VIN number, and collect papers. Did this last year, but they never got it done, lost the paperwork. Yes, nothing computerized, still reams of paper going from desk to desk, in various parts of David. It rains a lot during the season. That is why I chose to live where I do. You just get used to doing errands in the morning, before the rain. .....and the roads....awful for 2 years, and they are still all torn up putting in new water & sewer lines. The car repair places are doing a booming business. Hopefully in another 2 years..... So, you see a little why I say try before you give up everything. Been here 4.5 years, and planning on staying. Too many wonderful friends here.
Charlotte, can't you get Cable Onda's wireless internet using their dish? I think it gets up to 6 meg.
Call Keith Woolford about your car tags. He specializes in doing that. Saves you the frustration.