Greetings from Santiago Panama

Sorry it has been awhile but I haven´t had access to a computer recently. I got to David city and found out that my bicycle seat frame was broken. Also my shoulder was (and still is) bothering me. For the shoulder I decided awhile ago that if it was still bothering me when I got to Panama City I would have it checked there. However I talked to the owner of the hostel I was staying at and she said that one of the best orthopedic clinics in the country was only a few blocks away and a doctor´s visit was only $20 so what the hell. I made an app´t. In the mean time I arranged to have my bicycle seat frame repaired. Of course in order to repair the seat they had to ruin the fabric to do it. So I got the frame repaired and took it to a place to have it reupholstered. The guy said it would be done on tuesday of the following week and this was on thursday. The same day I had my appointment with th e oprthopedist. So I said fine and went to see the orthopedist. He recommended physical therapy treatments for a week and then see what happens. Well I figured I was there until tuesday anyway so why not. What are a few more days....right? Well it ended up being a 10 day stay at the hostel during which time I did no riding. But I drank lots of guinness stout. The result of the therapy is that when I started therapy I experienced pain only in certain circumstances after a week I experience it most of the time. Boy aren´t I glad I went to therapy for a week. To be fair however I have to admit there is some improvement there is no longer any pain when I pump up my bicycle tires. And though there is pain more or less constantly it is less severe than before. Thank god for painkillers. After the Purple House hostel in David City I went to a place named the Waterfall hostel which is about 12 kilometers outside of David city. Beautiful place and yes it does have a waterfall on the premises 4 as a matter of fact. It is run by a couple of young American expats. Fabulous place out in the country quiet, peaceful I stayed there for 3 days. Then I left and continued heading south and boy am I suffering. 2 Weeks without riding my bike is killing me. Basically I lost any conditioning I had and it is like starting all over again. Panama is a very beautiful country with lots of hills. Not good for someone who is out of shape. SIGH!!! So I am in Santiago for a day or two and then on to Panama city. A couple of nights ago I stayed in a little town named San Felix and above the door to my room was a little notice that said there was no risk of Malaria or Dengue I only stay in the best places. Well that is all for now.
hasta la vista baby
Charlie