Toxic Chinese Goods......

Toxic Chinese goods have been in Panama's news a lot in the last year or so. A toxin-laced cough syrup traced back to China lead to the painful deaths (by slow organ shutdown) of dozens of people here about 6 months ago. No surprise then that it should be Panama that detects the latest problem of Toxic Toothpaste, or that it should only become an international news item when the US gets wind of it several weeks later. It was some clever investigative journalism by the New York Times which followed the trail back to the original supplier in China.
This does however highlight the porous nature of Panama's free trade zone which is supposed to police the throughput of all goods, especially foodstuffs and medicines which supposedly require much more documentation regarding the age of goods, ingredients, and origins.

Leon's birthday

Judging from these pictures (and the fact that I am on the other side of the world) one might be forgiven for thinking that I was a little remiss in my Godfatherly duties.....but oh no, thanks to Leon's clever Mum & Dad, his Godfather was able to get him the pair of Walkie-Talkies that he had been eyeing up for a while, and I for my part sent him the photo message (thanks to Maruja & Gaby for their help on that one)

I can remember being the ripe old age of 11 before I got my first set of walkie-talkies. In retrospect I think my cap gun fixation went on far too long.

But guys, did you really have to make that beautiful boy make quite such a awful face?

Costa Rica...or "The Crackhead got the Nachos"

The tranquility of low rise San Jose, the ominous, rumbling presence of Volcan Arenal, the other worldliness of the outdoor thermal springs, the cool splendour of the Monte Verde cloud forest, the Pacific coast beaches of Manuel Antonio.....Costa Rica was and is AMAZING

It´s Panama for business, but it´s Costa Rica for pleasure

I met lots of nice people - Costa Ricans and Americans alike - and enjoyed myself no end

Never has the phrase, "bad decisions, good times" been so apt.
Pictures of "Edwardo quarente manos" will follow shortly

Check the flickr page for some pictures of my trip