Let me give you a brief description of who I am. I’m happily married with the same woman for 33 years. No kids.
In love with computers, photography, the Internet, blogging, movies, strolling aimlessly at the beach, listening to soft music and reading History books.
Retired at age 63 and looking forward to enjoy life to the fullest with a different perspective.
Deeply interested in environmental issues and doing everything I can to contribute to the Green Cause.
I like you, I’m putting you on my blogroll- hope that’s okay
Hi Leakyfaucet:
Thank you. Yes, you can put me on your blogroll. That’s O.K. with me.
Have a great day!
Omar.-
Hi Omar,
I’d like to put you on my blogroll also. I enjoy your posts.
Leslie
Hi Leslie:
Thank you for your kind words. Feel free to add me to your blogroll.
Good Day!
Omar.-
I really like your new blog, Omar.
Hi Abe:
Thanks a lot Abe. I love your blogs too. They’re my everyday chicken soup.
Regards,
Omar.-
We have at least two common pursuits: poetry and green. Dan.
Hi danmihalache:
Yep, and both are high-quality pursuits in a world full of hatred and greed.
Regards,
Omar.-
Omar, Dan referred me to your blog. I enjoy it a lot. I am going to add you as well to “Word Press Blogs I Like” on my site, without objection.
Until later.
Hi gryphonscry:
Thank you for your very kind words. I appreciate your comments. I’m glad to have you as one of my readers. I’ll do my best to bring you rich content every day.
Best Regards,
Omar.-
Tried to subscribe to this post but after I posted the comment, so I had to do it again with a comment.
entschuldigung, bitte
Wow, I really like your material and writing. Your blog is a bit like Don Ray’s Chiriqui Chatter plus . I have added a link from Boquete Guide under Panama Blogs, please reciprocate if you wish.
Hi Lee:
Thanks a lot for your kind appraisal of Lingua Franca. I read Chiriqui Chatter every day for inspiration. Don Ray is doing a superb job in his community.
Thanks to him and another blogger, Abraham Lincoln, I got addicted to photography.
Yes, we can go ahead and reciprocate our blog sites.
Have a great day,
Omar.-
WOW – Love your blog. I subscribed and placed it on my blogroll.
Hi Ransomed:
Thank you for your comment. I’m glad you liked Lingua Franca and blogrolled it. Welcome back anytime.
Regards,
Omar.-
I’ve just spent some time scrolling back through you’re site archives, a very interesting, informative, and entertaining experience. I too live in Panama City where i keep part of an diverse collection of native and exotic edible and medicinal plants and trees, mostly fruit trees, hidden in numerous semi-urban nurseries in Casco Viejo. If you still have room for more trees in your yard let me know the next time you’re in the area. I have photos of a lot of my plants on my weblog site.
Hello Anthromes:
Thank you for your kid offer of fruit trees. I will talk to my wife and let you know what she says. In my house, she’s the boss.
Best Regards,
Omar.-
Your blog is more than pictures when you add the historical background or something beyond a simple album. I greatly appreciate the extra work you do to give us this additional information. I have forward your various entries via Ye Olde Cut ‘n Paste method of sending the URL far & wide & know that your statistics reflect a jump. Great work!
Hello Marie:
You are so sweet. Thank you for your kind words. It is with great pleasure that I shoot these images and attach to them a message. It’s my way of sharing the country where I was born with the world. If we understand ourselves better, there would be fewer wars.
I appreciate what you are doing to spread the word around.
Best Regards,
Omar.-
Hello, Mr. Omar Upegui,. I am please to know you,.and also love you writing, specialy about the enviroment, nature and much more. I am also from changuinola but live in USA for 40 years., I also have a good memories from my childhood in changuinola., .
Hi Nereida:
What a pleasant surprise to find a reader from Changuinola, of all places. I lived in Farm #8 and Baseline for many years. Maybe we have met. My father owned a commissary (Tienda Manila) in Baseline right in front of the train station.
Welcome to Lingua Franca. Please come back at any time and give us your experiences in Changuinola.
Best Regards,
Omar.-
Just curious: what’s your name? People use different names to address you.
I found your post on the Balboa Highschool. We’re actually 3 blocks away in Calle Las Cruces (2311a).
It’s a beautiful area and former zonians love to stay here.
Thorwald
Hi Thorwald:
My name is Omar Upegui R. and I live in Panama City at Tumba Muerto. That is the name I use at Lingua Franca.
The area where you live is a paradise on Earth with a long historic background. I wish I could live nearby.
Thank you for dropping bye. Please come back anytime.
Regards,
Omar.-
hi i am impressed with the maturity of your thinking level, which has nothing to do with age
your relaxed attitude is quite motivating
we will love to hear from you till….we r here
Hi:
Thank you for your appreciation of our work. I’ll try to keep improving as much as I can.
Regards,
Omar.-
I am new to this blog and I must say that I love this blog. I love everything about it; the stories, the humor and the great life quotes. Very nice blog.
Hello Eric:
I’m flattered with your kind words. Thank you very much. I’ll try to maintain a high-quality content for readers like yourself.
Regards,
Omar.-
Hello Omar,
I really like your self description. I am sure you are a very nice person.
Omar, as you are an internet savvy person and also like photography, can i invite you to join our social network site http://www.ecpod.com ?
ECPod.com is a social network site to connect China and the world, to make friends and share your world through photos, videos, blogs and more.
I hope you can take a look at our site and join us our community too. Our chinese community would love to meet more foreigners and get to know about yourself, your country and your culture. Similarly we hope you get to do the same too.
Thanks.
Hello Susan:
I would love to join your social network ecpod. I think these types of social networks do a great deal in making our world more friendly.
It would be my pleasure to make Panama known to the Chinese community. Thank you for inviting me and for your kind words.
Omar.-
Thank you Omar for joining. I didnt know you are from Panama… I am personally keen to find out more. I read a lot about it on internet but i have never spoken to anyone that is actually from your country. I am planning for a short trip later this year. Anything interesting i can do at Panama? Is Portobelo worth visiting?
Thanks in advance
Hello Susan:
I’m glad you’re planning to come on down to Panama. We have a wide variety of destinations for foreigners, like the Ruins of Panama Viejo, Casco Viejo, the Panama Canal, our tropical jungles, the beaches of Bocas del Toro, the highlands of Chiriquí, the Ruins of Portobelo, and so forth.
If you read some of my posts at Lingua Franca, you will find photograph of some of these touristic places.
Welcome to Panama!
Regards,
Omar.-
Hello Omar,
How have you been? I have continued to enjoy your writing and your beautiful photography. I would like to invite you to view my galleries and hear your opinion.
Nereida from Changuinola
Hi Nereida:
Well what do you know, from Changuinola, This place is very near my heart. This is where I grew up and built my character.
Thank you for your encouraging words. Please let me know your URL so I can visit your site. I’ll be more than happy to express my opinion of your place.
Edition: I just came back for your cyber place called Fine Art America. The pictures are outstanding. I understand you are a professional artist and have photographs in stock for sale.
I tip my hat for the quality of your pictures. As you know, I’m still learning the ropes.
God Bless,
Omar.-
Hi Omar,
Changuinola is also in my heart. It is a small place with friendly people and a very pleasant place to be. As a child my life was wonderful there. I want to thank you for your comment on my art. I also enjoy your work. It is superb. Thank you again.
P.S. You can also find more of my art on these sites
http://www.americanframe.com
http://www.artistrising.com
Nereida from Changuinola
Hello Nereida:
Will take a look at your websites. I’m sure there will be will something to make my eyes happy. Thank you for sharing your work with us.
Best Regards,
Omar.-
Can you contact me?
Hi Omar,
thank you for sharing your time/toughts on this site.
I lived in Changuinola for a short time 1yr ago. Since then, I’m still wishing to go back for a longer stay-perhaps even a permanent stay if I could find a way to generate good income there. I’ve always wanted to open an English after school there for the local people. Would you recomend it at all? Do you have any contacts you could share to assist in getting that dream in motion?
Hi Sara:
I think you have a good feasible project of opening an English school in Changuinola. The Panama Government is interested in promoting English as the country’s second language.
My recommendation is to contact the Panama Ministry of Education for further information. The Minister, Lucy Molinar, is fluent in English. I’m sure you will be assisted in crystallizing your educational dream in Changuinola.
Best of luck,
Omar.-
Great blog. I particularly like your entries on the inconsistencies of the English language. Greetings from a cold England.
Hi Cafecortado:
Thank you. Why don’t you come on down to Panama where Spring is all year round?
Greetings from Panama,
Omar.-
” Why don’t you come on down to Panama where Spring is all year round?”
Sounds very attractive. Maybe one day I have work again…
Where is the location of the landscape you are using for your header on this website…. that photo is beautiful. I have started painting again and ran across your site and must know if there is a photo I could download?
Hi Jacquelyn:
The main picture my blog is from a WordPress theme called Misty Look created by Sadish Bala. Mr. Bala is the chief editor/ admin of a Web site involved in creating WordPress themes. He is an Indian guy currently living in the USA and has created many popular WordPress themes.
If you wish to contact him, you can click the URL at the end of this comment. I’m sure he will help you in obtaining the photos you need.
http://wpthemes.info/
Regards,
Omar.-
MR. OMAR:
WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE PHOTOS THAT YOU SEND AS. WE WERE VISITING YOUR WEBPAGE, WE THINK THAT YOUR JOB IS AMAZING. BESIDES WE HOPE YOU WILL BE SOON IN SOGAMOSO CITY.
BUT…. IN VIENA…VIENA DENTRO DE BOYACA…JE JE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
GOD BLESS YOU!!
Hello José & Lilia:
I’m glad you enjoyed Lingua Franca. Who know? Maybe one of these days I’ll be in Vienna, but not in Europe, but in Colombia.
Thanks a bunch for your nice comments.
Omar.-
Addendum on Global Kindle:
Plus I can download almost ANY book in ANY quantity and not lack for reading material. It also works in the remote area in the Chiriqui provice…
This page works but ADD A COMMENT does nolonger work on your blog posts.
Hi Bill:
Thanks for the red flag. Will contact WordPress to find out what is going on.
Regards,
Omar.-
Hello Omar:
I am charmed with your web site, and it me fills with pride that someone in Panama does investigation work and comments about our country like that, so the rest of the world learn details that are not regularly shown.
And the truth is, I can enter whenever I please and practice my English.
Regards to my aunt.
Hello Argilio:
Thank you for your encouraging comments. Comments like these trigger my interest in writing about Panama. Aurita sends her regards as well.
Take Care,
Omar.-
Omar,
I am news editor of ‘Buses Worldwide’. I am running a story on the Volvo order for 1,000 buses in your city. I see that you have some good pictures of the ‘diablos rojos’ on your blog.
Would you grant permission, please, to reproduce one of them in our magazine?
Regards
Norman
Hi Norman:
You have my authorization to use the Diablo Rojos pictures in your magazine. The only request is that you credit me and Lingua Franca in your publication. Other than that, it’s a green light.
Thank you for considering my pictures in your magazine.
Regards,
Omar.-
Certainly will! And thanks.
Hope your aspirations for the new public transport (aka transit) systems are fulfilled.
Norman
Hi Omar, I rode hundreds of times on the Roosevelt, Amador and Porras as I lived in Nuevo Arraijan from 1947-1952 and commuted to Balboa Jr. High and Balboa High School by Chiva bus transportation. Bless you for bringing such fun memories to me! I heard those bells and whistles and waited at the ferry crossing. I miss beautiful Panama and cried when the ferries were removed. Thanks a million, Cindy Totty, San Diego, CA
Hi Cindy:
I’m so glad I was able to activate your memories of your stay in our country during the Forites and Fifties. I wasn’t fortunate to board these ferries. It’s too bad there are almost no pictures of them.
Thanks a bunch for your encouraging comments.
Omar.-
Morning Omar,
In knowing your interest in photography I am sharing a link sent to me:
http://www.vintageflying.com/
It has the most amazing photos of a wide variety of places in the USA. Of the thousands of photos taken, these were the best ones, just goes to prove that the trick to getting the best shot is to shoot everything and select the best later. haha
jim and nena
fort worth, tx
Hi Jim & Nena:
Today is a national holiday in Panama. It’s Independence Day and everybody is out to see the parades. The city is vibrant and full of red, white and blue.
Those photographs were magnificient. All 5,599 pictures of planes, buildings, trains, statues, vegetation, people, children and what have you.
America is a beautiful country, exactly how the song goes; “America the Beautiful”.
Thanks Jim. You made my day. I have a long way to go as far as photography is concerned.
Enjoy your weekend and thanks again for this pictoric present.
Omar.-
heelloooo omar, your site is cool. inspiring yaaa know?
Hello,
I was wondering if you accept guest post for your blog. If you do, I would like to submit a few. You can see a sample of my work at LaptopComputers.org under the author James Mowery. I’ve also written for several high-profile blogs like Mashable, Performancing, and CMSWire. Thank you for your time.
- James
Hi James:
I just visited your blog and liked what I saw. The layout is very professional with excellent photographs. I see that you and other bloggers cover news on mobile phones, laptop computers and tablets. I love technology as you probably know. Go ahead and send me your suggested posts and I will evaluate them before adding them to Lingua Franca if you don’t mind.
I appreciate your interest in writing for Lingua Franca.
Best Regards,
Omar.-
Omar
awhile back when i’d posted about the diablos los rojos and maybe coming back down to panama and setting up interviews with a cross selection of the drivers but didn’t speak spanish you said you’d be interested in translating.
are you still interested in doing that, maybe this december?
contact me via email jene42 at yahoo.com as i am putting my year end plans.
jene
Hi Jene:
No problem. I can help you out with the Spanish language for your picture project. I’ll get back to you at your e-mail.
Regards,
Omar.-
i live in puerto rico. my wife is from panama. how can i search for panama newapapers during the late 50′s?
advised,
felipe
Hi Felipe:
I would suggest you contact La Prensa, which is the largest newspaper in Panama with a widespread circulation in the country. Their URL is http://www.prensa.com/.
You would have to make your request in Spanish.
Best of lucks,
Omar.-
You are certainly a very interesting person. I will try to read or look up your sight often. Keep up the good work. It’s great.
Hello Omar. I was recently in Panama (Dec 2010) and was unable due to time to take pictures at the French Canal Workers cemetery. I would like your permission to use one of your photos in a photo book I am making commemorating a partial transit my wife and I did through the canal from the south end. If you write to me at rezayas@gmail.com, I will give you more details. Thank you very much.
raul
Hi Raul:
Too bad you could not make it to the French Cemetery. That place is full with history. You can go ahead and publish my photographs as long as you give me credit for them linking them to Lingua Franca. Other than that, please go ahead with your photo book. Good Luck.
Regards,
Omar.-
Liked Panama when I was there courtesy of Uncle Sam. Was on the north end, Colon I believe was the name of the city. Gatun locks were cool. Something about a ship in the middle of the jungle….
Also spent some time in a small village called La Mesa. Women there can really cook.
Like ships that pass in the night and sound their presence to each other…..I pass by and drop a friendly hello
Please send us your phone number. Got the info from Chiriqui Chatter. We will be selling our home and will have to travel from David (via flight) to Panama City, Then Tampa, FL. I just want to put you in our records. Will need your services. Charlotte
Hi Charlotte:
My phone numbers are: 395-3686 and 6556-1091. Looking forward for your call for transportation services.
Regards,
Omar.-
Hello,
I’m researching photos of University of Panama – their Law and Political Science building. – I thought I saw that you had one when searching Google Images. The photo would be published in the college textbook, Claro que si by Caycedo, by publisher Cengage Learning.
Plese let me know if you do have a high resolution digital image (jpeg) of the Law and Political Science building at the University of Panama, and if you would grant permission for it to be published in the Spanish language textbook. We could pay a small reproduction fee, or send a complimentary copy of the textbook, if you wish.
Thank you very much,
Susan Barlow
Picture Researcher
o.b.o.
Cengage Learning
Hello Susan:
I have no objection in you using my photographs of the Law and Political Science building of the University of Panama. There will be no charge, since I was a college professor myself. If you could send me a complimentary copy of the text it would be most appreciated.
Please click the link below to find a blog post with four photograph of aforementioned building. You can select the pictures that are most suitable for your project and download them directly to your site. All pictures are in jpeg format.
http://epiac1216.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/the-rule-of-law/
Best of luck with your publishing project.
Omar.-
I checked thru many of Your posts and found them really interesting with beautiful photos.
¡ A mi me gusta tu blog muchissímo !
hello epiac! it’s mando here! i ran across your lovely page which i bookmarked. glad to see you still posting away. anyway, i have the cnn cast, and lots of other news casts at my new site: http://www.radiomando.com please come visit us there. you will find some of the old regulars like lia, and so forth. hope you are well. peace.
Hello Radio Mando:
Hey Mando, what a pleasant surprise to find you here. I’ve been following your place, but not commenting much. I’ve seen you’ve made a lot of changes to Radio Mando for the better. Promise to return and say hello to the gang. The nice thing about your site, is that you can find several Internet TV spots in one single screen. As you know, more and more people are switching to Internet TV and cutting their TV cable connections.
Best Regards,
Omar.-
Hello Sir… My name is Tom Hempel and I am a watercolor artist living in Davenport, Iowa. I would like to use your image of the thatched-roofed home from your blog in 2009 as a basis for a painting. It won’t be an exact copy; I plan to make a few changes. In exchange for your permission, I will send you a print of my painting. Can you please tell me what country this home is from, and how you would like me to give you credit on the painting? I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Tom Hempel
Hello Tom:
I don’t recall exactly the photograph you are referring to. I think it could be a home located somewhere in the United Kingdom. The picture was captured from Pixdaus.com; therefore I did not take the picture. If you would like to use the picture, I have no objections and you don’t have to give me credit for it.
Good luck with your painting project.
Hi Tom: I think I found the photograph of the thatched roof cottage. It was indeed obtained from Pixdaus.com and the person who took the picture calls himself Zafar1. He’s the person who deserves credit for the image.
Regards,
Omar.-
Omar, thank you very much for your quick reply. I appreciate that you took the time to look that information up for me!
Take care,
Tom
Hi Tom:
You’re welcome.
Enjoy the rest of the day,
Omar.-
Hello,
I was wondering if you accept guest post for your blog. If you do, I would like to submit a few. I’m a recent college graduate, with an English major, looking to build out my portfolio. I can write on a wide variety of topics and am sure you would be happy with the quality. Please email me back if you are interested. Thank you for your time.
- Kathleen Hubert
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002374243662
Hi Kathleen:
Thank you for showing interest in writing for Lingua Franca. At this moment I’m not accepting guest posts for my blog, however it could be an option in the future. If that should be the case, I would contact you at your e-mail address.
Best of luck in your English career,
Omar.-
Your blog is quite interesting. I’ve added a link to your blog on mine. Check it out when you get some time.
Hi Nickel:
I’m glad it captured your attention. Thanks a lot. And sure will take a look at your blog.
Take Care,
Omar.-
I like you. I very berry like your posts. I shall follow you.
Keep it up!
uponatlas.
Hi, I enjoy your blog. Is there some thing I can do to obtain updates like a subscription or some thing? I am sorry I am not acquainted with RSS?
Hello Humberto:
I appreciate that you enjoyed Lingua Franca. Yes, you can subscribe to the blog by clicking the Feed button at the upper right hand side of the blog. Every time I write a new post, you will be notified through your e-mail address. It’s very easy in WordPress.
hey there, just a quicky, is the theme that your using a custom one? The reason I ask I’ve been looking for one very similar but im struggling, perhaps you could please inform me from where you got it? thanks!, Christina
Hello Christina:
This is a WordPress theme called Misty. You can find it there free of charge. I only changed the photograph at the beginning of the theme. All the rest is exactly as it comes. WordPress is the best blogging platform available today.
Good Luck,
Omar.-
Hi,
My sister and I have been researching our family surname “Plise” for about 30 years. Recently I came across an article that mentioned my ancester as owner of the island “Pedro Gonzalez”. My great, grt, grt grandfather “Victor Plise” purchased the island and 4 others in 1841 and they were still in the family in 1934. My problem is that I have emailed in the past and recently “The Archives of Panama” and “panainfo” with no response.
My reason for contacting you is that I have seen some of your postings and that you live in Panama. I was hoping that you might have information on someone I could contact by email at the “Archives of Panama” to find information on my family.
Thank you.
Sincerely
Cathy
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this superb blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
Hi Omar:
I am an Indian from Trinidad to Brazil via Panama City; will be in Panama just for 19 hours on March 3rd to 4th; want to visit the Panama Hindu temples/mandirs. Who can I contact? I want to post at our GLOBAL HINDUS facebook page and in the local newspapers here about Hindus in Panama and Brazil. On my way back to Trinidad I will be intransit in Panama for 5 hours on march 10th. My mail is deobisnath@yahoo.com
This is our facebook pages:
http://www.facebook.com/jahaji.trinidad
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Organization-of-Hindus/365979650782
Hello Mr. Bisnath:
I suggest you hire a taxi from the hotel you will be staying in Panama City. They should be able to help you obtain transportation to the Hindu Temple. This structure is not far away from downtown Panama.
Best Regards,
Omar.-
I think I got acquainted with you when you were unemployed and looking for a job. You were worried about how good your English was. You need not have worried. Your writing is nearly always flawless and while I cannot hear you speak, I can imagine the accent.
Hi Abe:
I’m trying to tame the beast, but it’s a tough cookie. In order to keep the blog interesting, the language has to be good. That’s why I try so hard to polish the language. Thank you for your evaluation. My accent is terrible, since I don’t speak English for years. The tongue loses the pronunciation and enunciation over the years.
When I worked for Texaco I spoke English daily with my peers in New York, and my accent was pretty good; almost as good as a native American. However, that is no longer true.
Hope you are feeling better. I follow your blog; excellent as the very first day I discovered it. Sendai is always in my memory.
Best Regards,
Omar.-