If you care to take the trouble, and want to read the account of my
involvement in Panamá, (recommended) please go to “Seppel´s
Panama Story” and you will get some idea of my life long property development
experience, some personal background, and my wife´s and my time in
Panamá.
Very fond memories remain of those years. After some three and a half
years in Panama we had completed our development there, including the construction
of our most beautiful house atop a hill of our private island in the archipelago
of Bocas del Toro. We had thoroughly become accustomed to the privileged
and relaxed island lifestyle when the news of my wife´s mother´s
grave illness forced us to return to Australia. Sadly she has since passed
away!
Brazil
Late that year (2006) I had to return to Panama briefly to finalise
some negotiations and then went on to Brazil to visit a friend. He and
I travelled from south to north, with me always on the lookout for new
development opportunities. I particularly enjoyed the State of Bahia and
the coastline around Salvador.
Returning to Australia, I related my experiences to my wife Jacqueline
with some enthusiasm. For some time we had wanted to do some voluntary
community work. Initially we looked towards Africa, Jacqueline´s
“home”, but then we discovered a program in a Mother Theresa Orphanage,
in “Salvador da Bahia”, Brazil, where I had just been.
Quite a discovery! We signed up for 3 months of voluntary work, and
after some travel around Brazil started work at the Orphanage in March2007.
It was quite an “eye opener” and a privilege for us, to serve the community
at one of their most basic needs! Through some quite incredible circumstances
we discovered “Casa Sejala”. After prolonged and very deliberate discussions,
we decided to purchase the property, with a view to return to Salvador
in January 2008, make “Casa Sejala” our long term home.
Salvador- São Tomé de Paripe
As planned, we arrived in January 08 and started right away on the very
extensive and elaborate renovations and restorations of this historic property.
I had done most of the preliminary documentary work and preparation in
Australia in my usual fastidious “European” style. We hired a competent
contractor from the city, with some 15 tradesmen, and all hell broke loose!
Five months, seven days a week, 15 guys!
Each detail I had drawn up had to be explained ten times over, as they
had no understanding of my attention to the smallest thing. Of course,
my limited Portuguese was not helpful. This was to be our very last home
and development, so everything was done with a long term view.
Seppel? The name is derived from my first name, Josef.
