Dancing Tastebuds

The cuisine in Panama left our bellies full and our taste buds satisfied. We found Panama to be rich in traditional and western foods. From pasta to plantain; From gungo peas and rice, to yuca, yams and breadfruit. From beer, passion fruit, tamarind and coconut water; from Dunkin Donuts to cotton candy; to fresh mango, pineapple, sandia and papaya. It was such a pleasure to not cook once for sixteen days and to have such wonderful foods grace our plates each day.

Whether we were at the all inclusive buffets or at the remote islands, where what was caught or farmed was the meal for the day, no one in the family was left hungry. Ms. Havana, the selective eater in our family, ventured out and tried many new things. That in and of itself may have contributed to Panama being one of our best holidays so far. 

Every time I took a photo I heard my friend Roger in my head say how tacky it was to photograph one's meals. But half the fun of traveling is eating. With so many new and old choices and with Havana expanding her dietary horizons, I wanted to document the culinary aspect of our journey.

Havana, the Pastafarian

Cotton Candy at Carnaval 

Small meals,  with freshly harvested food was just perfect.

Tameriand

Breadfruit

Havana happily trying new food along with  a passion fruit drink. 

Havana happily eating an old favorite; a bagel with cream cheese that we found at 'New York Bagels' in Panama City. And yes, they were like New York bagels. 

A very hungry Havana!

Enjoying an evening tropical punch drink on our last night.
Addios, Panama.

Panama City

 While we only touched down in Panama City for three nights scattered between other adventures, we were able to experience enough to feel the pulse of this historically rich Central American metropolis.Panama City has a little bit of everything and during our brief time there we got to experience enough to get a good taste of her flavor. From the festive national holiday of Carnival to centuries old cathedrals. From communities where observant Jewish resided to Chinatown; To expensive modern skyscrapers to neighborhood that looked more like tenement yards. From the working class to the wealthy; from old to new. Panama City was vibrant and exciting.

We enjoyed tasty food, met interesting Uber drivers and cooled off on rooftop pools.  We found Panama City rich in culture, warm in climate and the people all while surrounded by lush mountains, rain forest and ocean and sea. Panama was all that and more. We left happy, relaxed and grateful for the sixteen days we where able to grace the sand, soil and sea of Panama.

Carnival Time

A night time dip in the pool was so refreshing. This was at the Panama Centro closer to the heart of the city.

85 degree weather made roof top pool time most appealing. Especially with views of  beautifully restored, centuries old churches in the background. This was in the old part of the city on our last night. We were in the water every day during our time in Panama.

Old and New

               

Muchos Gracias Panama. Addios!

El Valle de Anton

After a week in the sea and then the ocean, soaking up more than our share of vitamin D, we left Rio Hato for one last adventure in Panama. At the heat of midday, we set out and headed 40 miles north, up curvy roads that ascended into the cooler mountains of El Valle.  The days were still warm but not as hot as the beach or the concrete walkways of the city. While I prefer higher digits, it was a nice respite to head to the hills. El Valle afforded perfect temperatures (70 something during the day) but at night, similar to Bay Area, a windy fog rolled in just before sunset making the air cool and crisp. 

El Valle is a peaceful, lush valley surrounded by rivers and national park. While the highlight there was to stay with some rescued sloth, we still found the town to be quite special. 

For two days we walked or cycled to find food (it was wonderful to not set foot in a car), a thermal bath or to see about horseback riding. Our hosts, Ursula and Harry, at our loding were more than accommodating with steering us in the right direction for all those things.

El Valle also had something that is on my 'must do' list on any traveling adventure; a local market. El Valle's sweet market was complete with both foods and crafts for sale. A local market speaks volumes about the area and the El Valle market told us that the town served both the local and tourist populations, which seemed smaller rather than larger, yet provided just about anything one might need.

During a solo hike at dawn, I found myself daydreaming that I could easily spend extended periods of time in the mountain town of El Valle. Green, lush, plentiful flowers and warm people, it seemed a great place for us to return one day. And when we left, we had rich memories that would stay with us for more than an extended stay.

Only Amara and I wanted to check out the thermal baths. We had to bike quite a ways and for Amara it was a bit feat. She did amazing!

When I saw our faces  with clay from the baths, I gave an impromptu lesson about black face in the USA. That moment of silliness along with seriousness was also a good lesson about life having alot of grey areas.

We went for an hour and a half horse ride along narrow country roads, up to a national park. The horses were quite relaxed the whole time, stopping to eat grass and plants all along the way. On the way back, however, my horse Ferdinand took off and we near galloped all the way home! Don, he was opted to hike along side while we rode!

Harry helped us get to and from the horses with Amara riding on the back of his two person bicycle.
Here he is on our return.

               
 

Don had to ride Havana old school style. She wouldn't walk and she is not yet that proficient in solo riding! While the weather was color than the coast, it was still quite toasty and Don got quite the workout that day!

               

TV time back in our flat! (Spanish cartoons were a hit!)

Papa sloth

Sweet Sloths

Meet Sammie  & Dahabie Gonzalez; Two very, sweet, domesticated sloths that we fell head over heels in love with during our last stop in Panama.

Sammy (a girl) and Dahabie (a boy), were orphaned when they were babies. Sadly, Panamanians have historically not liked sloth. One of their mother's was killed by humans. The other's mama electrocuted by wires as she crossed the road (this happens far too often in Panama).

Lucky for these two darlings, they were adopted by the very committed and compassionate Ursula and Harry as wee sloth. They now make their home in a small bed & breakfast in the mountains of El Valle where they charm all of the guests that come to stay there .

When I was researching Panama, I knew sloth were at the top of things I hoped to experience. Seeing sloths has been on by 'things to do' list for many years. Nothing makes my soul child happier than seeing wildlife. During my research, I discovered there was the opportunity to stay at a place with rescued sloth. So while it was a dream come true to see several sloth in the wild up in Gamboa, the idea of staying somewhere where we could get up close and personal was something that made my soul child jump up and down at.

Meet Samie and Dahabie, the two sloth that allowed for that up close and personal experience. They were the icing on the cake during our last excursion in Panama. For two days, when in our flat at Casa Mariposa (that's the name of their home), the girls would watch them sleep (they do that most of the day), waiting for them to open their soulful eyes so they could say hello. 

 I was deeply moved by these two sloth. Their precious faces that seemed to smile at us, their soft fur and tummies that liked rubs and their preference for fresh food all aided in use falling madly in love with them. Much to our delight, when we arrived, we learned these two had a baby and so there was a one year old baby girl sloth that also resided there. We were so in love that it was hard to say goodbye when it came time to leave! 

In the month since we have returned home, we think about this sweet sloth family often. It seems every few days something reminds us of them and the joy we experienced in meeting them. Traveling to new places can open the mind and heart. Sammie, Dahabie and their girl did just that for our family and they now have a permanent happy place in our hearts.

The loving parents of the the sloth family.

Dahabie and his daughter.