Baby Verena Comes for a Visit

Since her Daddy had a conference in D.C.,

Verena talked her Mom into coming too...

so she could see her Papa and Nana. She's a smart little girl---just turned ONE!

Uncle Sam thinks she is pretty sweet!! He's right!!

Papa's lap is just perfect for reading stories!!

Checking out Nana's dental work!!


Sadie thinks mashed peas are very tasty!!

They are cute buddies.

Papa's new bird feeder is quite popular lately.
Note the cardinal on the branch.
Hmmm....Super Bowl is this weekend.
Could this be a sign from God???

PROUD PEACE CORPS PARENTS IN PANAMA

Sam, Jim and I spent a wonderful ten days

with Abby in her new country.

Below are the highlights...

A later post will include more details for anyone

interested in knowing more about Panama

or some recommendations for a vacation there.

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Abby's village is in the Chiriqui province

of western Panama---

The main road running through the town...

The cantina next door to her house...
The bus stop where she catches rides to David or Boquete...
Note the men with motorcycles on the side of the road...
The school up the road where she volunteers

and teaches an English class for adults and children.
Motorcyles or horses & cattle---
a typical site in front of her house...

Abby's house rented from a couple who live in another town...

The wild and crazy Lula---her puppy...

The hammock on the front porch gets lots of use... Sam gives it a try...

Lula spends a lot of time tied up...and barking...

Thank goodness the "Dog Whisperer" has arrived...

Lula loves her Abby.... sweet companions.

The living room......

Abby prepares plantains for us in her kitchen...

No oven---only a 2 burner hot plate & a small refrigerator...

She lives more comfortably than most Peace Corps Volunteers...

Her bathroom & shower are attached to the back of the house....

Cold showers only, though...

The back of her house where she does her laundry by hand....

Her backyard is filled with orange trees for fresh juice...

Give Mom a needle & thread & a couple of days and she will...

make cushions for the couch---much more comfy

as we watched DVDs on the computer!!

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Abby has been blessed with many wonderful friends... Abby's first host family during training...

a little cousin with Hennesy, Erica and Edna. Danila & Reuban, her host parents when
she first moved to her village.

Her gringo friends, the Jorgenson....

who have shown Abby much hospitality...

and let her parents stay in their cabin!!!

Idis and Danny, her landlords...

Candida & her family live across the street.

Alvaro Jr, Carmen and Alvaro

dairy farmers and friends.

We were hosted to a lovely lunch at the

home of Edmundo and Maria Elena---

delightful and gracious people.

A famous sight in Panama City...

one of the Diablo Rojos.

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Other Peace Corps Volunteers

Christy from Georgia who works with turtles....

Bhoj, who we met in Miami and helped us

find Abby and our hotel in Panama City!!

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Other sights we saw on our trip...

The Panama Canal

Hiking in the canal zone tropical forest

I love this sign!!

In English, too!!

Casco Viejo....the old part of Panama City

Historic buildings...

I'm buying molas from a Kuna woman.

A ride to a deserted island...

Snorkeling and sunning!!

Then back home to Sea Gull Cove...

a highlight of our trip!!

Flavio's cooking was even better...

than the view....

We plan on returning next year!!

Shopping in David was quite an experience....

Store mannequins are a bit different than in the states!!

Many vendors on the sidewalk...

We rented a little cabana on the beach...

Where after some body surfing...

...we participated in a turtle release.

There they go...

Birding and hiking near a volcano...

where the mountains & weather were more...

like Colorado than the tropics.

Volcan Baru, the volcano...

near Cerra Punta was a wonderful place.

Not far away is Boquete.

See the bags of coffee beans...

Here's where they grow.

We think we caught him napping---

but he claims he was just looking at the birds!!

Yeah, sure.

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Did I Mention the Food???

Abby made fried plantains for us...

They were delicious!!!

At the park near Cerra Punta we had...

a typical Panamanian dish...

Rice, beans, meat!! Very Good.

Abby's friend Danila runs a little

restaurant in her village, where...

she served us her famous soup...

a Sunday special...just before we left town.

Then we said "Good-bye" to Panama

and our dear Abby...

Sam and I enjoy the surf on Miami Beach

during our 8 hour layover.

A quick ride out to see the Everglades before our flight home.
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What a change we found when we landed at Dulles around midnight...

ice and snow and throngs of Inaugural visitors.

For those who are more interested in a Panama vacation,

tomorrow's post will be more in-depth...Stay tuned...