SPECIAL HOUSEGUESTS

We finally got to meet our little Amelia (3 months old)
when she came visiting with her Mom, Dad
and big sister--the cute as a button Verena.
Uncle Sam got in some cuddles with his little nieces.

And so did Papa and Nana
We like it when Mike has conferences in D.C. ...

And brings the family!!!

PEACE CORPS PARENTS REVISIT PANAMA

We had a great time visiting Abby in Panama last year.
So we decided to make a return trip.
Her time with the Peace Corps there ends in 5 more months. The countryside is lovely near her village.

Her village is between David & Boquete in Chiriqui province.

We had a chance to meet Andy, a friend of hers.

And her rude dog Lula who thinks she owns the couch.

One evening we headed for Boquete---about 45 minutes away...

A lovely meal Il Pianista was a delicious treat.

Abby's friend Marina lives on a farm that raises
sugar cane and dairy cattle.

It was a fun place to tour...

Marina and her mother are sweet friends to Abby

Abby put us to work one morning on a project at the school.

A huge map of the world...

challenged our artistic abilities.
Fortunately, we had graphs to follow.
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We had such a fun time at the Los Quetzales Eco-Lodge
last year that we returned to Cerro Punta.

An added treat was meeting Danny, another Peace Corps Volunteer

He & his wife have chosen service over "retirement."
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Speaking of other Peace Corps volunteers, we visited Jessica

who serves on a Caribbean Island in a Ngobe (NO--BAY) village.

She decided to build her own house there last year.

Her place is pretty fancy...

She has a shower--INSIDE!!

This is how it looks like outside where rainwater is caught in a barrel.

There is much poverty in this beautiful natural location.
How much I admire these young (and older) people
who give 27 months of their lives to serve others in a different culture.

Jessica lives on the same island where we spent 3 lovely days at an eco resort.

We took a 25 minute boat ride to Bocas del Torro where...

we took another 45 minute boat ride ... And then we arrived at Popa Paradise Beach Resort.It was a delight in all ways...

We kayaked to the reefs for snorkeling.

Or just hung around the pool (filled with rain water)

There was even a poolside bar.

Delicious meals by Chef Ben...

A lovely lodge---Dad pretty much reigned at the pool table.

One of the most fun afternoons was hanging out with Adam and Katie who manage Popa Paradise and like Peace Corps Volunteers.

Then the rains came. While it was good for pools & showers....

It put a slight damper on the activities...

And made the 45 minute ride back to Bocas a real experience. But we had left D.C. with 2 inches of snow 3 days earlier...

So we didn't mind too much.

And Gumey was a great boat captain.
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Since we had tried the Caribbean the first few days of the vacation... We decided to try the beaches on the Pacific

before leaving for home.

Los Veranes Lodge near Santa Clara was not as comfortable
as Popa Paradise, nor was the food as tasty.
But it had its charm and it had sun!!

Before ending our trip, we wanted to see the other side of the Canal. We headed toward Colon---50 miles from Panama City.

Here is the location for boats entering from the north (Caribbean Sea)
heading toward the Pacific (south).
And a special treat was being able to drive through the locks
when there were no ships in transit there.

Look at these walls that will fill up with water when lifting a ship.Not far from the Gatun Locks is the location for
one of the first forts built in Panama and often
raided and destroyed by Pirates and other enemies.

The moat is impressive...

So are the views...



One of our last nights in Panama City included

a visit to Casca Veijo and...

good old Jazz Festival...
and lots of food and drink.

Sam said he finally knows what is at the end of the rainbow...

Panama!!