HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS...

...and for the next five weeks, our home is in good old Bumpass, Virginia!  First, we wrapped up our final days and nights in Panama with exercise, Happy Hours with friends we had not seen in a while since our arrival to Panama, we listened to an Argentinian band play one night, and enjoyed more delicious meals at a recently visited and fabulous restaurant as well as a new, just as fantastic one we had wanted to try for several weeks.  And on Saturday, Clyde and Terry drove us to the Riande Airport Hotel where we were staying for the night.  We had an early flight Sunday and wanted to avoid driving into the city at the crack of dawn.  After checking into our room and touring the hotel, we decided to take the free shuttle to the Metromall where we enjoyed seeing the new movie "Hunger Games" for less than six dollars.  I was thinking about seeing it with my daughter while here in Virginia, but since she was seeing it the same night with her friends, Ray and I thought we would catch it there and save at least twenty five dollars on the movie and snacks!  The mall was lavishly decorated for Christmas which quickly put me in the mood for the holidays, and for us to get back to the States to be with family and friends!  Once back at the hotel, we enjoyed complimentary drinks at the bar, and Ray, of course, won money in the casino!

Three story tall Christmas tree at the mall.

One of MANY villages set up in the mall.  

My skittles and jelly beans for the movie.

We arrived to Washington, DC on time (love COPA airlines!), and our daughter, Carly, was waiting for us just outside the doors of Customs.  What a breath of fresh air that girl is, and once we got through with the hugs, kisses and tears of happiness, we chatted all the way to our Lake House roommates home where we were picking up our car.  We plan on driving our Mini Cooper for about a month, and then we will sell it.  It will make a great Christmas present for someone this year!  Since Carly knew I really wanted a basket of chips and loads of salsa (haven't found a great Mexican restaurant in our part of Panama that offers up loads of crunchy, non-greasy chips and spicy salsa), she suggested we dine at Chuys, a TexMex restaurant that recently opened in what used the be THE mall in Northern Virginia when we were all in high school.  Springfield mall was recently torn down and rebuilt into Springfield Town Center no less, so just driving up to this mall and dining at this restaurant brought us all back to the eighties when it was the only place to go in Northern Virginia.  Carly's boyfriend joined us for dinner, as did our lake house roommates.  We spent two hours catching up, and I had my bounty of chips and salsa! Conversation turned to what Ray and I were looking forward to most being back in Virginia.  I had told Clyde and Terry a little bit of what I knew would make me chuckle on our drive to the hotel, so I had a few ideas already.  But after leaving the restaurant and driving the ninety minutes to our home at the lake, I was able to think of many more things I would welcome with open arms being here.

Here are things that I am looking forward to in the coming weeks (not counting being with my daughter, family and friends!).   Not to say they are complaints against Panama, and I don't expect to be judged for thinking my own thoughts here, they are just things that are different, not the same, and this, of course, is to be expected--Panama is different, as much as Virginia is different.

First, I was really looking forward--

to be given a large glass of water with ice along with my Sangria at the restaurant.  I didn't like paying seven dollars for the Sangria (!), but I am looking forward to those large refills of diet soda (and yes, soda is bad and diet soda ,is worse--hold judgement).

I am looking forward to--

*large mugs of coffee and free refills.  The cappuccino is very good in Panama, but I would rather a nice large mug of hot coffee for breakfast when in a restaurant.  And while I find very good coffee here, I am looking forward to drinking the coffee I brought with me on these cool mornings.

*picking up the phone and making a phone call.  Not having to have Magic Jack plugged in.  Not scheduling a face time chat.  Face time has been fantastic, but I like calling at the drop of a hat and talking with my family and friends.  From the car, the house, the store...whenever I want.

*lighting candles.  We have them in the rental house, but we haven't been there too many nights to light them.  There is warmth from candles.  Carly gave us an autumn scented candle upon our arrival (she had a huge welcome bag for us), and I lit that candle the first night.  I love the fall and all of the scents that go with it.

*putting on warm pajamas and curling up on the sofa.  Just curling up on the big comfy couches here.  The furniture in the rental house is firm.  Not anything I look at and think "I just can't wait to curl up on that sofa tonight!".

*dryness.  I will probably regret this in a month, but I am looking forward to my face drying up a bit!

*finding things a little more easily.  Knowing where things are, and that they will be there most of the time when I go back for them.  Aerosol hairspray (again, not the greatest product, but I dislike the pump bottle!) only to be found in Bocas Town, facial cleanser (a Panamanian brand that I might like, because the other name brands are too rich for my blood and are never on sale), and with shopping (which I did yesterday!) just knowing what size I will be and what I will like when I try it on!  And with it being winter here, I hit big sales on summer clothing!

*large, plush and soft towels.  They can be found in Panama, but they tend to be expensive.  I will bring my towels back with me this time.

*Carly's chocolate chip pumpkin bread that she made for me (I just plunged into it this morning with my Panamanian coffee!), and eating Pumpkin Spice Oreos that she ordered for me (I had put in a request).

*walking in my neighborhood.  Not on a treadmill.  Not in a gym.  In the cool temperatures.  I can easily walk in my neighborhood in Panama.  But there aren't many people residing there during the week.  It can be boring.  It's a small neighborhood, so I do two laps.  I can walk in the neighboring town, but I need to get out there bright and early before the intensity of the sun heats me up.  Here, in the later summer days, it gets very hot and humid as well.  I was walking before eight am.  But it isn't intense, on the equator hot most days like in Panama.  Again, perfectly doable, but I now jump on the treadmill, because it is inside and easier.  Boring though.  Once we return, I hope to walk the beaches more.

*changing the channel on the television, and it changes without buffering.  We are very fortunate in Panama that we have the endless choices in television (Netflix, Roku, Amazon Fire, USTVNow), but the internet speed needs to be high to avoid the slowness.  We aren't lacking that's for sure.  Technology in the "third world developing nation" is amazing!  Funny though for some unknown reason, our television here has turned off all by itself twice today.

*choices.  Many different flavors, sizes, brands of anything.

*being in a restaurant or store, and everyone is speaking English.  Here, I can communicate with everyone.  In Panama, I try to say a few simple words.  I like striking up conversation with the cashier or the receptionist.  Yesterday, Ray and I started to say those few simple words in Spanish--oops!  Everyone is friendly in Panama.  Everyone smiles.  And yesterday, while out shopping and running errands, everyone was smiling and chatting (subject to change as people get a little stressed and grumpy around the holidays).  Southern Spotsylvania charm.  It is comforting to just not feel like an outsider looking in due to the language barrier.  This will change, but it will take a very long time. For now though, I can always just feel back in my zone when I am with other expats.

Again, those are my thoughts and opinions.  I love my life in Panama.  What it is now and what it will become (a soft comfy couch is in the future, no doubt!).  And I love my life here in Bumpass.

On another note, how crazy it was that Ray and I met a former patient of mine and her husband at Panera restaurant for dinner last night to talk about Panama.  But before going into that, I might add that Ray and I planned quite a few errands yesterday along the I-95 route.  We knew we were meeting for dinner at 5:30, so we traveled north and headed south.  The first stop we made was to the Verizon store.  Rather than buying new pre-paid phones to use for the next month, we had a four week pre-paid plan added to the phones we use in Panama.  Easy enough.  After leaving the store, I called my sister to give her my new number and realized I didn't have data service.  We felt as if we were back in Panama.  Our four errands took four hours, one hour spent in Verizon store and on the phone trying to get complete service to my phone.  Success, but we needed patience.  The timing was also due to adding an errand that included getting on I-95 and traveling north and then south.  Of course we drove in bumper to bumper traffic at eleven am.  This is Virginia.  Construction is everywhere.  Traffic is always.

But after going to Verizon for the phone service, the government center (paying that personal property tax we love so dearly!), the post office, the bank, Costco (oh, I was looking forward to all of those samples!) and shopping for some summer clothing we met our friends for dinner.

While cleaning my patient's teeth for the last time a few months ago, I was telling her about my upcoming move to Panama.  She was so excited to share the story with her husband.  She is a world traveler travel agent (!), and he is a retired paramedic/firefighter.  He has been reading my blog, and he is absorbing it all.  We met with them to share our thoughts about the last three months.  We told them what we knew before we made the move, what we learned once we moved, and what we are still finding out.  After two hours, they had more websites and blogs to research, but they were pretty much still set on the whole "move to Panama" idea!  Pretty exciting to think I could have familiar faces as neighbors!  From dinner at Chuys restaurant with my daughter and fabulous friends, to last night's dinner with this wonderful couple, it has been a great start to what will be five wonderfully warm (even with snow in tomorrow's forecast!) wintry weeks here at home in Virginia.  And I will love and embrace every minute of it!  Loving retirement where ever I am!  And most of all, loving being home.

--

PICTURES MORE THAN WORDS

Since Sunday, Ray and I have busied ourselves to the point that I can never remember what we really did even just yesterday.  This is why I love blogging.  This is also why I take a lot of pictures.  I have always kept a journal, and I have always had many photo albums and scrapbooks.  It is always so good to be able to refer back to my journal.  The pictures below will simply show how we kept ourselves busy this final week before we excitedly head back to Virginia!  As the day approaches, I find myself impatient of the waiting--I remember my daughter driving away from the hotel the last night we had in Virginia, and now I just can't wait to see her standing by at the airport!

The pictures below are what I saw these past few days starting with me finally getting to sit my behind on a wonderful beach chair on Coronado Beach!

A guy with a motor on his back flying.

Rowing.

Not so great gymnastics.

Sandy beach.

Well cared for beautiful dog.  The beaches are so wide during low tide!

Beautiful shades of blue in the afternoon sun.

Soda is expensive here.  And, yes, it is wrong to drink soda especially diet soda.  But 2 for .45!  Cannot be beat!  Anything "Buy one, Get one Free" is simply wrapped together like these sodas.

Gingerbread making and baking for Finca La Maya Christmas party.

The dental cleaning I had for $34.  A fantastic experience.  I have never had a dentist clean my teeth.

Lunch at Beirut restaurant in Playa Blanca.

Beirut restaurant (excellent)

The 7 acre pool

Grounds not so nicely cared for at this posh resort (with the large pool and condos in the background)

The beach at Playa Blanca

Free cappuccino at an appliance store.

Enjoying the free drink with friend, Thea.

Window washing while waiting at a traffic light.  He didn't really take "no need" for an answer.

Tomorrow and Friday appear the same as most days in retirement have been here in Panama.  Quiet.  That is until the day comes, and then the next thing we know, it is nighttime and we are wondering where our day disappeared to, and what tomorrow will bring us.  No complaints here!  But just like today, it started out with us going to the City to get our Cedula Cards.  That didn't happen even though we were told to show up this week.  "Monday, next week"  But then, the rest of the day simply filled itself up!

Soon, Ray and I will be spending time with our daughter and family/friends and, like in Panama, we won't really know what the day will bring us.  We do know we can count on  cooler temperatures (we won't be on a beach), we will be wearing jeans, sweaters and socks (oh my!), I will be drinking great Panamanian coffee, and we will continue loving life in this thing called retirement.  Only we will be loving life at home in Virginia.  And then the New Year will be upon us in Panama!

IS IT STILL FRIDAY?

 One of the things I have continued to joke about when it comes to our friends Greg and Thea, is that our adventures with them start out simple enough, and then more often than not, the adventures turn into longer than the three hour tour.  Hence the nicknames Thurston Howell IV and Lovey.  A few examples here, the wine event in the city was only the beginning of our extended days with them.  Okay, the wine event was supposed to be four hours that evening, but we extended the day with lunch, an overnight stay, and shopping the entire next day at PriceSmart, Discovery Center and, not one but, two different malls.  The next thing we know, the four hour wine event turned into twenty four hours.  Next our vacation time to Boquete doubled, their trip to the "Ikea WannaBe store" into the city turned into a road trip with us to include Happy Hour at Picasso and, let's not forget, last weekend our lake adventure turned into an all day lake, pool and beach day.

So why should yesterday have been any different for us with them?  Last Sunday we contemplated seeing a movie while in the City.  Greg and Thea haven't had the pleasure of enjoying a movie in the comfy theaters here in Panama with a big bucket of Caramel and Buttered Popcorn all for about eleven dollars.  But instead of seeing a movie that day, we opted for the comforts of "home" by dining for lunch at PF Changs!  But then we were told what a great movie "Interstellar" is with love of my life second to Ray, Matthew McConaughey, and the next thing Ray and I know, yesterday we are accompanying Greg and Thea to Westland Mall to the Cinepolis movie theater.  The movie time, according to our Phone App Cartelera (similar to Fandango in the States, sort of) was 12:45.  We arrived when the gates to the theater were still down.  The security guard told us the theater would open in fifteen minutes.  We saw the influx of children nearby, so we hurried back to try and scoot ahead of the large crowd (if they were in fact headed to the theater).  The guard allowed us entrance, and this is when we saw the times to movie were different.  Of course.  The movie would start at 5:50 pm.  The cashier was putting "Closed" signs on all of the registers.  Ray asked her to please address with him the time of the movie.  He did just as he had done when we were with Clyde and Terry not too long ago.  She pulled the Cinepolis website up online (lesson learned here not to use the app Cartelera), and she told Ray the movie was playing at 3:15 at Multiplaza Mall in the City.  First we enjoyed a bucket of caramel popcorn while figuring out our next move, then lunch, where we found three different places to please the four of us in the food court.  Next, we did a little shopping, and then off we drove to the next mall.  But it was raining.  It was pouring.  Thank goodness for those new windshield wipers that Greg had just bought in Capira.  The cars came to a complete standstill on the highway.  We crawled.  Waze indicated "standstill ahead".  And then everyone made the whirly twirly hand signal from their cars that they were going to turn around, and we should do the same.  On the highway.  Right in front of us.  Which is what we did, too.

Driving the wrong way on our side of the road.

Back to  Westland Mall, because what else was there to do.  We were already there, and if it was three pm and raining, why not wait until six pm for the movie?  While waiting for the movie, we shopped and ate a little more.  We bought candy for the movie, and we enjoyed some pastries from this bakery called "Honey" while also eating frozen yogurt from The Yogurt Factory (again, something to satisfy everyone).  And then once the fantastic movie ended three hours later, I was wondering if it was still Friday.  The day/going to a movie at the mall had started almost twelve hours prior to the time we were dropped off at our car.  So, true to fashion, we had another full day with the Howells!

With retirement, I just never know what the day will bring unless we have a scheduled appointment in the City.  Because today started out with "sleep in Saturday", which turned into lunch with friends, which then turned into two hours at Finca La Maya with the children decorating Christmas cards, which then turned into hunting for shells and sea glass at Punta Barco beach, and now it's just about dinner time!  And yes, while I think I know what I am doing for dinner, I just never know, because we haven't a clue if the restaurant is even open tonight.  This is Panama.  And this retirement life gets more spontaneous by the day.  And I am enjoying and loving every bit of it.

Snowy village decoration in the mall.

Dance Dance Revolution

The RED is labeled large, and the GREEN is medium.

This is Panama.  It is just done this way.  Odd still.

Pretty Casey shows off the cards.

The little boys get in on the fun.

Christmas cards.

Hermit crabs all over the beach.

Fishing.

Blue, green and gold bird.

Blurry but better view.

The river runs through it.

ALMOST IDENTIFIED IN PANAMA

As far as we know, and as of this year anyways (rules change frequently), Ray and I are almost finished with Panamanian agencies.  We hope.  Today is our 26th anniversary, and after spending a relaxing and lazy late afternoon yesterday on the beach, we were to meet our attorney today at the Tribunal Electoral building to get our E-Cedula cards.  And once again, it rained and poured on our way to the city.  Someday it will rain and pour, and we will just "hang out at the house" per Ray.  Yeah right.  Okay, so this card is an official Panamanian ID card.  The number on the card is similar to us using our Social Security card for identification (if our driver's license isn't acceptable).  We still can't vote here, we don't have citizenship here, this card just makes things more convenient.  If we don't have this card, when we renew our passport, we will have to change all the numbers on our driver's license, bank account, etc, because that passport number will change.  The E-Cedula number will aways be the same.  Just another box checked off once we get this card, and we thought today was the day.  Not so fast.

We arrived to the big, stately building (Did I say big?  Huge!) at 9:30 am after a ninety minute drive and experienced the joy of trying to find parking.  Try parking one hundred cars in a parking lot made for fifty.  But with success and patience, we secured a spot.  Along a curb.  But the curb wasn't yellow and that was a good thing.  We hoped.  We then walked into the building in search of our attorney.

Parking is on the side, and entrance is in back (although the corridors are at the front)

A very wide building.

She was on her way (did I mention the rain, and then there were multiple car accidents).  We were told to go to the fourth floor.  Wrong.  We found where we needed to be on the first floor.  We stood on line and waited for our attorney's letter to come to Ray's email.  We then showed the woman what we were on line for with this letter, and we spoke to her in Spanish.  She spoke back in English.  But we still practiced with each other (she is visiting Jacksonville, FL in January and wants to know English for her trip).  At 10:00, she went in search of our paperwork.  At 10:20, she found our papers, and she told us to pay ($65 x 2) and have copies made of our passports and Pensionado Visa cards.  Our attorney had these copies, but she still had not arrived.  We went to PB (which in Panama is the "planta baja", or the ground floor) and paid for the E-Cedula cards.  We went to the first floor to have copies made (sixty cents), and funny thing is because we took the steps, we beat another attorney doing the same thing for her client.  I liked that we knew a little of what we were doing, and it helped that anytime we walked down a long corridor, there was a guard with a walkie talkie letting the guard at the opposite end know we were coming down.  "The Gringos are coming, the Gringos are coming!"  That all happened at 10:40, and here it is 11:00 already.  Our attorney was waiting for us at the original office where everything starts, and we gave the nice English speaking employee our copies and receipts.  We were #21, 22.  At 11:25, I was called up to verify my name, my parent's name, by birthdate (had already done this an hour before, but we hadn't signed anything), and then I signed my name twice.  Oh, and she had stapled copies of our passport and Pensionado Visa cards to our paperwork.  Lots of staples.  One stamp.  Two signatures.  Then at 11:35, Ray was called up to repeat this with his paperwork.  Next stop, we had our pictures taken for the cards.  Now my hair always starts out sort of looking half-way decent (and Ray's hair is also so manageable), but by 11:45, four hours after I styled it, I can't guarantee I looked like myself (did I mention pouring rain and humidity?).  But guess what and get this!  We were done with this bureaucratic government process in under two hours!  But wait, we don't get the cards until, no not mañana but, next Monday haha

So once we were finished at the big, stately, intimidating Tribunal building (I always think "Indians"), Ray treated me to Smashburger for lunch.  I had chicken, of course, but it was still tasty!  And those sweet potato fries in rosemary and garlic with olive oil--so good.  I have only been to one other Smashburger in Virginia, and I knew I wanted to try the one in Panama City to compare the food.  The taste was the same, but the portions--not so great.  Oh well, tonight we celebrated with a little Sangria (just a little).  I must say it has been such a great past few months with the many people we are meeting here.  Ray was telling me tonight that it's so nice to walk up to a counter, see someone familiar and that someone just strikes up a conversation.  Everyone is friendly, everyone wants to share and to help, and everyone just wants to get to know each other.  And tomorrow we celebrate our anniversary a little more when we try out a new restaurant nearby.  And yesterday, we celebrated at the beach.  Every day in this thing we call retirement, we celebrate, but this week it is more exciting.  Our wonderful anniversary and soon we will celebrate with our daughter, family and friends when we are home for five weeks!  Woo hoo!  I truly am looking forward to it.  It will be odd being home for so long, and then coming back to home in Panama, but we have so much to look ahead to, it is all just so good.

Coronado Beach 

Ray was a little chilly!  

11/12/88  Happy Anniversary to us!  

OF ALL TIMES TO BE RULE BREAKERS

This past holiday week, Ray and I broke several rules when it comes to "what not to do" with the influx of holiday travelers to the interior.

Interjection here first about using the word "interior" for where I think I live now.  Published articles refer to the towns more west of Coronado as being the interior such as Pedasi, Chitre, Santiago, and Penonome.  But expats and other Panamanians in this area have told me that anything away from Panama City is the interior of the country.  I think I now live "close to the beaches near Panama City". But it's easier to just say the interior.  

We went to the beach on what would be the most crowded of days (which is why we arrived early and only walked), we went to several grocery stores two days in a row trying to find specific products, and we went into Coronado for dinner.  It was all easy though.  The grocery stores were more crowded, but the lines moved quickly.  The cars entering the gate to Coronado were piled up but manageable, and the crowds at the beach showed up when we were leaving, and while the vacationers played their music loudly at the beach out of the trunks of their cars, we were either far enough away on our walk, or we were just driving away.  There was good to come out of the gym being closed in that Ray and I walked the beach.  It's been on my list of things to do (the list is getting shorter).  Punta Barco beach is fifteen minutes from our house.  It is a wide sandy beach with black and white sand.  While I wouldn't spend the day swimming here, because of the river that runs through it, and it can be quite rocky,  it is perfect for long walks and shell collecting in the early mornings.

Around the point looking at Coronado in the distance.

Large homes line the beach here.

The river

Paddle boarder

Low tide

 With having exercised (the gym finally opened on Thursday, I think, since I didn't try going back any earlier), having dinner with friends, trying a new Happy Hour, and attending our weekly Spanish lesson, I also set up a date to meet another "virtual" friend.  This lovely and vibrant woman, Tonette, recently moved to a casita in El Valle.  I remember living in Virginia (she lived in neighboring Maryland) reading her notes to the El Valle forums, I would answer a question if I thought I had the right answer, and then we started to email back and forth.  We became fast email pen pals.  She has now made El Valle her home.  Her daughter lives in the city which is a huge bonus for her!  After just five days of being here, I reached out to her to check in and see if she wanted to arrange a lunch date.  She agreed, and Ray and I invited Clyde and Terry along for the drive.  On the drive to El Valle, it poured, but only for about ten minutes of the trip.  The rest of the day in El Valle was surprisingly sunny with a brilliant blue sky.  Fantastic.  It tends to be rainier and cooler there, since it is at 2,000 feet elevation.  Tonette lives in a casita on a road Ray and I had driven on in the past, but we didn't know this road kept going and going.  She is tucked away on a nice piece of property with the tranquility of peaceful gardens home to ducks, roosters, and horses..  After giving us the tour of her home, we enjoyed lunch and conversation at Bruschetta's.  We then walked across the street to the library, and Tonette had two copies of her passport made for twenty cents.  She also searched for DVD's, but on Friday, there were none to be had there.

Beautiful orchid flower growing in a tree in front of Tonette's casita.

After saying our goodbyes and promises to meet up again (and me not taking any pictures!), the four of us drove ten minutes down the mountain to friend's of Clyde and Terry's.  This couple has spent the past five years building a container house.  They gave us a wonderful tour of their home and garden.  Their house is an amazing achievement!   Go here to see all that they have accomplished, and what they hope to complete by next year.  http://www.panamashippingcontainerhouse.com
 I didn't take any pictures, because his blog tells it all!

Today, Thurston Howell IV and Lovey invited Ray and I to their pool and beach, after we tried having a picnic at the San Carlos lake (Plan A).  Ray and I had driven about thirty minutes "up this road" in the rental car we had when we first arrived to Chame, but now we wanted to find the lake.  From the Interamerican Highway, this lake is 23 kms (14 miles) uphill.  There are fantastic views.  We were promised, by the owners of the new establishment, Frosty Jugos, a beautiful lake where people camp and spectacular views.  However the first order of business after we loaded the car up with a cooler, chairs, and bathing suits (just in case) was to drive to Capira and buy bread and cheese to add to our picnic lunch from Queso Chelas.  This is a small restaurant, okay it is a walk up, open-aired deli along the highway.  It is #1 of 1 restaurants rated on TripAdvisor.  This is a popular stop for many when driving to the interior, and we had yet to stop.  It is always crowded so it has to be great!  This "restaurant" carries artisan breads like Italian ciabatta with Kalamata olives, baguettes, bread with cranberry and nuts, empanadas, cheese bread, cheeses with garlic, pepper, cajun, olives and more, pizzas, juices, yogurts, and even US snacks such as Pringles and pretzels.  Ray and I had stopped once before, but the lines were so long and, at the time, we were a little bit intimidated by all of the choices.  What was it that we really wanted from there?  Well, this time I knew!  I wanted to try the cheese bread and several home made cheeses!  I have restricted myself from those two items for long enough (not really)!  While Ray and Thurston checked out the ceramics and produce market nearby, Lovey and I stood online.  We spoke to the man in front of us who recommended certain cheeses.  We ordered not one, but three loaves of fresh and hot out of the oven cheese bread (one for today and more for later, if they last that long), we picked up a bag of mozzarella with cajun spice cheese cubes, we had a "small chunk" of the white with green specks (olives, or something spicy) cut off and wrapped, and I asked for one Chicheme drink to go and for all to share for the road trip to the lake.

 Chicheme drink.

Chicheme is a Panamanian specialty drink (almost exclusively found here and in Costa Rica) made from milk, corn (or cornmeal), vanilla, cinnamon and a little water.  Lovey and I enjoyed it (it could have been a little colder) although it is odd swallowing pieces of corn, but the guys passes on more than one sip.  After making our purchases, we loaded up the trunk with more goodies, and we stopped at Matildo's.

For my front yard.

Assorted yard items.

This is an eccentric shop a stone's throw off the highway.  Very quirky.  There are some beautiful and large metal figures and sculptures in the front of the shop that we have seen in front of restaurants, in El Machetazo (the grocery store) and homes.  Inside the shop, there is artwork hanging along with chandeliers, china, fiestaware, primitive wood bowls, antique phones, tables, chairs, wine barrels made into tables, pool ball chandeliers, clocks made of Dominos, water pumps and more.  It was almost as if I was in a large antique store back in the States.  As a matter of fact, I saw many things that I had in my old house (old irons, hand pumps, dishes).  Once we were overstimulated there, we hopped back in the car and off we went up the mountain to the lake.

Welcome!  Now what?

Campground.

The lake.  The restaurant.  The boats.

More of the lake with the low clouds.

Go marching along the path with leaves.

See the ants>>>>

Bathroom for .25

The gorgeous sky and view!

We weren't so sure about ever arriving to the lake.  There is a split in the road, and we chose to bear left.  We made the right decision (no pun intended), and we found the lake after spending a kilometer or so (who knows, we were bouncing so much) on a rickety, rocky, just plain old bad road.  We had to pay a dollar per person to the man that walked up to us (he looked authoritative), and the sign said "no coolers allowed".  Really?  We were told it would be so crowded with Panamanians on holiday visiting the lake and that we should take a cooler and have a picnic.  There were tents with a few people.  It was chilly.  We were in the basin of the mountain, so to speak, so the winds circled us.  There was a slight mist in the air for a short period of time.  We chose to walk the path.  We stared at leaf cutter ants (like any old retired people would do, and just like my dad!), and Ray stepped on a fireant hill (only one bite, but very insignificant).  We took pictures.

And then we took pictures down the mountain.  We pulled off the side of the road to see the breathtaking view of the interior beaches and high rises, and Thurston Howell IV came up with the idea to enjoy our picnic poolside, since the lake wasn't a great option.  Always a plan B, remember?  So now our tour has extended past the three hour tour, and this is why the names suit Lovey and Thurston.  Always expect the unexpected.  To think Ray and I were here at the Coronado Bay pool two years ago on our first exploratory visit to Panama.  We stayed on the eleventh floor with my sister and nephew.  I have these same pictures, and they never grow old to me.  Or less stunning.  And here we are living in Panama a mere two years later.

Looking left from the 23rd floor/pool deck.

Looking right (west)

Towards Gorgona Beach.

To the right of Coronado Bay (another condo bldg.)

I spy a cozy couple in the pool below.

Our picnic

For lunch, there was Ray's homemade chicken salad, hummus, cheese bread with cajun mozzerella cheese, the chunk of white cheese that was spicy (!), beer, wine, garlic pita chips, carrots and apples (of course!), and brownies.  Delicious.  And then the guys went to the condo while Thea and I took a dip in the refreshing ocean and a nice, relaxing walk along the beach.  And this is how Plan A turns into Plan B, a three hour tour turns into a six hour day, and as always, is a great day in this thing called retirement in Panama.

Not our house (it comes with heavily armed guards)

A jeep coming along the beach.  Lots of black sand this way.