MORE LAZY DAYS IN CONTADORA

For the next three mornings in Contadora, the four of us enjoyed deck time looking out at the Gulf of the Pacific.  John's shop offered chocolate croissants two out of three mornings, otherwise, a plain croissant had to suffice.  Thea and I chose to start our mornings with banana oatmeal or eggs and toast.  On Monday, while at Playa Cacique, a couple approached me and asked me if I had found Playa de las Suecas (Nudist Beach).  I told them where my group thought the beach was, but I told them we only saw it from a cliff.   I wished them luck finding it.  On Tuesday after breakfast, the four of us found this beach.  It was like all of the others--empty and quiet.  The water was aquamarine.  We found it by taking our golf cart over a dirt road.  Another beach to explore, to pick up shells, navigate slippery rocks and peek into caves.

Here's the warning sign.

Gorgeous water, and white sand

We kept our clothes on, thank you very much.

An estuary

It is simply around the corner from Playa Larga, and there is also easy access up and over a rocky road from the beach at Playa Larga.

On Tuesday, we rented beach chairs from John ($5 for the day), and on this day, we lounged even more comfortably at Playa Larga.  Another beach to ourselves basically.   The fishing boats came in, and men were spearing red snapper.  Greg gathered and hunted our dinner for the night.  We paid $20 for freshly speared red snapper, and we secured a panga boat (small fishing boat).  We double checked with Ray to make sure the size, color, shape and feel of this boat was acceptable.  He saw that there were plenty of life jackets available, so on Wednesday we were to meet Jaime, our Captain, at noon so Greg could catch us Wednesday night's dinner.  Jaime quoted us $40 for two hours.  Plans were made to enjoy our red snapper first at any restaurant that would prepare it for us.

Ray way out there lounging.  Low tide brings us wide, sandy beaches.

Our red snapper being taken to the boat for cleaning up and filleting.

Beautiful color.  I hope he is tasty.

Getting filleted for us.

Once the fish was cleaned up, Greg and Ray hopped on the golf cart to get it onto ice in the refrigerator.  After a beach day was complete, we did a drive by first to Fonda Carlita's restaurant to see if she would prepare our fish for our dinner.  I had read good things about her restaurant, but she would not cook it for us.  We then stopped by Gerald's, and for $9/person, we would have red snapper for dinner along with patacones, french fries and bread.  The Chef, who went to culinary school in Kansas and spoke beautiful English, prepared the snapper perfectly!  Even Ray enjoyed it!  Gerald's was an easy walk from our villa, and it was an excellent first dinner there with our freshly caught fish and pitcher of Sangria.

At the end of the night, I should note that it was this night Ray beat me at cards!  Monday night there was a football game on on one computer and "Downton Abbey" was on the television.  Now that I have that straightened out...

On our final full day in Contadora, we had a fishing trip planned with Jaime.  Along the way to returning the golf cart, we met two couples that had just landed by helicopter (a shiny red one).  The one couple housesits on the island.  They have been there for three years.  Thea exchanged emails.  The other couple were friends visiting.  One man is a realtor, and the other is an aerial photographer.  We were then given the opportunity to use up some of their sky minutes to tour the islands, but we had a boat to catch.  This is how we found out the cost of the helicopter, the Hotel Contadora story, and so much more about the island.  

We met our Captain at Playa Larga, and within twenty minutes, Greg pulled in a tuna!  On our two hour tour, that turned into three (what else is new!) Jaime showed us Isla Pacheca while we tried to catch a few more fish.  Isla Pacheca is a haven for 8,000 birds nest (another thing right up Ray's alley here) and is three miles north of Contadora.  We also trolled around Pachequilla, Mogo Mogo and Isla Saboga.  On this island, there is a large resort called El Encanto with villas and residences surrounded by a rainforest.  I believe our Captain told us that Mogo Mogo was one of the islands used in the show "Survivor".  This show was filmed twice in the Pearl Islands.

Captain Jaime

Isla Pacheca (there are black dots above the island--birds)

Our dinner tonight

Statue of Mary on a rock

After two plus hours, we decided to call it a day with our one caught tuna.  We settled payment with our Captain, although there was a bit of confusion.  At the end of the day, we realized to always reiterate payment before boarding the boat.  He honored our payment and sailed away.  Thea and I then grabbed the snorkeling equipment that came with the villa and checked out the fish in Playa Galeon.  We also picked up more sea shells and made our way to The Point Resorts pool.  We floated (again, the only one's here), while Greg and Ray lounged on the deck at the villa.  That night we made our way back to Gerald's with unprepared tuna.  The Chef again said he would prepare and cook it for us.  We told him it would be an appetizer this time, and we ordered entrees of pizza, salads, and schnitzel.  We also ordered apple strudel (this is a German Seafood restaurant, by the way) that was never brought to the table.  The waitress seemed overwhelmed on this night.  And confused.  The bill was confused, too.  Once all things were straightened out, we went back to the villa to play Pass the Pigs and cards.  Ray again beat everyone.  We still had one more day with our friends.  He needs to learn to lose.  

On our final day in Contadora, we swam again in Playa Larga, lounged on the beach, and watched a large barge and boats unload supplies.  There were five golf carts and four pick up trucks on the beach packed up with boxes of food and Corona.

A large barge filled with chicken

This boat was full to the top with boxes of supplies

Greg weighs and measures his chicken

Tickets in hand, bags searched, and tendered out to Island Express 2, our trip was coming to a close.  Island Express 2 is non-airconditioned, but the breezes were wonderful.  The boat is also older and slower, so this trip took one hour and forty minutes.  Again, once we were closer to the city we saw barges, yachts with helicopters on them, catamarans, and large boats loaded with shipping containers.  

We made our way (a quick five minute walk) back to our car at the Country Inn, shopped at PriceMart, and just like that, our fabulous four day vacation was over.  And now we return back to this thing called retirement all the while planning our next adventure!  Stay tuned!

Steps to the beach from our villa.

Ray sits on the deck.

Playa Galeon

Biodiversity Museum against Panama's skyline

An interesting museum

Our deck on the right with the beach below.