The Panama Adventure

Weekly Photo Challenge: Eerie

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

To Merilee, a photo doesn’t have to be blatantly macabre to be eerie. But it can have a mysterious, otherworldly vibe — the viewer wonders what lurks in the shadows. Something eerie has a story to tell — one you aren’t quite sure you want to know. Finding inspiration in Merilee’s work, as well as celebrations like Halloween and Día de los Muertos, let’s go out and capture black and white images that are eerie.

We arrived in Santa Catalina, a remote town on the Pacific coast of Panama, at dusk. Soon after we arrived, a rain storm blew in and the electricity went out. I have never seen such total blackness! You literally couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. I was thankful we had some fixings for a cold dinner, which we ate by flashlight. I think the experience was even more eerie than the photo.

Today is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Panama. It isn’t like Halloween in the US with parties, scary stuff, and candy. Here it is a quiet day where people honor their departed ancestors, and go to cemeteries to put flowers and gifts on the graves. There is no loud music or liquor sales today.

Tomorrow this will change because it’s another holiday, Separation Day. The next day is yet another holiday, and then there are still more holidays to come! November is holiday month in Panama! Later, there is Mother’s Day on Dec 8th which is a very big deal here, and then Christmas. If you love to have fun and celebrations, this is a good time to be in Panama.

Posted in Panama, Photo Challenge, photography, travel | Tagged Panama, photography, postaday, travel, Travel and Tourism | 10 Comments

A New Panama Website full of Good Info

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

My friend Chris Powers has his new website up. He’s providing information on different aspects of life in Panama and various areas around the country. It’s a new site so there will be more and more good stuff coming along.

Panama For Real

Look for the spot on the right side of the page to sign up for email updates and notices when new things are posted.

You can also like the Facebook Page

His work will also include videos, so if you want to go directly to his YouTube channel, click the link.

This is a free site. He’s not trying to sell anyone anything, only provide useful and realistic information for all of us. Check it out! Bookmark it or sign up for updates so you can enjoy new additions as they come along. I’m already excited about the site and it’s only going to get better and better!

Posted in Miscellaneous, Panama | Tagged expat, Panama, relocation, website | 2 Comments

What a Downpour!

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

I think it rained harder this afternoon than I’d ever seen it rain.

The neighbor’s yard was even more of a lake than it was in the last downpour.

There was even a waterfall coming over the wall.

The side of our yard was also becoming a lake.

We could hear the river roaring, so as the rain let up we decided to go take a look.

There were waterfalls coming down the steps.

When we got down on the flat part, the path was under a bit of water.

Then, we reached the river!

I never saw the water so muddy!

The water was moving along faster than I’d ever seen it too.

The lizards usually hung out on these logs, but today only the tops were showing above the water.

The water had come up quite a bit higher on the shore.

There were waterfalls where I’d never seen them before.

The water looked so active.

Joel surveys the scene.

The water rushes around the point where a log is stuck in the rocks.

What a sight!

When we got back home the rain was only a slight sprinkle, and the remains of the lake in the neighbor’s yard were pretty.

We went down to the river after a rain before, but it didn’t look like we found it today!

Posted in Panama, photography, the River | Tagged Chiriqui, David, photography, Rain, river | 12 Comments

Exploring Pedasi and the Azuero Peninsula

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

We are home again, and back to functioning internet. Travels are great but it’s always nice to come home again. I’ve been settling back in, catching up on things around here, and now I’m in my outside office (on the terrace) watching an incredible amount of rain come down. Yes, the neighbor’s yard is a lake again 😀

I have lots of photos and things to say about our recent travels. What a great trip! Of course the highlight was meeting my blogging friends. But, I was also very interested to see some of this area that I have heard about for a long time.

The town of Pedasi feels to me like a beach town, which is no surprise since the area is known for the great beaches, swimming, surfing, snorkeling, diving, and other water related activities. The town is small enough that you can easily walk anywhere, and it was quiet while we were there. (They were probably recovering from the recent parades and celebrations!) The local people all returned our greetings with friendly smiles and hellos. Some were also happy to chat with us, point out homes of other expats, and other things about the town that they thought might interest us. We were also out walking in the dark and it felt comfortable and safe. It feels like a town where everyone knows everyone else who lives there, and everyone just wants to get along and enjoy life.

There are many expats and tourists who come to Pedasi. There were a number of hotels, hostels, and restaurants available for visitors, and English speakers were more common than most parts of Panama. Our hotel Casita Margarita was happy to make arrangements for activities for us. I’m sure the other hotels would also, and there are some local businesses who cater to tourists wanting to enjoy what is available in the area. Because it is a popular destination though, we found real estate and property prices higher than I expected.

The drive from David is long but the roads are excellent (not counting the bumpy PanAmerican highway which is due for a much needed upgrade) From Santiago to Las Tablas there is a beautiful 4 lane highway. The last part of the drive is on a 2 lane highway but it’s also in excellent condition. It’s the rainy season now and everything was very lush and green, and the countryside is really beautiful. It’s the driest area of Panama and it would be interesting to see what it’s like in the dry season.

Breakfast on the patio at the hotel, lovingly prepared by the staff who treated us like family.

The handsome rooster across the street took his hens out for a walk every morning.

A quiet time on the street.

When you need to move a bunch of guys somewhere, put them all on the truck!

Or, if you need to move your cow, put him on the truck too.

The town square is really pretty.

This church is on one side of the square.

The inside of the church is beautiful.

This is a statue of Moscoso, a local woman who was president. The locals are very proud of this.

Evidence of recent festivities.

Some people had houses that were more basic.

These houses don’t look like much, but they are very fancy compared to others we saw in more rural areas.

Real estate is expensive.

There seems to be a lot of interest in real estate though, or interest in selling you something or building you something.

The health clinic.

Together making a better Panama (on the sign about construction of tombs in the cemetery)

This looks like other cemeteries I’ve seen

This is a start! I have more photos and things to talk about, so stand by.

Posted in Exploring Panama, Panama, travel | Tagged Azuero Peninsula, Panama, Pedasi, photography, travel, Travel and Tourism | 8 Comments

Santa Catalina, without internet

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

All is well except the internet which is slow at best, and non existent the rest of the time. This is just a short post to say all is well though. This is an amazingly beautiful area and the long drive down was spectacular though green hills, farm land, and beautiful vistas. Now we are looking at the rocky shore and the ocean waves breaking beyond through the light rain. More news and photos will be coming at some point, maybe today if it rains more and the internet functions, but probably later after we get home.

Posted in Panama | 4 Comments

Bloggers Unite in Pedasi!

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Karen (on your right – or my left) was the first Panama blogger I found when I started blogging about a year ago. We have followed each other ever since, so what a great pleasure to meet in person! Connie (on your left – or on my right) is another blogger who I’ve met on line more recently, and now also in person. Behind Karen is Mikkel, Connie’s husband who has been an involved blog reader for quite some time, and behind Connie and is is Joel, my husband. Behind the camera is Karen’s SU (spousal unit) who is not seen but is definitely present is this group.

We’ve had such a great time! Sunday evening we all got together for dinner at a nice Italian restaurant, and last night Karen had us all over for dinner and an evening of conversation and fun. We had such a good time that we kept her up entirely too late, but I wanted to savor this time with these good friends. We have a lot of places that we want to explore but this is definitely high on the list of places we plan to come back to. It’s a lovely area with great beaches and we’ve had a lot of fun (more news and photos will be coming at some point). The best part though was the opportunity to spend time with my on line friends, who are now also in person friends. Thank you, my friends!

Posted in expatriate, Exploring Panama, Miscellaneous, Panama | Tagged Bloggers, friends, Pedasi | 6 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Horizon

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Weekly Photo Challenge: Horizon

Horizon. The space or line where the sky meets the earth. So many places where the sky meets the earth around the world, and millions of interactions between two elements. It can be water, a city skyline, a forest, a wasteland, a desert, a sunset outside your bedroom window. Is there a particular horizon which speaks to you? In a new post specifically for this challenge, share a photo which means HORIZON to you!

We are in Pedasi, Panama for a little excursions and getaway, so this is an easy one at the moment!

Boats wait on the beach. Our destination is the island in the distance. The gorgeous clouds really put this day over the top.

This is the beach on the island, and the water is a gorgeous clear turquoise. The mainland is visible on the horizon with the mountains in the far distance.

A postcard sort of photo of the beach through the trees, and the horizon in the distance.

The view from the other side of the island facing the open water, where the blue sky meets the blue Pacific Ocean.

Later in the afternoon we head back towards the mainland. Here again you can see the distant mountains on the horizon, but they are eclipsed by the huge clouds that are forming over the land.

Our Panamanian boat driver takes us back, while the island fades in the distance against the horizon of blue sky and blue sea.

Posted in Exploring Panama, Panama, Photo Challenge, photography | Tagged beach, boating, Isla Iguana, Panama, Pedasi, Sea | 4 Comments

Bloggers Evening in Boquete

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

We had a great evening of bloggers and readers in Boquete last night! Our friend Holly invited us to her house, and her husband Scott prepared a fabulous meal. Cindy and her husband came, and so did Jerry and his wife who are visiting from the US. Of course there are pictures!

Our friends Jerry and Jennifer rode up to Boquete with us from David. Since we drove right by the waterfall on the way up, we had to stop for a moment.

The river and the waterfall are as beautiful as ever!

But, the building has deteriorated further and the roof has fallen in.

Then, it was onward to Boquete. Our friends had reservations at the Boquete Garden Inn, so we went there first to drop off luggage and get them checked in. This place is a few minutes out of town, but it’s really beautiful. There are flowers everywhere and the rooms are just lovely. I was very impressed.

The hotel is also fairly close to Holly and Scott’s house, and the hotel staff explained exactly how to find our way (in Spanish, and I understood all of it. I’m getting better!) Scott and Holly’s place is just gorgeous. As she told me, it’s a constant photo op because the light and the clouds are constantly changing. We were also lucky that the rain pretty much cleared up for the evening. Here’s just a few of my photos.

Dinner was on the terrace overlooking the banana trees, gardens, and distant mountains. What a lovely setting. Everything was delicious – appetizers, salad, a variety of entrees, good wine, and cheesecake. The company was wonderful also, and conversation flowed constantly around the table as people caught up, shared experiences, and enjoyed being with each other. What more could a person possibly want for a great evening!

The view from the dinner table.

The dinner crowd, Holly and I in front of the fireplace, Cindy and her husband in front of us, Scott in the white hat at the other end of the table, Jerry and Jennifer on the right. My husband Joel is behind the camera taking photos on his iPad.

The fire was very welcome. The Boquete folks seemed fine, but I was cold in my jeans and sweater. This is why they live there, and I live in warmer David.

Holly and I doing something – maybe looking for tea mugs in the cabinet?

A blogging friend is a wonderful thing, and an in person friend is an even more wonderful thing 😀

Boquete is a well known tourist and expat destination, so it’s no surprise that Zemanta pulled up some related articles.

Posted in Panama | Tagged Boquete, Chiriqui Province, Panama, photography | 4 Comments

The River – more photos

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

We live next to a river and it’s a really beautiful place. I never get tired of going there with my camera! We are in the rainy season now and everything is incredibly green and lush.

The water levels are high at this time of year.

Water swirls around a fallen tree.

Small debris gets caught on larger debris in the water, and vines hang down from the trees above looking for new places to grow roots.

A large Jesus lizard watches me from his perch on the debris.

Another Jesus lizard is spotted in the logs on the river bank.

So much green!

The water is definitely moving along.

This large tree on the river bank is only one of many large trees, some much more massive than this one.

A pretty vine climbs up another large tree trunk.

The water rushing over the rocky areas makes quite a bit of noise. We can always hear it from our house, especially now when there is so much water.

Lots of water!

The water swirling around the river bank catches the blue and white of the sky.

I love the reflections in the water.

The woods are green and everything is growing.

Every possible space has things growing on it, like these ferns and orchids growing on tree branches.

Posted in Panama, photography | Tagged Chiriqui Province, David, nature, Panama, photography, river | 7 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Hue of You

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Hue of You

For this challenge, we want to keep it simple: share a photograph with a prominent color (or assortment of colors) that reveals more about you. It could be a symbolic, meaningful shade; a color that expresses how you currently feel; or a combination of colors that excites you and tells a visual story.

I love color! What color though? That depends on the circumstances. I am happy to paint a wall red or orange, but I’m likely to wear more subdued colors. In a photograph though, all colors can be interesting. These photos are some of the colors that caught my eye yesterday.

The river is one of my favorite places! Right now at the height of rainy season it is incredibly green. The sun shining through the green leaves and reflecting on the water yesterday was so beautiful. The green here makes me feel very peaceful and happy.

A wild heliconia looked spectacular in the sunlight. This splash of color and beauty makes me smile.

This tiny butterfly revealed the iridescent blues on the wings when the light caught it just right. I love this beautiful blue color! The metallic sheen makes it even better.