A Beautiful Evening at the Beach

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

Our friends have a place at Las Olas, at La Barqueta beach and invited us out for a visit. It was such a beautiful evening!

Birds on the sand
The swimmers and the hills are barely visible in the mist and golden light.
The sun gets lower in the sky.
There were a lot of people enjoying the evening at the public beach.
Watching the sunset and drinking wine with good friends. It just doesn’t get better than that.
I love the reflections of the sky on the wet sand.
Joel heads out for an evening dip.
The full moon is amazing.
A couple out for an evening stroll.
As the sunset colors fade everything looks more and more blue. It’s a magical time of night.
Posted in Exploring the Area, Panama, photography, sunsets | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

THIS WEEK, IN A POST CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO THAT SAYS INSIDE.

If I’m inside, I’m probably looking outside. This was especially true this morning when outside was a beautiful view of the beach at La Barqueta, Panama.

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My husband drinking his morning coffee.

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A Day in Panama – some random photos

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

Sometimes just the little things are interesting, things you pass as you go through your day. These photos are some of my last day or two.

A palm tree with red and green seeds, and a purple orchid in bloom.
A butterfly lands on some flowers outside my gate.
This bougainvillea has white and pink flowers on the same plant, and even on the same branch.
At the construction site down the street this guy has his hard hat on over his straw sun hat.
This beautiful tree was blooming in our neighborhood and raining down flowers like golden snow. The next day there wasn’t a flower left on the tree.
Pretty yellow flowers on the tree.
A motmot perches on our tree next to the back patio.
This interesting little lizard blends well with the leaf.
My neighbors just outside the entrance to our neighborhood.
It looks like we live in the country, but we don’t. There is not shortage of animals nearby though.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses set out for a day of walking and talking.
My favorite tree is bursting out with leaves.
the goose has babies! For some reason, she let me come up to the fence without honking like crazy at me, like she usually does.
An iguana climbs a mango tree. They are surprisingly fast so I was lucky to catch this one with my camera.
The mango tree with the iguana. It’s huge and magnificent, and has beautiful mangoes up high.
We came home the night before last to no power and a crew out working on this pole. The power came back on almost as soon as we walked in the house. How lucky is that! Today the cable people were stringing lines.
A big house next to our neighborhood has some beautiful horses. There is a big horse parade coming up on the 19th, so there seem to be an unusual number of horses in our neighborhood right now.
I caught one of the oropendulas leaving the nest, and there is another in the tree on the right side of the photo.
Sometimes the supermarket folks tape interesting freebies on the outside of packages. Candy bars with your cream of wheat, anyone?
This big fuzzy spider was in the laundry room the other night.
I’m driving home this morning, and find myself following this truck. I could not see anything holding this large plant in place except for its own weight.
As the truck turned the corner, I saw it had two of these huge plants! It stopped up the road at a new office building that is just finishing construction. It’s probably part of the new landscaping.
On the way home, the mountains looked so beautiful with the soft white clouds covering their tops.

Always keep a camera with you!

Posted in Flowers, Miscellaneous, photography | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

A Visit to the Fish Market

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

When there is no more fish in the freezer, it’s time to go to Pedregal to buy more from the fishermen. My friend Cedo wanted to come along too, so off we went.

Pedrigal is a town just a few minutes south of the David airport. It’s not hard to get to, but we never would have found this particular market if we didn’t know someone who knew someone was was acquainted with someone at this shop. If you don’t know anyone though, you can usually find fish by looking for “Se Vende Pescado” signs. We’ve found two or three other fish shops but this one is our favorite because they always seem to have the best selection.

First though, Cedo wanted to visit the marina.

First, we decided to stop at the marina at the south end of town. There were some very impressive boats there that day!
It’s a small marina but really pretty.
Cedo watches the fish swimming around the dock.

There were some really big yachts at the marina. We spoke to one man who was taking care of the farthest one in the first photo, and he said the boat was from Ft Lauderdale, FL. I expect there were more boats than usual because it’s cold up north now, and people prefer to be someplace warmer at this time of year.

After the marina, we set off for the fish market.

The man says I need this big pargo (red snapper)! He’s right, and I bought it.
They will clean your fish, cut it into fillets, prepare the head and bones for soup, or prepare your fish however you ask (for $1-2 tip, well worth it)
This I found extremely interesting. They make all their own nets by hand! At first I thought they were repairing, but no. They were creating them.
A closer look, with the spool of line that is used.
Fish prices (per pound) – whole fish. If you only buy the fillet it’s usually $.50 more per pound.

I like this fish market because the prices are much better than in the supermarket, and the fish is always fresh. We’ve bought fish quite a few times from the boxes as they are being unloaded from the boats, before they’ve had time to put the fish in the coolers (like the pargo in the photo). Even in the coolers, you know it was caught only hours before. You can’t count on them having anything in particular on any given day because it depends on what they catch, but we’ve always found something good. And, they’ve always been very nice to us.

Since we were driving right by my other favorite market, the fruit and vegetable market, we stopped there too.

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I’ll have to do a more extensive post on this shop one day soon. We’re there probably twice a week!

Posted in Exploring the Area, food, Panama | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Marañón – Cashews

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

Summer in Panama is the time for cashews, both the nuts and the fruits. It’s really interesting to see how they grow!

Before living in Panama I didn’t know there is also fruit, usually called a cashew apple. It’s very delicate and doesn’t travel well which is why you only see it on the trees, not in the supermarkets. The locals here often make drinks out of it and believe it’s good for your health, especially for your stomach.

The nut itself is found on the end of the fruit. There is a toxic substance in the shell so the nuts have to be roasted. After roasting they are no longer toxic, and it’s possible to crack the shell to get the nut. No wonder cashew nuts are a bit expensive.

A pretty tree with bunches of immature nuts.
A cashew nut on an immature fruit.
A green fruit and a mature red fruit.
Fruits also come in yellow. The yellow ones tend to be a little smaller but otherwise there is no difference in flavor or use.
Posted in food, fruit, Panama | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective

This week’s photo challenge is about perspective: post a photo which is not what it seems to be. Make sure you share what the photo actually is of in its caption! For those who are looking for an extra bit of challenge, show us two photos, each one showing a different angle or interpretation of the same subject:

The bougainvillea are blooming, and everywhere you go there are masses of color in people’s yards.
But, closer inspection shows the actual flowers – tiny white ones within the color.
Tiny flower buds within the pink bracts.
A close view of a tiny white flower.

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This tall cane is seen a lot around here, and is often used for animal feed. I liked this red colored cane so I brought some home for our yard (much to the amusement of my neighbors)
The cane has some delicate looking plumes at the top, which on closer look are quite interesting.
A close look at the detail of the plume. Are these flowers or seeds?
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El Explorador in Boquete, Panama

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

Wednesday I went to Boquete to see Holly and Emma, a couple blogging friends. There is a related post HERE. Our stop at El Explorador was so interesting however, that it deserves a post of its own.

I’m not sure how one would describe El Explorador – a botanical garden? a playground? an inspirational place? all of the above? It is definitely unique. I wish I had learned the name of the lady it belongs to. She was so delightful! She told me that she has been there 50 years. She just loves working outside, and she has made the place what it is for everyone’s enjoyment. She is very happy when people visit and have a good time.

There are 28 pictures, and then 11 flower pictures in a slide show.

This is what you see at the entrance. The funny signs start from here. (I can’t make out this one though – something about this message is for the good looking people. The ugly ones are much more sought after… maybe, the last words are behind a leaf)
Discover it!
Old sewing machines with eyes, buckets with faces, more signs that say – Anything that makes you feel good will attract more, We are experts are mending broken hearts, and how is yours?, I invite you to be happy, I pay, and under the old shoe – I have no strength to renew.
Ruta = route. This sign says – If you are overcome with worries and anguish, work! Work relieves many sorrows.
Where did the woman come out? The woman came from a man’s rib, not from his feet to be trampled on, or the head to be superior, but from the side to be equal, under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved. And, the smaller sign – laughter is the orgasm of the intelligence.
Brujas? (witches?)
The rose garden isn’t blooming right now, but when it is I’m sure it’s gorgeous!
There were quite a few of these doll house sorts of things on various themes. This sign says – everyone is special. We are born capable. The trick is to find out of what we are capable.
I hate it when ugly people stare at me as if how nice it would stick … (or something like that. )
Photo ops! Cinderella
Superman/woman
and superman!
Just some of the extensive gardens.
Flowers next to one of many sitting areas.
Some of the garden area with vegetables, and a couple naranjilla plants – this fruit turns orange and is a bit tart, sort of like a citrus, and is often used to make drinks. It doesn’t transport well though so it’s rarely seen in markets.
More of the vegetable garden area.
Another very pretty spot, with a very pretty lady in the middle.
A little area where you can sit and relax. I like the TV screen that is a mirror instead.
The view is beautiful!
The owner talking to a couple other guests.
More flowers.
More whimsy – one of the many old purses hanging from this trellis.
Grownups in the playground!
We hadn’t played like this since we were kids.
Emma tests out the hammock with Holly’s help.
Holly and I played on the teeter-totter in front of shrubs with eyes, and a ghost that says – Before it was indecision… now I don’t know!
A little rock garden outside of another sitting area.
El Explorador presents the polyphonic choir if I painted (or something like that), and – TV is a mirror that reflects the success of our entire cultural system.

Please correct any errors I may have made in the translations!

There were a lot of beautiful flowers so I couldn’t resist taking some photos of my favorites.

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That’s just a taste of this unique place. It should be even more beautiful after the rains return. If any of you have a chance to visit, I would highly recommend it!

Posted in Exploring the Area, Flowers, gardening, photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Bloggers Get Together!

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

Emma of A Woman, A Plan, a Canal… Living in Panama! had a bit of vacation, and decided to spend it in Boquete where Holly of Let The Adventure Begin lives. Of course we had to take this opportunity to get together, and we had so much fun!

We met for breakfast and then set off to check out Holly’s land and site of their new home which has recently begun construction.

This is the road in, where they have made excellent progress on a retaining wall.
We checked out the site for the casita where they will live while the main house is built. The women do photos and selfies, while the men talk construction.
The foundation for the casita is underway.
Then, we walked farther up the road to the main home site.
The main home site only has materials and a storage building at this point, but much much more will be happening later on.

On the way down, we stopped at El Explorador. This is a unique and fascinating place, and will have a post of its own shortly.

After that it was time for lunch at Big Daddy’s. I was told that margaritas are required because they are the best in town (so of course I had to comply). They were right. The margaritas are excellent!

Three bloggers talking without typing for the first time!

Three bloggers all talking together without typing!

Next, we stopped at the Boquete Country Club where Emma and her friends had rented a place. They have stables, so Emma grabbed her bag of carrots and we went off to visit the horses.

Holly makes a friend.
Do you want a carrot?
The horse next door is doing his best to get involved in the action.
This, however, represents the life of these horses most of the time. They are alone in very nice stalls but probably without much human contact. Many of them shied away from us when we approached.
The view from the stables is beautiful!
Volcan Baru in the distance.

After the visit to the horses it was time to end our day together. But, plans have already been made to get together in June! It is so fun when you meet someone you have known on line, and then have an even better time in person. I’m sure there will be many more adventures together in the future!

Posted in Exploring the Area, Miscellaneous, Panama | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Water, or no water, or using what comes

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

It’s summer here, a time when water shortages are common. This summer has been much better than last and we have only had a few times without water for part of the day.

Tuesday was one of those dry days, and then it went into Wednesday. No one in the neighborhood knew what was going on. People in Boquete has been told there was no river rafting because of Carnival. The water people figured the stores were closed, everyone was at Carnival and the demand for electricity would be low, so they slowed down the flow through the hydroelectric plant which in turn decreased the flow into the river used for rafting. Since we get our water from the river, is this why we also didn’t have water?

Many things are a mystery in Panama. But, I also notice that these things are taken in stride with little complaining. People know it happens and have water set aside, and just patiently use the stored water as needed. I have found that it’s surprisingly easy to get by, and I’d much prefer problems with water than with electricity.

By Thursday afternoon though I was feeling the need for a shower about the time I heard thunder in the distance. Rainwater! Yes!

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It’s actually pretty fun bathing in the rainwater that runs off the roof, and I felt good after a nice shower and shampoo. And, wouldn’t you know, the water came back on in the house not long after. 😀

I’m also not sure what is going on with the rains. We had a couple downpours before this, and it rained some again last night. I thought it might rain this afternoon too but so far it’s just dark clouds. Some people think summer is ending and the rains are coming back, and other say it’s just something odd and the real rains don’t come back until April. Either way it’s nice to have everything turning green again.

It’s been an interesting week, especially the great day I spent with fellow bloggers in Boquete. I have lots of photos to sort through but I’ll get a post about that out soon.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Summer Rains and Flowers

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Kris Cunningham

We’re in the height of summer when it is expected to be hot and dry, but we’ve had two rainstorms in the last week. What a welcome surprise, and it seemed like the lawns and fields turned green overnight.

It rained like crazy on Friday afternoon. I went out on my bike thinking I could beat it, but got caught on the way home. It was quite a workout fighting that wind and I was soaked. Thank goodness the rain is warm here and it doesn’t matter.
Yesterday, again, we had another downpour! I was home though and only had to worry about keeping things dry in my “outside office” because again, the wind kicked up quite a bit.

With summer comes changes in the landscape. Things that are usually only green burst into flower.

I first noticed this tree because it was buzzing. Then I noticed the carpet of purple petals on the lawn.
When I looked up to find the buzzing, I saw masses of beautiful purple flowers.
If you look closely you’ll see one of the bumblebees who were creating the buzzing. They would burrow into the flowers so you could only spot them when they were flying.
I also saw this tree covered with hanging somethings.
This is one of the “somethings”. What an interesting and different…. flower? bud? seed pod? I will have to keep an eye on it and see what develops.
There are a lot of these trees with yellow/orange flowers right now.
I caught a few of the flowers hanging in the sunlight.
When you get close you can see the details of the flowers.
Most interesting of all were these pretty trees.
When you look closer, you can see bits of bright red-orange.
They aren’t flowers, but some sort of seed pods. Today I noticed black seeds coming out of the pods. I picked up a couple and they are very much like olives – black, smooth, and firm but slightly soft to the touch.

and a few other random photos –

I have planted a number of pineapple tops in my yard, and now one of them has a baby pineapple!
I passed this beautiful horse yesterday.
The lot next to my friend’s house has an interesting new lawn mower.

Surprisingly enough, while this post was in progress this evening we had a bit more rain! Can the dry season be coming to an end already? Maybe it’s making up for last year when the rains returned so late it was a problem for the country.

Posted in Exploring the Area, Flowers, Panama, photography | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments