It’s Not a Zoo…November 18 to 25

We had a fabulous time at Gamboa. Seeing these animals in the wild and remembering it’s the jungle and not a zoo, is pretty awesome. Gamboa Rainforest Resort sits right on the Chagres River. We were glad that we drove to the Discovery Center and found it the night before as finding it in the dark the next morning would have been tough. We saw a Capybara (largest rodent in the world and closest relative is the guinea pig) cross the road in front of us. The reviews of the hotel were all over the page, but we really liked it. We had a nice room with a balcony and a hammock on the 6th floor. Beautiful view of the pool, a field with quite a few capybara and the Chagras River and jungle all around. Breathtaking view! Before dinner we walked around the grounds and saw tons of beautiful birds. Several new ones. We got checked in and had their Mexican Buffet for dinner. It’s a different theme every night. It was quite tasty. We did the free night safari, but didn’t see much. We saw a Capybara and an Armadillo. We went to bed early so we could get up before sunrise and be at the Discovery Center when it opened. (not to be confused with the Discovery Center in the city where they have everything from toothpaste to canoes...lol)  

view from lobby

 

View from balcony

 

 

 Capybara

 Agouti

 

The Discovery Center is located on Pipeline Road in the Soberania National Forest. The observation tower is 100ft/32 meters high. You go up a spiral staircase that has 174 steps, with resting and observation platforms every 25ft / 8 meters, until you reach the top deck which is higher than the forest canopy. There are also various hiking trails to search for birds, monkeys etc. There is a Welcome Center with a small store to buy cold drinks and souvenirs.  

 

  sunrise from the tower

Tower at Discovery Center

Unfortunately, the breakfast buffet didn’t open until 6:30 so we took some protein bars and had those along the way. We walked the trail to the tower and climbed it and watched the sunrise. We could hear tons of howler monkeys and birds, but didn’t see any. Finally, I saw a Keel-billed toucan fly into a tree. It was misty so pics aren’t so good. Then it flew off and then 2 more followed it. Never did see them in the tree. Since there weren’t any birds seen above the treetops, we headed down to the hiking trails. We have decided birding is like fishing...long bouts of nothing interspersed with lots of action. One of the trails lead to a lake and we saw tons of birds there. Several areas on the trails had lots of birds.  

  Keel-billed Toucan

  Caiman

 

 Leaf-cutter Ants

 Great Tinamou

We took a break at the Welcome Center and watched the tons of hummingbirds at their numerous feeders.

 

 

 

 

The fee to get in to climb the tower and use the facilities there is $30, but since we are residents we get in for $10.00 each. Plus, $5.00 of each admission is given back to you to spend at their little store. I got a pair of earrings and some drinks and snacks. Then, we went back out and climbed the tower again and hiked some more until it started pouring rain. We headed back to the car and went for lunch at the hotel. After lunch we went down to the pool for the afternoon. The resident cat climbed up in my lap and fell asleep.

 

 

The evening buffet was Caribbean and again was tasty. We skipped the night safari and spent the evening looking up the new birds we saw.  

The next day we slept in a bit and had the breakfast buffet and headed to Pipeline road. We saw a lone howler monkey. They are really loud! We just followed the barking until we found it. Later we saw tons of Capuchins and Greg saw a Spider Monkey. Again, we saw tons of new birds. We also saw 2 Coatimundi (members of the raccoon family). They crossed our path so fast we didn’t get pictures. We went back to the Discovery Center and climbed the tower again and went to the lake. No rain today! Got more snacks and another pair of earrings with our admission credit.

  Fasciated Antshrike (male)

 

 

 White-whiskered Puffbird

 

 Howler Monkey

 

 Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Leaf Toad

 

 Broad-billed Motmot

Streaked Flycatcher

 

 Peach-chinned Parakeets

 

Female Antshrike

Blue-crowned Motmot

  Blue-crowned Motmot

 

 Gray-headed Chachalaca

Gray-headed Chachalaca

 Tropical Mockingbird

 Keel-billed Toucans

 

 

 Tropical Kingbird

 Crested Oropendola

Slaty-tailed Trogan (female)

 Orange-headed Lizard

Central American Whiptail Lizard 

 

Went to lunch at the Marina and sat outside enjoying the Chagres River. Went for a hike in the area and then spent some time at the pool. That night for our anniversary dinner we went to the Chagres View Restaurant for a “fancy” meal for our anniversary. Dinner was very good. I had a nice steak and Greg had sea bass. Our appetizers were amazing. We split the lobster gratin and Sausage and Brie. Desserts were lackluster, but OK.

 

We slept in the next morning and packed up and drove into the city to shop at PriceSmart and the Discovery Center. Then we stopped for lunch at the mall on the way home.

As we were driving into the parking garage here at the condos our friend Sharon invited us to Picasso for a community friend’s birthday. We don’t know her well, but went and sat with 2 couples we have met before. The DJ music was so loud no one could talk and our ears were ringing. The one couple invited us back to their place, but we begged off since we really needed to unwind after the 3 day trip and the drive from the city.  

The next day we went for our morning walk around the neighborhood expecting to be bored after seeing so many new birds in the rainforest, but we saw a couple new ones. We got caught in a torrential downpour on our walk back home. There were some locals watching us walk back into the parking garage and I rung out the bottom of my shirt and they just laughed. I’m sure they were thinking "Crazy Gringos"! 

 

I still have photos to upload to the Web Albums, but will have to wait until after Thanksgiving. Hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Til next time…..

 

 

November 11 to 17

This past Monday’s holiday (Independence from Spain) wasn’t as busy as the last ones. A few more people than usual, but really not a big deal.

Wednesday was busy at Picasso again. About 20 people at our table. Met some new people that just moved down and another couple that come once a year for a month until they can move down here. Family obligations are keeping them from moving now.

Thursday we went to the bank and Greg had all of the documents and the application filled out as well as answering some other questions the bank had. We go back next Tuesday to see if we are approved to open a bank account.

We then drove to Penenome for my hair appointment and to have lunch at the place we couldn’t find last time. We had been given the wrong name (not even close) so that explained why we didn’t find it. Mezon de Santa Cruz restaurant is themed like an old Spanish-themed monastery. Statues of the saints adorn the decor. Food was to die for. Beautiful setting. We sat outside in the courtyard and enjoyed the fantastic weather and enjoying Langostinos in garlic sauce and Corvina in garlic sauce.

 

 Greg in the courtyard of Meson de la Santa Cruz Restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round building sells cakes in Panama City

My hair appointment didn’t go so well. Last time I was pleased. This time I don’t know what happened. I think I confused her with only wanting my grey touched up to my natural color underneath, since my highlights were still really good. I normally only have the highlights done a couple times a year. Since she doesn’t speak English and my Spanish is meager, I looked up a bunch of phrases and wrote them down hoping that would help her. The cut was good again, but somehow matching my natural color (which my old hairdresser told me is medium to dark blonde), meant to her dark brown. Plus, I only had spots of highlight left. There was a lady there that spoke some English and she was trying to help explain what I wanted. So, I walked out with dark brown hair and she added in some highlights (and charged me quite a bit more ($25 more than my last visit). So, I guess I will bite the bullet and put on my big girl panties (granny panties?) and try to color my own hair with whatever I can find in the stores here. There aren’t any places like a Sally’s beauty supply here so it will be grocery store stuff. I will ask around again and see if someone else can recommend someone who can do a gringas hair.

Tonight we went to a play at Picasso. "El Grande de Coca Cola”. Billed as a hilarious laugh-a-minute, "Spanglish" comedy by the Boquete Community Players. “A simple show that is a laugh a minute and ridiculously wonderful! The action takes place in a terrible part of Trujillo, in a nightclub, which isn't too far from terrible itself. A local impresario, Senor Don Pepe Hernandez, has announced in the local newspapers that he is going to bring international cabaret to Trujillo. Eventually he succeeds, and we see the cabaret within the cabaret as it unfolds. A company known as the "Low Moan Spectacular' causes all the laughs, as conjuring tricks don't work, people trip up, a blind American folk singer falls off the stage, chorus girls collide, etc.”

Exclusive Dinner-Theatre Menu: 

“We have had collaboration from external chefs for this show's menu and are super excited to share it with you. Dinner will be as follows: 

* A welcome beverage of Wine*/Beer*/Sangría/Iced-Tea/Mojito

* Fresh Seabass Ceviche with Tropical Salad

* Chicken & Veggie Jalfrezi Stew, Fresh Greek Yoghurt and Coconut Rice 

* Heavenly Coconut Flan (by Café Viana) with fresh Strawberries” 

Food was very good and the play was just pure silliness. The actors were hilarious and the Spanish easy to understand and there was some French and Italian as well. The premise of the play was Don Pepe couldn’t get professionals so he uses his family, who of course are not very talented. Very enjoyable night.  A nice couple that is staying for a month to check out Panama for retirement sat with us eager to pick our brains about living here. They have only been here 3 days, but so far they are liking it here.  

So, I bought some hair dye and despite the light blonde shade I’m still way darker than usual, but it is a start. I was worried with so much dyeing so close together my hair would fall out. LOL Next time we are in the city I will see if I can find a highlight kit that should help. This is closer to my natural color I suppose. I’ll try again in 4 weeks to give my hair time to recover.  

Today we ran into 2 couples walking on the beach that we met at Picasso over the past couple of weeks. Both seem to really like Panama.  

Dad is scheduled to come out the middle of January…exciting news! So I am busy researching things to visit.  

The 22^nd of November is our 22^nd anniversary though we have been together 27 years now! We are spending 3 nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. http://www.gamboaresort.com/ 

We leave on Wednesday and return on Saturday. It’s near the city and is very close to Gatun Lake. We plan on hiking on Pipeline Road and visiting the Discovery Center. http://www.pipelineroad.org 

Here are a couple of photos from this week’s walks.

 

 Clay-colored Thrush

 Crimson-backed Tanager

 Blue-grey Tanager

 Yellow-crowned Night Heron

 

This little House Wren appeared to be singing and bouncing along with the loud music from the house next door. The birds were really enjoying the ripe bananas and gave us great photo ops.

 

Greg is off to the dentist for a tooth that has been hurting a bit, tomorrow we go back to the bank in hopes of getting our bank account set up so I can finish my visa. Then Wednesday we are off to the Rainforest!

 

Until next time.....