Monday, December 23, 2013

December 9 to 23 Merry Christmas!

Where does the time go? Last week we did our usual walks either around the neighborhood or the beach. It seems our Peregrine Falcon has moved on. We were hoping he would stick around longer, but he was just passing through and spent quite a few days here. The rooster is a common site here. Even really nice houses have chickens, ducks etc. So crowing roosters is common as you walk the neighborhood. The hen and chicks were across the street.

 


 no, he wasn't dinner

 female Barred Antshrike

 sunset through window on our floor
 sunset from the social area on roof
 

This week was quite busy for us. Wednesday we did our usual Picasso Happy Hour and Thursday was my birthday and after our morning walk we drove to the Playa Blanca area and spent the night at the JW Marriott there. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ptyjw-jw-marriott-panama-golf-and-beach-resort/
We had a free stay there and thought it would be a great way to see the surrounding area and celebrate my birthday. Very beautiful area and we would consider living there except the only shopping is back here in Coronado or Penenome in the other direction. The roads are well maintained in there and it was nice not to see security gates and razor wire or big dogs guarding the houses. Since we were only spending 1 night there the lack of restaurants or grocery stores was not an issue, but if someone were to stay there for a week or more, it could get boring.
The Marriott is a beautiful property with around a dozen pools on their huge grounds, as well as the beach which was a pretty but not short walk to it. We had arrived to have lunch and had planned to have my birthday dinner at their Steak House. There is a Japanese Restaurant there, but it was not open for lunch. So, we ate at the only restaurant that was open. Had a nice meal outside on the patio watching the rain. We had wanted to rent an ocean kayak or go horseback riding, but the rain persisted. We had some free perks and chose the fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, 2 iced coffee drinks and a couple of diet cokes. After our refreshments on our balcony, we changed into swimsuits as the rain finally stopped. We went for a long walk on the beach and then grabbed some lounge chairs and relaxed around one of the pools. Then it was time to freshen up and go to dinner. The Steakhouse is only open on the weekend, so we again went back to the one restaurant that was open. The Japanese restaurant was open for dinner, but the menu didn’t look that interesting. We had a great dinner. I had Pollo Olla Tamal and Greg had fish. We skipped dessert since it was exactly the same selections as for lunch. (and we calorie splurged for dessert at lunch) We went for a long walk around the grounds after dinner.






 
Next morning we waited for the little shop to open that had fresh baked pastries. It didn’t open until 9:30 and the baked goods took a while to be brought out. We had some nice pastries and then went for a long walk on the beach. Then, it was time to check out and drive home. Since only the same restaurant was open for lunch we opted to stop at Carlitos for empanadas on the way home. We did find out that the Steakhouse was open for lunch, but isn’t on the same grounds as the hotel. It is actually at their golf course. We drove around the area before returning home and found it. We also saw some Black Bellied Whistling Ducks! We used to see them all the time in Florida and these were the first ones we have seen here.
 
That night we went to another dinner & play at Picasso. This one was a British sitcom called “Smalls Talk”. It featured locals and was hilarious.
Smalls Talk is a fabulously-funny English situation comedy:
“5 girlfriends and the hostess' unwanted wimp of a husband, Rex, get together for a Lady Lace lingerie party. Under the influence of Rex's lethal Pea-Pod wine, the gals decide to give their dawdy colleague a makeover, tongues (and shirt buttons) loosen and consequences are hilarious... Super!” 

 Claire (the owner of Picasso played a judgmental woman), Greg’s barber Wayne played Sexy Rexy and his wife Lise played the woman that was the Lady Lace Representative for the party of 5 girlfriends and Rex the wimpy husband who is snared into giving his opinion on the makeover of the “ugly duckling” who wants to win back her cheating husband. With the help of Rex’s Pea Pod Wine, much fun is had…… The dinner was Asian themed and very good. The play was hilarious.
Saturday we went to the CASA Christmas Party at Coronado Golf. There must have been at least 100 people there! Music was provided by Poco Loco and a DJ played during the intermissions. The food was good and we had great dinner companions. I sat next to a wonderful lady named Sally. She and her husband also live here at Coronado Bay. We both are travel/cruising nuts so we talked non-stop travel! Lots of people dancing the night away. Very nice evening.
Tomorrow we are going to a special menu Christmas Eve dinner at La Teca. I’m cooking dinner for Christmas. I went in search of a whole chicken to roast and there are plenty of “Pollo Panama” in all the stores. All come with the head still attached! Some included the feet……Cooking is such a joy here!
 
All along roadsides are these life sized dolls stuffed with hay and firecrackers. Panamanians celebrate a tradition of burning 'Judas Dolls' at the end of the year. According to tradition, Judas Dolls represent the passing year. They hold all that would rather be forgotten and left behind. On December 31st, the dolls are loaded with firecrackers, and ignited with fire at midnight. Panamanians ritualistically burn the past and welcome a clean slate for the New Year.
 
For anyone interested, I have added a new album and added more photos to the previous one on Picasa.
Many thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes via email and Facebook.
Merry Christmas to all & a Happy New Year!

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