We had a fantastic 3 days & 2 nites at Los Mandarinos in
El Valle. http://www.losmandarinos.com/ Just
click on the British flag to read in English. It is located in a beautiful
garden setting and the stone buildings look like something seen in Europe.
Reception & apartments
pool area
outside our room
Casa de Lourdes
We arrived too early to have lunch so we went for a drive.
We saw a large beautiful black & yellow bird fly across the road and land
in a huge bunch of bamboo. We stopped to check it out and noticed these long
hanging nests and tons of birds. More curious were the sounds they were making.
Something like a high pitched bubbling, a bit like many stones being dropped
into a well. We watched them for quite a long time and went back several times
over our stay to watch them diving in and out of the nests and some appeared to
be weaving theirs nests. There were some Grackles there as well and the
Oropendola were fighting them off. We were told later by our hiking guide that
the Grackles eat the eggs.
Oropendola
Oropendola in flight
nests in the bamboo
Oropendola
they were building a nest
We had lunch at Carlitos and talked to a couple from Ocala,
Florida here on vacation and staying at the Golf here in Coronado. They are
considering making a move and were curious how we watch TV etc. So, I gave her
a couple of the sites that I use.
We hiked the short trail by the waterfall (the same area
where we zip lined). We saw a few birds, but not much. We did see a beautiful
dragonfly that I don’t think we ever got a decent picture of, but it had cool
blue bulging eyes and very colorful. Here
is a photo of another one.
natural pool
We stopped at the local panaderia for some orejas to tide us
over until our dinner reservation at 7:00.
Panaderia Cano (bakery)
Then it was time to check in. After
we got settled in we walked around the grounds and then stopped at O’Pedros
Irish Pub at the hotel for our welcome drink which was interesting. Made with
Seco and fruit juices. We had hoped to try it for lunch but it did not open
until 3:00, while the “gourmet” restaurants on the grounds opened for lunch. The
rooms are large and a bit caverness. They had room to have a second chair and
perhaps a table would have been nice. The bathroom had heated towel racks.
Rooms were clean and the bed comfy.
We had dinner reservations for Casa de Lourdes which is
rated #2 on tripadvisor with Buon Appetito being #1. (the pizza place we often
go to that is run by people who moved here from Italy) http://www.lacasadelourdes.info/ I had not given a thought to how cool the
mornings and evenings could be in El Valle and did not bring a sweater, which
would have felt good since the dining is outside beside the pool in their
lovely garden setting. Greg had a nice fish crusted in cashews and I had an
actual Black Angus ribeye. Good steak is heard to come by here and it was quite
tasty. We heard a loud plop in the direction of the pool and I found a huge
frog swimming around probably wondering what the heck kind of pond he jumped
into. The food and setting are quite good here (with prices to match), but the
25% off we get with our Pensionado cards made it extra special. Lol The evening
was topped off with an ice cream & brownie sundae named The Heart Attack.
Casa de Lourdes
We spent the rest of the evening going through pictures and
went to bed early since we had to get up early to meet our hiking guide (the
included tour with the room). There was a small tour group staying there which
made the omelet station at breakfast really back up. I don’t think any of them
even tried any of the traditional Panamanian dishes that were served. (yucca
and chorizo etc.) There was fresh fruit and other things to choose as well. Our
hike was nice and our guide was interesting. We walked from the hotel to one of
the entrances to Cerro Gaital which is the highest mountain in El Valle, but we
didn’t climb to the top. We did see a hawk and a few other birds.
our guide
Broad-winged Hawk
Plant that looks like metal
dragonfly
Since the Pub didn’t open until 3:00 we decided to try Ty’s
Sports Bar that many people have told us is really good and they have a pet
monkey there after 1:00. It was not open, so we tried to find another
restaurant that also was not open. So, we decided to try the Chinese restaurant
and it was good, but not wow. After lunch we visited the Orchid Center which dedicates
itself to the task of cultivating and conserving endangered local and regional
orchids. At the moment 147 different kinds of orchids can be seen. While the
orchids are the highlight, the local birds steal the show. The owners put out
bananas and coconut and they flock in to eat. Many different types of Tanagers
and even the huge Chachalacas barged in. A small woodpecker (who received great
respect from the other birds) stopped by to see what the fuss was all about,
but left as fruit is not his diet. We saw a couple of new birds there. We sat
& watched them for quite a while. We went back to the hotel and went for a
short hike on the same trail we did that morning.
Orchid Center
Crimson-backed Tanager
Blue & Gray Tanager & Crimson-backed Tanager
immature Tanager
male Yellow-faced Grassquit
Rufous-tailed hummingbird
Male White-shouldered Tanager
Clay-colored Thrush
Blue-gray Tanager & Streaked Saltator
Buff-throated Saltator
Gray-headed Chachalaca
We had a 7:00 dinner reservation at Triana, the Spanish
restaurant at the hotel (and also where breakfast was served). The menu
descriptions did not do their food justice. WOW. Very tasty food. Greg had
chicken rolled around a spiced cream cheese mixture with a balsamic reduction
and I had a stack of 2 smoked pork chops with cheese & a tasty sauce.
Grilled veggies on the side. A lackluster flourless brownie was dessert.
Next morning we went walked the grounds and took a walk
in another direction from the hotel before breakfast.
Red-legged Honeycreeper
Why yes, this is my best side....
Red-legged Honeycreeper
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous-breasted Wren
female Yellow-faced Grassquit
vegetable garden
bananas
Then we packed up and
checked out of the hotel. A Butterfly Haven recently opened so we checked that
out before lunch. They did a very nice job and had quite a few types of
butterflies. They also have a small outdoor refreshment area that was very
nice. We have been to butterfly displays at Cypress Gardens in Florida and a
huge Butterfly Farm in Penang, Malaysia, but this small one was very well done
and the young Panamanian guy that showed us around was very knowledgeable and
proud to show off the butterflies and the special plants selected for each type
of butterfly.
Butterfly Haven
café at the Butterfly Haven
Passion Flower
Blue Morpho
One last try to see if Ty’s Sports Bar was open for lunch
and it was not, so we drove back towards Coronado and stopped at Taverna
Firenze where we ordered garlic bread & pizza. Complimentary Limoncello
that was quite good! We got back home with about 2 hours to get ready to go to
Picasso’s.
It’s been low tide since we got back from El Valle and
March is Jellyfish season here. Huge ones…..that have washed up on shore. They
started appearing the end of Feb and shouldn’t last too much longer. Lots of
people in the water, so I guess they aren’t concerned. We have watched very
carefully where we walk. I found another starfish, this one is orange and this
time I am trying the recommended rubbing alcohol to preserve it since the
bleach solution I used on the last one disintegrated it. So far so good,
tomorrow it is ready to be taken out to dry. I'll add the pictures of the Jellyfish in my next entry.
Well, we finally committed to spending the next year in
this very condo we are in now. We were never able to get in to see the one at
Bahia in Gorgona that the couple there now extended for 2 more weeks and
another option became available, but they only will lease for 6 months. So, it
must be a sign we were meant to stay here. The property manager is checking
with the owner to see if they will paint and re-grout the showers.
Well, I am really behind in keeping up this blog, it took
forever to go through all the bird pictures. For those with way too much time on their hands there are more birds & butterflies and other photos in the El Valle album on Picasa.
Until next time……
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