Retired Nomads: November 2016

Susan hooked us up with a couple that wanted to do the dry forest walk with us. Very nice couple from Canada. We didn’t see a lot, but at least we showed them the trail if they choose to do it again during their visit here in Panama.

Luda made me 2 outfits from the Saris that the tour company that we used in India (in 2013) gave me. The coral one was made into a dress and the turquoise one into pants and a tunic. They came out beautiful. It will be fun to wear them on the cruise when we get to that part of the world. I will make sure to post photos of me wearing them. Thank you Luda for all of the alterations you did on lots of my clothes and for designing the beautiful outfits with my Saris.

Our clock is winding down on our departure from Panama to embark on our next journey. It’s amusing that everyone “assumes” that we are leaving because we don’t like it here. We are just ready for new adventures. We have enjoyed it immensely here and have tried to see and do as much as possible to see the culture and nature that Panama has to offer. Plus, meeting such wonderful friends here has been a big bonus and of course will make it harder to leave.

As everywhere there are plusses and minuses of living here. We joke all the time that the country’s slogan should be “no hay”. (pronounced “no eye” and means there isn’t any) Whether it’s shopping for groceries, ordering at a restaurant or shopping for something for the condo, you get used to having a backup plan or going without. Yesterday at lunch we ordered Diet Coke and we were told “ho hay”. Iced Tea, “no hay”. Side order of Yuca, “no hay”. At Subway last week, they were out of lechuga and pepino. (lettuce and cucumber) for our sandwiches. Of course, grocery shopping has always been “an Easter egg hunt”. Just little things that just can’t bother you. There are way more plusses than minuses here. It has been an amazing experience.

We will miss the ease and cost of medical care here compared to the States. Of course, we will miss year-round temps in the 80’s. We will miss Toucans, Iguanas, Monkeys & more.

We have found homes for most of the things we didn’t ship back. We have also crammed in as many lunches and dinners with friends as we possibly could. Jim & Jennifer with the truck loaded with storage cabinets.

We got word that our shipment has arrived in Florida and is in customs. So, hopefully it is all there and intact.

We will hit the ground running when we arrive in Florida on December 5. First off we will drop our passports and visa applications at FedEx for our Chinese Visa. (after picking up our rental car) Then, to start gathering everything we will take on the world cruise. Much will be preordered and shipped to our hotel. Plus, getting our things delivered to a storage unit and getting that organized. We hope to have time to visit a few RV places. There are quite a few between Orlando and Tampa and we will check those out. We will be staying in the Port St. Lucie area which is where we stayed last time before the 2013 world cruise.

Adam & Mary bought our car and they picked that up and we will rent a car for the duration of our stay.

Francine & Rick graciously hosted our group lunch and they made Chinese Food for 12 (or 50). OMG Such yummy food! Egg rolls, beef, chicken, huge prawns & pork dishes. They are fantastic chefs and hosts. Afterwards the whole group came back here for dessert and to “go shopping” for the stuff we were giving away. We have made good progress and only a few things remain. We also put out the word to a few other people to see if they know anyone who could use the items.

Rick & Francine and Pennie

waiting patiently for Chinese Food

dessert at our place

We got a late start for Aquadulce since after our morning walk we called Sharon to see if she was available to come see if she wanted any of the things we had left. She took it all since whatever can’t be used in condo rentals will go to the orphanage. So, it feels good to have given it all away and so many will make good use of it.

Our plan for Aguadulce was shopping for clothes at Importadora Americana and lunch at Los Faroles.

Photos of the drive there: Many of the Pueblos have "art" in the median of the highway. Usually, representative of the town and sometimes just decorative.

Los Faroles is still the best food we have had in Panama. (for local fare with intense flavor.) I couldn’t remember what I ordered last time (between 2 similar choices and I ordered “wrong”. What I ordered was still very good, but I really prefer the Camarones Ajillo vs the Camarones a la Criolla. Actually, the Langostinos are even better. Besides the usual garlic butter sauce they add chopped peppers, ham, onion etc. for a very tasty sauce. Greg had the Corvina Ajilo and it was yummy. I had pure de papas (mashed potatoes) for an army and Greg had the boiled with herbs covered in the ajillo sauce. They serve a small garden salad and garlic butter to start. They have a wide variety on the menu from local “fonda food” at $4.00 per plate, pizza, sandwiches, Chinese food and fish and seafood of all types and preparations. It’s hard to believe the food is that good since it looks like a Latin American Diner.

Camarones a la Criolla

Corvina Ajilo

We didn’t fare very well at Importadora Americana. Nothing in my size in bathing suit tops. (really small or plus size, with nothing in between.) I found a pair of shorts and only got those. Greg found nothing. Ah well, hopefully I will find them in Florida.

It was getting late in the day, but we decided on doing a short visit to the salt flats and saw a ton of water birds.

drive to the Salt Flats

Black-necked Stilt & Solitary Sandpiper

Semipalmated Plover

Black-necked Stilt

Solitary sandpiper

Solitary sandpipers

Common Black-Hawk - immature

Drive back to Coronado:

The next day we drove to Panama City for lunch at Beirut for Lebanese/Middle Eastern food and then to visit the Bio Museum.

Photos from the drive to Panama City:

crossing Puente de las Americas (Bridge of the Americas)

Beirut Restaurant

inside restaurant

patio right next to the marina with fabulous views of the city

Hummus & Pitas

Shawarma de Carne

Lamb Kafta

I had Shawarma de Carne (yea, a Lebanese Restaurant and the menu was in Spanish…..) It came barely room temperature and was so tough I could not chew it. Greg had the Lamb Kafta which was better, but not great. The hummus and huge pita bread we started with was good. We tried to order baklava for dessert, but the waiter seemed to want to bring us the “on the house” dessert & hot tea. The dessert was tasty, but bite-sized. Ah well, despite all the great things we have heard about this place it was not a winner for us. However, it was an exceptionally beautiful day in Panama City and he views of the marina with the Panama skyline in the background were outstanding. The restaurant was well decorated and the seating outside was quite nice.

We drove to the Bio Museum next. Biomuseo is located on the Amador Causeway. It was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. We watched them building it in several different trips through the canal and each time we expected it to be open and it seemed to take way longer to open than expected. It didn’t finally open until the year after we moved here. It still is a work in progress. The first section was very well done as was the second. Then, the other 2 rooms were “temporary” (meaning not temporary as in special exhibit that moves in and out, but “space fillers” until the actual work is finished.) We were told they expect it to be completed in 2 more years. (probably 5 in Panama Time) The grounds and gardens were beautiful and the museum did a fine job of explaining how Panama came to be and the diversity of animals, plants and peoples that live or have lived here. There were a lot very informative and helpful young people working there to lead you from one “room” to another and answer any questions you might have.