BOATBUMMS LOG: MARCO'S VISIT

Our godchild Felicia and my brother Marco

Does anybody have an idea how to slow time down? Let me know if you do.

I don’t know if it just goes by fast in Panama or anywhere else. My Blog is running further and further away from me so time to catch up on the last several months.

After getting back from Costa Rica I had just about 3 days to get ready for my brother and family’s visit from Switzerland. They arrived on the 29^th of April, Good Friday, at 9 pm. Most stores are closed on Good Friday which should have left the streets with not all too much traffic, but better safe than sorry, I left town one hour earlier than planned. Teresa was with me as I gave her a lift into town as she was spending Easter with her family. Good thing we had left early, in Sabanitas at the McDonald’s crossing, a police car jumped in front of me and blocked both lanes, what the heck?!!! When I saw what it was for I knew we were in trouble.

An Easter procession with hundreds of people wearing Ku Klux Klan type hooded robes in all different colors marched out from the side street onto the always very busy two lane main road, blocking the two outgoing lanes.

The procession seemed endless and just as all were on the main road all stopped. 20 minutes later still nobody had moved. I had noticed a few cars behind me driving across to the other side and disappearing on a side road, they must know a shortcut. I turned around and followed them and it indeed lead a bit further up back into the main road, but just as we arrived so did the procession and we were once stuck again. We had lost precious time and I was really worried miss my brother’s arrival, what now. Quick thinking and I was on my way the opposite direction towards Colon a 20 minute drive away, there I hopped on the freeway towards Panama City bypassing Sabanitas. Good thing as the procession still was on its way when we bypassed it. I was able to do a quick stop at Rey to by flowers and drop Teresa off and arrived at the airport just as the plane was landing.

It was a happy reunion and I greeted the girls each with a bouquet of flowers, especially since it was Barbara’s Birthday. It took us a while to get everybody situated in the car so when we left the airport the ticket time I had paid for was expired and we had to go back to pay more parking money, unbelievable!

The drive home was long for my family, having been underway 24 hours the 2 hours in the car seemed never ending. It didn’t help being dark and not being able to sightsee. I had them set up with each a plate of cold cuts and cheeses, a bottle of champagne for Barbara and Marco and an alcohol free Passion fruit sparkling wine for the kids.

My family was overjoyed to enter the “Jurassic Park” gate to Summer Place. We sat down for a good night cap with Sid before everybody turned in.

They were just in ahhh when they saw their apartments and were overjoyed to find out they had separate apartments, especially the kids when they saw theirs was loaded with cookies, sweets and treats.

Whenever we had guests the deal is that they are responsible for their own breakfast, this way they can sleep in as long as they like. Lunch is subject to whatever we do that day. But dinner is always on us. I made sure they had anything they needed and the fridge is stocked including the bar.

I told them to call us on the intercom when they are good and ready for breakfast. At 10 am they called us to come up to their patio. You have no idea what awaited us. It was Merry Xmas, Happy Birthday, Happy Easter and everything else.

Merry everything

It took everybody’s help to get all the presents to our little casita where we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and a mimosa toast to finally see each other after some 7 years.

Right after breakfast Binnie’s second maid Maribel happened to come down to our garden with Dooger’s for his weekly potty run (kind of strange she hardly ever does that hmm). That was the first encounter for my family with Dooger. Barbara told me how great it was to finally see Dooger life because the first time she saw him on Skype she was wondering why I was wearing such a weird fur around my neck in the tropics.

After everybody’s photo with Dooger was taken we took my family for a walk into town, including Dooger. It’s always fun walking around with Dooger; you have no idea what a spectacle Dooger creates. We were gone about 2 Minutes when Sid’s hearing aid’s batteries died, so he decided to go change them and be right back. He was right back alright but he told me that Maribel the maid was in our house and wanted to know if I had hired her to clean. Absolutely NOT!!! Later he told me that when he stuck the key in the door there was no resistance, odd, we did lock the door. Then when he entered, now there was no sound with the unlocked door, he saw Maribel standing in front of my closet with both doors open, shopping. She noticed her wearing surgical gloves, which she never does at Binnie’s house when she cleans. Obviously she watches too many movies. But she’s right we would have never found her finger prints if we wouldn’t have caught her shopping in my closet LOL. He surprised her when he said: “what are you doing in my house?” What Sid got out of her Spanish was that I had hired her to clean. When he told me she was in our house I rushed back and when I came in she indeed was sweeping the floor, the trash bag was out of the bin and she immediately started mumbling that she was all done with the work at Binnie’s (BS) and that she thought she’d clean down here and if I had a problem with that. Do I have a problem with that, oh yes, big time, you are in my house without my consent. She started mumbling again not to tell Binnie before I shut the door behind her. Later I found out she had told my brother and family that she had to clean their room so they left it to her. Those rooms are not her job.

Now this explains why Cindy had found the front door unlocked the first time we were in the States and why my expensive perfume and some other creams and stuff were gone after our second time in the States and another time the 200 bucks I had left on the table went missing. I wonder how many times she’s been invading our house and what all she has taken that we don’t know of, yet. She was confronted but of course lying like a thief, oops she is one. It was a good story she told us but really she watches way too many movies. Unfortunately she is still employed here with no punishment other than knowing that if anything disappears again she’ll take the rap. Needles to say we changed all locks. It’s just petty theft but it does hurt your feelings especially when you treat a person nice and with respect, then this. Once more I learned: you can be friends with the locals but you can’t trust them. We saw this in Venezuela, Colombia and unfortunately here, if they get a chance they will use it, it’s a shame.

So Sid could hear again and I had kicked Maribel out so we joined my family who was still wondering around in town.

Puerto Lindo Boardwalk

We did a quick stop at Sarah’s so that the kids could see and touch their first parrot.

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Ramon was more interested in the coconut tree he was fascinated with the coconuts, so we schlepped quite a few back to the house. On the way back we took them (my family not he coconuts) up to the Bambu Lodge, which is a really cute little Bed and Breakfast, and enjoyed a cold beer. While sitting there Barbara saw a strange bird in the tree which turned out to be several toucans eating on berries, that was great. She was leaning towards the wall and swears she had a tarantula walk across her shoulder and down her leg, yikes!!!

For dinner I treated them to a nice Chateau Briand and since Barbara’s spent her BD on the plane and we had just missed Felicia’s I had a Birthday Party dinner for everybody. We had presents for everybody and Felicia had just turned 16, received 16 presents, one for each year we had missed. It was a fun dinner and everybody was happy.

Marco, really did like it, he said so. So did Ramon too.

On Sunday they met all our friends at Ping Pong which was huge fun and everybody was as eager to meet my family as I was to introduce them.

Then of course I had to cook Marco his favorite “Buffalo Wings”.

On Monday we let them rest but pretty much every day after there was a trip planned.

The Gatun Locks were one of the first things on the list. No matter how many times I have seen it, it just amazes me again and again. The Gatun Locks was a first for Sid and he enjoyed it just as much as my family did.

Spare Parts

Now I know how they attache the containers

Starting the engines to get out of the lock

From here it’s a short drive to Fort Lorenzo where the Chagres River meets the Caribbean Waters.

The heavy rain caused the land slide. Road was impassible

Fort Lorenzo

Chagres River

Pods

Our godchild Felica

and her silly father

Guanabana or Soursop

We enjoyed to stroll along the lonely Tortuguita (little turtle) beach and had lunch at the Shelter Bay marina.

Oops

My nephew Ramon is a huge military fan and he about flipped out when he saw the US Navy seal helicopters near the marina.

We met Kim and Steve of North Star at the restaurant for lunch and just before we left the Toriba crew arrived. We had just seen them in Puerto Lindo a few days back. Kim told me that there is an abandoned residential area, houses all torn down, all you see is the foundation where the once beautiful homes of Canal employees ones lived. We drove up that road and where she told us we’d see monkeys we got out of the car. At first we did not see anything but we did heard the rustling of tree branches which hinted that there were some present. After getting our eyes adjusted to the greenery we did finally see one then two then uncountable little head of Capuchin monkeys peaking behind the leaves. Not minutes later I found a howler monkey. We had capuchins on one side of the street and on the other the howlers, what a treat. It was fun watching them swing from tree to tree.

One trip we drove to the north coast past Nombre de Dios to the very end of the road,

Viento Frio

I think they want you to play bumper car here!

turned around and drove to the Turtle Cay Marina and enjoyed a fun day at the very beautiful beach we had all to ourselves. My family could not believe that we were the only ones enjoying the beach.

and he says he does not like beaches!!!

Fixing the tale gate

Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate; waves were heading right into the bay which made it impossible to take my family to Mame Island. Instead we headed out to the boat, had some lunch in the cockpit, then the kids jumped in the water and enjoyed swimming around the boat, cleaning some barnacles off the hull, snorkeled and had fun using the hookah Sid had set up for them. Ramon especially enjoyed that.

The waves subsided the following day so we were able to take them to Mame Island in the afternoon. As for all guests we had this was also their favorite. The snorkeling was great especially since Debi of Runner showed the kids all kind of underwater critters, they were fascinated.

Felicia

Manuela

Marco

This is not a swimming pool

The water is this clear

Sid's feet

Not new fashion just covering up from the sun

Photo taken from underwater. Only Felicia's chin is under water. She's going to kill me when she sees this posted.

Sand facial for my brother

Jim and Heather invited us to pizza night on their property. It was fun especially since they did this already for Marco’s daughter Tiffany when she was here. Arriving there Jim took my family on a tour and they were able to see their first wild two toed sloth. The pizzas were as always delicious and we had no problem partying way into the night. It was a fun evening.

El Tracko

Interesting flowers on the tree trunk

Driveway to Jim and Heather's

And End of driveway

going on a hike

Two-toed sloth

Jim prepping the pizza dough

Heather prepping pizza

Oops, pile up!!!

Visiting the Embera village is always a huge success. Tiffany had told them so much about it they could barely wait to see for themselves. Even though I have visited the village numerous times I still learn more and more of the traditions of these unique Indians.

Ramon getting a tattoo

My family had never eaten Lobster before. Mario came through for me and brought us a bag full of Langostinos. Felicia and Marco had fun cleaning their first lobsters and nobody in the family had a problem enjoying them for dinner.

Pat loves the family life and insisted on us spending a night at her place. Marco and family stayed in the Chocolate house while Sid and I stayed in the main house. We brought Binnie’s Cajun Microwave with us and roasted a 30 lb piglet from her neighbor.

Hey guys common they are roasting pig

OK we're waiting

Pat: "Anybody a Mojito?!!!"

OK guys where is the piggy?!

The tail is mine!!!!

Rest of the preparations

Panamanian style Yucca

Man this is good

Happy Pat

Marco either happy or peaceful?

Ramon definitely happy

Definitely happy dogs

Oh man was it good. The juiciest and most tender piggy we ever cooked. Pat fell in love with Ramon and knowing what a military fan he is and her son being in the military, she gave Ramon his special coin. Wow, Ramon was beside himself receiving such a special gift.

Portobelo was on the plan as well, we took the water taxi across, hiked the forts then had the taxi drop us off at Anita’s where her and her sister Maddy treated us for lunch. On our drive back to Summer Place, there was a stench in the car and Sid and I simultaneously looked at Ramon and said: “Ramon!!!” accusing him of farting. He in return said: “Papi!!!” so all turned their heads towards Marco, he admitted to farting, which was the funniest part. So now we stop at the local store to buy some soda. While moving out of the car the stench was there again, it was gross. Then Ramon just before he got out of the car made some funny gagging noises as he ran out of the car screaming “pew, pew, I need water, I need water.” We all looked at him like what the heck??? Then we realized that he had something “jammed” between his toes and looking down at my feet I noticed that my shoe had, well had some dog doo doo stuck to it. Poor barefoot Ramon!!! Poor Marco’s blamed and admitted fart!

Molas sold by the Kuna Ladies

A cute little lady dog

Exploring Portobelo

My family loved Mame so much they wanted to spend another full day on the island which we did. It was fun and Felicia did get, even with warning, a burned butt.

Backside of Mame

Sid having fun

Beach treasures

We do have so many annoying land crabs making holes everywhere; Sid started hunting them with a pellet gun. Ramon had no problem joining him and every free moment he was hunting in the yard. I watched him a few times as he crawled on all four, you could clearly see he was a soldier. It was huge fun watching him. He told his mom that he will tell Binnie that if she ever needed a crab hunter, she could just call him, he will come on his vacation to hunt crab. He also said that when he has a girlfriend he thinks he would like to take her here for vacation. By the way Ramon is 12 years old.

The last night they were at Summer Place we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Binnie and her Sid. My Sid had BBQ’d a leg of lamb. Yum! After dinner Sid gave Ramon his Vietnam Service Medal, he was speechless and you should have seen his eyes light up and Ramon said, “Now they have to believe me at school that I have an uncle who went to Vietnam!”

Unfortunately the two week vacation for my brother’s family came to an end and since they hadn’t seen Panama City yet, we decided to spend their last night in town. You may remember the story when their daughter Tiffany, me running over a couple of chickens, which they never let me live down. Even Marco and family brought it up every time we saw a chicken alongside the road. So here we are driving into town when all of a sudden there was a bang then feather’s flying and sticking to the windshield then I saw this reddish-brown dove hung up with her wings on the radio antenna then gone, except for the feathers still clinging on the antenna. Poor bird, it was really too funny and I am definitely keeping my reputation up.

We had a fun day in Panama City overlooking the city from Ancon Hill, stopped at the fire department where Marco and Ramon enjoyed a mini tour of the Station, drove out to the Causeway with magnificent view over town. We wore my family out all they wanted to do now was crash at the hotel. We enjoyed a nice Italian dinner with Anita and her sister Maddy who stayed at the same hotel.

The drive early in the morning to the airport was quite as everybody was sad the wonderful time had come to an end. We did have nothing but fun and it was really great to have my family here.

Later we found out that when they went through passport and luggage control, they took away the big conch we had gotten in Trinidad. What a shame. No shells can be taken out of Panama. They even wanted to take the raw sugar away, but Barbara said when she started yelling and screaming at them they stepped back. Good for her.

Here a few nature photos: