Gringos in Panama

  Put Your Pants On! It happened too fast.  The month is gone and it’s time to put pants on.  The above view has been replaced with this view: We are having rainforest withdrawals,  remembering when morning coffee looked like this: with Clawd, the iguana  and the agoutis’ playing tag in the garden. Since returning, It HAS been good to hear the voices of family members and catch up with friends. Colorado IS a pretty good place to be. I feel a sense of responsibility to those of you who have read the posts on this blog and might be contemplating a trip to Panama. We would most definitely encourage anyone to embark on this adventure but with eyes wide open.  Like everywhere one goes, there are a few unpleasant elements for which to be ready: Mosquitoes and Mysterious Bitey Bugs:   Don’t forget the bug spray. Panamanian mosquitoes are sneaky! Often we had no idea we were being snacks for the little buggers but would spend the evenings itching and applying ...

  You Just Never Know What You’ll See Yep. A chihuahua standing guard from atop the house, a hitch-hiker on the hood of the car, a music video shot in the park, (Does anyone know who this is???) a parking lot used by the Embera Indians on their route from  San Antonio (their village) to Gamboa and a woman returning home with groceries. “A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Na…a..ame,” and Cricket - “We will never understand this ga…a..ame!” 😊 Retired school busses rocking new looks, what teamwork by little bitty ants can do, this kind man who shared his story, craft and passion with us, the view of a farm from high atop a hill, the lucky shot of a monkey with a not-so-good camera, massive trees, ships at sunset with a good man, signs you feel you should understand but don’t, and signs of simple and true beliefs, good friends, New Friends: Pam, a delightful English woman from Peru and Gamboa! and Ivan (pronounced Eee- Vaughn) aka Shorty Mies and special people to share it all wi...

  Kirby’s Biggest Fear and Flower Power Gamboa is a “Birder’s” paradise.  With over 1,000 species in the area, people come from all over the world for a glimpse of that elusive, rare bird to add to their collection.   While some birds are difficult to find, a “Birder” can be spotted from far away - large, floppy hat up top, expensive, high powered camera or binoculars around the neck, fanny pack about the waist and hiking boots round out the look.  Kirby has never understood this - “It’s just a BIRD,” he says.  But now, his biggest fear may be happening - could we be turning into - (insert scary music in your head) BIRDERS?!? Over the last month we have been eager to catch sight of a toucan and have taken several walks with this goal in mind. After learning what to listen for, with craned necks we have been chasing their sound all over Gamboa   as they flit from tall tree to tall tree.  We have not yet seen one in the wild, up close and personal. ...