Different Kind of Road Kill

This time of year we’re seeing a little more baby gator around.   

This little guy was not as fast as he thought. Poor fellow. Last year I hit a 4 footer and thought I ran over a log. 

Rainy Season Sunsets

What can I say? Perfect every day! 

    
I love this place!  

Beautiful Panamá

Panamá is a beautiful place.  This is the Tonosi Valley just a few minutes from the house. 

 

 
Every time I crest the hill and look down to el Valle Rico Tonosi,  I am glad to have found  my happy spot. Steep mountains and lush greenery is so inviting and peaceful. I love this place! 
 

And miles upon miles of private beaches. Wow! 

 

The Best Parts of Panamá

Most of you know I could go on and on about this place, and so far I have not been at all disappointed in my adventure here. Some things stand out better than others, while the everyday surprises just keep coming.  

 

Ground and pound rodeo? Most of the hard work is done with men tackling cows to do the branding and vaccinations. No fear! None. It is all so entertaining to watch and help. Grab a cow by the tail and bring it down! Pretty cool.  Of course just about everyone rides and ropes well too. 

 

Flowers year round. I like that too.  

 The junta is a grand tradition here. Everyone is helping someone everyday. Building a house, planting or harvesting, or maybe branding cattle?  The neighborhood will help all day for a bowl of soup and some seco. Friendly, friendly people.  
 

Abundant wildlife and birds. Over 950 species in panama. Bird watcher paradise. Monkeys and panthers and iguanas. It’s all here, everyday. Also world class fishing and surfing.  

This is a sombrero my neighbor made, on top of my drum the other neighbor made. Handmade and homemade in all varieties. I like that too.  

 In the end, there is so much more to say, but the people have been the best surprise of all. So kind and genuine. Even Asa’s original coconut Bob as pictured above is a great guy. I could go on. But I won’t for today. I love this place! 

Rain… Finally

What a difference a few days of rain can make. After 6 months the rains are here and it’s greening up quickly.  

The limbs on the small trees are growing a foot a week, and all the big lifeless trees are alive again. Pretty cool.  

 Everything is back to normal and the hungry cattle are now foraging successfully.   This is a beautiful country. The birds above actually have a pond to hunt in, and the quebradas are full once again.  I love this place.!

Rip Current

If you see these in the water don’t go in! Rip current can be easy to spot from the beach, but tricky to escape when the panic sets in.  

     

Stay calm and go with the flow. Usually  stops within a hundred yards or so, then swim parallel tint he beach. With the seasonal changes and El Niño currents like this can be more common. Be smart out there! 

  

 with a thousand miles of unguarded beaches here in Panamá it is especially important to be careful. I love this place!! Photos courtesy of Bilagi.  

Basquiña, y Pollera Montuna

 
Traditional Panamanian clothing is still popular throughout Panamà. This style here is from the 1800’s in the Los Santos region (santeña) of Panamá.   We enjoy honoring the traditions here and love the newness and variety we see every day.  

 

These outfits are real show stoppers around here as everyone is very proud of the local traditions. I love this place!

Cambutal Panama

Another beautiful day here at the end of the world. La Playa Cambutal is always peaceful and private. Today we found a little something different.  

 

This old rotten boat is evidence of better days. It reminds me of Homers Odyssee when Odyseous was trapped on Calypso Island 5 years and found his boat all decayed and dying.  

 

Always a great day at Cambutal. Light rain, 85 degrees and the tide out, we had a nice walk. My little Asa always loving the beach and exploring.  

 

I love this place!

Panamá Fishing

Friday and Saturday off the coast of Isla Cañas I am gong tuna fishing with the local representante and a few amigos from Agua Buena. Yellowfin Tuna are swarming off the coast right now and this will be my first big fishing trip since moving here. Panama is a fishing paradise with over 950 species of fish in the carribean and pacific sides of the isthmus. 2nd in the world only to the Great Barrier Reef. I am stoked for sure!  

This is a shot from a video taken last year here in Panama. You can see literally a swarming school of tuna.  Hoping after Saturday I have something on the hook to show you. Fishin is hoping. I love this place!

Morning Traffic

Once in a while things get crazy here. I have to wait on the driveway today just to the main road. The commute is just one thing I have to put up with like everyone else.  

 

Here below you see the highway backed up and delayed too. I love this place!