Volcanic Vistas, Conversing and a Couple Beers

Well back to some writing today although there will be no dearth of photos trying to convey just how beautiful some of the vistas and people I was with over the last couple days.

Wife and I In Volcan

We returned from the beach late in the day on Thursday and immediately tried to shower away some of the damned sand that seems to get everywhere.  Panamanian beaches are no different in that regard.  Feeling completely renewed a group of us headed into downtown David to visit a sports bar and then take in a movie. 

The sports bar was situated over David’s biggest casino which was pretty impressive.  I’ve never gambled (other than with some of my life choices) but it looked like a very upscale kind of place.  The sports bar was also a lot of fun with a thirty foot television screen (even though all they were showing was soccer).  It was nice to experience some civilization after spending the week “roughing” it at the beach.  My traveling companions were up to the unenviable task of being completely entertaining and my sister in law (one of the beautiful Panagals) continued her lifelong crusade of making me feel less important (a lot of fun).

Ex-Whitest Man in Panama Tomrented By Beautiful PanaGal Who's Saying She's #2
In The Casino Bar 

I had a funny moment on the way out of the place as we stopped in the casino.  I availed myself of the restroom to discover someone was apparently a very sore loser in the casino and had expressed his displeasure by urinating all over the floor.  I was at a point where I couldn’t put off what was necessary and so dodged the puddles and was taking care of business when the elderly cleaning lady walked in.

She was completely nonplussed by my presence and we had a nice conversation while she started cleaning up.  We shared a few opinions on the idiot who had left the mess.  I eventually finished up and wished her a pleasant evening.  My son in law was waiting outside the rest room and we both broke out laughing when I emerged.

We then went to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.  I liked it much better the second time through.  Most first run movies shown in Panama are still in English with Spanish subtitles.  My wife and the troublesome sister in law slept through most of the movie and both claimed afterwards that it had nothing to do with the pina coladas sent down range just before the movie.

The Architect (left), My Wife and Her Brother Right Where the Driveway Will
Enter Our Property

Yesterday was a day of travels and trying to find the time to blog (not easy but yesterday’s photo blog took a lot of time and concentration which were not plentiful quantitaties yesterday).  We started out the day visiting our land with the architect designing our future house.  I felt it was important he saw the land because I want the house situated to take advantage of the mountain views.  Seeing the land again after the detailed plans he showed us a few days ago really brought a sense of what the whole thing will eventually look like. 

Right About Where the Pool Will Be With View of Mountains

My Wife With Some of Fruit Trees And Location of Her Future Gardens

We selected the trees that would have to be removed and it looks like we’ll be able to keep a lot of the fruit trees.  I could see the wheels turning in my wife’s head as she contemplated the tropical gardens she would be able to plant far away from the ravages of a New England winter.  The nicest thing was feeling the slightly cooler weather up where the house is going to be located.

Volcan Baru (in far Distance) Seen From David

The rest of the daylight hours was spent traveling to one of the truly most beautiful spots in all of Panama.  Just up the coast from David is the road deep into the volcanic mountains of central Panama.  The province of Chiriquí is dominated by the country’s largest mountain, Volcan Baru.  Volcan is the Spanish word for volcano and it is an impressive and not completely dead volcano although it has been quiet for a long time.

Entering Volcan

On The Road to Volcan, Baru is Closer (just over the ridge)

We stopped for lunch at the architect’s mother’s (A Brazilian transplant) home in the town of Volcan.  The weather up in the mountains is completely different than the coastal plain.  The temperatures were in the comfortable 70’s and all the Panamanians were wearing sweatshirts.  The meal was exquisite and we may have discovered someone to rival my wife’s ability to converse.

Wife, Daughter and Son In Law in Volcan
Maybe a Little Too Much Wine at lunch

Wish You Could See the Mountains Better in Photo But
Daughter's Beauty More than Makes Up for That

Our Fantastic Hostess (in Purple) Sister in Law Practicing Numerology Again

The Other Side of the Table, Architect at the Head with His Girlfriend

My Wife with a Brazilian Dessert She Fell in Love With
Three Helpings Worth

They talked for a couple of hours straight and we literally had to force them apart long enough to complete our trek higher into the mountains.  We stopped at the Bambito resort where my wife and I spent our honeymoon nearly 32 years ago.  It was disconcerting to see the small shrubs we had seen during our honeymoon were now towering trees, time doth march, etc, etc.

Seems Like Yesterday Those Were Just Shrubs

We finished our trip in the mountain town of Cerro Punta which offers some truly breathtaking views; most of the time we were operating level with or above the clouds.  Most of the mountainsides were under cultivation for coffee and other products that thrive in the more temperate climate of the mountains.  There were several brooks that reminded me a lot of New England. 

Road to Cerro Punta

 

In Cerro Punta Amongst the Clouds

Entering Cerro Punta

Cerro Punta is Surrounded by Towering Volcanic Peaks
Inclduing Baru

Trying the Panoramic Thang Again in Cerro Punta

A New England Brook Misplaced in Panama

On our way back down we stopped in again at the Brazilian mother’s house for a late afternoon tea.  Apparently there were a few thousand words left unsaid when we left after lunch and my wife and she were soon decisively engaged in conversation again.  The architect had a replica M-4 pellet gun that we took some shots with while the words flew.

My Daughter Taking Aim

Last night was kind of bittersweet because we’re losing my daughter and son in law today as they start their journey back north.  We had a great pizza dinner run by some transplanted Americans and followed that up with some truly exotic beverages at a place called Gallardo’s right on the InterAmerican Highway outside David.  We were joined by my wife’s brother and his wife who’re always a lot of fun and provide the perfect foil for the sister in law who had to cease her relentless attacks on me since she now had to defend two fronts. 

American Pizza - Sister in Law Down to Number 3

 

At Gallardo's Last Night - So......Much....Fun!

A very long day filled with dreams of a future home and those breathtaking views along with some truly immense conversations.  I’m going to miss the departing two today though.

My Wife and Her Siblings with Their Mom