Mountainous Trek(Delayed Post #4)

An editorial comment here. We got back to the condo on Sunday, February 23rd and learned the condo internet would be down until Wednesday at the earliest as they are installing a new wi-fi system. This means I can’t post this as I am writing it and I’ll continue to write and then post them all when the internet returns. I’m sorry, because this means you’ll get an avalanche of news once Frail Deeds does return and you won’t be able to ration your exposure to my blighted text. So, you’ve got that to look forward (dread) to. I’m breaking up the posts into a couple parts. This fourth part will cover the Monday through Wednesday time.

Wife and I at Boquete Fairgrounds

Although our sunset crew was reduced with the departure of my daughter and the FBR, we still had the Rhode Island friends. We were blessed with good sunsets both Sunday and Monday nights. By Tuesday we had enough time to recover from the exertions involving hosting the FBR, a sure sign of aging, since the rest was needed. We set out to show our friends some of the beautiful Panamanian countryside. We wanted them to see more of the mountainous area surrounding Boquete which had the added benefit of cooler temperatures. Instead of the taking the fastest route we followed some back roads through the Gualaca district which allowed them a truly picturesque drive.

Wife At the Overlook

RI Friend with Boquete in Background

Wife Worshipping Flowers in Museum

Obligatory Shot of us with Boquete in Background

RI Friends

We arrived above Boquete and stopped at the scenic overlook. We were surprised to learn that it had been completely renovated and now hosted a museum dedicated to the Panamanian ecosystem. It still afforded spectacular views of the surrounding countryside which we took advantage of. I was a little disappointed that the herd of coatimundis (Panamanian racoons) that used to haunt the place weren’t present.

Intense Bargaining Underway

Unbeknownst to the two guys in our party, the ladies had conspired to arrange a shopping expedition. A small farmer’s market/souvenir shop had set up in the mornings of  a club next to the river. There were a multitude of booths selling a wide range of products. It was interesting to see the different products offered. Boquete, in addition to the natives, has a large “gringo” population ranging from retirees to unrepentant hippies. A number of the hippies had tables set up selling “natural” products. There were a pack of kids ranging through the market, including one that was the spitting image of BR3. This included her very independent spirit and having to run everywhere versus walking. This made the departure of the FBR even more painful for the granddaughter related thoughts it evoked. In the end I just enjoyed her antics.

Boquete Lunch

Restaurant had Flowers Also

I could do this because the two ladies were in some spirited bargaining with one of the booths selling souvenirs. I found a shady spot to read because this didn’t look like it was going to end soon. You’ll note I’d brought my kindle along because I had a sneaking suspicion some shopping might go down. It’s not as if I’m clairvoyant. I just know my wife. They eventually made their buys and we set out for lunch. We went to the same restaurant we had on Saturday because it made me feel a little closer to my daughter and FBR whom I had been with then. An added benefit was a robust wi-fi signal which allowed us to catch up on news since the loss of internet back at the condo.

Basalt Cliffs

The Waterfall

After lunch we set out for the highlands surrounding Boquete. We stopped at the basalt cliffs, a remnant of the cooling of the volcanoes that form the mountain range. There was a crew set up to scale the cliffs and I was reminded of a female high school classmate who still specializes in that endeavor. After the cliff, we wandered higher on the single track road through numerous coffee plantations. The drive is always an adventure because you never know when you’ll meet a large truck coming the other way on a road that two cars have difficulty passing by each other. This is the one place in Panama where the Panamanians drive with caution and we survived. We stopped by a beautiful waterfall and then the haunted mansion that always form a part of this drive.

Boquete Fairgrounds

On our way down, we stopped off in Boquete to visit the beautiful fairgrounds which have incredibly beautiful flower arrangements. Unfortunately there are also additional shopping opportunities, so I pulled my kindle out again. The ladies had a truly great time here. We eventually escaped down the mountains through a thunderstorm to the oppressive tropical heat that is David. A stop by mother in law’s house resulted in Wi-fi again so we finally were able to connect with my daughter and the FBR to learn about their trip home. We tried to call my son’s family without success. We ended the evening at my favorite eatery, El Fogon.

El Fogon Dinner

The trip home was tortuous. For fully forty minutes we had to make our way through one of Panama’s tropical thunderstorms. You have to experience one of these to fully understand the sheer amount of water these storms are capable of dropping. Running down the InterAmerican Highway while dodging the trucks and slower moving cars was a true adventure. I was fortunate to have my Favorite Panamanian in the back seat where she was able to offer some very cogent, if unwelcome, advice on my driving. We arrived home to find it hadn’t even rained at the beach, but at least we had a freshly washed car, thanks to the storms.

Some of this Week's Sunsets

The Crew

Lunch at Show Pony

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete – my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course