Kayaking near the Changuinola River
May 13, 2008 Filed in: Photographs
Kayaking along the rivermouths - you will encounter a
variety of things. Here are a few examples.
Red Frogs
May 09, 2008 Filed in: Photographs
Here is one of the red frogs from on our trail. A
graduate student from Michigan is studying our frogs and
a variety of their characteristics here at the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. She says they
are prolific - she grabbed a group of males and females
and has put them to stud service. She will return our
frogs to us and the offspring will be studied for some
time.
Bugs
May 07, 2008 Filed in: Photographs
For those of you who have met Jim you know that he has a
thing for taking pictures of bugs, insects and all things
in the jungle and the sea. Here are a few of his recent
photos.
Boys will be boys - times 2
May 02, 2008 Filed in: Photographs
Corin as I described in the last post - was really into
snakes. He and his family went fishing with Jim one day
when another group was going to Punta Valiente. Corin was
really bummed because he wanted to go over to the
mainland where he could be looking for some serious
snakes. Jay knew how important the snake hunting was to
Corin and being a snake enthusiast himself, he brought
back an eyelash viper for Corin to see. The snake was
treated cautiously and carefully. He was removed from his
mayonnaise jar home only for a few photos and then he was
returned several days later to Punta Valiente with the
next group.
Boys will be boys
April 30, 2008 Filed in: Photographs
Boys will definitely be boys. It doesn't matter if they
are growing up in the concrete jungles of New York City
or the jungles of Panama. There is something about snakes
that interests them. Corin was here with his dad and one
of his sisters on his Spring Break. He had studied up on
all the different snakes we have here in Bocas del Toro
and in Panama. He brought a snake grabbing device with
him so that if he encountered any snakes he could catch
one. Well he was constantly on the look out and he found
this boa and brought it back for us to put in our
aquarium for a few months. We have since fed this guy a
few times and let him go back into the wild.
Green and Black Frogs
April 28, 2008 Filed in: Photographs
Here are a couple of pictures of the green and black
Dendrobates we see on the mainland at Green Acres Farm
which is the home of Cerutti and Family Chocolate.
David has the frog on his finger to give you an idea of its size.
Here is a close up of the little guy in his natural environment.
David has the frog on his finger to give you an idea of its size.
Here is a close up of the little guy in his natural environment.
Paradise the Hard Way
April 26, 2008 Filed in: Story
I can't begin to describe how cool it is to read someone
else's account of what we have been up to down here for
the past few years. I just read the article Paradise the
Hard Way in Inc.'s May 2008 issue about how
Tranquilo Bay came to be what it is today. Obviously
you can't capture all of it in 5000 words or less,
but the folks at Inc. did a pretty good job. We came
down here and built Tranquilo Bay for a change in
lifestyle. We got what we bargained for and then
some. All of us share ups and downs on the island.
Fortunately there have been more ups than downs. We
are celebrating this article as a definite up!
We have been pretty busy over the last few months as my lack of posts indicates. I am going to try and post some of the photos from the past few months over time in order to give you a feel of what it is like to be here. We have done all the hard work for you. You just have to come down and enjoy. Give us a call - we will find the right time for you and your group to visit.
We have been pretty busy over the last few months as my lack of posts indicates. I am going to try and post some of the photos from the past few months over time in order to give you a feel of what it is like to be here. We have done all the hard work for you. You just have to come down and enjoy. Give us a call - we will find the right time for you and your group to visit.
Wow!
April 24, 2008 Filed in: Story
I can't believe that it has been over a month since my
last post, but alas it has. We have been busy - which is
such a good thing.
We were very fortunate to really catch the attention of one of our guests during the holiday season. Bob Sutton is a professor and an author. He teaches at the d.school at Stanford and has heard a variety of stories about start up companies. He thought ours was an interesting one and he decided to tell a few people about us. He wrote to Leigh Buchanan at INC magazine. She found the story also to be intriguing and in less than one month she was here interviewing us and learning all about what it took to build Tranquilo Bay. The photographers, Rob and Brandon, followed shortly thereafter. We worked with Leigh and Ryan at INC to verify the facts in the story as it was being edited. Then we waited. Yesterday, Jay, Stefanie and Scott went to the USA to visit family and they found the May issue of INC on the newsstand. Jay tells me that he and Stefanie are pleased with the article. Jim and I are waiting for someone to fax a copy of it to us as it is not posted on INC's website just yet.
We are very appreciative of all the attention granted us from Bob, Leigh, Ryan and all the other people involved in making this article a reality. I thought that some people might be interested in getting a better grasp on what it took to build this place so we put together a new section of the website that goes through the story year by year. Each of the photos on the pages and the text blows up so that you can see them clearly and the gallery on each page takes you through the photos for that year.
Thanks to you all for making Tranquilo Bay a reality ;-)
We were very fortunate to really catch the attention of one of our guests during the holiday season. Bob Sutton is a professor and an author. He teaches at the d.school at Stanford and has heard a variety of stories about start up companies. He thought ours was an interesting one and he decided to tell a few people about us. He wrote to Leigh Buchanan at INC magazine. She found the story also to be intriguing and in less than one month she was here interviewing us and learning all about what it took to build Tranquilo Bay. The photographers, Rob and Brandon, followed shortly thereafter. We worked with Leigh and Ryan at INC to verify the facts in the story as it was being edited. Then we waited. Yesterday, Jay, Stefanie and Scott went to the USA to visit family and they found the May issue of INC on the newsstand. Jay tells me that he and Stefanie are pleased with the article. Jim and I are waiting for someone to fax a copy of it to us as it is not posted on INC's website just yet.
We are very appreciative of all the attention granted us from Bob, Leigh, Ryan and all the other people involved in making this article a reality. I thought that some people might be interested in getting a better grasp on what it took to build this place so we put together a new section of the website that goes through the story year by year. Each of the photos on the pages and the text blows up so that you can see them clearly and the gallery on each page takes you through the photos for that year.
Thanks to you all for making Tranquilo Bay a reality ;-)
What happens when...
March 17, 2008
What happens when you take one very funny retired high
school government teacher, one of his fraternity
brothers, one of his former students, all of their
spouses and a few of the kids and toss them into the
Panamanian jungle on an island in the middle of the
Caribbean Sea? Oh yea - they are all Texans
tambien. A rocking good time :-)
We ended up with a group of friends (who have come together over time) vacationing here at Tranquilo Bay last week. It was great fun. I had an idea of what we might be in for as I communicated with them via email, but my expectations were exceeded. We have fun with all of our guests, but this group seriously tickled our funny bones. They began by playing jokes on us the first night they arrived and ended the week with us being in on the jokes as other guests arrived.
One of the things I am truly appreciate about our clientele is that they REALLY are on vacation. They kick back, have fun and forget about the every day. Our location definitely helps people to enter this zone, if you will, but I continue to be impressed by people who can turn off and tune in to nature so that they re-enter their day to day lived recharged.
Here are some photos of one of our porch sessions.
Singing and joking
Hook Em Horns
Chicken foot dominoes
And look at what they did to Bimini!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
We ended up with a group of friends (who have come together over time) vacationing here at Tranquilo Bay last week. It was great fun. I had an idea of what we might be in for as I communicated with them via email, but my expectations were exceeded. We have fun with all of our guests, but this group seriously tickled our funny bones. They began by playing jokes on us the first night they arrived and ended the week with us being in on the jokes as other guests arrived.
One of the things I am truly appreciate about our clientele is that they REALLY are on vacation. They kick back, have fun and forget about the every day. Our location definitely helps people to enter this zone, if you will, but I continue to be impressed by people who can turn off and tune in to nature so that they re-enter their day to day lived recharged.
Here are some photos of one of our porch sessions.
Singing and joking
Hook Em Horns
Chicken foot dominoes
And look at what they did to Bimini!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Smile
February 29, 2008 Filed in: Story
We had a couple of photographers come out to take photos
this week. It was interesting to watch the process and
watch how our employees took part in the photo shoot.
They really enjoyed it. Here are a few photos Jim took of
our crew having portraits taken by the photographers.
I have added a new page to the main website on our employees. It currently includes only their photos, but we will add some information on them in the near future. Here is the page: www.tranquilobay.com/employees.htm
I have added a new page to the main website on our employees. It currently includes only their photos, but we will add some information on them in the near future. Here is the page: www.tranquilobay.com/employees.htm
Exciting, Exhilarating & Exhausting
February 19, 2008
Our little business is growing tremendously this first
quarter of 2008. Our occupancy rate for the first quarter
is up over 100% over last year. This is exciting,
exhilarating, and a little exhausting.
Exciting because this is the business we came down to Panama to have. Watching our business grow and keeping it running smoothly gives us all a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
Exhilarating because we are participating in a group of special memories for our clients. While our clients all share a love for adventure and nature - each one experiences it differently and comes here from a different place. We are fortunate to be exposed to all of these wonderful people. It is really cool to have the opportunity to enrich their experiences while at the same time we gain insight and perspective from the encounter. We experience our place with a fresh set of senses each time a new guest arrives. To hear the way they describe things and see the delight in their faces is truly rewarding experience.
Exhausting, yes, but in a good way. We work seven days a week for many hours out of each day. As with any business as you continue to learn what it takes to make it great it takes a bit out of you. However, the upside of what we are learning and how it is getting easier each day for us and for our employees is that we are building a business that we believe will stand for a long time.
Exciting because this is the business we came down to Panama to have. Watching our business grow and keeping it running smoothly gives us all a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
Exhilarating because we are participating in a group of special memories for our clients. While our clients all share a love for adventure and nature - each one experiences it differently and comes here from a different place. We are fortunate to be exposed to all of these wonderful people. It is really cool to have the opportunity to enrich their experiences while at the same time we gain insight and perspective from the encounter. We experience our place with a fresh set of senses each time a new guest arrives. To hear the way they describe things and see the delight in their faces is truly rewarding experience.
Exhausting, yes, but in a good way. We work seven days a week for many hours out of each day. As with any business as you continue to learn what it takes to make it great it takes a bit out of you. However, the upside of what we are learning and how it is getting easier each day for us and for our employees is that we are building a business that we believe will stand for a long time.
Heaven on Earth
February 12, 2008 Filed in: Story
I consider Tranquilo Bay to be a slice of heaven on
earth. There are few places in this world where a group
of people can end up and have the opportunity to
participate in a dream. Obviously Tranquilo Bay is our
dream. We are grateful we get to live it each and every
day. However, when we get to watch other people enjoy
themselves doing all of the different activities we have
to offer while immersing themselves in nature it is so
rewarding. It is wonderful to have a lively discussion at
dinner amongst the guests we have from all over the world
sitting at the table.
Here is an example of the different kinds of "thank you" we get from our clients once they return home. This one came to my Dad's house along with a favorite book of our guests' children when their boys were Tres and Scott's age. We will be reading it to Scott, Tres and Boty for many years to come.
Here is an example of the different kinds of "thank you" we get from our clients once they return home. This one came to my Dad's house along with a favorite book of our guests' children when their boys were Tres and Scott's age. We will be reading it to Scott, Tres and Boty for many years to come.
Dear all - A belated thank you for a wonderful time at Tranquilo Bay. We loved EVERYTHING. You did an amazing job and despite the weather we had a fabulous time. Thanks for the biscotti recipe. Mine won't be as good because the atmosphere just isn't the same. For the kids, I am enclosing one of our favorite books. Hope they like it. Love and hugs to all: R, N, E, G & I
Behind every...
February 03, 2008 Filed in: Story
I am into quotes right now. They seem to help one get the
point across far better than one's own words at times.
This one caught my eye the other day:
It is a variation on the common theme of behind every good man is a good woman. It is fitting for our situation as we were separated by 1800 miles as we built Tranquilo Bay. I would not have wanted nor could I have completed what Jay and Jim did to build Tranquilo Bay. However, they could not have done it if they didn't have a regular influx of cash coming their way from the girls they left in Houston.
We have been reviewing our quest to build and create Tranquilo Bay recently. It is quite a gift to be able to look upon what it has become and is continuing to develop into - almost as one watches a child grow. It is a labor of love. One that has its ups and downs of course, but oh what a ride it is.
It is a variation on the common theme of behind every good man is a good woman. It is fitting for our situation as we were separated by 1800 miles as we built Tranquilo Bay. I would not have wanted nor could I have completed what Jay and Jim did to build Tranquilo Bay. However, they could not have done it if they didn't have a regular influx of cash coming their way from the girls they left in Houston.
We have been reviewing our quest to build and create Tranquilo Bay recently. It is quite a gift to be able to look upon what it has become and is continuing to develop into - almost as one watches a child grow. It is a labor of love. One that has its ups and downs of course, but oh what a ride it is.
Opportunity
January 27, 2008
We are a fortunate group of people. We try to make the
most out of every opportunity. We have found that
opportunity presents itself o us on a regular basis.
One day the opportunity may be to put our guests onto the best waves Bocas del Toro has to offer that particular morning. To rise to meet that opportunity we need to be prepared - we have to know our available options, judge based upon the conditions and then make a call.
Another day our opportunity might be to make every one of our guests feel welcome. One family might want to go snorkeling and another couple might want to go kayaking and then a third group may want to hang out, while one child would love to go fishing. It is our responsibility to make all of these things happen. We do so with a smile upon our faces because it is completely within our abilities to make each of these things happen for each of our guests.
The best quote I have found which sums up how we approach our business and our lives is this one:
The thing that we do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. We always hope for the best weather and conditions for our guests' experiences, but sometimes it rains. So we always have a plan for how to deal with the rain. It may be as simple as wait 30 minutes and the skies will clear or a bit more complicated where we have an excursion where everyone will have a good time rain or shine.
One day the opportunity may be to put our guests onto the best waves Bocas del Toro has to offer that particular morning. To rise to meet that opportunity we need to be prepared - we have to know our available options, judge based upon the conditions and then make a call.
Another day our opportunity might be to make every one of our guests feel welcome. One family might want to go snorkeling and another couple might want to go kayaking and then a third group may want to hang out, while one child would love to go fishing. It is our responsibility to make all of these things happen. We do so with a smile upon our faces because it is completely within our abilities to make each of these things happen for each of our guests.
The best quote I have found which sums up how we approach our business and our lives is this one:
The thing that we do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. We always hope for the best weather and conditions for our guests' experiences, but sometimes it rains. So we always have a plan for how to deal with the rain. It may be as simple as wait 30 minutes and the skies will clear or a bit more complicated where we have an excursion where everyone will have a good time rain or shine.
Kid Friendly
January 23, 2008
There are those hotels and those destinations which are
not a good fit for people traveling with children. We are
neither of those things. We love kids – we have three of
our own on site. Bocas del Toro Panama has plenty of
places where the kids can have a fun and safe day.
This morning I was trying to help a former guest find another place in Panama to visit next year as he and his family want to return to stay with us, but they also want to explore a few different parts of the beautiful little country. We both happened upon a few new lovely places which look great but they are not appropriate for children. One place is completely over water which is not the best location for children. The other place does not accept children under the age of 13.
There is a reason that we are right for people with kids and for people without kids. We live here on site. We have our own kids living here with us. So we know what it is like to make sure both the kids and the grown ups have a good time. We send our kids to bed early or to the library downstairs to watch television while the adults enjoy a delicious meal with white tablecloths up stairs.
So, bring the kids and have some fun.
This morning I was trying to help a former guest find another place in Panama to visit next year as he and his family want to return to stay with us, but they also want to explore a few different parts of the beautiful little country. We both happened upon a few new lovely places which look great but they are not appropriate for children. One place is completely over water which is not the best location for children. The other place does not accept children under the age of 13.
There is a reason that we are right for people with kids and for people without kids. We live here on site. We have our own kids living here with us. So we know what it is like to make sure both the kids and the grown ups have a good time. We send our kids to bed early or to the library downstairs to watch television while the adults enjoy a delicious meal with white tablecloths up stairs.
So, bring the kids and have some fun.
Blogging
January 17, 2008 Filed in: Story
It makes me happy. I love that I can live in the middle
of the jungle on an island in the Caribbean Sea and I can
still access good content on things which interest me. In
the past it was necessary to get a subscription to a
magazine or to watch a television show in order to get
this stuff.
Don't get me wrong, I still like to read books and magazines, but I can't load up on them these days like I could when we lived in Houston, Texas.
I have several groupings of blogs saved in my browser of places I check out several times a week for education and inspiration.
We recently had a guest stay here who is both an esteemed author and professor as well as a dad, a husband, and a nice guy - Bob Sutton. I have been reading his blog, Work Matters, ever since. Speaking with him and his amazing wife, Marina, reminded me to open my eyes to other types of blogs for both education and information. (BTW - Bob's most recent book is helpful even if you don't work in a "normal" workplace. I read it before his family's arrival based upon some information his tour operator provided to me. It is a good read!)
If I had to pick my top nine blogs as of today - they would be (in no particular order):
Soule Mama - Amanda Soule's Blog
Angry Chicken - Amy Karol's Blog
House on Hill Road - Erin Harris' Blog
How about orange ... - Jessica Jone's Blog
Work Matters - Bob Sutton's Blog
Ali Edwards Design Blog - Ali Edwards' Blog
Pink Chalk Studio Blog - Kathy Mack's Blog
Sew Mama Sew Blog - Sew Mama Sew Store Blog
11 Mystics - Suzanne's Blog on iWeb and other technical stuff
It is not at all unusual that I begin on one person's blog and then follow the links to the next and the next and the next. I have a variety of tutorials and recipes and scrapbook ideas stored away in my favorites. I pull inspiration from these when it comes time to make something for the kids or for the cabanas, etc. But honestly, I am a lurker. I do not leave comments and I rarely communicate with the authors of the blogs. It is more like reading a book or a magazine for me. I must credit Ali Edwards for getting me started in all of this. I get a newsletter for a digital scrapbooking website called Scrapgirls (my husband loves that one) and Ali was interviewed in the newsletter. There was a link to her blog. And from there I was hooked. I only hope that someday someone will feel the same way about our blog, or trip reports, etc.
Have a great day!
Don't get me wrong, I still like to read books and magazines, but I can't load up on them these days like I could when we lived in Houston, Texas.
I have several groupings of blogs saved in my browser of places I check out several times a week for education and inspiration.
We recently had a guest stay here who is both an esteemed author and professor as well as a dad, a husband, and a nice guy - Bob Sutton. I have been reading his blog, Work Matters, ever since. Speaking with him and his amazing wife, Marina, reminded me to open my eyes to other types of blogs for both education and information. (BTW - Bob's most recent book is helpful even if you don't work in a "normal" workplace. I read it before his family's arrival based upon some information his tour operator provided to me. It is a good read!)
If I had to pick my top nine blogs as of today - they would be (in no particular order):
Soule Mama - Amanda Soule's Blog
Angry Chicken - Amy Karol's Blog
House on Hill Road - Erin Harris' Blog
How about orange ... - Jessica Jone's Blog
Work Matters - Bob Sutton's Blog
Ali Edwards Design Blog - Ali Edwards' Blog
Pink Chalk Studio Blog - Kathy Mack's Blog
Sew Mama Sew Blog - Sew Mama Sew Store Blog
11 Mystics - Suzanne's Blog on iWeb and other technical stuff
It is not at all unusual that I begin on one person's blog and then follow the links to the next and the next and the next. I have a variety of tutorials and recipes and scrapbook ideas stored away in my favorites. I pull inspiration from these when it comes time to make something for the kids or for the cabanas, etc. But honestly, I am a lurker. I do not leave comments and I rarely communicate with the authors of the blogs. It is more like reading a book or a magazine for me. I must credit Ali Edwards for getting me started in all of this. I get a newsletter for a digital scrapbooking website called Scrapgirls (my husband loves that one) and Ali was interviewed in the newsletter. There was a link to her blog. And from there I was hooked. I only hope that someday someone will feel the same way about our blog, or trip reports, etc.
Have a great day!
Fresh Baked Goods
January 14, 2008
I used to underestimate the importance of freshly baked
breads, cookies, and desserts. I have always enjoyed
them, but I never realized the difference in eating these
items within a day or so after they leave the oven.
We make all the baked goods we serve here on site. So that includes fresh breads, daily cookies, cakes, pies and so much more. Our guests are surprised each time they learn that we bake everything on site. To us it has become second nature to make sure that we have plenty of yummy stuff on site.
One set of guests informed me that they didn’t eat much bread but that they did prefer whole wheat bread over any other type. So the next day when we were baking our daily bread, we added a few loaves of whole wheat. Our guests were delighted to have this fresh whole wheat bread for their sandwiches and toast.
Each day we bake a different kind of cookie. These cookies are served with lunch whether you are eating on site or off site on one of our excursions. We very rarely see any cookies return from an excursion or for that matter remain on the plate following lunch onsite.
Our desserts each day are all made here. We have some tasty pies and cakes which highlight all the local ingredients such as pineapple, coconut and chocolate. It is a good thing that our property is so large and includes so many sets of stairs as it helps all of us to have an excuse to eat dessert!
We make all the baked goods we serve here on site. So that includes fresh breads, daily cookies, cakes, pies and so much more. Our guests are surprised each time they learn that we bake everything on site. To us it has become second nature to make sure that we have plenty of yummy stuff on site.
One set of guests informed me that they didn’t eat much bread but that they did prefer whole wheat bread over any other type. So the next day when we were baking our daily bread, we added a few loaves of whole wheat. Our guests were delighted to have this fresh whole wheat bread for their sandwiches and toast.
Each day we bake a different kind of cookie. These cookies are served with lunch whether you are eating on site or off site on one of our excursions. We very rarely see any cookies return from an excursion or for that matter remain on the plate following lunch onsite.
Our desserts each day are all made here. We have some tasty pies and cakes which highlight all the local ingredients such as pineapple, coconut and chocolate. It is a good thing that our property is so large and includes so many sets of stairs as it helps all of us to have an excuse to eat dessert!
Take Aways
January 04, 2008
Each day I wake up here I count my blessings. There are
so many things and people who helped me reach this point
in my life and for that I am grateful. This evening I
have been reviewing in my head the multitude of people I
have met in the last few weeks and how spending time with
each and every one of them has been rewarding. One of the
things that is so great about being here in Panama and
running a small lodge is that we get to meet people from
all walks of life with a variety of interests and
experiences. It is so cool when these people come here
and have an adventure together.
I try to make it a point not to ask people what they do for a living as that conversation is one they have regularly at home. On vacation in the middle of the Caribbean ocean one should talk about different things. So I thought it would be interesting to give a brief list of ONE thing that I took away from each group of our guests over the last few weeks (I obviously took away much more than one thing from each family and each person for that matter but to list all of them might become tedious for those of you reading this)
S – teenage boys are very good at entertaining 4 year old boys – thanks guys!
H – chai tea helps to make friends
M – there are good white wines
K – family trips are one of the best gifts to give and to receive
E – there are other people who like bugs and snakes as much as Jim and Jay
N – teenage girls are up for all kinds of adventure – even bat caves
S – it is possible to truly unplug and just “be” on vacation with your family
Z/C – let me sleep late and then keep me going all day and into the night
C – game for anything especially if it includes bacon, chocolate or beer!
R – children can’t learn to speak properly if they don’t actually chew their food
R – cousin in a very distant way – that whole 7 degrees of separation thing rings true
B/H – when it seems like there is more to the story there usually is
There are so many things that I learned from these recent guests. If I did list what each of these people did for a living and the accomplishments among them I would go on for days. Suffice it to say that our guests accomplishments far outshine ours yet we can all spend a bit of time here together and have a great time doing so. Thanks to all of you for spending some of your precious vacation time here with us!
I try to make it a point not to ask people what they do for a living as that conversation is one they have regularly at home. On vacation in the middle of the Caribbean ocean one should talk about different things. So I thought it would be interesting to give a brief list of ONE thing that I took away from each group of our guests over the last few weeks (I obviously took away much more than one thing from each family and each person for that matter but to list all of them might become tedious for those of you reading this)
S – teenage boys are very good at entertaining 4 year old boys – thanks guys!
H – chai tea helps to make friends
M – there are good white wines
K – family trips are one of the best gifts to give and to receive
E – there are other people who like bugs and snakes as much as Jim and Jay
N – teenage girls are up for all kinds of adventure – even bat caves
S – it is possible to truly unplug and just “be” on vacation with your family
Z/C – let me sleep late and then keep me going all day and into the night
C – game for anything especially if it includes bacon, chocolate or beer!
R – children can’t learn to speak properly if they don’t actually chew their food
R – cousin in a very distant way – that whole 7 degrees of separation thing rings true
B/H – when it seems like there is more to the story there usually is
There are so many things that I learned from these recent guests. If I did list what each of these people did for a living and the accomplishments among them I would go on for days. Suffice it to say that our guests accomplishments far outshine ours yet we can all spend a bit of time here together and have a great time doing so. Thanks to all of you for spending some of your precious vacation time here with us!
New Year's Eve
December 31, 2007 Filed in: Story
What do you do to prepare for the new year? Do you take
the time to reflect on the past year or do you focus
solely on the upcoming year?
In the past I have never had a "formal" approach to the new year. This year I decided to reflect a bit and to look forward as well. Today - the reflections.
I am pleased with our accomplishments in 2007 as an organization and as a family. Our little company is growing steadily. We are a good corporate citizen and neighbor to our adopted community. We have enriched the lives of our guests - giving them a respite from their crazy day to day world.
Our children continue to grow strong and learn more about the natural world surrounding them on a daily basis. They are a loving bunch and enjoy each and every day.
I think the best way to summarize my thoughts is to say that when I think about the year 2007 it brings a smile to my face :)
Happy New Year!
In the past I have never had a "formal" approach to the new year. This year I decided to reflect a bit and to look forward as well. Today - the reflections.
I am pleased with our accomplishments in 2007 as an organization and as a family. Our little company is growing steadily. We are a good corporate citizen and neighbor to our adopted community. We have enriched the lives of our guests - giving them a respite from their crazy day to day world.
Our children continue to grow strong and learn more about the natural world surrounding them on a daily basis. They are a loving bunch and enjoy each and every day.
I think the best way to summarize my thoughts is to say that when I think about the year 2007 it brings a smile to my face :)
Happy New Year!
Divertido
December 26, 2007 Filed in: Story
So the cook is on vacation. I originally thought this was
going to be a bad thing. However, I am having a good time
on my mini vacation back in the kitchen. We are eating a
different menu to some extent due to the cook’s absence
as I cannot cook some things the same way she can. There
is no reason to subject our guests to my version of
something if it is not going to compare to what the cook
makes on a regular basis.
So instead I am making things that I do well. The menu is much more like going to a friend’s home for dinner than it is like going to a restaurant. Under normal circumstances our dinners resemble a dinner party that has been catered by a good catering company. We have a set menu that we post each morning (we do all of our menu planning in advance based upon guest input regarding food preferences and allergies prior to arrival) so that we have the day to make changes if necessary. Everything is cooked and served fresh each evening. We enjoy a variety of conversations as we generally sit at a community table or tables depending upon the number of guests on site.
This week we have a few things which are cooked in the oven instead of a la minute. I am not as good a protein cook as is our cook. However, we are a Bocas del Toro hotel and our guests do deserve tasty and nutritious food so we are doing the best that we can. So far I don’t think anyone is disappointed. And I get to have a little bit of fun.
So instead I am making things that I do well. The menu is much more like going to a friend’s home for dinner than it is like going to a restaurant. Under normal circumstances our dinners resemble a dinner party that has been catered by a good catering company. We have a set menu that we post each morning (we do all of our menu planning in advance based upon guest input regarding food preferences and allergies prior to arrival) so that we have the day to make changes if necessary. Everything is cooked and served fresh each evening. We enjoy a variety of conversations as we generally sit at a community table or tables depending upon the number of guests on site.
This week we have a few things which are cooked in the oven instead of a la minute. I am not as good a protein cook as is our cook. However, we are a Bocas del Toro hotel and our guests do deserve tasty and nutritious food so we are doing the best that we can. So far I don’t think anyone is disappointed. And I get to have a little bit of fun.
mangroves in the rain
December 22, 2007 Filed in: Trip Reports
Area: Close to Tranquilo Bay
Activity: Kayaking & Snorkeling
Weather: Rainy
A great excursion close to Tranquilo Bay is kayaking your way through a series of canals naturally etched in the mangrove forests. When the weather is less than cooperative, this is a nice way to get out and still be within reach of the creature comforts. We paddled a short distance from the dock in an arsenal of sit-on-top kayaks and soaked up a little tropical rain along with the flora and fauna. To me, the rain just enhances the experience and it also reminds you that it is not called the rainforest for nothing. In these enchanted canals you get to see a plethora of wildlife, who don’t take shelter because of the rain but rather go about their daily business. One can see animals such as white faced capuchins, an assortment of birds ranging from Osprey to Kingfishers, upside down jellyfish and of course all types of tropical fish. We donned snorkel and mask and took to the water since we were already wet and swam the edges of the mangrove lagoons. They are rich and diverse, teaming with life and allow for vast amounts of time to be spent searching their marvels. Mangroves in the rain shed a little light on what could be just a rainy day.
Activity: Kayaking & Snorkeling
Weather: Rainy
A great excursion close to Tranquilo Bay is kayaking your way through a series of canals naturally etched in the mangrove forests. When the weather is less than cooperative, this is a nice way to get out and still be within reach of the creature comforts. We paddled a short distance from the dock in an arsenal of sit-on-top kayaks and soaked up a little tropical rain along with the flora and fauna. To me, the rain just enhances the experience and it also reminds you that it is not called the rainforest for nothing. In these enchanted canals you get to see a plethora of wildlife, who don’t take shelter because of the rain but rather go about their daily business. One can see animals such as white faced capuchins, an assortment of birds ranging from Osprey to Kingfishers, upside down jellyfish and of course all types of tropical fish. We donned snorkel and mask and took to the water since we were already wet and swam the edges of the mangrove lagoons. They are rich and diverse, teaming with life and allow for vast amounts of time to be spent searching their marvels. Mangroves in the rain shed a little light on what could be just a rainy day.
Today
December 21, 2007 Filed in: Story
My son has a book by Jaime Lee Curtis called “Today I
Feel Silly.” The book is all about moods and it is
intended to teach children about moods and how they come
and go. My son has another book that is entitled “When I
Miss You.” That book is of course about learning how to
deal with people leaving and being alone and what you can
do to manage the time until they come back.
This morning one of our long time employees left to pursue another opportunity. We will all miss her. She was a sweet girl who took very good care of all of us and of our guests. She will be an asset to her new employer.
My son is a bit sad as he is rather attached to this employee. She has been with my son for almost two years of his three and a half years. She helped him to learn Spanish at a very early age because my son wanted to be able to speak with her.
One of the things we learned early on as a Bocas del Toro hotel is that we will have many employees over the years. However, one thing is for certain, some are more special than others and today one of our favorites has graduated. We are all a little bit sad, but we know what we can do until the next time we see her.
This morning one of our long time employees left to pursue another opportunity. We will all miss her. She was a sweet girl who took very good care of all of us and of our guests. She will be an asset to her new employer.
My son is a bit sad as he is rather attached to this employee. She has been with my son for almost two years of his three and a half years. She helped him to learn Spanish at a very early age because my son wanted to be able to speak with her.
One of the things we learned early on as a Bocas del Toro hotel is that we will have many employees over the years. However, one thing is for certain, some are more special than others and today one of our favorites has graduated. We are all a little bit sad, but we know what we can do until the next time we see her.
all to ourselves
December 20, 2007 Filed in: Trip Reports
Area: Bocas del Toro Archipelago
Activity: Surfing
Weather: Beautiful sunshine...too much sunshine
Even on small days you can find a nice wave in this part of the Caribbean. I was amazed at what we found today. After feeling a bit disappointed by the surf report, we stumbled onto a gem in the rough. This just instilled in me that even when things look bleak, a little perseverance can have the deepest rewards. This is how the day played out. The surf had gone down considerably from previous days so we shot out to the spots that had a chance of holding up under the current conditions. Repeatedly we found nothing that looked like any fun and then the one spot that was a sure thing had ten guys out in the lineup. On our last shot we found a wave that was uninhabited, pealing and very clean. Just one problem existed, if you did not make the wave you were in about six inches of water on top of the reef. I was a little upset because everyone else in the group was on body boards and I was the lone stand up surfer. After paddling out and realizing there was no way I was going to chance hurting myself or my board I made my way back to the boat, grabbed a sponge (aka body board) and got back in the lineup. We took turns between the three of us at late drops and fast rides for almost five hours with a short break for lunch. The wave was short, committing but a tone of fun and the best part was we never thought it would be there, and of course we had it all to ourselves.
Activity: Surfing
Weather: Beautiful sunshine...too much sunshine
Even on small days you can find a nice wave in this part of the Caribbean. I was amazed at what we found today. After feeling a bit disappointed by the surf report, we stumbled onto a gem in the rough. This just instilled in me that even when things look bleak, a little perseverance can have the deepest rewards. This is how the day played out. The surf had gone down considerably from previous days so we shot out to the spots that had a chance of holding up under the current conditions. Repeatedly we found nothing that looked like any fun and then the one spot that was a sure thing had ten guys out in the lineup. On our last shot we found a wave that was uninhabited, pealing and very clean. Just one problem existed, if you did not make the wave you were in about six inches of water on top of the reef. I was a little upset because everyone else in the group was on body boards and I was the lone stand up surfer. After paddling out and realizing there was no way I was going to chance hurting myself or my board I made my way back to the boat, grabbed a sponge (aka body board) and got back in the lineup. We took turns between the three of us at late drops and fast rides for almost five hours with a short break for lunch. The wave was short, committing but a tone of fun and the best part was we never thought it would be there, and of course we had it all to ourselves.
another day in paradise
December 19, 2007 Filed in: Trip Reports
The swell has dropped around the islands it was decided
this day would be about cruising in search of more spots
for future surf missions. Equipped with a depth finder,
GPS, and charts of the area we fired up the boat and took
off. There were squalls on the horizon but the sun was
beating down upon us. The winds were howling and the day
already had the makings of an epic adventure. First
destination, an island named Cayo Agua because of its
proximity to open ocean swell and shelter from wind. This
island has some wonderful possibility with point and
beach breaks. Due to the small swell on this day we only
got a taste of what it could be like. However we did
witness a few nice sets roll through and peal down the
line. This got our bodies quivering with anticipation of
what could be when things picked up. Everyone was ready
to jump in but the consistency was just not there,
another foot quite possibly could have made the
difference. Guess we should have been there yesterday. To
quell our thirst we shot out to the Zapatilla Cayes in
hopes that the outside breaks would be a bit larger and
allow us some rides. It was a good decision; we rode a
few and went home smiling, another day in paradise.
banana boat
December 18, 2007 Filed in: Trip Reports
Making our way through the archipelago this morning I
pondered the mosaic past of the islands of Bocas del
Toro. The boat ride to our destination for the day took
us past the many islands and tiny villages that encompass
this diverse area. Rich with history and beauty, they
have a mystique that hangs over them like the clouds over
Volcan Baru. Christopher Columbus sailed through here on
his fourth voyage and yet for the next three hundred
years the islands did not see much growth. During the
late 1800s and early 1900s better known as the colonial
era, the area began booming with economic opportunity.
Products such as bananas, cocoa, coconut oil, sugar cane
and turtle eggs started boosting the local economy. Such
growth brought progress to the area, so much so, that the
town of Bocas (on Isla Colon) hosted consulates from
countries such as Germany, France, England and the United
States. As with a lot of Caribbean islands there is an
ebb and flow of economic growth and this place has been
no different. The islands have laid rather dormant for
the last 60 years but lately things have certainly picked
up and there is once again a lot happening. One lingering
export from the past that can still be seen today is
bananas. If you find yourself in the right place, at the
right time, you will see one of the gigantic Chiquita
banana boats making its way through the channel next to
town. It is quite the spectacle - as to the naked eye;
one would presume there is not enough water to sustain
such a ship.
Time Flies
December 17, 2007
Wow – so much time has passed since my last post. We
decided that we needed a new look and feel for our
website so we spent several months working on the whole
redo. What has resulted seems to be much easier to
navigate and includes many new photos. We have been
blessed with a great number of clients who give us copies
of all of their amazing photos and then Jim has taken
thousands of photos as well. This enabled us to add
almost 20 galleries. We have plans for quite a few more
which will help us to display the beauty of Bocas del
Toro Panama.
We have been working heavily with several government agencies doing what we can to help preserve the natural beauty of Isla Bastimentos. The government is looking at enlarging Bastimentos National Marine Park which we think would be great. It guarantees that Isla Bastimentos will have the resources and the regulations which help protect it from further development.
Recently we hosted a couple of research scientists from the Smithsonian Institue who were study the red frog population across all of Isla Bastimentos. These two women reviewed some of our photos while they were here and found one particular vividly colored katydid interesting. Jim emailed a photo of it to them and they sent it on to their expert. This expert is fascinated by the katydid and believes it to be a new species. Jim is working with this expert on a regular basis now to help him acquire whatever information he needs to further study this katydid.
We have been working heavily with several government agencies doing what we can to help preserve the natural beauty of Isla Bastimentos. The government is looking at enlarging Bastimentos National Marine Park which we think would be great. It guarantees that Isla Bastimentos will have the resources and the regulations which help protect it from further development.
Recently we hosted a couple of research scientists from the Smithsonian Institue who were study the red frog population across all of Isla Bastimentos. These two women reviewed some of our photos while they were here and found one particular vividly colored katydid interesting. Jim emailed a photo of it to them and they sent it on to their expert. This expert is fascinated by the katydid and believes it to be a new species. Jim is working with this expert on a regular basis now to help him acquire whatever information he needs to further study this katydid.
in search of a clean wave
December 17, 2007 Filed in: Trip Reports
Area: Carenero Island
Activities: Surfing
Weather: Beautiful, but windy :)
First thing in the morning, after some coffee of course, we looked at the surf report. A nice swell was pushing, 6 to 8 feet with 10-second intervals. Beautiful, the sun is out with those light, fluffy Caribbean clouds lining the horizon but one thing was amiss, the wind. We set out with high hopes of finding some waves on the front side of Bastimentos Island but as we rounded Old Point we were greeted with a strong west wind that had us guessing about our destination. Pushing on in hopes that the break we were headed to might have just enough cover to hold the waves from being blown out. Upon our arrival it was apparent that the choppy water was just not going to serve for a day of surfing. Bobbing in the water like a coconut headed to some remote outpost, we all sat down to make a decision. It was decided to make a run for Carenero, a nice spot close to Isla Colon that we knew for sure was sheltered from the wind. The ride was worth it, stunning views of the front side of Bastimentos and a clean wave to enjoy the day on.
Activities: Surfing
Weather: Beautiful, but windy :)
First thing in the morning, after some coffee of course, we looked at the surf report. A nice swell was pushing, 6 to 8 feet with 10-second intervals. Beautiful, the sun is out with those light, fluffy Caribbean clouds lining the horizon but one thing was amiss, the wind. We set out with high hopes of finding some waves on the front side of Bastimentos Island but as we rounded Old Point we were greeted with a strong west wind that had us guessing about our destination. Pushing on in hopes that the break we were headed to might have just enough cover to hold the waves from being blown out. Upon our arrival it was apparent that the choppy water was just not going to serve for a day of surfing. Bobbing in the water like a coconut headed to some remote outpost, we all sat down to make a decision. It was decided to make a run for Carenero, a nice spot close to Isla Colon that we knew for sure was sheltered from the wind. The ride was worth it, stunning views of the front side of Bastimentos and a clean wave to enjoy the day on.
Holiday Greetings from Tranquilo Bay
December 12, 2007
We all want to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. December is a time for all of us to celebrate our families, friends and opportunities. There are the different religious holidays, the cultural holidays and the new beginnings to prepare for and contemplate. Then there is the time to just ENJOY. We all wake up each day thankful for the opportunity we have here to live, run a business, raise our families and spend time with each of our guests = and we get to do all of this in paradise. Take care until we see you next. :)
Ouch!
December 06, 2007 Filed in: Story
I just fell down the stairs for the first time in a long
time. I had forgotten how much it smarts.
When I first moved to Bocas del Toro Panama, I used to fall down the stairs all the time. Something about living in the rain forest means that it rains. Rain means things get wet. Flip flops and wet stairs are not a good combination. One false foot placement and you hydroplane. Hydroplaning on stairs – not a good idea.
Over time you learn to a) wear different types of shoes with more traction when it is raining, or b) watch where you put your foot when you are walking and it is raining. Then inevitably, you return to day to day life and think you know all there is to know about the workplace hazards and you screw up.
Today, I was carrying a bag of laundry, that literally was bigger than me, down the stairs in the rain wearing flip flops. My husband had just informed me that we have sufficient water to do several loads of laundry without decreasing our water supply so I jumped at the chance. Instead of waiting for one of my employees to return to work to help me carry the bag of laundry, I picked up the bag and headed down the stairs to the laundry room. I made it most of the way down the stairs and then I was down. I don’t even know which step was misplaced in my descent, but what I do know is that I am going to be reminded of my stupidity for an extended period of time.
The hematoma that is blossoming along my lower back and the stiffness associated with my tensing up as I fell will serve as gentle reminders to me not to be so dumb for some time to come. And then some months down the road when I have forgotten about this fall, I will do it again.
When I first moved to Bocas del Toro Panama, I used to fall down the stairs all the time. Something about living in the rain forest means that it rains. Rain means things get wet. Flip flops and wet stairs are not a good combination. One false foot placement and you hydroplane. Hydroplaning on stairs – not a good idea.
Over time you learn to a) wear different types of shoes with more traction when it is raining, or b) watch where you put your foot when you are walking and it is raining. Then inevitably, you return to day to day life and think you know all there is to know about the workplace hazards and you screw up.
Today, I was carrying a bag of laundry, that literally was bigger than me, down the stairs in the rain wearing flip flops. My husband had just informed me that we have sufficient water to do several loads of laundry without decreasing our water supply so I jumped at the chance. Instead of waiting for one of my employees to return to work to help me carry the bag of laundry, I picked up the bag and headed down the stairs to the laundry room. I made it most of the way down the stairs and then I was down. I don’t even know which step was misplaced in my descent, but what I do know is that I am going to be reminded of my stupidity for an extended period of time.
The hematoma that is blossoming along my lower back and the stiffness associated with my tensing up as I fell will serve as gentle reminders to me not to be so dumb for some time to come. And then some months down the road when I have forgotten about this fall, I will do it again.
Personal Space
December 01, 2007
I think everyone can benefit from adequate personal
space. But what is adequate? When you are on vacation,
you may require more personal space than normal because
you are attempting to relax and enjoy yourself. You may
choose to sit and observe what is going on in your
immediate surroundings more than you do at home and thus
you want and require more space than usual.
On the other hand, so many people have so much space these days that they may decide that what they want is personal service and privacy but that they do not need large amounts of space to fill such requirements.
Our cabanas are about 425 square feet. They are a good size to ensure that you have plenty of space for your needs but they are not so large that they infringe upon the beautiful natural surroundings. We have built them so that each one is private and allows you to return to your senses. Here in Bocas del Toro Panama, we have an arranged marriage of sorts for you – you have your own sanctuary with its creature comforts in the rain forest on an island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. Your cabana and the entire eco adventure lodge combine together to give you all you need to walk away with a fresh take on the good life.
On the other hand, so many people have so much space these days that they may decide that what they want is personal service and privacy but that they do not need large amounts of space to fill such requirements.
Our cabanas are about 425 square feet. They are a good size to ensure that you have plenty of space for your needs but they are not so large that they infringe upon the beautiful natural surroundings. We have built them so that each one is private and allows you to return to your senses. Here in Bocas del Toro Panama, we have an arranged marriage of sorts for you – you have your own sanctuary with its creature comforts in the rain forest on an island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. Your cabana and the entire eco adventure lodge combine together to give you all you need to walk away with a fresh take on the good life.
storm of color
December 01, 2007 Filed in: Trip Reports
Area: Zapatilla Cayes, Bocas del Toro,
Panama
Activities: Walking, Swimming, Beachcombing, Relaxing
Weather: Gorgeous!
The sky has turned to blue. In this part of the world, rain takes on a different meaning and you begin to become accustomed to it especially as it is the start of the of one of the wetter times of year. Today however the sky has opened and with it my idea of just how picture perfect the view in front of me really is. Blues and greens in every shade known to the human eye, it is a storm of color replacing the thunder and rain of the last few days. After some eggs, toast, jam and strong coffee we were off to soak up the day. A boat, some ocean kayaks and snorkel gear and we were off to explore the turquoise waters of the Zapatilla Cayes that reside in the Bastimentos National Marine Park. After a short walk around the island to survey our surroundings we decided it was time to cool off. So we went for a swim – over and over again. This how the day went and it was hard to imagine ever wanting to leave but as the shadows crept closer and the sun let its grip go we knew it was time, there is always tomorrow.
Activities: Walking, Swimming, Beachcombing, Relaxing
Weather: Gorgeous!
The sky has turned to blue. In this part of the world, rain takes on a different meaning and you begin to become accustomed to it especially as it is the start of the of one of the wetter times of year. Today however the sky has opened and with it my idea of just how picture perfect the view in front of me really is. Blues and greens in every shade known to the human eye, it is a storm of color replacing the thunder and rain of the last few days. After some eggs, toast, jam and strong coffee we were off to soak up the day. A boat, some ocean kayaks and snorkel gear and we were off to explore the turquoise waters of the Zapatilla Cayes that reside in the Bastimentos National Marine Park. After a short walk around the island to survey our surroundings we decided it was time to cool off. So we went for a swim – over and over again. This how the day went and it was hard to imagine ever wanting to leave but as the shadows crept closer and the sun let its grip go we knew it was time, there is always tomorrow.
education and enlightenment
November 30, 2007 Filed in: Trip Reports
Area: Bocas del Toro, Panama (Mainland
Panama)
Activities: Chocolate Farm Tour & Chance Ocelot Sighting
Weather: Sunny and Windy
After a very filling breakfast of Pixbae Pancakes (made from scratch) it was decided that our morning excursion was going to be a visit to a chocolate farm on the mainland called Green Acres. This beautiful farm is owned by Dave and Linda Cerutti who came to Panama from San Diego almost ten years ago. The boat ride out was breezy and allowed us to shake off some of the heat that persistently resides close to the shores of these lowland Caribbean islands.
After our arrival and introduction we were treated to something special, something that could not be planned. Dave had apparently saved an Ocelot as a cub from a life of imprisonment in a nearby town. He had seen it in a cage and offered to buy the cat so she could be set free. Now she lives in the jungle however, she occasionally comes for a visit to the farm. This relationship you have to see to believe. So, there we were getting ready for our tour, when out of the foliage comes this magnificent animal strolling towards us in a very nonchalant manner. We were all awestruck and frozen because it was not expected nor could one ever be ready for such an approach. I just about passed out when it started rubbing and licking my leg. After an explanation from Dave and Linda we let our guard down and enjoyed the company of this truly wild animal.
The next course of events were almost as inspiring, I had no idea the process it takes to get the Cacao bean to the point of consumption that we all know and love, that wonderful thing called chocolate. This was truly a day filled with education and enlightenment, the kind you only get by traveling through this mystic and mysterious part of the world.
Activities: Chocolate Farm Tour & Chance Ocelot Sighting
Weather: Sunny and Windy
After a very filling breakfast of Pixbae Pancakes (made from scratch) it was decided that our morning excursion was going to be a visit to a chocolate farm on the mainland called Green Acres. This beautiful farm is owned by Dave and Linda Cerutti who came to Panama from San Diego almost ten years ago. The boat ride out was breezy and allowed us to shake off some of the heat that persistently resides close to the shores of these lowland Caribbean islands.
After our arrival and introduction we were treated to something special, something that could not be planned. Dave had apparently saved an Ocelot as a cub from a life of imprisonment in a nearby town. He had seen it in a cage and offered to buy the cat so she could be set free. Now she lives in the jungle however, she occasionally comes for a visit to the farm. This relationship you have to see to believe. So, there we were getting ready for our tour, when out of the foliage comes this magnificent animal strolling towards us in a very nonchalant manner. We were all awestruck and frozen because it was not expected nor could one ever be ready for such an approach. I just about passed out when it started rubbing and licking my leg. After an explanation from Dave and Linda we let our guard down and enjoyed the company of this truly wild animal.
The next course of events were almost as inspiring, I had no idea the process it takes to get the Cacao bean to the point of consumption that we all know and love, that wonderful thing called chocolate. This was truly a day filled with education and enlightenment, the kind you only get by traveling through this mystic and mysterious part of the world.
Content
November 27, 2007
We chose not to subscribe to any television service as we
have a unique opportunity to control how much and exactly
what television content our children watch. We have a
large library and DVD library in order to both entertain
and expand our brains. However, recently we have been at
a loss for new content to add to our library. There are
some nights where you don’t want to read, but you would
like to do something and a movie or a television show is
the best fit. Fortunately for us we have so many
different perspectives presented to us by our diverse
clientele that we have people offer suggestions that one
might not have thought of on one’s own. Last week we had
a few very well traveled individuals on site. One couple
has been watching a variety of courses on television on
very interesting subjects. These peaked our interest as
it is a great way for us to expand our horizons and add
to our content library. So for now we are going to check
into some history on things we would like to know a bit
more about. If we like those courses who knows we might
go with it. The nice thing about it is we can get the
content directly off the internet so we don’t have to
wait for it to make its extended journey to Panama.
We aim to please
November 24, 2007
How far in advance do you prepare for a vacation? We have
some guests who reserve their vacation and begin planning
the specifics a year in advance of their trip. We have
others who want to schedule a trip about two weeks to a
month out. However, most of our guests fall somewhere in
the middle.
We recently had a family of four here for ten days. All vacation planning was left up to Dad. Dad is a successful, type A personality kind of guy. He begins planning his vacation for the upcoming year shortly after returning home from the current year’s vacation. So for Spring Break, he catches up at the office and then begins the quest to find the next spot he deems perfect for his family. He does a lot of research about that spot and then he lets the information simmer for a while. After it simmers for about a month or so, he fills in any missing information and goes over all of the information, at a summary level, with his wife. If she buys into the plan then he makes his reservation for the following year.
So needless to say, when I got the following email in my in box earlier this week, I was delighted as I know we had some big shoes to fill.
We had a wonderful time at Tranquilo Bay. Our stay exceeded expectations… and you know, they were pretty high. Most importantly, I want to thank Jim, Jay, Stephanie, Sabrina, Enrique, Mario, Leo, Yohani, the Hidden Chef and all the other staff for being such great hosts.
Renee, you, especially, are a saint for putting up with all my questions and quirky desires.
I am still digesting the entire trip and will be sending out a package this week. Hopefully, it will be in Texas for Jay's visit.
There are so many great memories/experiences, lobster, Zapo Beach, the dock, dolphins, tarpon, bonefish, views, water, indians, etc.... Of course my biggest disappointment was the food. Too good, too much - I am huge and almost was charged 70 cents a pound for my return weight.
Collecting my thoughts, I am, believe it or not, at a loss for words - but the main point is we had a great time, there are a lot of great places - the trick is to find both great places with great people - we found that at Tranquilo Bay....and that will be a very hard combo to replicate - and I may just want to stay with a good thing.
We recently had a family of four here for ten days. All vacation planning was left up to Dad. Dad is a successful, type A personality kind of guy. He begins planning his vacation for the upcoming year shortly after returning home from the current year’s vacation. So for Spring Break, he catches up at the office and then begins the quest to find the next spot he deems perfect for his family. He does a lot of research about that spot and then he lets the information simmer for a while. After it simmers for about a month or so, he fills in any missing information and goes over all of the information, at a summary level, with his wife. If she buys into the plan then he makes his reservation for the following year.
So needless to say, when I got the following email in my in box earlier this week, I was delighted as I know we had some big shoes to fill.
We had a wonderful time at Tranquilo Bay. Our stay exceeded expectations… and you know, they were pretty high. Most importantly, I want to thank Jim, Jay, Stephanie, Sabrina, Enrique, Mario, Leo, Yohani, the Hidden Chef and all the other staff for being such great hosts.
Renee, you, especially, are a saint for putting up with all my questions and quirky desires.
I am still digesting the entire trip and will be sending out a package this week. Hopefully, it will be in Texas for Jay's visit.
There are so many great memories/experiences, lobster, Zapo Beach, the dock, dolphins, tarpon, bonefish, views, water, indians, etc.... Of course my biggest disappointment was the food. Too good, too much - I am huge and almost was charged 70 cents a pound for my return weight.
Collecting my thoughts, I am, believe it or not, at a loss for words - but the main point is we had a great time, there are a lot of great places - the trick is to find both great places with great people - we found that at Tranquilo Bay....and that will be a very hard combo to replicate - and I may just want to stay with a good thing.
To think or not to think
November 14, 2007
Decisions, decisions, decisions. I remember when I was
working in Houston that I made so many different
decisions each day that I wanted a vacation from
decisions. We have tried to create such a place here
where you can make as many or as few decisions as you
like.
We ask you in advance what you are interested in experiencing once you arrive. We spend some time getting to know each of our guests upon arrival to determine which of the excursions would be the best fit for each guest and such guest’s entire party. Based upon this input and the current conditions we suggest an excursion for the entire party or for smaller groups.
We also plan our menus in advance based upon guest input. Thus after you have had an exhilarating day upon the water or in the jungle, you do not have to decide what you want to eat. We have a set menu determined for you. We post the menu each morning so that you have an opportunity to advise us if you do not want to eat what we have scheduled for the evening. In such an instance we suggest other alternatives based upon availability.
One of our guests once told me that he was really enjoying his vacation here as he got to take a break from making all the decisions. He let us make them for him. Of course, if you don’t want to take a break, just let us know that as well. We will let you continue thinking if you want to do so.
We ask you in advance what you are interested in experiencing once you arrive. We spend some time getting to know each of our guests upon arrival to determine which of the excursions would be the best fit for each guest and such guest’s entire party. Based upon this input and the current conditions we suggest an excursion for the entire party or for smaller groups.
We also plan our menus in advance based upon guest input. Thus after you have had an exhilarating day upon the water or in the jungle, you do not have to decide what you want to eat. We have a set menu determined for you. We post the menu each morning so that you have an opportunity to advise us if you do not want to eat what we have scheduled for the evening. In such an instance we suggest other alternatives based upon availability.
One of our guests once told me that he was really enjoying his vacation here as he got to take a break from making all the decisions. He let us make them for him. Of course, if you don’t want to take a break, just let us know that as well. We will let you continue thinking if you want to do so.
Breathe Deeply
November 11, 2007 Filed in: Story
Breathe deeply. Inhale the ocean breeze. Exhale the “real
world”. Inhale the sweet smell of the rain. Exhale
crowds. Inhale the scents of the jungle. Exhale the
concrete jungle.
I used to have a strong yoga practice when I lived in Houston. I actually began practicing yoga on vacation in Mexico. I was the only woman guest at a fishing lodge. Jim went fishing all day long and I usually hung back at the lodge. The massage therapist at the lodge taught a “pick up” yoga class for all of the female staff members. There is something about beginning your yoga practice gazing upon the Caribbean Sea. It is a memory I cherish.
Yoga just fit for me. I enjoyed it and I benefited from my practice. I unfortunately have not kept up with my practice ever since I was pregnant with my first child. I went to an occasional class following my son’s birth, but I did not have a true practice. Prior to my pregnancy with our daughter I was slowly beginning a practice here in Bocas del Toro Panama. The option to practice while gazing upon the Caribbean Sea is a strong pull for me. However my second pregnancy was a difficult one and I didn’t do any yoga during it.
Now I am reaching the end of my daughter’s first year. I feel a pull toward my yoga practice for a variety of reasons. One of which I believe is that yoga is going to be something that my daughter and I can share. My son also enjoys it even those he only tries a posture or two at a time. I would like to renew my practice so that I might benefit from it and so that I might share it with my children. Besides, breathing deeply here is easy.
I used to have a strong yoga practice when I lived in Houston. I actually began practicing yoga on vacation in Mexico. I was the only woman guest at a fishing lodge. Jim went fishing all day long and I usually hung back at the lodge. The massage therapist at the lodge taught a “pick up” yoga class for all of the female staff members. There is something about beginning your yoga practice gazing upon the Caribbean Sea. It is a memory I cherish.
Yoga just fit for me. I enjoyed it and I benefited from my practice. I unfortunately have not kept up with my practice ever since I was pregnant with my first child. I went to an occasional class following my son’s birth, but I did not have a true practice. Prior to my pregnancy with our daughter I was slowly beginning a practice here in Bocas del Toro Panama. The option to practice while gazing upon the Caribbean Sea is a strong pull for me. However my second pregnancy was a difficult one and I didn’t do any yoga during it.
Now I am reaching the end of my daughter’s first year. I feel a pull toward my yoga practice for a variety of reasons. One of which I believe is that yoga is going to be something that my daughter and I can share. My son also enjoys it even those he only tries a posture or two at a time. I would like to renew my practice so that I might benefit from it and so that I might share it with my children. Besides, breathing deeply here is easy.
Sacrifice for rain
November 07, 2007 Filed in: Story
Today it rained. If you want to call it that. I got
slightly wet on my ride from Isla Bastimentos to Bocas
Town on Isla Colon. I wore my rain jacket and the only
part of me which was covered by the rain jacket which
ended up wet was the center of my t-shirt where the rain
jacket’s zipper rested.
We need some real rain. Rain that comes down hard for an extended period of time. All of Panama is suffering from one of the longest droughts in recent history. We live in the rain forest after all. We expect it to rain.
When we haven’t had rain for some period of time we begin to make sacrifices in hopes of inducing the sky to open up. One of the first sacrifices we must make is that I make a trip into town. You see, I rarely leave the property, but if I do – inevitably it rains. And today it did rain, just not much. It was almost an insult to my sacrifice the small amount of rain that we received. It has continued to look like it is going to rain off and on for most of the day. So maybe if we are really lucky and since I am planning to go to the beach tomorrow – we will get some rain either tonight or tomorrow. I will keep my fingers crossed.
We need some real rain. Rain that comes down hard for an extended period of time. All of Panama is suffering from one of the longest droughts in recent history. We live in the rain forest after all. We expect it to rain.
When we haven’t had rain for some period of time we begin to make sacrifices in hopes of inducing the sky to open up. One of the first sacrifices we must make is that I make a trip into town. You see, I rarely leave the property, but if I do – inevitably it rains. And today it did rain, just not much. It was almost an insult to my sacrifice the small amount of rain that we received. It has continued to look like it is going to rain off and on for most of the day. So maybe if we are really lucky and since I am planning to go to the beach tomorrow – we will get some rain either tonight or tomorrow. I will keep my fingers crossed.
Who is cooking now?
November 03, 2007 Filed in: Story
One of the challenges associated with living on an island
is that you have limited access to an extended workforce.
For most positions it isn’t a problem as you can rotate
the schedule of your staff to take care of the time off
for each employee. However, there are certain positions
for which you do not hire multiples and for those
vacation time is a bit more challenging.
We have a cook and a helper in the kitchen. We are fortunate in that they can turn out some incredible food. Our cook is kind enough to teach many of the different things she makes to her helper so that the helper can take on additional responsibility and fill in for the cook at certain meals. The helper lacks the experience of the cook which is why he is currently the helper and not the cook. He is hoping to return to school someday so cooking is not what he wants to be doing for a living. The cook on the other hand loves to cook and you can tell. Her food is amazing.
Well, it is her turn to go on vacation. She doesn’t take vacation on a regular basis like all of our other employees and she is absolutely entitled to it. I on the other hand cannot find anyone to work with the helper in the kitchen for the time she will be away. So it appears that the food the kitchen turns out for a few weeks will be a bit different than the food prepared in our kitchen most of the time. It will still be delicious, but it will be more like going to a party at a friend’s house rather than dinner at a restaurant. Why is that you ask? I will be back in the kitchen for a period of time. I can design menus for our cook to prepare, but I do not have the same skills that she has to turn out the same meals she cooks. I will miss her immensely, but I would prefer to miss her for a brief period of time rather than let her burn out and miss her all of the time.
We have a cook and a helper in the kitchen. We are fortunate in that they can turn out some incredible food. Our cook is kind enough to teach many of the different things she makes to her helper so that the helper can take on additional responsibility and fill in for the cook at certain meals. The helper lacks the experience of the cook which is why he is currently the helper and not the cook. He is hoping to return to school someday so cooking is not what he wants to be doing for a living. The cook on the other hand loves to cook and you can tell. Her food is amazing.
Well, it is her turn to go on vacation. She doesn’t take vacation on a regular basis like all of our other employees and she is absolutely entitled to it. I on the other hand cannot find anyone to work with the helper in the kitchen for the time she will be away. So it appears that the food the kitchen turns out for a few weeks will be a bit different than the food prepared in our kitchen most of the time. It will still be delicious, but it will be more like going to a party at a friend’s house rather than dinner at a restaurant. Why is that you ask? I will be back in the kitchen for a period of time. I can design menus for our cook to prepare, but I do not have the same skills that she has to turn out the same meals she cooks. I will miss her immensely, but I would prefer to miss her for a brief period of time rather than let her burn out and miss her all of the time.
Spring Break 2007 - revisited, originally posted on Blogspot
October 31, 2007
We just had a family of four leave after a stay with us
of ten days. I have been communicating with this family,
mainly the dad, for almost a year now as they planned
their Spring Break 2007. This vacation was different than
they normally take and so they asked a lot of questions
in advance to make sure they were getting exactly what
they wanted in their vacation.
We helped them find a hotel in Panama City and also arranged for a guide to take them around the city. This makes the transition into the vacation so much easier as it is one less thing for one to have to deal with.
Once they arrived in Bocas del Toro Panama – in the rain – we got them fed the first of many meals and took them to their cabana. They got comfortable and the sun came out. They walked around the grounds to get a feel for everything, spent some time down at the dock and then came back up for lunch. After a round of questions and a great pizza, they were pretty sure they had made the right decision for their vacation. The adventure was about to begin.
Over the next ten days, they took numerous trips to the beach. They went fishing. They found dolphins. They made friends and most importantly they made memories. I am certain that the memories of this trip will last a long long time.
We helped them find a hotel in Panama City and also arranged for a guide to take them around the city. This makes the transition into the vacation so much easier as it is one less thing for one to have to deal with.
Once they arrived in Bocas del Toro Panama – in the rain – we got them fed the first of many meals and took them to their cabana. They got comfortable and the sun came out. They walked around the grounds to get a feel for everything, spent some time down at the dock and then came back up for lunch. After a round of questions and a great pizza, they were pretty sure they had made the right decision for their vacation. The adventure was about to begin.
Over the next ten days, they took numerous trips to the beach. They went fishing. They found dolphins. They made friends and most importantly they made memories. I am certain that the memories of this trip will last a long long time.
Water
October 27, 2007 Filed in: Story
Water. I have been thinking about it quite a bit for the
past month or so. You see we are experiencing an unusual
draught these days. We haven’t had much rain for some
time now. The town closest to us actually ran out of
water for about three days. Not having water is scary
stuff. But it is the kind of thing that you really do not
stop and think about most of the time in a developed
nation. Water is just there. You can turn on the tap and
out comes the water.
The only time I remember being concerned in the least bit about water and access to it was when Houston was hit by a hurricane. I remember filling the bathtub with water so that we could be assured we would have water in the event the municipal utilities were harmed in any manner. We didn’t have power for several days following that hurricane but I do not remember actually losing access to water.
Life on Isla Bastimentos requires that we constantly monitor our water consumption. We have to make sure that we will have water to support our guests. Each of our cabanas is self sufficient with regard to the water supply our guests actually use. We never run into issues with consumption at the cabanas. And if we did, we can divert water from the main supply to a cabana. Instead we monitor our usage in the main building and in all of the support buildings. We have all learned to wash our hands and brush our teeth with a limited use of water.
I have learned to ration my use of water. I still have a long way to go. Water is very important to us all and yet we use and abuse it day in and day out. Where would we be without water? Exactly not a question one wants to answer.
The only time I remember being concerned in the least bit about water and access to it was when Houston was hit by a hurricane. I remember filling the bathtub with water so that we could be assured we would have water in the event the municipal utilities were harmed in any manner. We didn’t have power for several days following that hurricane but I do not remember actually losing access to water.
Life on Isla Bastimentos requires that we constantly monitor our water consumption. We have to make sure that we will have water to support our guests. Each of our cabanas is self sufficient with regard to the water supply our guests actually use. We never run into issues with consumption at the cabanas. And if we did, we can divert water from the main supply to a cabana. Instead we monitor our usage in the main building and in all of the support buildings. We have all learned to wash our hands and brush our teeth with a limited use of water.
I have learned to ration my use of water. I still have a long way to go. Water is very important to us all and yet we use and abuse it day in and day out. Where would we be without water? Exactly not a question one wants to answer.
Dining options
October 24, 2007
When you eat dinner on your vacation do you want to eat
by yourself with just your party or do you want to dine
with other people staying at the same lodge? We can set
it up either way. If you are on a family adventure
vacation, you may want to share stories of your
adventures with others at dinner each night. Or you might
want to share a meal with just your family.
We can arrange it either way. We frequently sit at communal tables and invite our guests to decide where they want to sit. The resulting conversation is interesting. To hear about an adventure from a variety of viewpoints broadens the experience. One person may notice fine details that others didn’t expressly remember but once they details are brought to the forefront then they become a part of the experience for the whole group. A different person may have noticed an unusual landmark and point it out to the group. The photographs that each person takes during the excursion also provide input into the discussion.
Then there are those who are celebrating their family time. They may enjoy the group dynamic during the cocktail hour and then prefer a private table for dinner itself.
We try to read our guests so that we can give them what they want. After all it is your vacation – make it what you want it to be.
We can arrange it either way. We frequently sit at communal tables and invite our guests to decide where they want to sit. The resulting conversation is interesting. To hear about an adventure from a variety of viewpoints broadens the experience. One person may notice fine details that others didn’t expressly remember but once they details are brought to the forefront then they become a part of the experience for the whole group. A different person may have noticed an unusual landmark and point it out to the group. The photographs that each person takes during the excursion also provide input into the discussion.
Then there are those who are celebrating their family time. They may enjoy the group dynamic during the cocktail hour and then prefer a private table for dinner itself.
We try to read our guests so that we can give them what they want. After all it is your vacation – make it what you want it to be.
Popcorn on the porch
October 21, 2007 Filed in: Story
Simple pleasures. Today, on my porch here in Bocas del
Toro Panama, I shared an afternoon treat with a very
special young man. He educated me on the finer points of
popcorn. He went on about which animals could and
couldn’t eat the different parts of the popcorn.
You see when popcorn is fully popped just about anyone with teeth can eat it. It doesn’t require extremely strong teeth at that point – just that one has them. Thus an infant who does not have teeth cannot eat popcorn. Birds can snack on fully cooked popcorn as it makes a yummy meal for them.
However, the kernels that do not pop should not be eaten by humans or most animals. Monkeys are apparently equipped with teeth that can make easy work of an un-popped corn kernel.
I also learned there was an exact way one was to carry the bowl of popcorn and how to select the finest pieces when you decided upon the next bite. The popcorn should be nice and fluffy and preferably have just the right amount of butter and salt to bring out the flavor of the corn.
Who was this special young man? My three year old son. He has apparently gleaned all of this popcorn wisdom in his short years here on this earth. Lucky for me he is here to educate me about such issues.
You see when popcorn is fully popped just about anyone with teeth can eat it. It doesn’t require extremely strong teeth at that point – just that one has them. Thus an infant who does not have teeth cannot eat popcorn. Birds can snack on fully cooked popcorn as it makes a yummy meal for them.
However, the kernels that do not pop should not be eaten by humans or most animals. Monkeys are apparently equipped with teeth that can make easy work of an un-popped corn kernel.
I also learned there was an exact way one was to carry the bowl of popcorn and how to select the finest pieces when you decided upon the next bite. The popcorn should be nice and fluffy and preferably have just the right amount of butter and salt to bring out the flavor of the corn.
Who was this special young man? My three year old son. He has apparently gleaned all of this popcorn wisdom in his short years here on this earth. Lucky for me he is here to educate me about such issues.
Global Warming
October 18, 2007 Filed in: Story
Why do we protect the environment? Each person has his or
her reasons. I just read an article about how some of the
ski slopes, Aspen, in particular are working to reduce
global warming and do what they can to protect the
climate. Auden Schendler, Director of Aspen’s
Environmental Division said something that I believe to
be extremely accurate. “If we protect the environment out
of greed, that’s even better,” laughing “Greed works.”
The entire ski industry loses if we do not learn to
control our climate.
I read in another magazine a story about a woman who left her SUV running the entire time during an hour long yoga class. When questioned about why she left it running it was because she didn’t want to return to a cold car. When further questioned about whether or not she thought about how she was contributing to global warming, she replied that she didn’t believe in that stuff.
Across the globe, there are people and places which are feeling the effects of global warming today and are learning what further problems we will have in the future if we don’t do something about it. Each of has to determine what we will do and how we will do it to help reduce the speed with which global warming continues.
I read in another magazine a story about a woman who left her SUV running the entire time during an hour long yoga class. When questioned about why she left it running it was because she didn’t want to return to a cold car. When further questioned about whether or not she thought about how she was contributing to global warming, she replied that she didn’t believe in that stuff.
Across the globe, there are people and places which are feeling the effects of global warming today and are learning what further problems we will have in the future if we don’t do something about it. Each of has to determine what we will do and how we will do it to help reduce the speed with which global warming continues.
What will you do?
October 14, 2007 Filed in: Story
My family wasn’t sure what I would be doing when I moved
to Isla Bastimentos here in Panama. My aunts found it
very hard to believe that anyone would want to move to a
very secluded island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.
What does it take to run an eco adventure lodge? How will
you make sure your children are educated? Where do you go
to do your grocery shopping?
All kinds of questions are thrown at you when you tell people you are moving with your family to an island. There are those who believe you must be crazy to throw away a perfectly good life in the city: a great job, a car, a nice house, etc. What do you gain by moving away from all of that?
I gain all kinds of special time with my family. Each morning my husband and I spend about an hour with the kids before our day gets started. We just hang out together and talk and play. I gain remarkable sunrises and sunsets. I gain children who are bilingual. My son translates for me. I lose out on so many things in life that do not matter: traffic, sensational journalism, violent crime. So really I think the most important thing it takes to run an eco adventure lodge is a dream – the dream for a different life.
All kinds of questions are thrown at you when you tell people you are moving with your family to an island. There are those who believe you must be crazy to throw away a perfectly good life in the city: a great job, a car, a nice house, etc. What do you gain by moving away from all of that?
I gain all kinds of special time with my family. Each morning my husband and I spend about an hour with the kids before our day gets started. We just hang out together and talk and play. I gain remarkable sunrises and sunsets. I gain children who are bilingual. My son translates for me. I lose out on so many things in life that do not matter: traffic, sensational journalism, violent crime. So really I think the most important thing it takes to run an eco adventure lodge is a dream – the dream for a different life.
Can I do this?
October 10, 2007 Filed in: Story
Can I really match my appetite for eco adventure with my
hunger for maintaining balance in my life? Can I really
let go of corporate America as quickly as I put on my
flip flops? Is it possible to embrace living on a island
and losing the “freedom” of driving a car? Can I make new
friends on regular basis and feel as if I have known them
for a lifetime? Can I free myself in this process?
Oh yes – all of this is possible. My appetite for eco adventure is really no different than the appetite I used to have for excitement in my job. My job now is eco adventure and sharing it with many other people. Do I maintain balance in my life? For sure. As I sit down to do my work each day I am interrupted by the ebb and flow of my children’s daily activities and those of our guests. I will admit that losing my Blackberry was difficult in the beginning, but now the thought of giving of my flip flops to go back to corporate America is laughable. I am trapped in paradise if you will. Our island has no roads. To go anywhere you must get in a boat and head to another land mass. I can’t drive a boat. So if there are no boat captains around the only way I could get somewhere else would be to head out in a kayak – self propelled transportation. New friends. We have the good fortune to meet so many different people here. I meet people from all different walks of life. Oddly enough you learn quickly that there is some interest you share which then spurs interesting conversation and quite possibly a friendship which will last a lifetime. Am I free? You betcha.
Oh yes – all of this is possible. My appetite for eco adventure is really no different than the appetite I used to have for excitement in my job. My job now is eco adventure and sharing it with many other people. Do I maintain balance in my life? For sure. As I sit down to do my work each day I am interrupted by the ebb and flow of my children’s daily activities and those of our guests. I will admit that losing my Blackberry was difficult in the beginning, but now the thought of giving of my flip flops to go back to corporate America is laughable. I am trapped in paradise if you will. Our island has no roads. To go anywhere you must get in a boat and head to another land mass. I can’t drive a boat. So if there are no boat captains around the only way I could get somewhere else would be to head out in a kayak – self propelled transportation. New friends. We have the good fortune to meet so many different people here. I meet people from all different walks of life. Oddly enough you learn quickly that there is some interest you share which then spurs interesting conversation and quite possibly a friendship which will last a lifetime. Am I free? You betcha.
base camp or temporary office?
October 10, 2007 Filed in: Trip Reports
Area: Zapatilla Cay, Bocas del Toro,
Panama
Activities: Snorkel, kayak, swim
Weather: Sunny and clear and glassy seas
Sunrise this morning was incredible and the Caribbean’s surface was like a mirror. I could see my reflection in the water while driving 30 Mph over its surface, beautiful. The air was crisp and the Talamanca Mountains were crystal clear, backed by white streaks across a blue sky. Neil and Sue arrived in Bocas del Toro on the morning flight at 8:00 AM; their flight must have been beautiful. Their mission was to escape fall in Birmingham, England, and enjoy a week of adventure in Panama. I am sure they were admiring the clear panoramic view of Panama’s mountains and beaches during their flight. I would have been scanning the oceans surface for schools of tuna, or whale sharks.
We arrived to Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge at about 9:45 AM and Neil and Sue were ready to “get on with it”. We had our lunches prepared and packed for the beach, and
Activities: Snorkel, kayak, swim
Weather: Sunny and clear and glassy seas
Sunrise this morning was incredible and the Caribbean’s surface was like a mirror. I could see my reflection in the water while driving 30 Mph over its surface, beautiful. The air was crisp and the Talamanca Mountains were crystal clear, backed by white streaks across a blue sky. Neil and Sue arrived in Bocas del Toro on the morning flight at 8:00 AM; their flight must have been beautiful. Their mission was to escape fall in Birmingham, England, and enjoy a week of adventure in Panama. I am sure they were admiring the clear panoramic view of Panama’s mountains and beaches during their flight. I would have been scanning the oceans surface for schools of tuna, or whale sharks.
We arrived to Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge at about 9:45 AM and Neil and Sue were ready to “get on with it”. We had our lunches prepared and packed for the beach, and