Panamá, once more ...

Panamá ... it always feels like we are returning home when we return. After having spent 2+ years here with a few returns after the fact, it still presents with the feeling. What it is, and why, I don't know, it just is. It is still hot and sticky, making breathing hard, especially when the humidity is high. The country is beautiful in it's own way, although it is a lot of brown in the area that we were going to as it was still the dry season. The bus rides were as always, reliable and noisy...

Our arrival in Panamá was late, very late, or early, very early, depending on how you look at it; 1am. Heading straight to Albrook bus terminal we were able to get a 3am bus to Santiago. We had just settled in for a snooze for the duration of the bus ride, when on came the music. I had (conveniently?) forgotten this aspect of bus riding. Needless to say we watched the sun come up from the bus as it approached Santiago and our next leg, with little sleep. From there on to Chitré where we caught another bus to Tonosí. Our first time in Tonosí and it left no lasting impression: dusty, noisy with little in the local store and nary a taxi to be found at the bus stop. A wonderfully wizened old lady stopped to chat us up only she discovered that we were waiting for the next bus to Cambutal. She kindly informed us that she would wait for us to get the bus, no questions asked, no tolerating NO, and yes, that was her bus waiting across the street. Nothing would deter her from waiting with us making sure we got on the right bus. We had been labeled: GRINGOS, but gringos who spoke Spanish tolerably. Finally a taxi came by and we flagged it down, thanking her profusely for her kindness, being rewarded with the best-ever smile on her face.

Cambutal, a dual face. On one hand there is the dusty, noisy, nothing to offer town while on the other hand only a couple of miles from the town, a seaside paradise. Lush green, quiet with the soothing sounds of the waves. Our hotel, Luna Negra, was just such a paradise. Our cabin beyond words, especially as the cooling breeze blew in off the water, lowering the temperatures at least 10 degrees from that on the street.

Upon arrival at the hotel, our host, Anita and her son Aaron, rushed to inform Bennison and Al that we had arrived. She had been "pacing the floor" for our arrival and of course, we were off and running soon after. A drive to be shown around the area. "And this is where you can rent a place for as long as you like" [hint. hint]; this is a good local restaurant; this is a good hotel restaurant; by the way, your hotel has the best ever restaurant but it is only open Thurs though Sat evenings and reservations are a must... Then off farther afield. This is out towards our property and there is lots of property for sale; stopping to visit with another gringo in the throes of building a home; problems with flooding water during the rainy season which will make for difficult travel once we get to the river, which, by the way, we have to cross to get to the proper; and on it went as we toured their newly adopted town.

I awoke; after a very peaceful sleep in an a/c'd room, with  my back spasming and my hip hurting. I believe it was aggravated by the bumpy roads that were traveled and the long hours spent traveling to get here from the US. The result being that I did not go with the tour to a special place: The tidal pool. Instead I laid about and rested and relaxed my back with great results. They returned in the afternoon oohing and aching over the scenery, so  much so that Danny asked them to take me in the morning back to the same place. Supper at the Italian Restaurant - excellent Italian food, for Panamá.

So off to the Tidal Pool in the morning, by slow easy speeds to minimize the bumpiness. They lived up to the raving and indeed, I can see Danny wanting to buy property in the area if this was available to all. The beaches are for everyone, none are limited. That is a good thing. The water is clean, the waves are apparently very good for surfing, but how would I know? We enjoyed a day at the beach and it was cool enough for me to sit out during the height of the day in the shade of a big tree. The breeze coming off the water was wonderful.

Our time here in Panamá was short - we were here only to visit Bennison and friends in Bocas and the Darién, and it  has gone all too fast. Unfortunately, our trip to Bocas was cancelled due to my problems with  my back and the discomfort of riding public transportation. So back we went to Panamá City for the last few days of our time here and to get my back looked at.

On our return to the City, we stopped in Chitre to visit with Bob, our PCV friend. AS time would have it, the International Feria was also in town. So we got to visit with Bob and go to the feria as well.

 We attended the feria with Bob on the rt and some of his PC Panama friends.

 During our wandering in Texas, leading up to our trip to Panama, I had seen a way to display your molas. So of course, I had to add to my collection. Here I was able to buy a decent layered mola made by the seller. Some of the stitching is not as good as others but still, it is original.

 

 Oddly enough when I asked to take her photo, she pulled out a mola blouse and laid it over her normal t-shirt, so that she wouldn't appear too Westernized in the photo.

 And what would a feria be without the Andean indigenous selling their pan flute music. These ones however, had taken their enticement entertainment one step forward and dressed in native costume. Unfortunately they had chosen the indigenous dress of the American Plains Indians. Guess they had spent some time in the US.

 right down to the moccasins 

 and even a quill chest plate.

Can one dare to hope that in some form or fashion they are distantly related?

Once in Panama City we wandered old haunts while waiting for the results of the medical testing done our first evening in town. A new sculpture

 Oddly enough I have never taken a photo of Einstein's Head found outside of NY Bagels where we went for lunch.

Our thrill for the day was riding the new underground metro, opened the weekend that we arrived. Standing room only as Martinelli is getting people used to riding it and the convenience of it by offering free rides for the first couple of weeks.

 The lines were long...

  the crowds deep...

 Walking from the actual underground across the road to Albrook Mall Station, there were signs outlining the development and workings of the metro. Very interesting.

 Is this the final graveyard for all those fabulously painted Diablo Rojas and all the memories of riding them during PST? Parked in the background and only occasionally seen on the streets now. I understand that quite a few were sold to VeraCruz, Mexico for tourist transportation and some are still in use serving the outer lying areas. Still it is nice to have a/c'd buses to ride in the city and not have to smell and breathe the belching diesel fumes as the buses roared by.

Our return was shared with the anticipation of our next big adventure that is coming from our having received an invite to Africa from Peg & Gary, our friends from Valencia, Sp. (PC friends from Panamá). Oh boy, ohh boy ... a dream come true, Africa.

With April comes ...

The old saying, April showers bring May flowers is very much alive this year but early. This year is probably the best that I have ever seen the bluebonnets and wildflowers in general. The lush green backdrop definitely makes the complete picture.

Bluebonnets in Ennis, TX

They are everywhere, making me want to have them around the RV. hmmm wonder if they would grow in a plastic swimming pool, etc?

This last six weeks have been busy: Busy enough that I wonder where the time actually went. Did we actually do all of what I think we did? So let's see ...

~ We spent almost all of March in the area of the National seashore, all based around Corpus Christi. The grands came to visit as was discoursed in March.  While here I was able to attend a one-day sewing class where I learned how to make fabric bowls. This was a wonderful way to spend a morning.

~ Then we slowly meandered across country towards Nacogdoches. Everywhere we traveled, we saw an abundance of wildflowers. The Bluebonnet blues, Indian Paint corals, the yellows, oranges and whites found against the lush vibrant green of spring were a sight I couldn't get enough of. One of our stops was Lake Somerville State Park from where we made a few interesting day trips. 

1. The first of course was to a find! A great quilting shop where I could only wish for easy access on a daily basis. Ha! I would have to do a lot more sewing/quilting that I am doing now if I were to visit that shop much. I got a few items however. One of the Challenges offered on one of the quilting online groups is a BTF Challenge - that is a Back to Front where you design a flimsy front for a specific backing. I found the perfect fabric and a simple use of said fabric for the Spain blanket. This will work up quite quickly if only given a chance to work on it continuously.

We visited the Wendish Museum in Serbin, TX, close to Giddings. 

There is a great festival here in September that would be worth attending. And they teach you how to paint eggs too. Their history is fascinating and is outlined, along with cultural displays, in the museum. The original Wendish church built is a small log cabin on the property but the current church, built as a result of a growing congregation is now considered one of the Painted Churches of Texas. 

During this meandering we received an invitation from friends to accompany them on a trip to Africa. Although the main reason for going is to visit their nephew, a PC volunteer, it will also be a spectacular way to see a part of the world we probably wouldn't see otherwise. We will be going to Tanzania, Zambia, and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. There might also be a side trip to Zanzibar if we can pull it off. The planning for this will have to wait however, until we return from our visit to Bennison and Al.Then it was off to Panama to visit with Bennison and view their newly acquired property. This is for the next little blog!

Can March be here already?

Parked here on the south Texas coast for the last month, we have had the luxury of smelling the sea air, hearing the sounds of the waves, and experiencing a much different weather style than most of the population here in the USA. As I read again about further snow storms and frigid cold temperatures, I gaze about our environment, listening to the heater come on and off and realize just how fortunate we are to be here, even if it is cold and blistery outside. Oh we have our own set of turmoils, but they pall in comparison. We aren't shut down because of impassable roads, although the drive across the bridge in 40+mph winds can be dicey. Our landscape is white, but white with sand not snow. We don't shovel it and we don't slip in but we do bundle up in it, but to a lesser level, as the winds off the water along with the temperatures in the 40's can be biting. And these very same winds are actually able to rock our solidly built RV. How odd that feels. Somehow, however, it doesn't seem to be at all comparable. The fog accompanies all of this which gives an eerie cast to everything but it does not compare to the brightness of the moon shining on shimmering white snow in the dark of the night. Yes, each has it's ups and positives and each has it's downs and negatives, but the real test is, can we live in today wherever we are to the best of our ability?

 fog rolling in

 Danny with his new b/day toy

We will be staying here in the area until after Spring Break as we are bringing the two younger grands down to visit the last half of Spring Break. Sure hope that the weather breaks a little for them. If it doesn't they will be playing baseball/softball in the COLD and then beaching it in the COOL of spring rather than the heat normally found at this time of year. We have quite a few things that we can do with them, but not put up a tent for them to sty in. Reservations were hard to come by and we got one at a beach but the RV parking is not where you can also put up a tent. 

After this we are rather at loose ends without plans. Where we end up is anyone's guess.

February was our birthday/anniversary/Valentine's Day celebration month. Rather than try and get everything on the appropriate day we started celebrating the month of February early in our life together. We had gotten rather lax in the last few years as we were always somewhere else: Peace Corps mostly. This year was different. We took a weekend trip down to Port Aransas to see if we wanted to spend the month on the coast. Danny was looking to give me "a beach experience". I love the beach but not to the point where I am on the beach for the whole day. What I really like is the sounds and the smells associated with the beach. On the way down we stopped and did some shopping in Houston, well Sugarland actually. My how that place has grown. It is now a huge complex of high end establishments. In the end it was actually difficult to keep the actual dates straight. in order to recognize the days as they occurred. What a challenge that was, but a good one. 

Now we are into March and with it comes to mind "beware the Ides of March". Just what does this mean? According to online sources the Ides of March is actually MArch 15 on the Julian calendar. It is the day when Julius Caesar was assassinated and was also a religious celebration day. In the ancient Roman calendar, March was the beginning of the new year and the significance of the "Ides of March" is that it was the first full moon of the new year, and as such, the date was not always on the same day. So how does this relate to the phrase being on my mind at different intervals? The phrase is associated with a sense of foreboding - do I have that? If so, then about what? I have no idea but when I started to look it up I was actually looking for an idea for a rug much for March. Oh well, that's the way things turn in the real world and I have learned something new.

Heading to Canada

We have spent the last week in E Texas in San Augustine in the RV, after an interesting and pleasant visit with the grands and Jamie. Families have challenging times and this just happens to be one of them. My heart goes out to them, but as an outsider, I can only be available to listen and be supportive. Taking sides simply can not be done, as much as one would like to.

Tomorrow, after putting the RV into the shop for routine maintenance, we will leave for Dallas and then on to Edmonton on Sunday. Visiting for 4 days with my parents will be interesting due to the frigid cold. Don't think we will be getting out much so will have to take some crafts to do and reading books. Also won't rent a car, relying on "shank's ponies"and taxis for getting out and about.

Back on home turf

We arrived back in the USA on the 8th after an overnight stop-over in London Heathrow Airport. We stayed in a hotel only 1.5kms from the airport but we discovered that was "as the crow flies". We made a complete trip around the whole airport to get to it on a public bus. Fun but as it was dark, a little nerve-wracking trying to identify our hotel and bus stop. As it turns out, the bus actually stops at all the hotels along the strip, either right in front or by going up to the door. You buy a round trip ticket the getting back the next day. And by did it cost - reminded us of our trip and costs when we came with Brooke. Still, it was certainly a good way to break the travel and then leave in the morning and arrive in the afternoon.

It didn't take us but a few days to get back into the swing of things and to the coach. We were ready to get back in her and back into a normal sort of lifestyle for us. First a visit with the grands, son and DIL. It sure was good to visit with them all again.

We even got to visit with the oldest, Zach, as he didn't return to university until the next day. it is amazing to see my little grandson now a man and a 6'4" one at that carrying on adult conversations.

We have to get the coach roadworthy before we head out so decided to go to Canada to visit mom & dad while it is in the shop. We were again lucky that our friend was able to take us to the airport again. Thanks Cathie.

Spain, we are here ... #1

We discovered that for basically the same price as a ticket back to Dal, we could fly first to Span and then on to Dallas, via London. So that is what we did. We left for Spain with a plan of renting an apartment in Valencia for 6 weeks, visiting with our friends from PC who live there. Out arrival took us first through Barcelona with another train ride to Valencia - this time a fast train. What a difference.

 Arriving in Valencia we went immediately to our newly acquired temporary apartment with a fabulous view overlooking the City Hall and plaza of the historical part of town. 
We will be here a little over 6 weeks, which will allow us to do some touring around the area, visiting with friends, and experiencing the Christmas/New Year season a different way. Synopsing our stay, we ...
~ attended free concerts of all genres, our favourite being the symphonic bands of Valencia. They are comprised of woods and percussion, and perhaps an occasional viola and bass. There are 650+ bands in the provence of Valencia, 450+ music schools, and music is mandated as a compulsary course in the school system.

 lining up for free tickets

 the concert hall, presenting a band this night of over 70 members and shared with the youth band of over 90 members, with some overlapping.

 concerts in the plazas and public places

~ we rode the tour bus and trams to visit different places in town, including the beach on the Medeterranean 

~ rode the buses with friends, one trip taking us through the rice fields only 6 miles outside of Valencia

~rode trains near and far, with and without friends, even making new friends

 Tom & JoAnn

 Gary & Peg (my favorite pix of them)

~celebrated Christmas in a far different culture than ours. They do not have Santa or a facsimile, they have the 3 Kings and they celebrate on January 6th rather than the 25th. 

 "Can you believe they put this ridiculous hat on  my head?"

 The majority of the lights were fund in the main park in front of City Hall.

 A small Christmas tree is better than none at all. Besides, this one will last all year round - a nice touch to leave our hostess.

We all brought a little bit of home and shared with new friends from Portugal and China. 

~got a taste of the upcoming March Fallas festival, visited places of culture and art,

This group had their own band accompanying them, right onto the public bus.

 This actually represents the hairdo that is seen when dressed in the costumes above.

~ and so much more. We ended our trip to Spain with a weeklong narrow gauge train tour across the top of Spain, going from France all the way along the coast to the Atlantic Ocean. Read about that in the next posting.