We did a few educational activities while in Panama City. We visited the Canal Museum which was pretty informative about the complex history of it being built. Katie managed a good solid hour there. The Mola museum was about the Guna Yala tribe’s ‘embroidered’ cloths which I lasted about one hour. We had some dinners out though approaching $150 for dinners when you had the wine. We did try an authentic Panamanian restaurant but we had to leave before ordering as every dish included Culantro which is very similar to Cilantro but stronger in smell and taste. Katie as we all well know can’t stand Cilantro so we were out of there after many apologies.
We were up early one morning to be picked up by our bird guide ‘Mario’ for a trip out to Soberania National Park and the Pipeline Road. Mario was fantastic with spotting birds and other wildlife. There were so many different birds. I think it ended up being something like 50 different species. Colorful Toucans and Trogons, Antshrikes, Warblers, and Herons. So many birds!
We also were treated to a mother Anteater who was carrying a huge baby on her back. Probably a lazy teenager my guess.
He also led us to a sloth moving thru the treetop and the prevalent Agouti on the ground. A great walking tour though very hot and humid, probably mid 90’s for both.
One morning we waited outside to be picked up for a boat tour thru the Panama Canal. Finally calling the office they said we don’t see you on our list and there is no tour today. So they refunded the money and Katie and I visited Miraflores locks where we caught a modest sized container ship go thru. We walked out on the Amador walkway but that was mostly a bust and just hot hot hot. Did manage to Uber downtown to a brewpub (of course) where we had one of our favorites, Chivo Perro IPA.
Up early on our last day in Panama City, we hiked in Metropolitan Park, Too early, I guess, because we had to wait for it to open. This was a couple hour hike with some big views of both downtown as well as the canal. We saw 2 different Trogons (birds), saw a snake, a family of Howler Monkeys and lots of Turtles.
Howler Family
Back to the hotel for showers and packing then Uber to the airport. I have to say we used Uber maybe 10 times while in the City. The car always arrived within 2-3 minutes, sometimes less. Almost always the 20 min drives were $5-7 and the long ones to the airport were $25. Never used a taxi though they were everywhere. We were told they are used mainly by the kids going to the schools.
We flew to David and then Ubered 40 minutes to Boquete in the rainforest, again like $25. We stayed at the Garden Inn and it was really a garden! Beautiful room with a balcony overlooking the gardens and the rainforest as a backdrop.
Ended our first day walking down to ‘The Rock’ where we had a great dinner. The following day, pouring rain. We parked ourselves on the balcony of our room waiting for the rains to stop. Many birds to watch but we cancelled our hiking plans. We walked into town, about a 20 minute walk, but not a lot to see there. Walked back to the Inn for some hot tub then taxied down to an Italian restaurant in town. Great food and an easy commute. We were picked up after breakfast at the Inn the following day by Daniel who was our chauffeur and guide at a local coffee Finca, Gran del Val. So happens his dad was the manager of this Finca before he died from Covid. Daniel was a wealth of information. So much that I think I lost 90% even before leaving.
The life of a coffee bean
Barrista extraordinaire
We did learn a lot of new info about coffee and we were stunned to learn of some of the high prices paid for coffee. Apparently, the people in Dubai pay $1000 for a cup of Geisha coffee. We got to try some but honestly I am used to Peet’s, not a light roasted aromatic tea like coffee such as Geisha. Fun facts, dark roasted coffee has less caffeine than medium or light roast. Coffee has Cortisol in it! In making coffee, it was a recipe of weight to water poured over intervals in a certain direction, over specific time periods. So much to it, you would miss breakfast just making the coffee!
Daniel later dropped Katie and I off at the Pipeline Trail. We hiked for 3 miles along the trail looking for the famous Quetzal bird but in the end just looking for anything moving in the rain. No luck on the Quetzals.
We rode the local bus back to town which ended up being a terrific view of the countryside in the upper mountains. We stopped at a local brewpub(of course) after being dropped off and then stayed around to watch a once a year Cowboy/Horse parade. It was supposed to start at 2, we had beers at 3. Waited over an hour on the street after that, but then I would guess a thousand locals on beautiful horses dancing and prancing down the street with intermittent trucks full of musicians providing music. Quite the sight!
annual Horse Parade part drink fest
We are on to Boca del Toro tomorrow so expect a more Caribbean vibe from there.