Carol's Travels

Before breakfast, we took a nature walk outside our hotel. Abdiel pointed out many of the plants and their uses. We saw Toucans in the trees and a few other birds. Then we went into the new butterfly house where we saw lots of blue morphs and some other kinds of butterflies and caterpillars.

Later in the morning we boarded our bus and drove to a restaurant located near the pier where we would board our ship. Paul and I split a pepperoni pizza. Jodee and I browsed around in a few shops. Then we boarded our 24-passenger catamaran that would take us through the Panama Canal. The rooms had names instead of numbers. We were assigned a room called Toucan.

We had a safety drill where we donned our life vests, then the ship motored to Taboga Island. Unfortunately, the waters were too rough to go on the side of the island that has the old town. Instead, we docked on the wild side. Some of us stepped into an aluminum panga boat, and the ship’s tour director told us all about the large number of pelicans, frigates, and boobies that are nesting at this time if year. He also pointed out plants and trees.

Not too long after we had returned to the ship, we had dinner: fish, rice with beans, and glazed plantain. Wine was served with dinner and coffee or tea with dessert.

After dinner, Ian told us about the process of ships going through the canal. Afterward when we went outside, we saw the moon and Jupiter.

Butterfly House

Boarding the Discovery, the catamaran

The Discovery docked on the other wide of Taboga Island

Thousands of birds are nesting on Taboga Island

The moon and Jupiter (time exposure with camera resting on rail)

This morning we took a bus ride to a pier where our group boarded two dugout canoes. We enjoyed the 30-minute ride along the river where we saw quite a few beautiful birds. When we arrived at the village of twelve thatched roof huts, we were greeted by most of the 48 men, women, and children who lived there.

The 28-year-old vice-president spoke to us and explained some of their customs. Then we walked to the one-room school. Grand Circle is planning on building a new four-room school for them when they get enough donations.

We then went in groups of four or five to eat lunch with a family in their home. We were lucky that the husband in the house where we ate lunch spoke English. He had to speak English all of the time when he went to college in Kansas City. He had speared tilapia for us this morning in only twenty minutes.

After lunch, we walked down to the village market where they sold their handmade crafts. They sold beautiful wood carvings, masks, and beaded jewelry. Their skill was very impressive.

After we shopped, they performed some ethnic music and dances. They invited us to dance with them too. Cha-Cha-Cha thanked them for their hospitality, and presented food that our group had purchased. We got rice, macaroni, kidney beans, baby formula, oil, and other things that they needed. Then villagers gathered around us and said good-bye as we boarded the canoes and waved good-bye.

When we got back to the hotel, some of us went swimming in the hotel pool. Dinner was served at 7:00.

Villager taking us in dugout canoe to his home

The people greeted us playing percussion instruments and singing.

The one room school

Our hosts for the home-hosted lunch

Villagers watching Cha-Cha-Cha thanking them for their wonderful hospitality, and presenting the food our group bought for them.

This morning we checked out of the Hotel Cubita, then started riding in the big tour bus. Our first stop was at a sugarcane farm. The 82-year-old owner made some candy which we got to taste. Then we followed him out to the fields, and we learned how to cut and plant sugarcane. A horse was led around the sugarcane press to squeeze out the sugarcane juice. Then some of us did the same thing. We drank the juice mixed with a little lemon, and some had a little seco added to it. I purchased some blocks of sugarcane candy. Lemonade can be made with that as the sweetener. For two quarts of lemonade, add half a bar. Let it set overnight.

We stopped for lunch, then went to a grocery store to buy some food for the Indians we will meet tomorrow. We also had the opportunity to buy items for ourselves.

Next we drove back to the home of Abdiel’s mother-in-law. From there we walked to the fair. Today was the last day of this big regional fair that is held every year at this time. Admission for seniors and children was $1.25. Regular admission was $3.00. There was lots of food and crafts for sale. A rodeo was at the back of the grounds, and brahma bulls were displayed too. We returned to the house, and I got Cha-Cha-Cha out at the children’s request. Both kids wanted to hold her, so I let each of them talk with her. They enjoyed working the puppet, and they hugged me when we left.

The bus crossed over the Gaillard Cut of the Panama Canal on the Centennial Bridge. Shortly after this, we arrived at the Raddison Hotel. The Super Bowl was just beginning when we turned the TV on. All of us watched the game on TV’s in the dining room during dinner. We finished watching the game in our room.

Sugarcane juice boiling down to molasses and made into candy

Hot candy poured into molds and cut into blocks

Did you know that these termites taste like carrots?

Abdiel’s daughter and Cha-Cha-Cha

Canal picture taken through window of moving bus when crossing Centennial Bridge