Panama Shots

This is the airport in Bocas Del Toro that happens to coincide with a park where people were playing soccer, doing P.E., and riding their bikes. 

I met some guys on this amazing puente who were celebrating their primos cumpleanos and they took me to their smaller village for the fiesta. 

The smaller village in Boquete. 

The boys introduced my to their whole family & friends we had an excellent Sunday Funday!

The cutest twins I have ever seen that occupied my time well while I was waiting to change flights to go to South America. 

Kuna women (from the San Blas Islands) in traditional clothing. 

Mandy and in a delirious rainy moment with the Panama background. 

Aguas Caliente

Boquete is a cute, mountainous town that is known for its flowers and coffee. It also has 3 heated springs outside of the city. We spent the whole morning shuffling between the three small pools and the resfrehing river. 

My first "bath" in 2 months!!!

Best picnic ever. Tomato, guacamole, and cheese sandwiches. 

After Our hike back from the aguas caliente, a nice man with a big truck picked us up, and then we eventually made it back to the  bus stop where we were swooped away back into town. After that adventure we got coffee at this amazing shop called Cafe Ruiz. 

Mandy just joined the country club. 

Although I doctor my drinks up, I think I have officially gone to the DARK side by drinking coffee.

 Then we went to "Mi Jardin es Su Jardin." Which are these amazing gardens in the back of someones home. They have opened their doors for anyone to come visit and it is completely GRATIS Tambien!

Boca Boca

Though it was a bit challenging, in that my bus driver was falling asleep, got pulled over for speeding, and the engine overheated all in one day. (yeah- I didn't know that cops gave tickets in Central America for speeding either.... They even have radar gun!) 

I was still by some miracle able to got to Boca Del Toros just in time for it to be dark and there to be no space anywhere. I was wandering around by myself with all my bags when NARANDY had amazing instincts to go out & find me! There was one free bed in their room & I think we had the cheapest most eccentric waterfront spot on the Island. 

Here is the Puente to cross from Costa Rica to Panama. 

Yeah I got to do some YOGA up there!

We made it to this cool bar called AQUA. It was equiped with a dug out pool high dive, dance floor, swings that went to the ocean, & anything else you can imagine. It also had a ferry back and forth to the main Island. We discovered it in time for ladies night on Wednesday which was muy peligroso! 

Us keeping the RAAAAJH alive. 

I Took a HOT SIZZLING SHOWER.... TWICE!

I met up with my friend Monica who is living right outside of San Jose, Costa Rica in a town called Heredia. This is another classic case of 6 degrees of separation though not as complicated as last time. Our parents are friends, I grew up with her step brothers, and to top it off we had even met once so we knew we had a lot in common. 

Monica is teaching 3rd grade in a Christian school. Everything at this school is taught in english except for one spanish class. Everything else in Monica's life is done in Spanish. It was excellent practice for me, and it was so much fun to see the city through locals eyes because all of her friends grew up in Heredia. 

Monica with her teaching friend Vinicio & his two children.

We went out one night in hopes to see a concert which was actually the night before but it was filled with some fooseball and dancing to reguton.

Vinicio was a professional soccer player back in the day so we got to see his indoor game which was good fun. (I sat this round out...)

I had the best time with Monica. She has some great friends and gave me some great ideas & advice for next year since I want to do something similar. When I was with Monica in her classroom, I also realized how much I really do miss teaching...

 

Vinicio was an amazing tour guide!!! It was so nice to be with locals, have an actual apartment with my own space, and take my first HOT SIZZILING SHOWER in 2 months! 

Surfing in a "Tropical Storm"

It wasn't the way I had always dreamed of my first surfing experience.... But then again what ever really works out the way we dream about it anyway? There is a tropical storm here in Tamirindo and the ocean looks just like Galveston because of all the rain, but the waves are good. Other than having to go get the "EMERGENCY BIG BOARD" I would say everything went extremely well. 

I had my lesson in the morning, then had a lunch break, and then I went back out in the afternoon. Luckily Jonathan was out there with another lesson so he could help me get up one more time. I could not imagine starting off surfing without help. Once I could get my timing and balance down it was much easier. I can definitely see how people get addicted to this sport!

Jonathan and I after my lesson. Real surfers can see how big this board really is. Hey you have to start somewhere right?

We have been dating for about a year now. Doesn't this look like the perfect couple picture? Minus the fact there is not a guy there.