Diving in Coiba

Coiba is a protected national park on the Pacific coast of Panama.  The marine life is amazing.  And as the dive shop says, "Sharks Guaranteed."  Here are some of the best pictures.

A seahorse.  An honest to goodness seahorse, about 2" long.

White tipped reef sharks. Don't worry, they are vegetarians.  

White tipped reef sharks travel in herds, called a frenzy of sharks.  

Schools of fish everywhere, just like in  Finding Nemo.

Spotted Eel, 

Laura en La Mar

Sea turtle, the first I've seen.  I imagine him talking in a surfer voice.

Dancing at Fiestas Patrias

The Panamanian Studies teacher, a sweet lady named Griselda Franco, enlisted me to dance at the Patriot's Festival assembly.  After a month of practice, this is the outcome.  The Panamanians onstage, including my partner Lalio, put all of us foreigners to shame with their inborn rhythm.

But my favorite compliment came from my principal:  "Well, there were some awkward gringoes on stage.  But you were the least gringo-ish of the gringoes."

Fiestas Patrias

I danced a Panamanian folk dance- a month of practice, a lot of laughs with my partner Eulalaio, and a great skirt.  My favorite compliment?  "You looked less gringo-ish than the other gringoes dancing up there."

Bolivia IV- Animals

Cactus with bird

wild flamingo

Vizcacte, the wild desert hare

Llama selfie!

Bolivia III- Otherworldly

At 5:45am, as the sun is rising, it was surreal to walk on the surface of the volcano in the Salar de Uyuni.  The morning was cold, the steam and molten mud were hot, and it was sooo cool to walk around a place that would be a great background for a scifi movie.

Bolivia II- Music!

On a Thursday morning, we came across battle of the bands in a church plaza.  First was the classical guitars, followed by the string orchestra (pictured right).

And then came the Murga band, all brass and drum core.  These kids were definitely having the most fun of the performers  (poor nerdy orchestra kids all wished they were in the drum core).

And finally, a wider shot of the murga band, who brought stilts walkers, flag girls, and a lot of enthusiastic noise.

Bolivia I- playing with perspective

from left:  Kathleen, Daniel, Laura, Adam, Ivanna, Julia

I achieve a Jordan-esque vertical jump