Panama Hats for the Boys

As a summer gift, I got Panama hats for my godson and his brothers. They were a hit, and the kids were adorable wearing them all morning.

Charlie and Deacon, looking cool at breakfast

Charlie

Deacon

Sam acting as a detective in his self titled "detective hat"

Charlie

Sam playing PSP in his detective hat

Deacon and Charlie (who wore his hat backwards, ala Norton from the Honeymooners)

Deacon, sharing his hat and the word "hammer" with me

Pros/Cons of Leaving Panama

Things I will miss:
1.  ridiculous and hilarious street signs
2.  Playa Venao
3.  Bagboys who use skill, talent, and thought when efficiently packing up my groceries (like they are playing Tetris).

4.  VIP movies, with leather recling seats, footrests, and waiters to bring the popcorn.
5.  The awe-spiring thunderstorms.  When the thunder finishes rattling your teeth, you hear 20 car alarms going off.
6.  My sweet IB history class, who made a goodbye video and a cake for our last day of class (there is a small chance that I teared up a smidge when they surprised me with the video).
7.  Free popcorn at the Novey hardware stores.

8.  Totally overdressed babies and toddlers- fleece hats and lined onesies on 80 degree evenings.
9.  The Panama Canal- it's pretty badass.

Things I won't miss:
1.  the traffic
2.  the horns
3.  parking at the mall, anytime between Nov 30- Dec 24

4.  Fenosa Gas Electric- monoplies suck, lack of ability to fight back in Spanish sucks, "predicted useage sucks," living in the tropics without electeicity three times in one year sucks, and this company is El Diablo to me.
5.  Staples.  Staples in everything, including to close the plastic drugstore bags.
6.  being berated for speaking accented functional Spanish, rather than perfect fluent Spanish.
7.  Fireworks, any time, any day.  Like a Tuesday night at 11pm.  Why?  Because someone in Panama felt like setting off fireworks.
8.  ATMs regularly running out of cash.

It's been a grand adventure Panama, but I am off to new adventures.

Playa Venao

Why the bellbottoms?

Ultima passaporte control de Panama

first stamp 20 July 2012.  Last one tonight, with many in-between.  Adios Panama.

2 oceans, 1 day

Something you can only do in Panama- swim in the Pacific in the morning, drive across the isthmus, and swim in the Caribbean in the afternoon.  My friend Emma and I did this, and it was a lot of driving, a lot of talking, and bragging rights for life.

The mighty Pacific- it looks so peaceful

don't mess with Mother Nature

but it  knocked us both over

9am- swimming in the Pacific

The Caribbean side is much calmer

2pm- swimming in the Caribbean

Woohoo, we swam 2 oceans in one day!!!!

Panama ladies

A picture from Patrias that just made it's way to my inbox. When dressed in full traditional garb, the Panamanian ladies stand like this for hours taking pictures.

in front of the Canal backdrop at the Patrias festival

The actual Panamanian ladies are naturals.  

Goodbye Frank Sinatra

Today I had to put you to sleep, after nine years together. I am so glad I found such a handsome boy at the shelter, even if your Siamese ancestry led to 3am yowling outside the bedroom door. Everyone commented on your tiger-like markings. I called you my supermodel, because you were beautiful, demanding, skinny, and  puke a lot. You were a lap cat, loving nothing more than cuddling for hours during netflix binges.  Lulu and I will both miss you a lot, and hope that Cat Heaven is full of vanilla ice cream, CatDancers with purple feathers, dark enclosed napping places, and many laps for you to warm.

A-Team Wedding!

This weekend, two former ISP teachers (Ashley and Austin, aka the A-Team) got married, and the rest of us used their wedding as a lovely excuse for a reunion.  We all flew to North Carolina for a weekend of great food, bikes, and awesome friends.

from left:  Kim, Rob, Austin (groom), Ashley (bride), Laura, Carolyn, Leo (who was with us in-utero in Panama), and Nick

It was a great time, but made me remember how much I miss all of them. *sigh*