New Year's Eve

What do you do to prepare for the new year? Do you take the time to reflect on the past year or do you focus solely on the upcoming year?

In the past I have never had a "formal" approach to the new year. This year I decided to reflect a bit and to look forward as well. Today - the reflections.

I am pleased with our accomplishments in 2007 as an organization and as a family. Our little company is growing steadily. We are a good corporate citizen and neighbor to our adopted community. We have enriched the lives of our guests - giving them a respite from their crazy day to day world.

Our children continue to grow strong and learn more about the natural world surrounding them on a daily basis. They are a loving bunch and enjoy each and every day.

I think the best way to summarize my thoughts is to say that when I think about the year 2007 it brings a smile to my face :)

Happy New Year!

Divertido

So the cook is on vacation. I originally thought this was going to be a bad thing. However, I am having a good time on my mini vacation back in the kitchen. We are eating a different menu to some extent due to the cook’s absence as I cannot cook some things the same way she can. There is no reason to subject our guests to my version of something if it is not going to compare to what the cook makes on a regular basis.

So instead I am making things that I do well. The menu is much more like going to a friend’s home for dinner than it is like going to a restaurant. Under normal circumstances our dinners resemble a dinner party that has been catered by a good catering company. We have a set menu that we post each morning (we do all of our menu planning in advance based upon guest input regarding food preferences and allergies prior to arrival) so that we have the day to make changes if necessary. Everything is cooked and served fresh each evening. We enjoy a variety of conversations as we generally sit at a community table or tables depending upon the number of guests on site.

This week we have a few things which are cooked in the oven instead of a la minute. I am not as good a protein cook as is our cook. However, we are a Bocas del Toro hotel and our guests do deserve tasty and nutritious food so we are doing the best that we can. So far I don’t think anyone is disappointed. And I get to have a little bit of fun.

mangroves in the rain

Area: Close to Tranquilo Bay
Activity: Kayaking & Snorkeling
Weather: Rainy

A great excursion close to Tranquilo Bay is kayaking your way through a series of canals naturally etched in the mangrove forests. When the weather is less than cooperative, this is a nice way to get out and still be within reach of the creature comforts. We paddled a short distance from the dock in an arsenal of sit-on-top kayaks and soaked up a little tropical rain along with the flora and fauna. To me, the rain just enhances the experience and it also reminds you that it is not called the rainforest for nothing. In these enchanted canals you get to see a plethora of wildlife, who don’t take shelter because of the rain but rather go about their daily business. One can see animals such as white faced capuchins, an assortment of birds ranging from Osprey to Kingfishers, upside down jellyfish and of course all types of tropical fish. We donned snorkel and mask and took to the water since we were already wet and swam the edges of the mangrove lagoons. They are rich and diverse,

teaming with life

and allow for vast amounts of time to be spent searching their marvels. Mangroves in the rain shed a little light on what could be just a rainy day.

Today

My son has a book by Jaime Lee Curtis called “Today I Feel Silly.” The book is all about moods and it is intended to teach children about moods and how they come and go. My son has another book that is entitled “When I Miss You.” That book is of course about learning how to deal with people leaving and being alone and what you can do to manage the time until they come back.

This morning one of our long time employees left to pursue another opportunity. We will all miss her. She was a sweet girl who took very good care of all of us and of our guests. She will be an asset to her new employer.

My son is a bit sad as he is rather attached to this employee. She has been with my son for almost two years of his three and a half years. She helped him to learn Spanish at a very early age because my son wanted to be able to speak with her.

One of the things we learned early on as a Bocas del Toro hotel is that we will have many employees over the years. However, one thing is for certain, some are more special than others and today one of our favorites has graduated. We are all a little bit sad, but we know what we can do until the next time we see her.

all to ourselves

Area: Bocas del Toro Archipelago
Activity: Surfing
Weather: Beautiful sunshine...too much sunshine

Even on small days you can find a nice wave in this part of the Caribbean. I was amazed at what we found today. After feeling a bit disappointed by the surf report, we stumbled onto a gem in the rough. This just instilled in me that even when things look bleak, a little perseverance can have the deepest rewards. This is how the day played out. The surf had gone down considerably from previous days so we shot out to the spots that had a chance of holding up under the current conditions. Repeatedly we found nothing that looked like any fun and then the one spot that was a sure thing had ten guys out in the lineup. On our last shot we found a wave that was

uninhabited

, pealing and very clean. Just one problem existed, if you did not make the wave you were in about six inches of water on top of the reef. I was a little upset because everyone else in the group was on body boards and I was the lone stand up surfer. After paddling out and realizing there was no way I was going to chance hurting myself or my board I made my way back to the boat, grabbed a sponge (aka body board) and got back in the lineup. We took turns between the three of us at late drops and fast rides for

almost five hours

with a short break for lunch. The wave was short, committing but a tone of fun and the best part was we never thought it would be there, and of course we had it all to ourselves.

another day in paradise

The swell has dropped around the islands it was decided this day would be about cruising in search of more spots for future surf missions. Equipped with a depth finder, GPS, and charts of the area we fired up the boat and took off. There were squalls on the horizon but the sun was beating down upon us. The winds were howling and the day already had the makings of an epic adventure. First destination, an island named Cayo Agua because of its proximity to open ocean swell and shelter from wind. This island has some wonderful possibility with point and beach breaks. Due to the small swell on this day we only got a taste of what it could be like. However we did witness a few nice sets roll through and peal down the line. This got our bodies quivering with anticipation of what could be when things picked up. Everyone was ready to jump in but the consistency was just not there, another foot quite possibly could have made the difference. Guess we should have been there yesterday. To quell our thirst we shot out to the Zapatilla Cayes in hopes that the outside breaks would be a bit larger and allow us some rides. It was a good decision; we rode a few and went home smiling, another day in paradise.

banana boat

Making our way through the archipelago this morning I pondered the mosaic past of the islands of Bocas del Toro. The boat ride to our destination for the day took us past the many islands and tiny villages that encompass this diverse area. Rich with history and beauty, they have a mystique that hangs over them like the clouds over Volcan Baru. Christopher Columbus sailed through here on his fourth voyage and yet for the next three hundred years the islands did not see much growth. During the late 1800s and early 1900s better known as the colonial era, the area began booming with economic opportunity. Products such as bananas, cocoa, coconut oil, sugar cane and turtle eggs started boosting the local economy. Such growth brought progress to the area, so much so, that the town of Bocas (on Isla Colon) hosted consulates from countries such as Germany, France, England and the United States. As with a lot of Caribbean islands there is an ebb and flow of economic growth and this place has been no different. The islands have laid rather dormant for the last 60 years but lately things have certainly picked up and there is once again a lot happening. One lingering export from the past that can still be seen today is bananas. If you find yourself in the right place, at the right time, you will see one of the gigantic Chiquita banana boats making its way through the channel next to town. It is quite the spectacle - as to the naked eye; one would presume there is not enough water to sustain such a ship.

Time Flies

Wow – so much time has passed since my last post. We decided that we needed a new look and feel for our website so we spent several months working on the whole redo. What has resulted seems to be much easier to navigate and includes many new photos. We have been blessed with a great number of clients who give us copies of all of their amazing photos and then Jim has taken thousands of photos as well. This enabled us to add almost 20 galleries. We have plans for quite a few more which will help us to display the beauty of Bocas del Toro Panama.

We have been working heavily with several government agencies doing what we can to help preserve the natural beauty of Isla Bastimentos. The government is looking at enlarging Bastimentos National Marine Park which we think would be great. It guarantees that Isla Bastimentos will have the resources and the regulations which help protect it from further development.

Recently we hosted a couple of research scientists from the Smithsonian Institue who were study the red frog population across all of Isla Bastimentos. These two women reviewed some of our photos while they were here and found one particular vividly colored katydid interesting. Jim emailed a photo of it to them and they sent it on to their expert. This expert is fascinated by the katydid and believes it to be a new species. Jim is working with this expert on a regular basis now to help him acquire whatever information he needs to further study this katydid.

in search of a clean wave

Area: Carenero Island
Activities: Surfing
Weather: Beautiful, but windy :)

First thing in the morning, after some coffee of course, we looked at the surf report. A nice swell was pushing, 6 to 8 feet with 10-second intervals. Beautiful, the sun is out with those light, fluffy Caribbean clouds lining the horizon but one thing was amiss, the wind. We set out with high hopes of finding some waves on the front side of Bastimentos Island but as we rounded Old Point we were greeted with a strong west wind that had us guessing about our destination. Pushing on in hopes that the break we were headed to might have just enough cover to hold the waves from being blown out. Upon our arrival it was apparent that the choppy water was just not going to serve for a day of surfing. Bobbing in the water like a coconut headed to some remote outpost, we all sat down to make a decision. It was decided to make a run for Carenero, a nice spot close to Isla Colon that we knew for sure was sheltered from the wind. The ride was worth it, stunning views of the front side of Bastimentos and a clean wave to enjoy the day on.

Holiday Greetings from Tranquilo Bay

We all want to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. December is a time for all of us to celebrate our families, friends and opportunities. There are the different religious holidays, the cultural holidays and the new beginnings to prepare for and contemplate. Then there is the time to just ENJOY. We all wake up each day thankful for the opportunity we have here to live, run a business, raise our families and spend time with each of our guests = and we get to do all of this in paradise. Take care until we see you next. :)

Ouch!

I just fell down the stairs for the first time in a long time. I had forgotten how much it smarts.

When I first moved to Bocas del Toro Panama, I used to fall down the stairs all the time. Something about living in the rain forest means that it rains. Rain means things get wet. Flip flops and wet stairs are not a good combination. One false foot placement and you hydroplane. Hydroplaning on stairs – not a good idea.

Over time you learn to a) wear different types of shoes with more traction when it is raining, or b) watch where you put your foot when you are walking and it is raining. Then inevitably, you return to day to day life and think you know all there is to know about the workplace hazards and you screw up.

Today, I was carrying a bag of laundry, that literally was bigger than me, down the stairs in the rain wearing flip flops. My husband had just informed me that we have sufficient water to do several loads of laundry without decreasing our water supply so I jumped at the chance. Instead of waiting for one of my employees to return to work to help me carry the bag of laundry, I picked up the bag and headed down the stairs to the laundry room. I made it most of the way down the stairs and then I was down. I don’t even know which step was misplaced in my descent, but what I do know is that I am going to be reminded of my stupidity for an extended period of time.

The hematoma that is blossoming along my lower back and the stiffness associated with my tensing up as I fell will serve as gentle reminders to me not to be so dumb for some time to come. And then some months down the road when I have forgotten about this fall, I will do it again.

Personal Space

I think everyone can benefit from adequate personal space. But what is adequate? When you are on vacation, you may require more personal space than normal because you are attempting to relax and enjoy yourself. You may choose to sit and observe what is going on in your immediate surroundings more than you do at home and thus you want and require more space than usual.

On the other hand, so many people have so much space these days that they may decide that what they want is personal service and privacy but that they do not need large amounts of space to fill such requirements.

Our cabanas are about 425 square feet. They are a good size to ensure that you have plenty of space for your needs but they are not so large that they infringe upon the beautiful natural surroundings. We have built them so that each one is private and allows you to return to your senses. Here in Bocas del Toro Panama, we have an arranged marriage of sorts for you – you have your own sanctuary with its creature comforts in the rain forest on an island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. Your cabana and the entire eco adventure lodge combine together to give you all you need to walk away with a fresh take on the good life.

storm of color

Area: Zapatilla Cayes, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Activities: Walking, Swimming, Beachcombing, Relaxing
Weather: Gorgeous!

The sky has turned to blue. In this part of the world, rain takes on a different meaning and you begin to become accustomed to it especially as it is the start of the of one of the wetter times of year. Today however the sky has opened and with it my idea of just how picture perfect the view in front of me really is. Blues and greens in every shade known to the human eye, it is a storm of color replacing the thunder and rain of the last few days. After some eggs, toast, jam and strong coffee we were off to soak up the day. A boat, some ocean kayaks and snorkel gear and we were off to explore the turquoise waters of the Zapatilla Cayes that reside in the Bastimentos National Marine Park. After a short walk around the island to survey our surroundings we decided it was time to cool off. So we went for a swim – over and over again. This how the day went and it was hard to imagine ever wanting to leave but as the shadows crept closer and the sun let its grip go we knew it was time, there is always tomorrow.