Thankful

I am thankful that we have so many different varieties of hibiscus on the property. Several times a week I am presented with one by one of the children. “Mommy, this one is for you”. What isn’t there to be thankful for?

The journey

This pink leaf reminds me of a journey with its curving lines and paths that have yet to be taken.

Ginger

This ginger is one of the indigenous varieties. I like the orange yellow color of it. It seems peaceful to me.

Beauty

These heliconias are in bloom right now. They are so beautiful.

Comfort

Every time I walk into this area of the jungle I am immediately comforted. It is like I get a big hug. The temperature drops a few degrees. All the green is calming. This area of the jungle can do wonders for a screaming baby. I don’t know what it is about it that works for the babies, but for me it is just awe inspiring.

Treasure

This tree is a treasure. It is beautiful in its own right, but when it is full of Montezuma Oropendola it is even more amazing. Then you couple the tree, the birds and the view. Wow!

A perfect leaf

This leaf and its lines of growth and life seem perfect to me. No apparent imperfections which is difficult to pull off in the jungle given all the leaf cutter ants.

Oropendola

Being privileged to coexist with this interesting bird is nice. Seeing one perched in a tree - that is a moment of serenity. You know that if you are really lucky you will get to see it perform one of its unique dances along with the appropriate verbal score.

Parrot moment

This is a moment we have wanted to capture on film for some time. Ramon was watching in the open field for the birds to come back by on their nightly return to the roost. Capturing so many of them on film was one thing. Actually getting to see their color was amazing.

Nature

This is one of the birds nibbling at a Hagua nut in the tree right in front of the main building. They eat the nuts. The indigenous people use the ink inside for dye. Tres decided to put one of the nuts into a cup of water to see what would happen - he of course punctured the nut so that the ink inside could come out. That clear ink did make the water almost black after a period of time. I wonder if it has the same properties on the birds. Who knows - maybe they are using it to make themselves more attractive in some way.

Cherish Bimini

Ramon has taken to calling Bimini “Viejecita” which means little old woman in Spanish. It is charming and she loves it. Bims sleeps a lot these days, but at almost 14 she is entitled to do just about whatever she wants.

Pre Columbian Artifacts in Panama - Sitio Barriles

Don’t listen to your guidebook when it suggests skipping archaeological site Sitio Barriles located just outside the small town of Volcán. If you are in the Boquete or David area, I suggest making time for one of the most interesting archaeological sites I have seen in Panama. One can tour the area on their own, but I suggest paying $3 for a guided tour in English or Spanish by Edna Landau, whose family has lived on the property since they settled here from California in the early 1900’s to raise coffee. (The site is well kept by Edna’s family and not funded by the Panamanian government.)

While preparing the earth for planting, the family discovered stones with carvings, pottery, and tools that led to a larger exploration of the area by archaeologists. The area is thought to have been an important town and ceremonial site for a culture that flourished here between 300-600 B.C. From artifacts such as human sized statues that have been unearthed, the people who lived here are thought to have had African or Asian ancestors.

An ancient tomb has been discovered on the premises with urns that held cremated ashes. One can actually walk down three meters into the tomb and see pottery and urns still encased in the earthen walls. Many of the larger statues and ceremonial tables can be seen in the Reina Torres de Araúz Museum in Panama City, while a plethora of artifacts still remain housed in an on-site museum. One of the most fascinating pieces sits exposed to the elements as it has for thousands of years: a magnetic stone engraved with a map of the area. The map has been studied using GPS technology and shows to be an accurate diagrammatic representation of the site’s situation in relation to Volcán Baru, other ancient towns, and both coasts.

The guided tour can last from 45 minutes to two hours. Edna is the granddaughter of one of the original settlers and gives a friendly and very thorough tour of the archaeological site as well as the grounds where tropical plants from around the world thrive. There is soon to be a restaurant on the premises, but meanwhile a nice offering of homemade cheese, lemon or papaya preserves, and duros are available.

Today, metaphysical groups come to Barriles to experience its energy, which is said to be better than that of Machu Picchu. It is believed that this ancient culture was put to an end by several eruptions from Volcán Baru located just 16 kilometers away

The area is simply magical and holds a feeling of peace. Bring a swimsuit if you are interested in taking a dip in the cool spring that leads to a stream flowing uphill for over one kilometer to the Chiriqui River. Also bring a water bottle to fill from the spring that is the perfect temperature for drinking and is 99% pure water.

To get there, go through the center of Volcán on the road to Rio Sereno. There's a blue sign on the left, just before the Ortega Panderia. Turn left and keep going for about 6 kilomenters. The entrance to Sitio Barriles is on the right.

Contact info for Sitio Barilles (open form sunup to sundown):
Edna Landau Telephone: 507-6575-1828

Jose Landau Telephone:  507-6607-5438

Through the bromeliads

A glance up at the sky through the trees filled with bromeliads at the Zapatilla Cayes on a recent visit.

Close enough to touch (almost)

The infamous sloth during the kayak paddle through Bahia Honda. He was so close you really almost could touch him.

Slothing

On the same kayak paddle through Bahia Honda, we ran into a sloth. Here is Ramon’s photograph of our guest catching a photo of the sloth.

Memories

Memories of a recent kayak paddle through Bahia Honda.

Ginger on Thursday

This ginger is one of the originals to the archipelago. We have it on site, but this picture happens to be at the Chocolate Farm.

Beautiful and exotic

This one is both beautiful and exotic. We are currently trying to learn its name.

Snail's pace

The farm has been full of things to photograph recently. Here is a snail who of course lives on island time.

Three times green

Dendrobates auratus: Three green frogs photographed in one visit to the Chocolate Farm. As you can see this frog varies in color. Amazing.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

This is one of the photos Natalia got at the chocolate farm recently.

Miracles do happen

We have been without the internet and our telephones for almost 48 hours.

We have had a substantial amount of rain and the rivers on the mainland are coming out of their banks. We are doing just fine. Our guests have been able to get to and from Tranquilo Bay. Our employees are having a bit more difficulty getting to and from Tranquilo Bay as they are traveling by road rather than by air. The road in this province has been closed due to some problems.



All of this makes me sit back and think how amazing it is that we have communications out here in our secluded piece of paradise anyway. There are something like 14 cellular towers over which all land and internet connections are sent to Bocas del Toro. If there is a problem with any one of these towers due to weather, etc. we have a reduction and sometimes absolutely no communication. These towers have to be working at their finest in order to ensure there is an internet connection for us in Bocas town. Once we have an internet connection in town we then radio that connection to ourselves out on Isla Bastimentos. In about 90% of the instances when we have a communications problem, it is prior to our radio.

While it is frustrating not to have communications, I know that it is truly a miracle that we have communications most of the time. And, we can communicate again!

Brits and Chocolate

A few photos from a tour at the chocolate farm.







For the record: Ramon’s name is Ramon Fernandez Frances. I spelled it wrong in this post and in the last post. I can’t easily go back and change the photos, but I will change it next time.