The past few days have been mostly sunny especially in the mornings and the crews are working diligently to get all the roads open and people moving freely throughout the countryside. Click here to visit some of the latest reports on that progress in the Panama Guide. The Panamanians are strong and wonderful in crisis. They always seem to have such an “in the the moment perspective” that will sometimes drive you crazy and at other times you realize how beneficial and positive their attitude is.

My good friend in Punta Pena Bocas del Toro mainland lost part of his house and 3 cabanas that were right on the river. He was building these to have for rentals. When I asked him how everything was on his side of the mountain he said something like this. The cabanas are gone, the back of the house is partly gone but my family is fine, we have enough food for 15 days and the electric is on, cell phone is working and the new view of the river out of the back of the house is amazing! Panamanians typically find the rainbows or as they say in Panama “Arc de Iris” in every day regardless of what curve balls life throws them.

Here in Boquete as the community pulls together to provide relief for the people affected, it is otherwise business as usual. We attended a wonderful benefit concert for a children’s music camp - Hogar Trisker & Casa Esperanza- last Saturday at Finca Azul in Dolega with 9 local bands; some foreign (music typical of the US) and some Panamanian bands. All who played especially the children were really talented and everyone enjoyed them.

This weekend will focus on the annual local play at the fairgrounds. A musical called Reflections Musical Memoirs of the 50’s and 60’s told by the people who lived them. I’m just glad to hear someone actually remembers the details!

The fairgrounds are right on the river and in protest to the river’s contrariness of late the residents have pulled it together, cleaned and organized, practiced and practiced and the show will go on! Right now they only have tickets available for Thursday as Friday and Saturday are sold out.

Yes it is the holiday season in Boquete with the normal charity fund raising garage sales, mother’s day brunches and the usual attending hoopla. Please let everyone know that Boquete is open for business for this season and will experience a full recovery hopefully aided by a good tourist season.

Recent news from Bocas on the mainland is good too. Although things are not back to normal yet the roads are good enough that lives are beginning to get back to normal. The rivers are starting to subside in Rambala and Punta Pena and most utilities are working fine.

As news trickles in we will keep you informed; in the meantime come on down to Boquete Chiriqui, the weather is fine and the hotels and restaurants will welcome you.

Technorati Tags: flooding boquete panama, travel Panama, travel to panama

Here we and others view what yesterday was a road. If you look past the “river” you can see the other side. Not just any road; but my commitment road. We had just started walking for exercise and taking photos in the morning on this lovely river road and then had to miss 3 days running since when we got up in the morning it was raining heavily. Guess we will be looking for a new place. Still we are feeling very thankful since some folks did actually live and have working gardens on this road. Many people living in public buildings and schools closed for the rest of the year to accommodate and some are damaged. We are anxiously waiting news on the road over the mountains to our property in Punta Pena.

Here everyone is watching in anticipation and in hopes that this bridge will be okay. It was just built and the grand opening postponed due to rain a couple of days before the floods.

The older one higher up on the river but right in town did not make it! Every bit of heavy equipment here is busy 24/7 and these folks shine in disasters, truly.

Technorati Tags: bocas del toro panama, boquete panama, travel Panama, vacations panama

Here in our neighborhood in Boquete we are safe and dry. Here is a link to Boquete Weather Watchers that gives you a lot of photos of flooding in the area. Still in an emergency situation here and also in Bocas Del Toro ; our biggest issues here are people flooded out of their homes and without electricity. The brand new bridge finally opened the other day after many long months of waiting and just in the nick of time as you can see by the photos the other main bridge in town went down the river.

Our friends in Bocas have checked in - finally they have cell phone service and everyone is okay. Our friend Mario lost 2 cabanas and 1/2 of his house but people and dogs escaped just fine. We were supposed to be there for Mario’s birthday on the day of the flooding but stayed behind in Boquete due to rain. Now the road across the mountains is out of service so anyone who was on the other side is staying there - possibly for months! The road across the mountains is narrow and steep and rumor has it some of it that was already damaged but usable slid down the mountain side.

With devastation all around the area cleanup will probably take some months even though these emergency crews are very good at this work and have lots of experience. There are only so many backhoes and bulldozers available. Right now the immediate concern is gas & clean water for the Bocas area, much of the area depends on generators for power and gas is trucked in over the mountains on the only road that exists; the one that is now impassable.

Technorati Tags: bocas del toro panama, flooding boquete panama, travel Panama, vacations panama

A few days ago we had an earthquake that was 6.2 on the rector scale! It was my first ever and we woke from a deep sleep at 1:00 am with the bed just shaking away like mad!

In spite of rain all week this red legged male honey creeper comes by each morning to share a banana and cheer us up.

Backyard beauty found with Eric’s perspective and great macro lens.

This afternoon our neighbor came by to let us know that the river was flooding in town today so we went in to check it out. I have been busy writing an article for an international online magazine, more on that later when we know how it goes. So off to town and a big break to trapse around in the rain in search of the perfect photo. Not mine but Eric’s. Mine are fine and fun but he’s the photographer. For now here is the photo update of the flooding we are in; and it continues to rain.

Right in town this is how it rages

The river has reclaimed a lot of land today

This last hold out was part of a large point on the bank that we watched dissappear.

We all watch hoping that the pigs aren’t the next to go and hope the people are out!

I don’t think any contracts will be written on these today and they just might be a tad close to the banks. We will know more tomorrow. Right now the new brand new bridge is standing (although the opening was canceled last night due to inclement weather) and the older one further up the river is rumored to be gone. More on that tomorrow too when we find out for sure. That will make it hard on the businesses that are on the other side of the river. Hope they dry out soon!

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Do you remember the scout moto? - Be prepared!

Here is help to eliminate many of your packing hassles! I have one friend who almost never travels due to the horror of packing. Most of us aren’t that overwhelmed with the packing but it can be stressful. I found this article in Travel & Leisure with great tips on how to lower your pre- travel stress with simple packing preparations. When we would travel to panama I found it could be difficult to remember all we needed and fit it all in without costing a fortune for extra baggage. Then of course who wants to lug extra stuff around with you everywhere. That can be very restrictive when you are trying to see the scenery and enjoy the journey. It took a few trips and a 1 month trip to Panama helped me pare our luggage down to the necessities. Years of traveling for business had taught me that I wanted to keep my cosmetics and bath items in my carryon. We had it all in hand and arrived at the airport in Panama to fly back to the US and found out that the rules had just changed the day before our return flight. Of course we hadn’t heard a word about it. Probably the most important travel necessity is flexibility! Carry plenty of that with you and it will go a long way toward you having a great travel experience. Fortunately on that trip we were able to repack in the airport just prior to boarding the plane. Whew! Remember when you are ready to travel Panama see our great travel packages or email for personal help.

Technorati Tags: travel Panama, Travel Safety, travel to panama

What next? I guess you can’t be too careful where you sit on a plane anymore. This article just struck me as bizarre but maybe that’s just since I didn’t even have internet until my kid was in junior high school. Ladies and Gentleman - just say no! Certainly you can last a plane ride without your porn.

Check it out here:

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Now the airlines have come up with 4 new things they are going to charge you for if you travel to Panama or anywhere else. Short of not flying there may be some things you can prepare for to get around these.

At a time when flying on a commercial airline has degenerated to such a point of discomfort that it is almost necessary to buy cocktails to make it through the experience the airline execs. have decided to place or raise surcharges on water, luggage, unaccompanied minors and are you ready - because you business travelers will love this - awards tickets.

See the complete report and some solutions at CNN Travel

I will be on the lookout for airlines who are doing it better and please send your comments if you know of some and have some great recent airline experiences - let’s talk coach here!

Free Travel or Panamanian Bicycle Horn?

Technorati Tags: travel Panama, travel to panama