My Own True Nature: Santa Catalina by the sea

Decided to take a little break and head over to Santa Catalina last week. It's a beautiful 5 hour drive with lots to see along the way. Armed with a fanatastic National Geographic map of Panama (impossible to get lost), we checked into a very laid back surfer hostel called Hotel Estero, which was run by a friendly Basque man named Segor (see-gor) He welcomed us and made sure we had what we needed before heading off to surf the day away. Our little cabina was perfect with awesome views of Playa Estero. There is nothing quite like falling asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing, while warm tropical breezes carry you off to dreamland. Saving some moolah, we brought an ice chest filled with food and prepared most of our meals. We shared cooking dinner duties with Jim and Lesia (boy, can she cook) and talked and drank wine into the wee hours. Dennis spent a good deal of time in the water, while I walked the beach, played with the local dogs, chatted up the other hostel visitors, and enjoyed the solitude of Playa Estero. As Dennis was on the beach very early in the morning, he got to see some baby turtles hatching and watched as folks gave them a bit of help getting to the water without being eaten by birds. As it's not really nesting season, this was a rare treat.
We met some folks from Holland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain. This is always the best part of traveling and staying at hostels. Town provided plenty of restaurants for people watching and just soaking in the beach vibe and Dennis won the quarter game when he ran into a friend from Boca Chica.
We took a boat trip over to Coiba Island, and it was a great day with dolphins swimming alongside our panga (one even cruised by my hand in the water and gave me a look see) My heart just sang I was so happy. We got to snorkel at a beautiful little island that was part of Coiba Park, but missed out on monkeys and parrots. Acquaintances Jere and Remmy, told us that they had camped for 3 days on Coiba and to see the wildlife, you really need to hike into the interior. Maybe someday.
Sadly, my camera was acting up (and not in a good way) most of the trip, and by the end of the day, gave up the ghost and died. Woe is me. I love taking photographs and am presently mourning the loss of my camera. I am hoping something will pop up on Craigslist or BoqueteBuy/Sell very soon. Perhaps the camera gods will smile on me. Oh well. Time to upgrade.
Seems like the weather is getting ready to do something. It's been quite dry and windy for a while, but on the way home, we had a bit of rain and big wind. Many trees had been blown over and were covering the road in several places. When we got home, most of Boquete was without power. A few hours later all was well and the power came back on. I have a feeling that our dry spell is soon to be over. Say what you will about the infrastructure in Panama, things get fixed fairly quickly. Relatively speaking.
Yesterday was the big Bid4Boquete Venta de Patio. At the silent auction, I bid for and won a month's membership at the gym where I go for yoga. Found an interesting painting from Israel which now lives in my bathroom and big score; a lampshade. I am hoping to paint it and add a little pizazz to a lamp I got at a yard sale a while back. I also found a funny little sculpture of an Easter Island head in a box, which looks awesome in my new bookcase. All proceeds will go to various charities in town and the turnout was crazy. Shopping here is a learned art. You can find just about anything....if you are willing to search and be creative. The patio sale, which is like a giant rummage sale, gives people the opportunity to scoop up clothes, art, household items and refurbished appliances, along with baked goods, lunch, silent auction, music, kids games and face painting and is entirely put on by volunteers. A good day was had by all.
"ANYONE WHO KEEPS THE ABILITY TO SEE BEAUTY NEVER GROWS OLD." Franz Kafka (Dedicated to Stefani, from Switzerland, with a tatoo on her back, of Kafka's face on a bug's body.