Santa Clara Beach Bar

We had a delicious supper tonight with Gerald and Wanda at this small beach bar owned by a Canadian couple from Ontario. 

The New Year Celebration

Yes, they were right!!  The New Year celebrations were crazy busy!!  People from all over Panama headed for the beaches to bring in the new year.  They came with their families, coolers of booze, food, and yes, also their music.  The grocery stores had lineups for the till down each aisle.  The roadways were plugged.  The night sky was a spectacle of disbelief with fireworks.  They started at dusk and the sparkle and twinkle of fireworks continued well past midnight.  It seemed as if there was a competition to see who could fire off the grandest display.  It was a sight to behold.  The party continued until late today, when finally the last of the revelers packed up their belongings, shut down their weekend lodgings, and made the long and arduous trek home.  I'm sure there will be many big heads and tired people tomorrow.  The Panamanians know how to party!!

New Year's Eve

We left Panama City early this morning to check out a place to stay at Gorgona.  It is really close to Gerald and Wanda's condo.  It turned out to be a real nice place, and we decided to take it for two months.  It has a pool and good security.  It is an eight story building that is only two years old.  There are free Spanish lessons every morning that we hope to take advantage of.  Tonight, we have been invited to a party at Gerald and Wanda's condo complex.  We have been warned by fellow Panamanians, Canadians and Americans that the New Year's celebrations in Panama are noisy, busy, and crowded.  We are to expect the celebration to extend into the wee hours of the morning and continue on the beach New Year's Day.  It sounds like the party is on!!

Fish Market

We had an interesting time at Panama City's fish market.   A lot of fish for sale and lots of eateries.  It was the best fish market I have ever seen.  We meandered around through China Town and Old Panama City.  It was unique, colourful, and interesting.  Hot, hot, hot is the weather!!  Tomorrow we are moving from Panama City to Gargona.  We will hit the beach for the rest of the week. next few days.

Family

Our Backyard December 26, 2011

Toronto

We had an early rise to our day, 3:30 A.M. to be exact!!  Correen sent a text message around 4:00 A.M. wishing us a happy journey.  Harold drove us to the airport, wished us well and sent us on our way.

Our flight was was uneventful, except for the fellow sitting next to me.  Our seats were right at the front, and when the passenger next to me rose to go to the bathroom, he gave me a bit of a scare.  He couldn't open the bathroom door so he went over to the airplane door thinking, I guess, that was the bathroom door.  I thought he was going to try and open that door until he was redirected by another passenger to the washroom.  He used the washroom then came back and sat down.  The pilot, who is female, then went to use the same washroom but came back out immediately, and had the attendants wash it down.  She promptly came over to the passenger sitting next to me who had used the bathroom prior to her and asked if he spoke English to which he replied yes. She soundly reprimanded him about the condition he left the washroom in and that she could charge him with destroying property and that he was never to do that again.  What a weirdo!! And, I had to get stuck sitting next to him!!

We arrived in Toronto at lunchtime.  The weather was mild, absolutely no snow, but raining.  But, alas, snow finally fell mid afternoon making the day a blah, wet, mess.