Ahhhh, Boquete

We also were blessed to have recently visited an animal sanctuary during a weekend getaway in Boquete, one of the cool and verdant highland towns that draw us every now and again. In addition to the amazing birds found here, Amanda and I were set upon by monkeys (don't worry, they were friendly monkeys), which was uh, surprising at first.

Attica! Attica! Attica!

Why so blue, bird?

Brian with a white-faced capuchin monkey. (Brian is on the right)

Amanda with...drum roll please...a monkey on her back!

A beautiful ocelot.

Just takin' a nap like monkeys do.

I don't remember what the name of this creature is, but I do remember that it eats fruit and kisses women.

A toucan. All but disapeared from our area, the sanctuary has several and here their beauty may be examined up close.

Amanda in bliss-world.

April fools

In addition to a few very successful health seminars put on by Amanda & me at the ol' homestead, we've been continually plugging away at our latrine project, having almost reached our goal of 50. Community latrine coverage now stands at around 40%, a happy and distant cry from the 4% that we encountered upon arrival in 2006. Every latrine, built by and sweated for by each family that has one, takes several people out of the "crapping in the woods/streams" equation that so spoils the areas potable water supply. This alone makes our jobs here worthwhile.















Three of the local kids who love to come around occasionally for a visit.

This is our first foray into adding video clips to our blog, so sorry that it's facing sideways. I believe that an updated version of Quicktime is needed, but I'm really not too sure on that. Anyway, this is a shot of a young girl who comes and stays with the family every now and then named Hoga Montezuma. Our host father, Felix, offered here 5 cents to dance for the family which she did. Let's hope she's not still dancing for money 20 years from now.

And then...

After enjoying ourselves immensely up in Cerro Punta, we headed to our site in Cerro Brisa for a day of "rustic" living.







Amanda, standing in the doorway of our home. Notice the crawling vine on the door frame. It's one of the few that we can keep alive (it's painted on).


















Not sure if Alice is looking at the dog, or deciding whether or not she wants to enter the humble abode.














Dad, chillin on the front porch.












A few of the local kids and us spent an hour roasting "pepita de maranjon," which are fresh cashews harvested from local trees.

















Our time here must be over soon as the cows look to be finally coming home...













Us!

Dad n Alice

March was a whirlwind, and a much-appreciated one at that. During the month we built several more latrines, organized and held a kid's health fair, and enjoyed a spectacular visit by my Dad and step-mom, Alice. While their visit only lasted four days before they flew off to see Catie in Guatemala, we had a wonderful time hanging out with them in Panama's highland jungles after so much time apart.



Making coffee at the Cerro Punta cabin we rented with the fam. This is actually the same one we stayed at when Mike came to visit as well. That's our friend Casey (from Kansas) to the left.











Alice and Amanda, enjoying a bit o shade underneath some kind of giant tropical plant.













Alica and my Dad, taking a breather from the taxing nature of vacationing in Panama's beautiful tropical highlands.












The dynamic duo, hiking the "tres cascadas" (three waterfalls) loop trail in the amazing Parque Nacional de Amistad.
















In front of the cabin.














Just one of the many bucolic views offered to the Cerro Punta visitor.














On the Tres Cascadas hike with our guide.