Flower and Coffee Fair

Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013--Banquete, Panama

I was sluggish this morning.  Although I didn't stay up until midnight (I was just too tired), I awoke today feeling tired.  I was up later than usual, Wes and I had drunk rum and cola to celebrate the end of the year, and I was disturbed during the night by the sound of fireworks and later by the sound of music in the bar here at the hotel continuing until 5:00 a.m.  We had already agreed to stay another day, so at least we didn't have to rush to try to make bus schedules.

We spent most of our time during breakfast watching birds.  There is a god statue with a flat surface where the restaurant places fresh bananas (half-peeled) and chunks of pineapple and papaya.  A nearby bush was full of blue birds that were taking turns feeding on the fruits.  Soon, however, a larger, rather plain bird appeared and stared them down and then lunged toward them to scare them off so he could eat.  Later, the blue birds returned and were eventually joined by a small black bird with a bright yellow breast and another large bird with a bright orange chest.  It was fun watching them, and the feeding statue made it easier to see them.

We've run into a problem regarding our next destination.  Costa Rica's highest travel season goes until Jan. 5 because they celebrate Three Kings Day.  We've been unable to confirm a reservation in Puerto Viejo because it is a popular destination.  We think we can get a room if we arrive early in the morning, but it would be late afternoon before we would get there by traveling from here, changing buses, crossing the border, and taking another bus.  Therefore, we spent part of the morning considering alternative plans.  We considered entering Costa Rica near here on the west coast, but there was no place worth staying that we could easily reach along there either.   Eventually, we decided that we will leave here tomorrow and go to the town nearest the border on the east coast.  It's not a tourist town, but we can get a hotel there and spend the night.  Then we can cross the border on Thursday morning and go to P.V.  We are now considering whether we will stay 2 nights near the border so we can make a day trip to Bocas del Toro on a nearby island which is the main tourist site in all of Panama.  The nice thing is that we are flexible.  And if we should run into problems getting a room in P.V. on the morning we do arrive there, the early time of the day will give us the option to travel further into Costa Rica to a less popular tourist site instead.

Everyone was in a good mood today.  People were happy and were greeting each other everywhere we went.  We took a morning one-hour hike out one highway and back.  Then, after our research related to altering our travel plans, we took a two-hour hike out another highway.  It was a day for many people to be out and about.  We had groups of bicyclers passing us.  We had a group out on four-wheelers passing us.  Families were out walking together.  It was very nice.  It was a bit windy, but there was no mist until around 16:00.  Both walks gave us nice panoramic views of Boquete and the area.

Banquete's main festival of the year, Feria de las Flores y del Cafe, will start on Jan. 10 and run for a week.   I heard the lady at the hotel desk telling someone today that they have to reserve a room for the whole week if they want to stay at this hotel then.  It's one of the most popular festivals in all of Panama.  The festival grounds are near our hotel.  Already, the groundskeepers are creating fancy arrangements of flowers on the grounds that we see every time we walk from the hotel to the center of town.  One is a clock face.  Another is a Dutch windmill surrounded by flowers.  Others are just elaborate beds of very colorful flowers.

Before returning to our room, we went back to the original restaurant where we ate when we arrived here.  We each got a lettuce and tomato salad with FRESH tomatoes.  I got chicken lasagna and Wes got a pork chop.  We split each so we could enjoy eating both.  Just as we started dining, there was a surprise.  We heard loud music and looked out the windows and the open doors.  A New Year's Day Parade passed by on the street.  It consisted of many men, women, and children riding their horses followed by a truck with loud speakers playing the music.  What a nice, unexpected surprise!!!

We are back in our room early.  We may go out again this evening, but my guess is that we are going to be too tired to do so.  It's been a good visit and a nice respite from the heat and humidity that we have had elsewhere here in Panama.  Tomorrow, we will have heat and humidity again as we go to the east coast.