Top Ten Things I love About Boquete, Panama

10. Volcan Baru- Volcano. What a beautiful, yet mysterious landmark, especially

when the clouds rest half the way up it, as if they are too tired to hike all the way

to the top.. I could look at it all day. And, it is supposed to be an active volcano,

so even though it isn´t due to blow for another 200 to 300 years, it adds an

element of excitement .

9. The way orchids grow on trees. I always thought that they only grew in the

wilds of greenhouses to be used for bridal bouquets and prom corsages. I can

walk out any day and see orchids hanging on to trees, waiting for just the right

time to bloom.

8. Green. Ubiquitous green. Green trees with green leaves sporting green

geckos who dive down into my green and red/violet/orange/yellow garden.

7.Yes, I know, everyone says this so it is getting a bit trite, but there is nothing

trite about rainbows. I love them. Sometimes doubles. Sometimes they even

wait for me to run in and get my camera before dissipating. But not always.

6. Rain. Not the torrential downpours that make you think you need to place an

urgent phone call to Noah, but the lighter side of rain here. I sit at my window and

watch the birds run  (or fly) for cover.

5. The slow pace of Boquete. Instead of getting irritated because there are two

cars parked in the middle of the road, their drivers oblivious to the fact that there

might be traffic coming,  I think how cool it is that Boqueteños are so friendly that

they can´t pass a neighbor on the road without stopping to say hello. Or sharing

the local gossip.

4. The birds. Huge blue hummingbirds, Green quetzals with magnificent tails,

parrots flying in a small herd overhead, and the little blue, green, yellow and red

birds that are so grateful for the bananas I feed them.  I have a Birds of Panama

book, but I never want to run inside to get it and check out the name of the bird,

because I´m afraid they´ll fly away while I´m in the house. I can't´t waste a

moment of opportunity to look at them.

3.The parades every year. The beautiful girls in their native tipico dresses, the

boys in the campesinos costumes.. And the drums. You know, dah, dah,dah,

dum, dah, dah, dah, dum, dah, dah,dah,dah, dah, dah , dah dah dah dum. Same

beat every year. I passed a school the other day when the drummers were

practicing, and I don´t´know how much they pay the music teachers, here, but it 

isn't´t enough.

2. The way the Panamanians usually just smile at me when I butcher the Spanish

language. Or tell me they don´t understand what I am trying to say in Spanish,

then start talking to me in English. Or just smile and say "si" when I know they

have no idea what I am trying to say. But I keep trying. And they keep trying to

make some sense out of me. Good luck to both of us.

And the number one reason why I love Boquete:

1. The people. Beautiful to look at, beautiful to be with.  How lucky am I?