If I was to say the “Boquete Gap” in Boquete, it would be redundant, in Brazil it would be unmentionable, and to us, very descriptive. In Spanish, Boquete means “gap.” This gap, is in fact between the Caribbean to the north, and the Pacific to the south. The rainy season ended in December, and now it is the windy season. This is not a wind for the light-hearted. It can blow and gust any time of the day or night.
The initial raison d’etre of this trip was to visit our friends Sharna and Bryant. They moved here almost a year ago. If ever there are a couple that you want to talk to about expat living, they are it. I met Sharna while working in Los Angeles. She is a world-class networker, and seems to already know and have connected much of the Boquete area. She is also a tireless volunteer, particularly targeting animal causes. Bryant is the host with the most, with a not too bad taste for good wine. Together, they take on adventures, and graciously opened their home to us.
We grabbed a pickup truck taxi, pickups are a good thing with some of the rough roads, to the Pan-American Highway where we hopped on a little bus to David. We waited at the terminal for a while until Sharna and Bryant found us. There are more indigenous people in this area, easily identifiable by the colorful (polyester) sack-like dresses that they wear. I was amused by, what I called, the ballet of taxis coming by to pick people up.
After connecting, we headed up to the place just outside of Boquete. Sharna and Bryant are living in their third rental since arriving. The current place is over-looking a river gorge in a neighborhood with both locals and ex-pats. There are plenty of gated ex-pat communities around here, and it’s not of their (or our) taste.
Boquete itself was developed by Swiss and Germans. One can see how they might have felt it something akin to the Alpine valleys of home. The city of about 19,000 is surrounded by rivers and waterfalls, with Mount Volcan, the highest point in Panama off in the distance. Locals seem to enjoy the rivers and waterfalls, and we would often see them swimming in them.
The city itself is a base of traditional Latin American, with an overlay of gringo institutions – restaurants, bars, inns, stores, and coffee shops. It is a big tourist area, renown for being “frio” or cold by the rest of Panama. It is at an elevation that makes it the home of most of the Panamanian coffee fincas, but those of us from Minnesota find it hard to take the claim of cold seriously.
Another marvelous experience in the world of Ellen and Steve’s Excellent Adventures! And you do a great job of synthesizing the important info along with the “color” for those of us living vicariously. So where is Panama on your list of possible relaxation/retirement locations now?
SORRY MY DEARS! As you may have heard from your Ma, Gretchen Maring died suddenly just before Xmas was over and I can hardly cope with this since I’ve known her from 8th grade on and on! We live in Door County because of her! I’ve saved all your sendings and will begin to read! Je vous aimez! Jean
Oh my goodness! We hadn’t heard. So sorry. Gretchen was an inspiration to us all.
I am so saddened, you and Barbara must be heart broken. Thank you for telling us. We will visit soon.
Ellen