Just a few odds and ends from the latter portion of our Panama trip...
When I first saw this bridge near our place in Paso Ancho, I was not enthusiastic about crossing it. Not only do I have a crappy sense of balance, I have a thing about being on elevated objects that have no sides. I did not feel there was anything compelling enough on the other side of this bridge for me to go across it.
On our last day in the highlands, we decided to walk a two-mile loop through some coffee fincas. While I'm confessing my shortcomings, I'll admit that I find no joy in physically challenging activities. This hike was yet another up a steep, rocky road in the sun, which I found tedious at that altitude. The trail down was narrow, rocky, and slippery -- equally (or even more) un-fun. The nail of one of my big toes is purple from being rammed into the front of my shoe on the downhill trek. We weren't even sure we were going in the right direction. Needless to say, I was never so happy to see this stinking, swinging bridge, and I scampered right across.
The long drive back to Panama City was as uneventful as the trip up had been. Almost. Nothing like zooming down the highway and suddenly being confronted with a herd of cattle.
In my bird post, I showed you the Orange-chinned Parakeets on the bananas outside our porch at our B&B on Ancon Hill. We also had a family of six Geoffroy's Tamarins that would visit a couple times a day. Frankly, I don't like monkeys, but these were sort of cute, even if they ate with their mouths open.
Although they are common birds in the tropics, I really like Blue-gray Tanagers. This one is wondering what happened to the banana we put on the fence for it (it fell off and an Agouti stole it).
We only had issues with chiggers and ticks. Still, it was nice to know that the local pest control company could handle bigger and nastier things. Adios, cucarachas!
I was going to relate a long story about trying to get a taxi driver to understand that we wanted to go to a popular restaurant called Crepes and Waffles (a Latin American chain with only an English name), but it was a you-had-to-be-there moment. We did make it there, and it was muy delicioso.
Ugh...I think chiggers are about the worst thing! But a small (ha ha) price to pay for what sounds like a fantastic trip. I'm living it vicariously through your photos.
Posted by: Phantom Midge | 24 January 2008 at 11:15 PM
My husband had fewer chiggers, but was more miserable. For whatever lucky reason, they do not make me itch (neither do mosquitoes).
Posted by: Nuthatch | 25 January 2008 at 07:49 AM