Hibiscus Garden

We've had a rough week in Gamboa - the bat lab was broken into and we lost a lot - we've have spent much of the tense time since then racing around, trying to recoup what we can, secure what's left. On a happier note, here are some photos from a recent weekend to one of our favorite beach spots - Hibiscus Garden, on the Peninsula de las Palmas - reminding us of the good parts of living here....





  
Fast friends: Gwendolyn and Lottie (=Carlotta), the daughter of the German owners of this beach hotel. This was our second time staying here - we came once two years ago. The girls picked up exactly where they'd left off. They seem to be leading sort of parallel lives in very different spots, one in the rainforest, one at the beach, each with their unique combination of background - sort of Panamanian, sort of expatriate...


This also marked Simon's first real experience with backgammon. He not only beat David (repeatedly! with a few pointers...) but had the victory smirk/cackle to boot. Like father like son!!

Favorite teacher + sloth

Very sadly, Simon's favorite teacher at the Gamboa Discovery School left at the end of last term. We've had a few chances to see her since - very happy reunions! This last one was a picnic at Punta Culebra. Complete with a two-toed sloth, a Ms. Hilary favorite :).



 

And a few photos from the last days of school last term:

 

Tennis

 
Tennis has become a big part of our lives here. Sort of by accident. There's a fantastic tennis coach from Hungary living in Gamboa. Little by little, more and more of the community are taking lessons from him. Besides being the kids' PE instructor at school, Tamas also teaches the kids tennis 2-3 afternoons a week after school. And teaches David 2-3 mornings/week! Here is Tamas with his motley crew of Gamboa kids (Simon front and center with a tennis rack over his face, Gwendolyn in the white shirt and her hand up in the air.)

45

This morning - a celebration! David's 45th.

(Gwendolyn's marking of 45: 4 candles in one direction and 5 candles in the other)

We love you David!!!