Pipas

Our favorite nearby beach. First a Miller Lite ad that reminded us of Taisie and her love of octopuses.

And a beautiful tree in the middle of the Interamericana highway.

Quesos Chela and neighboring fruit stand. Stocking up for a weekend with Freya, Damond, Alejandra and Freya's Grandma Hilja.

And then, the ocean!

The perfect daquiri

Sin alcohol. By the pool. At the resort. Pure happiness.

Portobelo

Gwen has joined a theater company! They are putting on the show Once On This Island. It takes place in the Antilles with lots of singing and dancing. So Melissa Royo, their fantastic theater director, organized a field trip to the Caribbean town of Portobelo, to learn Congo rhythm and dance first hand.

Wonderful brave Gwen. Undaunted by the fact that she didn't know anyone in this group to begin with, launching herself right in :)

And the silly ones...

....waiting for the bread to rise.

Wonderful Karmir! 💚

Clases de cocinar con Karmir

A few months ago, Gwen started cooking classes with our friend and neighbor, Karmir. They've made all kinds of yummy things - pastas, salads, cakes, Venezuelan specialty pastries. This week was pan de jamón. A very dense, delicious bread with ham and olives swirled inside. It was great!

Bailey

For the last few months, Coco has become friends with a German shepard puppy who lives in one of the houses near the hotel - Bailey. Coco is enamored. Our walks often coincide. Bailey has a little side kick named Tequila, an extremely fat beagle that Robin is taking care of for a friend long term. They form an oddly sweet canine threesome, delighted each time they see each other.

The other night Robin had to work late and asked if we could take care of the dogs. We had a very rambunctious, not so restful, dog sleepover.

Sunrise walks with Coco

We got into such a pattern of going to bed late and sleeping in on this New Mexico vacation. All four of us. So wonderfully relaxing to wake up so leisurely, with no obligations and nothing to rush off to. But return to Gamboa and re-enter Coco - sweet, insistent, early-rising Coco. Who starts scratching and softly whining and then climbing up on the bed to cuddle and squirm and lick - between 5 and 6 am (!). A rough transition. But midway through our morning walk, I'm always so grateful to her - so glad to be out in the early morning mist, to be waking up with brisk rejuvenating exercise, to be seeing the sun rise over the Chagres River - all of it completely thanks to sweet, insistent Coco.  

Reunions

Gwen with Freya and little Mila. Simon with Alistair and Benji. All of us with sweet, sweet Coco.

The Owl

Last dinner. Another one of David's favorite places. The Owl. Green Chile Cheeseburger goodness.

The Very Large Array

Our last day in New Mexico. Driving across the wide open desert of the plains of San Augustin. Southwest of Albuquerque. To one of the largest radio telescopes in the world. One of David's favorite places in the world.

Cerrillos mining town

Tiny mining town of Cerrillos. Once a booming town - the height of mining activities first for the Tano Indians, and then later for the Spanish colonials. It boosted numerous hotels and saloons, and was considered as a possibility for the state Capitol of New Mexico. By 1900 the mines began to shut down. Now tiny, deserted, with a few turquoise shops, dirt roads, and a beautiful old church. A popular spot to film Westerns.