Isla Taboga & Panamanian BBQ Blunders

This past week James joined a few of his co-workers at the USA vs. Panama Friendly.  When they got there, they had to push their way through crowds of fellow Panamanians (and under the interlocked and raised arms of police) just to get into the stadium.  While it was "Panama-demonium" on the outside of the stadium, the inside was totally normal.  One of James' co-workers spotted a guy selling American flags for $5, talked the guy down to $3, and bought James one to wear around his neck (see picture below).  While this was actually the US's 2nd string team playing Panama's 1st string team, USA still won 1-0!  Panama sports stadiums do have a leg up on US stadiums when it comes to drinks...James bought a tray of 12 beers for only $15.  Take that $9 beers in the US! 

(From right to left) James' co-worker Eligio and his wife, his co-worker Leslie, Eligio's friend (not a co-worker), Santiago Campana :) 

We'd originally planned to go to San Blas this weekend, but as usually, things changed!  Several other people from James' work want to go to San Blas with us, seeing how they have never been, so we are now planning a big day trip for the last Sunday we are in Panama.  At the last minute we decided we would check out a nearby Island in the Pacific ocean, called Isla Taboga (Island of Flowers).  We left for the Amador (Causeway) at 7am.  There, we stood in line to buy tickets ($12 for adults, $8 for children ages 1-12...geez).  Once we had our tickets we got in another line for the ferry.  While in line, we met another US couple (from Baltimore, MD) who were living in Panama for a few months for work.  At 8am we were rather quickly loaded onto the ferry and on our way to the island.  It was about a 45 minute boat ride before arriving.  Once there, they had a drug sniffing dog checking out every one's bags.  This was officially the most security we'd seen while in Panama and it was quite random that it was on this little island.  Genevieve however enjoyed the dog and made "oooff ooofff" noises at it!  We followed the crowd down to a beach spotted with umbrellas and beach chairs.  All of these were for rent for the day.  Luckily for us, we had our own umbrella and blanket for the beach!  The beach was nice...well, if you don't mind some trash and sea glass (shattered glass made smooth by the ocean).  It was NO San Blas!  Once again, Genevieve enjoyed playing in the sand and the water and flashed many a toothy grin to surrounding Panamanian families!  It was definitely entertaining for a day trip, but compared to some of the other beaches we've seen while in Panama, it isn't one we'd rave about.  

On the left are the beach umbrellas and chairs for rent.  On the right is another small island that can only be reached at low tide.  You can see the small strip of beach leading to the island.  Lucky for us, the tide was on its way out as we were on our way in!

a closer shot of the beach

G and Daddy playing with her shovel and rake

Father-Daughter walk on the beach :) 
**We put all of our "valuable stuff" in the backpack just to be safe!

"C'mon Dada...Take me to the water!!"

Looking back at the beach from the small strip of sand connecting the two islands.

Love them :)

Playing hard!

You can stay on the island, but we aren't exactly sure why you'd want to...there doesn't seem to be too much to do here...

beach babe!

clearly I wasn't getting a smile...it took 5 minutes of calling her name for her to look up from her playing in the sand just to snag this picture!

big ships at the end of the Panama Canal in the distance

While on the beach, the beach bar behind us started playing some really loud music...Genevieve took this as her cue to stand up and start dancing!

Of course, the only picture of me on this trip and I am talking...

G does this new "Chicken" dance where she puts her elbows out and her hands at her chest...we aren't entirely sure where it came from, but it is pretty hilarious :)

G and Daddy!

The school on the island.

Taboga

While waiting on the dock for the boat to take us back to Amador, there were several puffer fish swimming in the water below.

Apparently, it really does take a whole village to fish...

G enjoys some pretzels while we wait for the ferry!

The Calypso Queen, our trusty ferry boat.

 When we got back from the island, some of James' friends from work had given him some invitations to a "pre-carnaval" Coors Light event taking place at the Amador.  There was free beer from 4-7 so we figured we'd go and meet up with his work friends for a drink or two before heading back to the apartment.  When we got there, there were TONS of people walking around, many of which were already super drunk (the drinking age here is 18).  From the parking lot (about 50 yards away from the craziness) we could see what looked like a mosh pit of kids in a fenced in area that were double-fisting coors light while dancing to blaring music and being sprayed with water from people on stage high above them.  We were by far the oldest people there and for sure, the only ones with a baby.  We promptly headed back to the car and went home! :)

On Sunday, we spent our day running errands.  To start, we headed to the fish market to get another couple pounds of shrimp and a few pounds of squid... we've decided to try to make our own Calamari when Crafton comes...this should be interesting.  Then, James' co-workers had also told him about a BBQ Challenge that was taking place back at the Amador on Sunday from 11am-4pm.  You paid $5 at the door and then could eat all the BBQ samples you wanted.  We decided to check it out.  Once we finally found it, we were really confused as to what we were supposed to do to get food.  It seemed as if only 3 or 4 tents that were set up actually had samples ready, and even then, we weren't entirely sure if we should just go up and take them or not.  No one seemed prepared and there definitely didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to who was "competing" or who was actually making food...we still aren't sure what the deal was.  We stayed for about 45 minutes, got a few samples, and then just decided to go on with our day.  Back at work today, James' co-workers who ended up going to it later, said that it was a huge disappointment.  At least we weren't the only ones who thought so! 

Well, we have 2 weekends left.  Crafton comes on Thursday and then we are off to the Pearl Islands (where they filmed two seasons of Survivor).  Can't wait!

At the BBQ Challenge thing...

I bought Genevieve a box of chunky crayons because she loves pens and pencils...but we didn't have any paper so she got to draw on the end of a roll of wrapping paper.  Pardon the ghettoness :) 

G's first work of art :)  And no, she did not write her name :)