Last day before we start the trip toward home! It's a free day but there was a tour offered to a small mountain village called El Valle de Acton. We were promised a waterfall hike, a mineral bath with a mud facial, if desired, lunch, shopping and a zoo. And we got it all! The hike was in a rain forest, the trails were well defined with swinging bridges crossing the streams. We were given walking sticks to help on the damp trails....the waterfalls were spectacular! Off to the mineral baths and mud facials, we had a choice between white mud or black mud. They had different powers I am sure but that escapes me. I used the black mud, got into my swimsuit and sank into the mineral pool where we were to stay for 30 minutes for it to be beneficial. Near the end of the 30 minutes, I swear the water felt carbonated against my skin. Well I am rejuvinated! Back into the village to find some lunch-I had grilled chicken and french fries with rice and beans (that's how the meal was served, everything always arrived with rice and beans no matter what you ordered).... We strolled the street checking out the shops and street venders before heading to the zoo. The facinating exhibit was the Frogs! The collection was amazing!
Back to the RV Park and a pot luck supper and a celebration for rig#10's 51st anniversary.... One of the members brought out his guitar and with tailgunner Brians assist we sang! Fun evening!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Feb 26, 27, 28.
A weekend in Panama City! Left the rigs behind and boarded a coach for the city. Took a walking/driving tour and lunch in the city. Spent the afternoon at the canal observation center, preparing for our day on the canal. After checking into our hotel we had a chance to walk around the area before dinner.... a group of us went to a chinese resturant for dinner.
Saturday... On the bus early to get to the canal and get the "good" seats in the air conditioned part of the boat. It was a long ride through 2 locks....lots of waiting etc but very interesting! Very glad we were air conditioned as it was very hot. We did have a heavy rain mid afternoon but it really didn't cool us down much! Tonight the group we ate with chose Italian for Dinner!
Sunday...On the bus early again for a trip to the Indian Village! Wonderful Day! We were greated by scantly clad men, helped into life jackets and dugout canoes. They paddled us up river to their village. There are 3 villages and we were taken to the farthest upstream. There we were greated by the women and children and ushered up the path to the village. They had prepared a meal for us as well as entertainment. We were told about the lifestyle and as we listened and asked questions we were offered Tattoos..... I was given a nice arm band. Also girls and women were weaving baskets among us and some men were carving and painting. The man who drew my tattoo was carving a frog and then painted it.. I asked to purchase it, so have added it to my collection.
Before leaving we were invited to swim in their stream....again Fun with a capital F! There was a swift current so the trick was to get into the shallow stream and into position before being swept downstream. If you didn't get out into the stream far enough before the current caught you, your backside got thoroughly pummeled by the pebbles and rocks. Anyway, it was fun and refreshing and my tattoo didn't wash off! They paddled us back downstream and to our bus. It was a wonderful day and a long bus ride back to Santa Clara, and XS Memories, and our Rigs!
Saturday... On the bus early to get to the canal and get the "good" seats in the air conditioned part of the boat. It was a long ride through 2 locks....lots of waiting etc but very interesting! Very glad we were air conditioned as it was very hot. We did have a heavy rain mid afternoon but it really didn't cool us down much! Tonight the group we ate with chose Italian for Dinner!
Sunday...On the bus early again for a trip to the Indian Village! Wonderful Day! We were greated by scantly clad men, helped into life jackets and dugout canoes. They paddled us up river to their village. There are 3 villages and we were taken to the farthest upstream. There we were greated by the women and children and ushered up the path to the village. They had prepared a meal for us as well as entertainment. We were told about the lifestyle and as we listened and asked questions we were offered Tattoos..... I was given a nice arm band. Also girls and women were weaving baskets among us and some men were carving and painting. The man who drew my tattoo was carving a frog and then painted it.. I asked to purchase it, so have added it to my collection.
Before leaving we were invited to swim in their stream....again Fun with a capital F! There was a swift current so the trick was to get into the shallow stream and into position before being swept downstream. If you didn't get out into the stream far enough before the current caught you, your backside got thoroughly pummeled by the pebbles and rocks. Anyway, it was fun and refreshing and my tattoo didn't wash off! They paddled us back downstream and to our bus. It was a wonderful day and a long bus ride back to Santa Clara, and XS Memories, and our Rigs!
Feb 25 Day 58
Free Day! Laundry Day! Shower Day! Beach Day! Hot Day! Relaxing Day!
The Park Hosts prepared a dinner and entertainment for our evening! Dinner was American Hamburgers and the entertainment was local children in native dress, dancing....very charming!
The Park Hosts prepared a dinner and entertainment for our evening! Dinner was American Hamburgers and the entertainment was local children in native dress, dancing....very charming!
Feb 24 Day 57 (45 days on the caravan)
From the town of David to Santa Clara.......
Passed by and shopped at artisans booths along the roadside. Beaded necklaces, bracelets, collars, and native dress. Bought a dress from a vender no one was paying any attenton to as he had no beaded stuff...so I just had to buy one!
Stopped in a little village that has the oldest church in Central America...a wooden structure with great statues and it was huge!
Our campground ia a real RV Park called XS Memories. All amenities! A mile from the Pacific! It is listed in Frommers.
Passed by and shopped at artisans booths along the roadside. Beaded necklaces, bracelets, collars, and native dress. Bought a dress from a vender no one was paying any attenton to as he had no beaded stuff...so I just had to buy one!
Stopped in a little village that has the oldest church in Central America...a wooden structure with great statues and it was huge!
Our campground ia a real RV Park called XS Memories. All amenities! A mile from the Pacific! It is listed in Frommers.
Feb 23 Day 56
Border Crossing Day! Always confusing, too much traffic, too long lines, too hot! Today's crossing took 3 hours 47 minutes... We need to get the drivers and vehicles out of the country, then the passengers. Then some official comes along with our staff in tow to check the licence plates and vin numbers against the paperwork that we fill out. If and when it all matches, we get inspected, sometime verbally and sometimes literally. Then we are fumegated. And the process is repeated to get us into the next country... So now we are in Panama! Camping tonight in a "Price Smart" parking lot.. We got guest cards and were able to shop. Bought a bottle of Jack and a pizza!
Feb 22 Day 55
Free Day! No traveling, no tours....a good day for just hanging out, visiting, reading, swimming , and crafting. Lu Ann, our wagon mistress, continued to teach some T shirt and scarf techniques to dress up some of the T's we had purchased.... adding beads, fringing and braiding the hems. Got to see it to love it!
The resturant was featuring a Japanese theme and the food was fantastic! Served by a guy dressed in appropriate costume.
The resturant was featuring a Japanese theme and the food was fantastic! Served by a guy dressed in appropriate costume.
Feb 21 Day 54
Left San Jose today.... 8 am on a Sunday morning driving through the city should have been an easy cruise thru town but....we ran into the middle of a 10K heading in the same direction we were going. So with the spectaters, the water stations, and the traffic control folks we were in the middle of a mess! When we finally cleared the city we started a 40 mile climb to 11,000. ft and guess what....we encountered bicyclers out for a Sunday ride up hill...we passed 52 as we wound our way up the mountain. The downhill ride was 9000 ft in 40 miles...really hard on the heavy rigs but only one had braking problems.....
It was a beautiful drive...winding roads, great vistas!
Arrived at our next campsite, a soccar field behind the Hotel del Sur, in San Isidro late afternoon to find a fair in progress in the fairgrounds next door to the hotel. And the heavy medal music and gales of laughter continued well into the night!
The hotel is lovely-swimming pool, dining room, and game/ craft area, all outside but shaded. After all we are back in hot, humid air again!
It was a beautiful drive...winding roads, great vistas!
Arrived at our next campsite, a soccar field behind the Hotel del Sur, in San Isidro late afternoon to find a fair in progress in the fairgrounds next door to the hotel. And the heavy medal music and gales of laughter continued well into the night!
The hotel is lovely-swimming pool, dining room, and game/ craft area, all outside but shaded. After all we are back in hot, humid air again!
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