Busy! [a compilation]

So much has been going on lately!  Here's a highlight:

Ilda and Lica's Graduation from Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua

Ilda with a degree in structural architecture

Lica with a degree in law and political science 

Above, Ilda's diploma and cap

Above, Ilda, Andrea, Lica, Jimmy

Below, Me, Andrea, Lica, Ilda

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Panama Letter

I wrote this article on scuba diving in Panama for a subscription service:

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My Birthday!

I wanted to keep my 23rd low key, so we had cake and drinks at the apartment.

Above, Andrea with my balloons

Below, my DELICIOUS cake!

Below, Andrea's gift to me, The West Wing complete DVD box set.

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And last but not least... I've been eating these:

Chocolate volcanos from Colombia (Lica gave them to us) and they are life changing.

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Upcoming:

-Panama Gastronomy Fair

-Minor apartment remodel

-Weekend in Florida with Mom & Hal

Another Trip to Guararé

We were invited by Ilda and her family to visit her grandfather in Guararé again, which we of course accepted.  We drove out early on a Saturday morning stopping for breakfast along the way.

Below, crossing the (fairly) new suspension bridge over the canal

Driving out of the city, you tend to see some strange things... like large livestock in the back of pick up trucks, shown below.

Or trucks filled to the brim with produce.  Below, plantains

When we arrived to Ilda's Grandfather's we were excited to meet the new puppy (RIP Macho) named Flee Bag in spanish.  He wasn't as cute (or well behaved) as Macho was...

Below, Lalo

Ilda's Grandfather grows all his own food, which makes the eating exceptional

Not to mention he catches and breeds iguanas... these two were caught on Saturday evening

I even branded one! Below,

It was a beautiful weekend and I hope to be able to journey back again sometime soon!

THEY WON! DWTS - Panama (Ilda & Jimmy)

Dancing With The Stars: Panama CHAMPIONS!

Above, Andrea, Ilda, Jimmy, Me

Above, Me and the Mirrorball!

Below, some action shots

Below, a picture from the gym where Jimmy and Ilda rehearsed, looking up at our apartment... look closely and you can see Andrea waving.

And, below, what you see looking down from our apartment to the gym... 

Can you find Ilda waving up to us?

Below, the night of the finale

Above, Ilda, Lica, Jimmy

Above, Ilda, Jimmy

FYI - it's very heavy

Above, a newspaper article on their win.

If you'd like to look back at Jimmy and Ilda's road to the Mirrorball Trophy, find the videos here:

http://www.tvn-2.com/dancing/

CONGRATS FRIENDS! You deserved it!

Mom & Gram Come to Visit!

Mom & Gram came to visit!

It was awesome to have them here, and I couldn't wait to show them around.  Most of all, I was excited to bring them to the beach (Decameron Resort) for a weekend of relaxation and cold beverages!  For the first full day, we toured the city and hit the Miraflores Visitor's Center at the Panama Canal.  This is a must see, and turned out to be even better since it's recent renovation.  The weekend we spent at the Decameron Resort laying by the pool and drinking.  We used Gram as an excuse to get poolside rooms and we were pretty proud of ourselves!  On the last full day we walked and shopped around in Casco Viejo.  Unfortunately, it was a typical hot and sweaty day making it difficult to hit all of things on our to-see list.  I suppose that just means they'll have to make another trip down here again!

Here we are at the Miraflores Locks of the Canal

And then a surprise trip to the beach!

Above, Andrea and Mom

Above, us poolside (with drinks)

Out to dinner at Camisones

Above, Gram asked for a refill on her Piña Colada, and the server brought her back a double!

Below, back in the city touring Casco Viejo

Below, on the Amador Causeway

And here's what they had to say about the trip:

Mom: "I really enjoyed two very different attractions. I would have to say the most interesting and exciting was our visit to the Panama Canal.  I was so intrigued with the canal, it is such an engineering masterpiece, so cool! The other because of it's amazing beauty was the resort DeCameron. It was the most beautiful location with the palm trees, the pacific and the pools!  The city was very modern but the drivers craaaaazy!"

Gram: "On my recent trip to Panama City, I was surprised and pleased to see how modern the city was.  I was told that instead of being a third world country, it is now a "developing country". Natalie took us to many places and the newly developed areas (parks) along the waterfront were very picturesque.  I had visited San Blas years ago and it was fun to see the Kunas when we visited Casco Viejo.  The newly renovated buildings are absolutely awesome in the area.  I was disappointed that I couldn't visit the church with the golden altar since it was only open for three hours in the afternoon.  I had hoped it was open in the morning also.  I hated to leave as I am sure there was so much more to see."