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D Eric | profile | all galleries >> Panama- Fall 2008 >> Boquete Panama- September 2008 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Boquete Panama- September 2008

During the first three weeks of my trip to Panama, I studied at a spanish language school in the small mountain town of Boquete. The school was great- everyone there was very professional and friendly, and I learned a lot of spanish in just three weeks. Although it rained almost every day, the area was beautiful and I still managed to get out and do some exploring. The school was called Habla Ya- here's the link to their website: http://www.hablayapanama.com/
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Beautiful gardens abound around Boquete
Beautiful gardens abound around Boquete		 The hills surrounding town
The hills surrounding town		 There were many coffee and vegetable farms in the valley
There were many coffee and vegetable farms in the valley
My friend Tina and I hiked the famous Quetzales Trail, although we didn't see any of the famous birds!
My friend Tina and I hiked the famous Quetzales Trail, although we didn't see any of the famous birds!		 Baaaaaaaaa
Baaaaaaaaa		 Up into the cloud forest...
Up into the cloud forest...
Surprise! It was cloudy!
Surprise! It was cloudy!		 Tina modeling her fashionable Dawgs rainwear
Tina modeling her fashionable Dawgs rainwear		 The first stream crossing had a bridge, the second, alas, did not
The first stream crossing had a bridge, the second, alas, did not
The trail was well signed, and the forest was beautiful
The trail was well signed, and the forest was beautiful		 Another stream crossing
Another stream crossing		 The 'Bosque Nuboso' or Cloud Forest
The 'Bosque Nuboso' or Cloud Forest
The trail was well built at one time, but is starting to be reclaimed
The trail was well built at one time, but is starting to be reclaimed		 A non-photosynthetic plant growing on the forest floor
A non-photosynthetic plant growing on the forest floor		 One of the many birds we saw that day, although we mostly saw woodpeckers
One of the many birds we saw that day, although we mostly saw woodpeckers
A huge casualty in the forest- it looks like windthrow is the major source of disturbance in this type of forest
A huge casualty in the forest- it looks like windthrow is the major source of disturbance in this type of forest		 A few hours later, we emerged on the other side of the mountains into flowery meadows
A few hours later, we emerged on the other side of the mountains into flowery meadows		 The end of the trail at the other side of Volcan Baru National Park
The end of the trail at the other side of Volcan Baru National Park
The pueblo of Cerro Punto, surrounded by farms
The pueblo of Cerro Punto, surrounded by farms		 Cerro Punto
Cerro Punto		 A local moth
A local moth
All the buses to Boquete from the nearby city of David were old school buses! I felt like a kid again!
All the buses to Boquete from the nearby city of David were old school buses! I felt like a kid again!		 I stayed with the Bell family in a house beyond the pink house.
I stayed with the Bell family in a house beyond the pink house.		 The instructors of Habla Ya (except the lady in Red) they were a great team!
The instructors of Habla Ya (except the lady in Red) they were a great team!
The school was located in a newer plaza
The school was located in a newer plaza		 A typical class- one to three students per class. There were lots of retirees living around Boquete.
A typical class- one to three students per class. There were lots of retirees living around Boquete.		 My spanish instructor, Katherine Vargas.
My spanish instructor, Katherine Vargas.
For four hours a day, we talked, learned, and drilled. She was a great teacher, and I learned a lot!
For four hours a day, we talked, learned, and drilled. She was a great teacher, and I learned a lot!		 Typical rainy day in Boquete- it usually rained for a few hours each day, sometimes pretty hard.
Typical rainy day in Boquete- it usually rained for a few hours each day, sometimes pretty hard.		 Looking up the valley to the town of Boquete
Looking up the valley to the town of Boquete
Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures were a common sight in Panama
Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures were a common sight in Panama		 Me, Tina and Katherine in our daily class.
Me, Tina and Katherine in our daily class.		 Katherine was also taught spanish at the local university
Katherine was also taught spanish at the local university
On the weekend, the school offered free Salsa lessons!
On the weekend, the school offered free Salsa lessons!		 Posing in the lunch room
Posing in the lunch room		 Gratuitous cute kid shot...
Gratuitous cute kid shot...
One day before class, we visited a local wildlife rehab center and aviary and saw lots of cool birds, monkeys, and even a sloth!
One day before class, we visited a local wildlife rehab center and aviary and saw lots of cool birds, monkeys, and even a sloth!		 Gratuitous bird shots...
Gratuitous bird shots...		 I haven't looked them up yet.
I haven't looked them up yet.
They had beautiful scarlet macaws- They had several that were confiscated from a drug dealer, who was using them as guard birds!
They had beautiful scarlet macaws- They had several that were confiscated from a drug dealer, who was using them as guard birds!		 Gratuitous butterfly shot
Gratuitous butterfly shot		 Toucans- although this was captive, I saw several in the wild on my was to San Blas later in the trip
Toucans- although this was captive, I saw several in the wild on my was to San Blas later in the trip
It just doesn't seem possible that something this weird actually lives in the wild
It just doesn't seem possible that something this weird actually lives in the wild		 A very rare captive-bred parrot, not native to Central America. The owners of the center were passionate about their birds!
A very rare captive-bred parrot, not native to Central America. The owners of the center were passionate about their birds!		 Volunteers at the center, minding the birds
Volunteers at the center, minding the birds
A baby two-toed sloth, who fell out of a tree and was being cared for at the center
A baby two-toed sloth, who fell out of a tree and was being cared for at the center		 Playing with the monkeys
Playing with the monkeys		 Back to work!
Back to work!
Ah, future tense made easy... I'm going to
Ah, future tense made easy... "I'm going to"		 I finished! Yay!
I finished! Yay!		 Time to hit the bar and celebrate- this was the favorite hangout, the 'Zanzibar', which, ironically enough had an African theme
Time to hit the bar and celebrate- this was the favorite hangout, the 'Zanzibar', which, ironically enough had an African theme
Going out dancing at the local dance bar
Going out dancing at the local dance bar		 The abuelo of the family- he looked great for his 93 years of age. He told me the first car came to town in 1924.
The abuelo of the family- he looked great for his 93 years of age. He told me the first car came to town in 1924.		 The abuela and papa of the family I stayed with for the three weeks in Boquete
The abuela and papa of the family I stayed with for the three weeks in Boquete
The family was very friendly and provided everything I needed.
The family was very friendly and provided everything I needed.		 It's a mess, it must be my room!
It's a mess, it must be my room!		 Ah, Fergie- she loved everybody!
Ah, Fergie- she loved everybody!
Fergie doing what she does best- rolling over to have her belly scratched
Fergie doing what she does best- rolling over to have her belly scratched		 The view out the front door.
The view out the front door.		 On my last day in Boquete, I joined my new English friends for a trip to the hot springs
On my last day in Boquete, I joined my new English friends for a trip to the hot springs
On the day before I left town, I rafted the lower Chiriqui river, a class IV run. This was the biggest rapid, and was a blast!
On the day before I left town, I rafted the lower Chiriqui river, a class IV run. This was the biggest rapid, and was a blast!		 Here comes the raft...
Here comes the raft...		 ... and there goes the raft
... and there goes the raft
The hot springs, which really were quite hot! Which was too bad because it was one of the few hot days in Boquete
The hot springs, which really were quite hot! Which was too bad because it was one of the few hot days in Boquete		 After a nice long soak
After a nice long soak		 The drive home- Kate, Tiff, and Nichola snooze in the back seat
The drive home- Kate, Tiff, and Nichola snooze in the back seat
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