Well Bonnie, Harlow, Keidis & my Mom left on Wednesday and it is now way to quiet around here 🙂
It was so fun having them here and they really liked Panama so I am very happy about that. Bonnie & Mom both said they would come back YAAA!The moment they walked off the plane here in Panama all they could say was “oh it is so hot here” (for the most part it was not as hot as it has been here)
I asked them…
What were your first impressions of Panama?
Mom – it is clean and Americanize which I found surprising… Also I was very surprised that the roads were in such good shape, I expected Panama to be more like Mexico.
Bonnie – people really don’t speak much English here like I expected. I was surprised how clean and westernized Panama was way more than I envisioned it to be. I expected the people to be walking down the streets with jugs of water on their heads & they really don’t.
How do you find the driving?
Mom – not in a million years would I get behind a wheel in Panama City. I would not own a new car here, you could not pay me enough to drive here. The driving is insane.. I just can’t even explain how crazy it is… Bonnie – It is ridiculous, insane, maniac, while using all of the swear words. No organization, no rules, no lanes, lots of horn honking & yet no road rage.
(Bonnie and the kids cooling off in the refreshing Summit pool)
(mom & emma enjoying the warm rays of sun)
On the road again… I was waiting for Bonnie & Mom to get to Panama before we ventured on our road trip for the weekend to the town of El Valle. A picturesque little town 2,300 feet above sea level in the crater of a gigantic extinct volcano. The drive to the town was a bit eventful but well worth the drive.
We stayed at a little place called CRATER VALLY. It was the perfect place for us with our five little munchins, we had the inn all to ourselves. The service was amazing, we picked our rooms and the grounds of this place were breathtaking… very peaceful & beautiful. The weather in El Valle is at times 10 degrees less than the city because of the elevation, so it was a nice break for Mom & Bonnie from the heat. This weekend was all about relaxing and moving at a snails pace (as much as you can with kids)
(this pool was fun to play in and VERY refreshing (to cold for me)
(Trent teaching the kids the true meaning of CANNON BALL)
(everyone loved chilling out in a hammock by the pool)
(Emma and her little buddy Keidis… the kids took such great care of Bonnie’s little ones)
(Bonnie went for a two hour well deserved break for a massage & pedicure. The massage hut was tucked away for peace and serenity)
(I found Bonnie … very relaxed and enjoying the peace & being pampered)
(All of El Valle is stunningly beautiful)
One of the biggest reasons for our trip up to El Valle was I was waiting for my baby sister to partake in some adventure with me. I have been waiting for months to go on another zip line tour like I did in Thailand. Trent is above the safe weight limit so he could not come with us (a good excuse for him… there is no way he would do it)
A company by the came of THE CANOPY ADVENTURE is a well known company that I checked out prior to our arrival. The president of Panama has used this company so how bad could it be : -) While Bonnie and I hiked 45min through the rain forest seeing square trunk trees and the most beautiful blue butterfly, Trent took Emma, Easton, Everett & Harlow for their own nature hike. Keidis and Mom opted to stay at the hotel for Keidis to sleep and Mom would of been sick crossing over the well worn draw bridges.
Bonnie & I had a guide that took us on our trek up the mountain and pointed out all the natural beauty that surrounded us. We saw seeds from trees that the locals make jewelry out of. Like I mentioned before a HUGE blue butterfly… it was amazing, we also saw cocaine trees… we are not entirely sure how the how process works but I know the leaves are grounded up and mixed with some substance and then who knows from there. That was pretty interesting.
Trent gave both of us big hugs and told us he loved us…. His good-bye was heart felt even when he asked if we had enough life insurance on me. :- )
(Bon & I with all our equipment ready for the unknown adventure)
(the rickety bridge over a river at the beginning of our hike, pretty cool)
(this picture does no justice to the surroundings, all Bonnie said was “this is so amazing, this is so beautiful”)
We finally reached out first platform on the zip line. I looked at how long the zip line was and how far down the earth we walk so safely on was… the zip line was long & high. Bonnie kept asking me if I was nervous, I wasn’t at the time because of the rush I felt inside… but looking back at it, it looks crazy.
(here is Bonnie a bit dizzy and trying to catch her breath… we were at a high elevation and it was pretty freaky up there)
(here is Bonnie coming towards me on the next plat form… On this zip line we are about 100-150 feet high passing over a waterfall….THIS WAS AMAZING!
(Trent was below taking pictures with the kids. Here is Bonnie… the real scary thing with this zip was that they stopped us mid way to take in the surroundings and for the kids to see us… I did not like just hanging there. Easton was upset he was scared for us)
(as you can see by the expression on Bonnie’s face… she loved the zip!)
(here is Trent with the munchkins… Trent took a guide along with him for the hike to have extra hands… smart move)
(Emma getting all her gear on)
(the wall Emma had to conquer)
(Em on her way up… way to go babe)
(Everett wanted in on the action, so we suited him up and he went for a ride)
(Ev got hiked way up for a ride… he loved repelling down)
(watch out Easton is now a flying boy)
(here is my DIVA with wet mud)
(Trent was scaring the kids with his mask, they all ran from him but Keidis loves Uncle Trent)
(this is pure beauty if you have never seen it before)
(and the beauty continues with Mom… good thing I am the only one who writes on this blog)
(Ev’s & Harlow’s very very cute bums at the fish pond… The kids spend hours feeding these fish and watching the lizard dive into the water to steal the fruitloops from the fish… pretty gross I thought)
(this is a cute picture of all the kids… including my overgrown big boy Schmu) : -)
(RELAX * RELAX * RELAX) I don’t want too but they make me …haha
(mom & keidis – enjoying our last day in El Valle)
At the CRATER VALLEY they had a great things for the kids. Lots of swings, a small version of a zip line for kids.. alot of great stuff. It was perfect for the kids to burn off all their energy.
(I LOVE this picture of Harlow… she walks around and says “AUNTIES” whenever she wants something)
(Trent showing the kids what it takes to train – he only fell on his face a few times… JUST KIDDING)
( Harlow & Everett can be so sweet when they are not teasing eachother)
(here is the Sunday market… cute place)
Mom – very beautiful, tranquile, I would hightly recommend it. Would love to go back! It’s a place you see in the movies where you just want to go read your book… the perfect place to do that. At the resort we stayed we were treated like royalty. You know paradise is out there but never thought I would experience it… El Valle is paradise.
Bonnie – I thought the resort was so cute…very unique. The canopy tour, it was awesome! I didn’t realize I was nervous but I was. It went by to fast but I loved it and I would do it again. The zip lining was very professional and safe – I was surprised. I loved the market – it had a big variety of things to look at. It was good.
It has been great to have Bonnie, the kids & Mom here to experience some amazing things together.
This blog is part 1 of their trip down stay tuned for part 2…
Until next time, Thumbs up to all.
Easton our fashion pot of the family is now styling his own hair and dressing himself. Good thing they wear uniforms to school because some of his outfits are just to cool for school : -)
All our love to you all.
xoxoxox Trent * Jody * Emma * Easton & Ev!
5 Comments
Andersens
May 4, 2007 at 7:34 pmSo, everyone looked to be having a glorious time…kids too. Good times with cousins. Oh, the memories! Harlow and Keidis are so very cute!
Jody and Bonnie, thrill seekers, that looked awesome, so much fun. Was it better, different, worse, scarier, etc. than Thailand?
It is raining here. It rained yesturday as well…if it isn’t snowing…
Well, a short Hi and now Bye!
Ginger
snydersrock
May 3, 2007 at 8:05 pmi just want everyone to know that panama is an awesome place. we had so much fun. and jody, you and your family are excellent hosts. we really had a great time, and we would love to come back someday. i miss you guys very much, cant wait to see you this summer. xoxoxox
dawna
May 1, 2007 at 2:20 amYES Trent it is working….LOL..Great blog once again honey….I miss you guys so much already…Thank Goodness the weather is nice here it makes things a little easier to come home to..It was so hot,hot,hot in the Panama…How you wear blue jeans all the time Jody is beyond me… Thank you again for the wonderful time..hope I am able to do it again one day soon…Miss you all very much….xoxoxox….Love Mom
Trent
May 1, 2007 at 1:34 amis this working?
Trent
May 1, 2007 at 1:34 amis this working?