Flat Stanley Pictures

We brought a friend's Flat Stanley to the Caribbean and inside the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal. Flat Stanley also spent Carnival in Las Tablas. The first photo is FS with a Carnaval float in Las Tablas, the second one is inside the Gatun Locks on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal, and the third is the Caribbean (although you would never know it).

Pink Flowers

Cool pink flowers that pop out of a boring tree during the dry season.

Kel swimming in the Caribbean near Portobello at Sunset

Going to a cow roast - Fuimos a una matanza

Our friend Colombia invited us to her father-in-law's hobby farm (finca) in El Llano Chepo for a cow roast (una matanza). At 4am, they (probably the guys who work the farm) killed a cow and then started butchering and cooking. The menu consisted of bone soup (beef, bones, yucca, and corn) with rice added to the bowl, yucca, and strips of tasty beef smoked (see picture). The farm was beautiful and very quiet; plus, a small river ran through the farm which allowed everyone to go cool off in the water. It was a wonderful day. The father of our friend Marisanta was possibly mocking me in the picture below; he is wearing the FBI hat and borrowed Kellee's sunglasses.

Edwin Leading the Singing

Our friend Edwin Zuniga leading the "typical Panamanian" singing at a cow roast (matanza) at his father's "hobby" farm in the Darien. Listen to the audio on the video; we also have no idea what they are saying.

New Years' Day on Taboga Island

We went with our friends the Pages to Tobaga Island for New Year's Day. They have fun little fishing boat which is perfect for their family of five, JB and Kellee, and coolers of beer. Tobaga is a little island about 15 minutes away from downtown Panama by boat - we can take future visitors there by ferry.

Opening Presents for Christmas

Kel received a great handmade purse from her Dad, a bracelent from Bulgaria from Mom, and a necklace from France from Mom/Santa. JB got a Panama futbol jersey and was so excited he didn't care to get his picture taken with it. Jana and Nikki sent some awesome teas that Kel is going through very slowly. And finally, we got a package of cookies from Krisi's annual cookie party - JB ate those, because Kel is getting skinny any day now. Here is our tree!