Lost and Found Ecohostel Chiriqui

... FINALLY! and it didn't rain!) Wednesday on a trail just outside of town in a national park. It was steep and slippery but it was amazing. At one point we were so high up that we were literally in the clouds! We rewarded ourselves with a home cooked meal and ice cream when we returned to town. And we also took matters into our own hands at the hostel, and hung a much needed hammock by the stream...and damn, it's comfortable!

Yesterday, surprisingly not sore ...

... so shopping was quick. Next we headed to find the Coffee Estate Inn to pick up some goodies for our coffee loving parents, but alas they only opened their doors to guests of the Inn. So in route we stumbled across this place called El Explorador Gardens. We popped in for a look. WOW….this place was beautiful and weird all at the same time. It was kind of like the Heidleburg of Panama. They used junk items all throughout the gardens ...

... anyhow quite easy) and the way was anyhow taking a funny direction. We started being nervous, because it was long as we had thought, and we were not sure that was the right way, because of the direction it had taken. Suddenly, it started to rain cats and dogs. It was just 12:00, usually it starts later to rain. I have to say I was enjoying the way, even if I was feeling worried because I had taken them there, and I think Marcus was already hating me. We knew the way ...

... a nice boy whose made his own business helping tourists figure out how to cross. We definitely appreciated his help and rewarded his entreprenuership). From there it was a quick jump to David and a very loud and crammed bus ride to Boquete (complete with loud music, flashing lights, and feathered boas). We were greeted by Pancho who just happened to be the owner of the hostel that we wanted to stay at. He very enthusiasticly showed us his hostel and gave us advice on how to get ...

... connections there. I also have a new friend with an unbelievable hydroponic operation where I buy my fresh lettuces and herbs. When I *****ed about not being able to get kale anywhere, she said, "I've got seed. I'll grow it if you buy it." She has no idea how much I love kale. She won't be able to keep up with my demand but I told her to go ahead and get to growin' it. Okay, okay, okay....I know....I on the food topic again. I'll stop. But I feel so incredibly fortunate to be ...

Once again it is moving day, and we really have no idea how we're getting to our destination. So after breakfast we had the hotel owner call a taxi on the mainland. After a water taxi ride across, we ask him how much to our destination, Finca la Suiza. "Donde?" Great, this guy doesn't know the place. Get out the small guidebook map and show him. He can't go there. He shows his cellphone, and makes a wide circular gesture which I took to mean ...

... But mostly they have birds. Amazing birds. We enter through the gate and are face to face with a beautiful blue Hyancinth Macaw. We're told they're the only bird with a solid upper beak, and that they can cut cables with their beak. Snap a broomstick no problem. Moral of the story...fingers aren't an issue to them. But toucans are another thing altogether. We go into "the birdhouse", and there are two toucans walking around. They have those huge beaks, but are fruit ...

Fun day today with some rafting down the Chiriqui River about a 2 hour drive from Boquete. There were some fun rapids, mostly 3's with some class 4 as well. I really enjoyed listening to the owner going into detail for about 5 minutes about how if people don't follow instructions, they will die. If they fall out of the boat and ...