Day 5 Panama - Embera Village
Trip Start
Nov 27, 2008
1
5
7
Trip End
Dec 06, 2008
Panama City,
Panama
Monday, December 1, 2008
Anne picked us up at our hotel at 8:30 this morning along with one other guest and we drove nearly to Colon (don't ever let me complain about potholes in the US again!) before we boarded dug-out canoes for a 15? minute boat ride to a swimming hole and waterfall that is the real live template for everything Rain Forest Cafe tries to do in the artificial. It was fabulous! In we jumped after sliding our way over some mossy rocks. The water was cool -- not cold and thoroughly refreshing. We swam from rock cropping to rock cropping to save our strength against the strong current pushing us backwards until faced with the waterfall
Embera Village 12/01/2008
. The first attempt -- I swam underwater and came up right under the torrential water from the falls. As it "spit me out", I swallowed a fair amount of water (very clean, by the way) but was determined that I was going to accomplish the romantic notion of standing beneath the falls. The next time I swam to the left side of the falls, held onto a rock with my toes and pushed my way under the waterfall. Although I can say -- AHA -- I did it -- I was still being rained on torrentially and didn't really want to stay there for an extended period of time. Taking a deep breath, I dove forward until the current and water pressure shot me out like a pea out of a pod. Feeling accomplished I joined Dan on some rocks next to an outcropping where other crazy folks were climbing out and jumping into the river (not me on this one!) where we enjoyed the water-jet type action until it was time to leave. Great fun -- and a true bonus to what I had expected on this trip!Next stop was back a bit from where we came to the Embera Village where we were met by members playing native instruments and smiling in a way that made us feel that they really were glad to see us. I guess that during this season -- as we come out of the rainy season -- they depend on these village visits to sell their handicrafts and raise some money. The day before, Anne had taken two Americans to the village where they spent the night. They returned back with us after our visit. Because of Anne's more initimate association with the Embera (although this was not her husband's village -- that was too far away), we spent some very special quiet time after the other boats of tourists left to walk through their village and view their school and house-huts
Embera Village 12/01/2008
. The Embera fed us a wonderful lunch of tilapia (battered and fried in oil heated over wood fires) along with cut pineapples and watermelon served in intrigutely folded and toothpicked origami-type palm leaves. I bought some earrings, a necklace and a beautiful colored woven basket as Dan says: For all our remotes! We are now back at the hotel knowing that we need to be up and at the small municipal airport by 9'ish tomorrow morning for our flight to David where we will rent a car and drive to Boquette to the Coffee Estate Inn where we will stay for three days. Last nights' dinner was at a recommended nearby middle-eastern restaurant called the Beirut Inn where we shared ceviche for an appetizer, grilled Lebonese chicken and a single piece of cheesecake for dessert. Tonight I think we will (finally) have a much appreciated dinner here in the hotel as it is supposed to be the best dining experience in all of Panama City and we haven't felt hungry enough to enjoy it until now!
Hope all is well with our buddies and family back in the States. So far, I haven't gotten any e-mails nor messages saying that we are too badly missed!!
Love all around --
Annie (and Dan)
Comments
WOW! Adventure of a Lifetime!
Hi Ann and Dan
Can't believe all that you are seeing and doing.
Please stay safe and enjoy every minute till you come back to reality in the States.
All is OK at the home front.
Blessings to you and your adventures!
Barbara
You are missed!
Don't worry that you're not missed...you are! I almost tried to call you today, then the baby gave me back some brain power and I remembered that you wouldn't be answering the phone!
The pictures from the village are absolutely beautiful. I'm looking forward to 'seeing' the coffee plantation next!