Tanner's Dive in Contadora

So Tanner bought a new camera-The GoPro-with all the gadgets and accessories right before our trip. One of the accessories is the underwater case, so he of course had to try it out on his dive. Here is a short video clip he put together with some of the footage:

Tanner got his rescue dive license in Thailand and doesn't miss any chance to dive wherever he can.
Enjoy!

Contadora Days 3 and 4

Tanner did two dives today-that's him in the red shirt getting on the boat. Others on the dives included a family from Arizona that we hung out with the night before. The great thing about traveling is you always meet like minded folks with that commonality you get from fellow travelers. It makes for much fun and interesting conversation.

I have really enjoyed hanging with my son...when he's not disagreeing with "mom", he's an absolute delight! Being the social butterfly he has always been since a very young age, we have enjoyed the company of quite a few new friends...various island gals who just love this blonde kid from California and a fellow named Craig from Illinois doing a summer internship for college. Here they all are:

Dinner with Craig and his friend

Eylyn and Elizabeth

Playing with and saying goodbye to Stinkalay

All-in-all this island is beautiful. The people are warm and friendly, the scenery is lovely and the beaches are perfect for sunning, strolling or just doing nothing.
This afternoon we are hopping back onto the ferry back to Panama City. See you there....

Survivor

The small island in the distance behind the boat is the island that was used as "Redemption Island" and also for the tribal councils in the Survivors that were filmed here.

So as I mentioned, there were three Survivor shows filmed in the Pearl Islands and numerous foreign Survivors as well. During production, the crews stayed at either the Hotel Punta Galeon or the Hotel Contadora. Hotel Contadora is just down a little road next door to the hotel we are staying in. It is situated on the most beautiful beach on the island, a long stretch of white sand with beautiful warm water. In it's day, the hotel was a beautiful, huge resort that could easily accomodate the large production crews, and during these times, it was usually booked for a three to four month stretch of time. Today, this hotel is one massive shell of a ruin, overgrown with greenery and completely stripped of everything-furniture, doors, fixtures, absolutely everything. The once beautifuls pools have all been filled in and are now just overgrown with switch grass. Even the pool pumps are gone.

                                                           Pool back then

                                                           Same view today

Most of the locals will have a different take on the same basic story, and it goes that the owner was killed in a plane crash. His heirs used the inheritance for everything except the hotel and so basically the hotel just stopped. Where the local stories got vague was what happened next. From what we could gather, there are probably few homes on the island that don't have a piece of the Contadora....so the story goes.

It was just strange walking through it and imagining how grand it once was, really not too long ago.

Day Two in Contadora

Tanner and I explored the island today by scooter and stumbled across this beautiful secluded little beach called Playa Ejecutiva. As we rode around, we discovered our little island had some not-so-little homes...probably owned by wealthy Panama City folks in need of a quick weekend get-away.

                                                 Not-So-Small home

                            Tanner and his scooter...the perfect way to get around

We are staying at the Hotel Geralds. This a quaint little hotel owned by a nice German couple with only eight guest  rooms. Their open air restaurant is the best on the island. One of the "guests" here is a four month old baby deer that was abandoned by its mother at two weeks old. His name is Stinkalay and he thinks of himself as one of the family's pet dogs. Tanner is ready to take him home in his suitcase. Here he is giving deer kisses....

This is where three of the Survivor shows were filmed...Survivor Panama, Survivor Pearl Islands and Survivor All Stars. The players were actually on other small islands but the crew and booted off survivors stayed at either Hotel Punta Galeon or the Hotel Contadora. After getting the scoop from numerous locals, the Hotel Contadora is quite a story in and of itself that I will reserve for a future post.

Panama On My Birthday

OK, so I won't date myself, or rather just don't want to be reminded, but today is my birthday and our second full day in Panama. Tanner came along on this trip. Last year he was bummed because he wanted to dive, so this year he gets his wish. After arriving Sunday evening in Panama City, we took a stroll on the Canal waterfront, had a nice fish dinner, then put our tired bodies to bed.
After an early rise the next morning, we hopped the ferry to the island of Contadora, one of the many Pearl Islands. It's beautiful here, very tropical, not a whole lot to do, but extremely relaxing, which is just what we hoped for.

                                  Contadora..........Tanner and a Pelican friend
Each day in the late afternoon when all the little fishermen and their boats come in, they sell their catch to the local restaurants and any locals who happen to be around. Our German friend who we met yesterday bought 3 pounds of the most incredible prawns for...are you ready?...$12.00. He had our hotel restaurant cook them up in garlic butter for us all....us three, him and another couple we met from San Diego. What a feast! Panamanian beer, shrimp and good conversation until midnight!
This morning we saw our friend off back to Panama City from the little air strip near our hotel. As I write this, Mike and Tanner are off exploring the island on scooters...just kind of a fun day.
Till next time, stay tuned....

For The Love of Charlotte

These amazing little dolls date from 1860-1920. During the manufacturing process at the doll factories in Thuringia, Germany damaged dolls were usually buried on the property, and had been long forgotten all these years until being unearthed and rescued. Little marks, chips or discoloration give them personality and character. I love them just the way they were found and I'm sure you will too.

How did Charlotte get her name? During the mid 1800's there was a story printed that later turned into an American folk song about Fair Charlotte. This tale spoke of a vain Charlotte who refused to bundle up on her way to the ball. She froze in her carriage and her escort is said to have died of a broken heart. This story was told to warn children to bundle up when going outside.

Charlotte's arms and legs do not move or are "frozen." Children used to play with these bisque dolls, and made clothes for them. They were sometimes called bathing dolls and were sometimes even used to decorate or were baked into cakes.

From Trash To Treasure

So, what do you do with the plain brown beer bottle when you're done with it? Most people would just throw it in the recycle bin. Check below for a great idea.....

This is just one of many designs I've done. The sky is the limit....