Etsy's Guide To Facebook

Great Etsy blog post about your Facebok Fan Page.....It's all about forging connections, sharing interesting info, promoting your shop and having fun.
Check it out here:

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/etsys-guide-to-facebook/

Day 13: Boquete Back to Panama City

Ok, I am sad. It's hard to say goodbye to such a serene and lovely place. For the past four days, it has felt like we have been living at the home of a long lost friend. We have been welcomed with open arms and much generosity here at Manana Madera Coffee Estate. For anyone who would like an exquisite and relaxing experience, I would highly recommend this little slice of heaven.
I just can't resist a comfortable hammock...this time in the Ranchito.

Yesterday we took a little day trip over to Los Lojas Beach on the Pacific side....6 miles of unspoiled beach. Since it was a Monday, we were the only ones there, free to pick up beautiful shells and enjoy the low tide where we could walk out 1/4 mile before putting our feet in the water.

Today we fly back to Panama City for one last night there before our return home.
This is the sunset we experienced last night...a beautiful sendoff. They call it "Pinky"....

Day 10: Made In The Shade

Boquete is coffee country, but as you look around and scan the hillsides, all you see are shady trees, particularly oranges. If it is a coffee farm, you'll see tall shrubs below and around the trees...coffee.
Here is Randy and Jamies house, surrounded by lush fruit trees (banana, orange, lemon, avocado) and tons of coffee...

We got a first hand tour and education today from Randy about the whole process from growing to bagging. The coffee here is Arabica and Randy has a blend of four types. He harvests from November to February, and he only picks them when they turn purple.

They are then sun-dried and he stores them in large burlap bags for up to 7 months. At different stages, he takes them out, puts them thru a separater, then roasts them. The formula he uses for roasting is an exact science, making all the difference in a great or not-so-great coffee. He receives this formula from professional "cuppers", who he pays every year to come out and rate the coffee.
Here's Randy happily explaining his passion...

As true coffee connoisseurs in Boquete will point out, dark roasts are often used to mask low-quatity coffee. Gourmet coffees tend to get a lighter roast, allowing as they say here is Boquete, to "taste the coffee, not the roast".

Day 9: Bocas del Toro to Boquete

After leaving Isla Popa, we spent one night on Bocas del Toro so we could get an early start the next morning to our next destination...Boquete.
Here is our goodbye to Bocas:

And Hello to Boquete...known as the city of eternal spring, this gorgeous highland destination enjoys an enviably scenic location on the eastern flank of Volcan Baru, Panama's only volcano, long extinct. Roads lined with every imaginable flowering shrub hearld a world of exquisite beauty. Coffee estates abound due to the high elevation and perfect year round climate temperatures of 68 to 78 degrees. We are spending our time here at the Manana Madera Coffee Estate, where they grow and process a small specialty reserve coffee...one of the most delicious coffees I've tasted yet.

It is owned by a wonderful American couple, Randy & Jamie, who said goodbye to the corporate life in Texas four years ago, moved here, bought this gorgeous piece of heaven, built their home for $28.00 per square foot and became coffee farmers. Part of their house includes this guest house where we are staying for 4 nights. It has its own entrance, a luxurious bedroom, bath and living/dining area with all the amenities and an incredible view of their property. This is our view as we dine each morning on chef Randy's fabulous breakfast....

....And we are always in the company of the ever present "Chubs" their sad-eyed, very large pup.

They also have a beautiful "Ranchita" where we can sit and enjoy sunrises and the view.

It has been cloudy and drizzling rain, but where else can you be at 5000 feet, with rain forest, tropical flowers, pine trees and a minimum temp of 68 degrees!!
Tomorrow Randy is going to give us a start-to-finish tour of the whole plantation and process, so that will be my next blog.
See you then....

Day 7: Still here on Isla Popa

It’s Wednesday and we’re still on the Island of Popa…..R&R has never been better! We are finally sharing this paradise with other guests and have been hanging out with a couple gals from San Diego and a family from Zurich, Switzerland.

Yesterday we took the boat with our new friends over to the Island of Zapatilla loaded with a picnic lunch, snorkels and beach chairs. It was a beautiful day spent with good company.

We will be here until Friday morning, at which time we head for the town of Boquete, which is Panama’s best coffee growing region. See you there…..

Lobster Tacos

Need I say more?
Without a doubt, these are by far one of the best things I have ever eaten! They catch the lobster fresh each day and this has been our lunch the past two days. I'm truly in food heaven....sigh

Day 4 and 5: Popa Paradise Beach

After arriving on the Island of Bocas del Toro, we had a nice breakfast at the Popa's sister hotel on Bocas while awaiting our water transit over to Popa. There are many little islands in this area and we chose Popa for its beauty, solitude and natural preserve. We were not disappointed.
The first thing I did was take a nap in the most inviting and comfortable hammock ever (we had to get up at 4:00 AM for our early morning flight over).

This place is remote and beautiful, and as it turns out, we are currently the only guests. They are expecting more in a couple days but in the meantime, they feed us when we want and what we want...the ultimate relaxation.
It is a bit overcast with possible rain coming. Panama does not have four seasons as we know them. They have only a wet season and a dry season. Otherwise the temperature stays constant pretty much all year. It is currently the rainy season. They have not seen rain however in two weeks so will welcome it any day.

Our bungalow is lovely and private, where we can see and not be seen. It has a beautiful view of the beach and ocean from the lanai out the back.

In the middle of the night, the rains did come...thunder and lightening like I've never seen. In the morning it was still raining, but not hot or humid, which was nice. We ate breakfast outside on the patio, just us.

Time to sign off for the day and do some exploring...till next time.