tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39828677925788742382024-03-13T16:15:35.398-04:001 of 7Have fun. Give back.Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.comBlogger324125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-48267663785991574912014-03-12T23:27:00.001-04:002014-03-12T23:27:43.008-04:00CHERRY BLOSSOM VOLUNTEER TIME<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img src="http://media.virbcdn.com/cdn_images/resize_1024x1365/81/bcd26f9ddbce5abf-CherryBlossoms.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spring is near, which means it's almost cherry blossom time in Washington, DC. Looking for a fun way to experience the festival and do some good in the process? Volunteer!<br /><br />Event organizers are always looking for people to lend a hand, particularly during the annual parade and kite festival. Learn <a href="http://bit.ly/1czP4CI">details HERE!</a><br /><br />Not in DC? It's festival season in many places -- most are happy to have eager volunteers. Check out their websites. Befriend Google. Have fun. Give back. </span><div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Washington, DC, USA38.907230899999988 -77.03646409999998938.709493899999991 -77.359187599999984 39.104967899999984 -76.7137406tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-60283969034788028992014-03-04T22:51:00.002-05:002014-03-04T22:51:39.240-05:00MARCH IS RED CROSS MONTH -- GIVE BLOOD!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://media.virbcdn.com/cdn_images/resize_1024x1365/44/fbbcbe5129e7851e-ScreenShot2014-02-13at104635AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.virbcdn.com/cdn_images/resize_1024x1365/44/fbbcbe5129e7851e-ScreenShot2014-02-13at104635AM.png" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March is Red Cross Month, which means it's a great </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">opportunity to donate blood. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Need three reasons to give?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How about the three lives one pint of blood could save? This week, visit the Red Cross website to </span><a href="http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">find a blood drive</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> near you and help save a life.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />EXTRA CREDIT: <a href="http://www.redcrossblood.org/hosting-blood-drive">Organize a blood drive</a> in your office/church/school<br /><br />ALTERNATIVE: Don't like needles or can't give? Check out <a href="http://www.redcrossblood.org/hosting-blood-drive">other ways to support </a>the Red Cross. And if you’re on the fence, help theRed Cross locate hesitant donors by playing this <a href="http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/donor-zone/games/donor">goofy video game</a>.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-57655633411273339562014-02-23T10:29:00.001-05:002014-02-23T10:29:49.728-05:00A LAMB, A PUPPY, A NEW PET<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We met Cinde Jeheber, aka, the <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/08/preparing-lunch-for-ocelot.html">Ocelot Whisperer</a>, in Costa Rica last year. Cinde volunteered with us at at the Monkey Park Foundation, where we prepped food for various animals, such as monkeys, marmosets, and <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/08/photo-friday-kips-ocelot-in-national.html">one sultry female ocelot</a>. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Last week, we heard from Cinde in Nicaragua, where she traveled to build houses for the homeless. Between hammering nails and digging holes, she found a scared little puppy so shaggy it looked more like a little lamb than a dog.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><img height="640" src="http://media.virbcdn.com/cdn_images/resize_1024x1365/44/cdc6bcfdab227b25-LambPuppNicaragua.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She asked Carmen, one of the women her team was building a house for, if she could use her water to wash the puppy. They scrubbed it clean and dried it, and from then on, the little dog kept going into Carmen's new house and laying down, as if he lived there.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />After a while, Cinde decided to ask the new home owner if she would like a puppy. Immediately, Carmen started crying, saying “I've been loving outside for 15 years all alone, now I have a house and a dog!"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><img src="http://media.virbcdn.com/cdn_images/resize_1024x1365/aa/71ba5c3200b6b225-NicoPuppyLamb.jpg" /><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And that's how Cinde's Random Act of Kindness to a lamb-looking puppy helped a lady get her first dog. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Thanks for continuing to give back, Cinde! You inspire us!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-90224536281306047582014-02-18T18:01:00.000-05:002014-02-19T14:56:33.861-05:00WHAT'S YOUR RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like our neighbor Bill, you celebrated <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2014/02/celebrate-random-acts-of-kindness-week.html">Random Acts of Kindness Week</a>, right? So what did you do or what did someone do for you? </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We'd love to hear your story. Email us at info (at) 1of7.org or leave us a comment below.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here in DC, we had eight inches of snow overnight last week and no snow shovel. In the morning, when we looked out our front door, two neighborhood kids were busy clearing our walkway and sidewalk, snow shovels in hand and smiles on their faces. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our neighborhood's friendly enough, but the chances of two teenagers shoveling yards at random are remote at best. Kip stuck his head out and asked the kids what was up.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Your neighbor paid us," one of them said proudly. Kip closed the door, and the kids got back to work.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YMrhUcmk8jY/UwPlOBty5QI/AAAAAAAAHaU/1RU816hjrgA/s1600/Kip+Camo+Snow+Angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YMrhUcmk8jY/UwPlOBty5QI/AAAAAAAAHaU/1RU816hjrgA/s1600/Kip+Camo+Snow+Angel.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kip got so excited he made a snow angel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The mystery gifter had to be Bill, we figured. He lives next to us with his lovely wife Paula. He's always helping us out, doing odd jobs, taking care of things that need doing. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Relieved at not having to brave the 20-degree temps and find a shovel, we knew what we had to do. Kip went upstairs and grabbed his wallet. Then he opened the front door and hollered at the kids to come over. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Handing the kids some cash, he told them go ahead and get the next two neighbors' sidewalks, too. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pay it forward. One small act for the day. Thanks for getting it started, Bill. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And thanks to all of you who got in your 1 of 7 during Random Acts of Kindness Week. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don't forget to tell us your story. And while you're at it, help us celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week II. Let's do it again this week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-11332676631251368632014-02-09T04:00:00.000-05:002014-02-09T09:45:44.900-05:00CELEBRATE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">C'mon, you knew Feb 10-16 was </span><a href="http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Random Acts of Kindness Week</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, right? </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thought so. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krZCNIL3x4U/UvbiDekt1RI/AAAAAAAAHXM/C0_v_OhduPs/s1600/Kip+Making+Friends+in+Philippines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krZCNIL3x4U/UvbiDekt1RI/AAAAAAAAHXM/C0_v_OhduPs/s1600/Kip+Making+Friends+in+Philippines.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A girl gives Kip a hand in the Philippines.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, this really is a week-long event. Do you already have a good deed planned? Well, if so, you're doing it wrong! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week is about paying attention, staying alert, and keeping your eyes open for opportunities to give back whenever they present themselves. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In many ways, it's a big part of what 1 of 7 is all about. We're all busy people. We may not have time every week for a pre-planned volunteer activity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But that should never stop us from finding a way to do some good in the world and making philanthropy -- acts of goodwill to others -- a regular part of our lives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you're hard up on "random" ideas, there are plenty of places to look, including this website, as well as <a href="http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-ideas">here </a>and <a href="http://mashable.com/2013/10/21/random-acts-of-kindness/">here</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week, keep your eyes open. Be ready to be randomly kind. You'll know when the opportunity presents itself. It's one of the very best parts about being human. And it's in every one of us. Sometimes we just need a contrived holiday or a well-meaning website to remind us.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-32932187679333511552014-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-09T22:53:50.503-05:00A VOLUNTEERING VACATION IN COLORADO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before re-joining the real world back in Washington DC, we stopped off in Colorado for a few weeks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After 30,000+ miles, we needed a vacation (seriously!), plus we got to see Liz's parents and hike in the valley where we got engaged, American Basin. And of course, we volunteered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hiking was simply spectacular, particularly the trail up to Mount Garfield in the Bookcliffs in Grand Junction (hi, Liz!).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZPzrPGXtFc/Uvbq0C5YAAI/AAAAAAAAHXo/YA8nGGAuDOQ/s1600/Liz+Hikes+the+Mesa+GJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZPzrPGXtFc/Uvbq0C5YAAI/AAAAAAAAHXo/YA8nGGAuDOQ/s1600/Liz+Hikes+the+Mesa+GJ.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We even got to experience some very curious local wildlife on the Liz's parent's back porch. Thanks, Mark and Sheila. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjB0_uHMeg4/Uvbq0CUDWLI/AAAAAAAAHXc/GoO0tUFmkLU/s1600/Hand+Feeding+Humming+Bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjB0_uHMeg4/Uvbq0CUDWLI/AAAAAAAAHXc/GoO0tUFmkLU/s1600/Hand+Feeding+Humming+Bird.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then there were all the volunteer activities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First up, we hit the local library. Did you know you could volunteer at many public libraries? Volunteers fill a critical need, as b</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">udget cuts are</span><a href="http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/06/funding/libraries-around-the-country-under-budget-pressure/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> affecting libraries all over the country</a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Th</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">e friendly folks at the <a href="http://mesacountylibraries.org/blog/2013/08/28/globetrotting-volunteers-help-out-at-central-library/">Mesa County Library System </a>taught us the joys of sorting books, shipping books, and shelving books all in the same day. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two local newspapers even wrote </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a story about our time at the library.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke-vhlpUQWw/UvbsnZxH7yI/AAAAAAAAHX0/XaBJ8lj8-08/s1600/Liz-and-Kip-at-Mesa+County+Library+GJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke-vhlpUQWw/UvbsnZxH7yI/AAAAAAAAHX0/XaBJ8lj8-08/s1600/Liz-and-Kip-at-Mesa+County+Library+GJ.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Read the full stories online <a href="http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/volunteers-from-america">here</a> & <a href="http://www.postindependent.com/news/grandjunction/7884075-113/zipse-patrick-couple-volunteering">here</a></span></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQywDy9XYP8/UvhH9I-XNPI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/rBA1bf9OCvk/s1600/Daily+Sentinel+Logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQywDy9XYP8/UvhH9I-XNPI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/rBA1bf9OCvk/s1600/Daily+Sentinel+Logo.jpeg" height="46" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EWteZWZJ7e8/UvbtLblxRqI/AAAAAAAAHYM/dpBO3NvYvzM/s1600/grand_junction_free_press.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EWteZWZJ7e8/UvbtLblxRqI/AAAAAAAAHYM/dpBO3NvYvzM/s1600/grand_junction_free_press.png" height="46" width="200" /></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Even better, we found out later that Liz's mom and others became regular volunteers after our visit. As we've often experienced in our travels, volunteering is </span><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2012/07/cleaning-up-is-contagious.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">seriously contagious</a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next stop, we were invited to talk to two service learning classes at a Grand Junction high </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">school about the places we've experienced and why we think volunteering is so important. We also talked about the importance of being engaged in your local community whether it's in Colorado or Cambodia. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then, after sharing a few of <a href="http://1of7.zenfolio.com/">our favorite photos</a>, we helped the students work through some of the incredible ideas they were developing to improve their school. These guys were so far ahead of us when we were their ages. In addition to going to school and working, this group was figuring out how to get approval and funding to paint educational murals on buildings and to add hand-decorated trash cans to increase proper litter disposal. A big thanks to the students and their fantastic teacher, Ms. McGuire -- keep up the great work...and keep inspiring! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ6uBTcZgx8/Uvbv8DcCt1I/AAAAAAAAHYU/RydQAoJ8cR8/s1600/1+of+7+at+GJ+High.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ6uBTcZgx8/Uvbv8DcCt1I/AAAAAAAAHYU/RydQAoJ8cR8/s1600/1+of+7+at+GJ+High.jpg" height="393" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next up, we headed back to the spot where it all started more than two years ago...<a href="http://www.1of7.org/2011/07/hitting-and-cleaning-trail-in-colorado.html">cleaning up the Continental Divide</a>. This time, we came prepared with granola, water, and of course, our ever-present trash bags, which we never hike without anymore. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2011/07/hitting-and-cleaning-trail-in-colorado.html">the last time</a>, we did what anyone could do -- we cleaned things up a bit. It wasn't hard, and it didn't take long. And just like before, we felt really good when we were through, and the area looked a lot better, too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eEYBbot7gFQ/Uvb6AmWgClI/AAAAAAAAHYo/Hf-3CFdJS-0/s1600/Liz+Cleans+Up+Continental+Divide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eEYBbot7gFQ/Uvb6AmWgClI/AAAAAAAAHYo/Hf-3CFdJS-0/s1600/Liz+Cleans+Up+Continental+Divide.jpg" height="418" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was a special moment for us -- for the better part of two years, we have been traveling, volunteering at least one day each week no matter where we went.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have seen and done so many things we before only dreamed about. But there is more to be done. More trash to be picked up. More books to shelve. More students, travelers and fellow humans to talk to about making giving back a part of their lives...at least one day each week. </span><br />
<br /></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com2Grand Junction, CO, USA39.0638705 -108.5506485999999938.866669 -108.87337209999998 39.261072 -108.2279251tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-65782217408288612032014-01-06T03:30:00.000-05:002014-01-06T03:30:01.420-05:00TOP 10 ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's Top 10 time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since much of our trip revolved around looking for, swimming with, and hiding from beasts big and small, we kick things off with a list of our 10 favorite animal encounters. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From the world's biggest fish in the Philippines to a lake full of jellyfish in Palau to an overly-friendly lemur in Madagascar, it was one wildlife-filled ride.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRzGtoW-enc/UsnNZpPZcOI/AAAAAAAAHSI/GfV7XUKQAP8/s1600/Lemur+Hug+Kip+in+Madagascar-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRzGtoW-enc/UsnNZpPZcOI/AAAAAAAAHSI/GfV7XUKQAP8/s200/Lemur+Hug+Kip+in+Madagascar-2.jpg" height="355" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/03/photo-friday-hug-from-lemur.html">Hugging Lemur</a>, Madagascar</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On a visit to a wildlife refuge in central Madagascar, a lonely but loving lemur decided Kip needed a hug. Then he wrapped himself around Kip's leg and wouldn't let go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_LyC0nJW5M/UsnRzaUQ7MI/AAAAAAAAHSU/l5h0-0N7Ies/s1600/Whale+Shark+Identifying-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_LyC0nJW5M/UsnRzaUQ7MI/AAAAAAAAHSU/l5h0-0N7Ies/s200/Whale+Shark+Identifying-2.jpg" height="353" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2012/04/swimming-with-whale-sharks.html">Whale Sharks</a>, Philippines</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The reason we started our trip in the Philippines--swimming with the <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2012/04/swimming-with-whale-sharks.html">world's largest fish</a>. Swam with them...check. Counted and cataloged them for an international conservation group working to protect them...check. Dream about seeing them again someday soon...check.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk2YPAzYMBw/Usn7rLNFAmI/AAAAAAAAHTU/vVHD6JrryUM/s1600/Borneo+Happy+Pygmy+Elephant-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk2YPAzYMBw/Usn7rLNFAmI/AAAAAAAAHTU/vVHD6JrryUM/s1600/Borneo+Happy+Pygmy+Elephant-2.jpg" height="371" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy <span id="goog_1191827833"></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1191827832" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pygmy elephant</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">s<span id="goog_1191827834"></span></a>, Borneo</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Prior to this trip, we weren't sure Pygmy Elephants existed. But after taking a boat up the Kinabatangan River in Borneo, we got to see for ourselves. The elephants' smiles made for some happy tourists, too. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C9UmFwKr9no/Usn8D3EscHI/AAAAAAAAHT8/UDsv80q0EC4/s1600/Baby+Orangutan+in+Borneo-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline ! important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C9UmFwKr9no/Usn8D3EscHI/AAAAAAAAHT8/UDsv80q0EC4/s1600/Baby+Orangutan+in+Borneo-2.jpg" height="360" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2012/07/hanging-with-orangutans.html">Baby Orangutan</a>, Borneo</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />We had the pleasure of meeting this swinging creature and his mamma up close, at the Semmengoh Orangutan Reserve, just outside of Kuching, Borneo.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6MSJZGiz1M/Usn7rizG7cI/AAAAAAAAHT0/k0oVZIXMRAs/s1600/South+Africa+Great+White+Shark+%25287%2529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6MSJZGiz1M/Usn7rizG7cI/AAAAAAAAHT0/k0oVZIXMRAs/s1600/South+Africa+Great+White+Shark+%25287%2529-2.jpg" height="335" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/03/swimming-with-great-white-sharks.html">Great White Sharks</a>, South Africa </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><o:p>Who couldn't love that face to the left? He was even kind enough to donate one of his teeth, after Liz did her most incredible, and surprisingly accurate seal impression.</o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ltbgbmx6yx8/Usn7rM1PpNI/AAAAAAAAHTo/YujuDwEg-w8/s1600/Monkey+Park+Ocelot+National+Geographic-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ltbgbmx6yx8/Usn7rM1PpNI/AAAAAAAAHTo/YujuDwEg-w8/s1600/Monkey+Park+Ocelot+National+Geographic-2.jpg" height="380" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/08/preparing-lunch-for-ocelot.html">Hungry Ocelot</a>, Costa Rica</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This pretty lady gave us her best "Blue Steel," at least until we presented her with a plate of perfectly sliced beef hearts that we'd spent the morning cutting up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROJasys3Dn8/Usn8N7RoxEI/AAAAAAAAHUI/du26SXmtJW8/s1600/Liz+Palau+Jellyfish-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROJasys3Dn8/Usn8N7RoxEI/AAAAAAAAHUI/du26SXmtJW8/s1600/Liz+Palau+Jellyfish-2.jpg" height="366" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2012/04/final-underwater-photosfor-now.html">Millions of Jellyfish</a>, Palau</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Swimming in a hidden mountain lake with millions of stingless jellyfish should be on everyone's list. And Palau is one of the only places to do it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tSfwoUQ6EDs/Usn7rkIXszI/AAAAAAAAHT4/eQfRjKJ8dnk/s1600/Mother+Cheetah+Warthog+Serengeti-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tSfwoUQ6EDs/Usn7rkIXszI/AAAAAAAAHT4/eQfRjKJ8dnk/s1600/Mother+Cheetah+Warthog+Serengeti-2.jpg" height="362" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/05/lunchtime-for-leopard.html">Feeding Mother Leopard</a>, Serengeti</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watching this mother leopard drag a wild boar carcass across the road, up into a tree, and feed it to her two leopard cubs is as close to live National Geographic as we will ever get. And it was awesome. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jOmdXbGKUM4/UsoBX2vYShI/AAAAAAAAHUY/XNOAU9gFP0Q/s1600/Palau+shark-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jOmdXbGKUM4/UsoBX2vYShI/AAAAAAAAHUY/XNOAU9gFP0Q/s1600/Palau+shark-2.jpg" height="366" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2012/04/hello-little-fishy.html">Sharks</a>, Palau</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The ocean in Palau is the purest we've ever seen. And with lots of fish, come lots of sharks. And we got to see lots of them up close and personal, including this curious grey-tipped reef shark.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E9uD6qcmc1k/UsoBqiNTd7I/AAAAAAAAHUc/rlbF0Obchuo/s1600/Baby+Sloth+Costa+Rica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E9uD6qcmc1k/UsoBqiNTd7I/AAAAAAAAHUc/rlbF0Obchuo/s1600/Baby+Sloth+Costa+Rica.jpg" height="390" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/08/photo-friday-mom-and-baby-sloth.html">Baby sloth</a>,Costa Rica</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When visiting Cahuita, Costa Rica, you're bound to see<a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/08/video-sloth-on-wire.html"> a sloth</a> or two. After all, it is the <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/08/the-sloth-capital-of-world.html">sloth capital of the world</a>. We caught this little guy napping just outside of our bedroom window.</span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-47387705913952478712014-01-01T13:11:00.000-05:002014-01-01T13:11:08.386-05:00HAPPY 2014! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbCvW6c95dI/UsL8LqkukeI/AAAAAAAAHRk/ic6jdQDX54w/s1600/Liz+Kip+2013+New+Years+Card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbCvW6c95dI/UsL8LqkukeI/AAAAAAAAHRk/ic6jdQDX54w/s640/Liz+Kip+2013+New+Years+Card.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First, thanks to everyone who has read the blog -- we hit 100,000 visits earlier this year and we couldn't be more excited. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also want to thank all of you who sent us messages, liked us on Facebook, and wrote to us about all the different ways they've been able to make giving back part of their lives...Ben and Ali </span><a href="http://greetingsfromblank.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/la-senda-verde-bolivia/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">babysat a newborn howler monkey </a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">in Bolivia, Cinde Jeheber who still volunteers at the <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/08/preparing-lunch-for-ocelot.html">animal sanctuary in Costa Rica</a>, and Liz's mom, Sheila, who decided to become a weekly volunteer at her local library. Your stories and so many others inspire us to keep our goal of giving back at least one day each week alive. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wishing everyone a wonderful 2014. We are excited for all that the new year will bring. </span></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-39488128309291997842013-12-11T23:37:00.004-05:002017-08-01T12:21:17.485-04:00OUR FINAL BOAT TRIP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RyAD_3EGjdQ/Up5dXPNQ4FI/AAAAAAAAHOU/uTDCjShrTFM/s1600/Portobelo+Panama+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RyAD_3EGjdQ/Up5dXPNQ4FI/AAAAAAAAHOU/uTDCjShrTFM/s640/Portobelo+Panama+(3).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, this is not the boat we took. Ours is the sailboat in the top right corner...the Luka.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From the earliest days of this voyage, our luck with boats has been something less than stellar.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Early readers of the blog will remember the <a href="http://1of7.blogspot.com/2012/05/sailng-and-drifting-pacific.html" target="_blank">original Boat Trip From Hell</a>, as we sailed/drifted for 12 days from Palau to the Philippines with two Germans on their small, not-exactly-modern sailboat. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Forgetting those painful lessons learned on the Pacific, we tried sailing again months later in Madagascar, this time <a href="http://1of7.blogspot.com/2013/02/boat-trip-from-hell-ii.html" target="_blank">spending nearly 20 hours crammed into a narrow</a>, dugout ocean-going canoe with a sheet for a sail and the entire Indian Ocean (but no privacy) for a bathroom.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">More months and thousands of miles had passed. Surrounded by stunning seas, Panama was the final stop of the trip. The San Blas were some of the most scenic islands we'd ever seen. And we'd soon enough be land-locked back home for who knows how long. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So yeah, you know where this is going. We decided to sail again. On a boat. Overnight.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But this time, we chose wisely. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ncdl2n57F2Y/UqkQ1MXNpTI/AAAAAAAAHP4/19czkmmbRvU/s1600/Luka+sailboat+Panama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ncdl2n57F2Y/UqkQ1MXNpTI/AAAAAAAAHP4/19czkmmbRvU/s640/Luka+sailboat+Panama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While eating fresh-baked bread and drinking strong Panamanian coffee at the only bakery in Potobello, we overheard three American twenty-somethings talking about a boat trip. From what we could hear, they would be sailing later that day, heading through the San Blas Islands and on to Colombia. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Naturally, Liz leaned over and said, "Excuse me, did you say you're leaving on a boat trip?" </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Half an hour later, we had already met the Luka's capable, friendly, and honest captain, Bea, who was running around town like a mad woman provisioning the boat in prep for their five-day trip. We told her our plans (a one-night trip in the San Blas was all we had time and budget for), and she said, "Sure, you can have my cabin and we'll drop you off tomorrow somewhere you can catch a motor boat to where you need to go next." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sy8hrceInEs/Up5dXnYYQVI/AAAAAAAAHOs/3AnGLJP448Y/s1600/Portobelo+Panama+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sy8hrceInEs/Up5dXnYYQVI/AAAAAAAAHOs/3AnGLJP448Y/s640/Portobelo+Panama+%25284%2529.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like our captain Bea, we spent most of the day running around Portobello buying stuff for our trip. We also squeezed in time visiting the remains of the 400-yr-old fort, watching a soccer game played atop cannons hauled on Spanish galleons, and looking out over the deep bay, the supposed burial place of THE Sir Frances Drake, whose lead-encased body no one's ever found.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfsUak31P1Q/Up5dXDdVjWI/AAAAAAAAHPE/pwSSKhE1P9M/s1600/Portobelo+Panama+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfsUak31P1Q/Up5dXDdVjWI/AAAAAAAAHPE/pwSSKhE1P9M/s640/Portobelo+Panama+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58Jf03Mt4yM/Up5dXy8ditI/AAAAAAAAHOk/5CqSZge6-kI/s1600/Portobelo+Panama+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58Jf03Mt4yM/Up5dXy8ditI/AAAAAAAAHOk/5CqSZge6-kI/s640/Portobelo+Panama+(5).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We did see an interesting liquor selection at one of the two stores in town that sold booze -- Abuelo rum, Night Train (really?), a fifth of Tanqueray gin for $10, and something called Kentucky Cream whiskey, none of which we tried.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONl7GD3MgnI/Up5dXK5LLtI/AAAAAAAAHOY/vIruZMrq4pI/s1600/Portobelo+Panama+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONl7GD3MgnI/Up5dXK5LLtI/AAAAAAAAHOY/vIruZMrq4pI/s640/Portobelo+Panama+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you do make it to Portobello, a quintessential but gritty sailor town Jimmy Buffet sings about in "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHAid_Ukub8">Cowboy in the Jungle,</a>" you may as well try to meet up with Captian Jack. The pony-tailed, wanna-be pirate is a teller of tales and schemer of schemes who knows just about all there is to know about the surrounding area and far beyond. He also serves quality food, cheap rum and decent rooms if you don't mind bunk beds and a little noise. We loved it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But the real reason you come here is to catch a boat to places further afield...and so we did. Less than 12 hours after we met our American friends and Captain Bea, we were sailing the Caribbean on a 52-ft ketch, sipping rum, seeing the sea and petting the Luka's official living mascot, Wacek, seen below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a89ea4TK54g/Up5dYD_S9kI/AAAAAAAAHO4/RBE6W9tMEMU/s1600/Portobelo+Panama+(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a89ea4TK54g/Up5dYD_S9kI/AAAAAAAAHO4/RBE6W9tMEMU/s400/Portobelo+Panama+(6).jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After a peaceful night among a ludicrously starry sky, we shared a filling breakfast with our fellow passengers before disembarking at El Porvenir, a tiny strip of sand and palm trees that hosts a hotel, a recently-paved runway and the San Blas Guna General Congress. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here, we took a group photo with our fellow travelers as they departed for Colombian and Kip had to go meet with the big boss (Speaker of the House?) to negotiate our motor boat back to the mainland. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cCsp1IydVy4/Up5dYoSPMmI/AAAAAAAAHPA/y1O15psdA2w/s1600/Portobelo+Panama+(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cCsp1IydVy4/Up5dYoSPMmI/AAAAAAAAHPA/y1O15psdA2w/s640/Portobelo+Panama+(8).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All in all, it was one heckuva way to spend some of the final days of our trip...and more importantly, to re-affirm our faith in sailing, not to mention in our decision-making abilities when it comes to boats. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Big thanks to Luka, Captain Bea and the crew! </span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-4XJ5nt9TA/Up5dYCYN5aI/AAAAAAAAHOw/T6qyOFhEFFk/s1600/Portobelo+Panama+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-4XJ5nt9TA/Up5dYCYN5aI/AAAAAAAAHOw/T6qyOFhEFFk/s640/Portobelo+Panama+(7).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com2Guna Yala, Panama9.2344394999999988 -78.1926250000000217.2277184999999982 -80.774412000000027 11.2411605 -75.610838000000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-10379738935654329672013-12-04T12:36:00.002-05:002017-08-01T12:17:11.508-04:00SAN BLAS ISLANDS II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVZ7q2tbLbc/Up5YzQPdQoI/AAAAAAAAHN4/0WeNyuSjPT4/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVZ7q2tbLbc/Up5YzQPdQoI/AAAAAAAAHN4/0WeNyuSjPT4/s400/Panama+San+Blas+%25286%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ymr7nSOhzzU/Up5Y0tvzMLI/AAAAAAAAHOI/QLVN3Rwku9c/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ymr7nSOhzzU/Up5Y0tvzMLI/AAAAAAAAHOI/QLVN3Rwku9c/s400/Panama+San+Blas+%252810%2529.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There's so much to love about the San Blas Islands.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The stunning clarity and colors of the water that laps soothingly over the white sand beaches, which Liz could never seem to get enough of. The ubiquitous bead anklets and bracelets the local Kuna women wear to signify whether they're married or not. The lady below, preparing fresh fish for our dinner is married, as noted by the wide wrap around each ankle. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7PIC3kKV16k/Up5Yz4ZsUlI/AAAAAAAAHOA/Npw4hUaRQ_g/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7PIC3kKV16k/Up5Yz4ZsUlI/AAAAAAAAHOA/Npw4hUaRQ_g/s640/Panama+San+Blas+%25288%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The quality of food and accommodation varies from island to island. Since only Kuna people can run businesses in the San Blas Islands (no foreign-owned companies allowed...meaning the Hard Rock San Blas will not be happening there anytime soon), the hotels and accompanying restaurants are run by the same one or two families who inhabit whichever island visitors end up staying on. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While this often means sleeping arrangements are rustic and meals can be culinarily-challenged at times, the overall experience is one that's becoming more and more difficult to come by.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSFfigWq4S4/Up5Y0ERDgUI/AAAAAAAAHOM/33_A6KOiYr0/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSFfigWq4S4/Up5Y0ERDgUI/AAAAAAAAHOM/33_A6KOiYr0/s640/Panama+San+Blas+%25289%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Above, Liz stands in the doorway of our hut. Amenities include one naked light bulb hanging from the palm roof, one thin mattress resting on cross-cut palm trunks, and a hammock for when the bed filled with sand. After lights out, the darkness is profound, as are the starry skies and the sounds from the waves nearby and the palms overhead. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For families or groups, there are larger huts with multiple hammocks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vhEPbX2EfoQ/Up5YzNjfQ0I/AAAAAAAAHNk/lfg1Znz_BaA/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vhEPbX2EfoQ/Up5YzNjfQ0I/AAAAAAAAHNk/lfg1Znz_BaA/s640/Panama+San+Blas+%25285%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But the main attraction can only be the islands themselves. Picture perfect, whether from a distance...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZY8rzBJJgs/Up9VbSNsgbI/AAAAAAAAHPg/BFCZlDRrl_c/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+Liz+Kip+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZY8rzBJJgs/Up9VbSNsgbI/AAAAAAAAHPg/BFCZlDRrl_c/s640/Panama+San+Blas+Liz+Kip+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or frozen in yoga pose atop one...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fn1GpY9FkzI/Up5YzsZNsYI/AAAAAAAAHNo/fVebSDcBrIY/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fn1GpY9FkzI/Up5YzsZNsYI/AAAAAAAAHNo/fVebSDcBrIY/s640/Panama+San+Blas+(7).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or closing business deals just next to one.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-medcY58xu3U/Up5YyDqyWjI/AAAAAAAAHNA/dpwlWubTjMk/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-medcY58xu3U/Up5YyDqyWjI/AAAAAAAAHNA/dpwlWubTjMk/s640/Panama+San+Blas+(14).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you have time, the San Blas are so worth a visit (or two). While you're there, take some time to enjoy the scene, learn about the locals, and <a href="http://1of7.blogspot.com/2013/10/naked-trash-clean-up.html" target="_blank">consider a volunteer</a> activity such as a beach cleanup.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And of course, don't forget to take dominion over your own palm-crowned private island. It's as unique a place as we've seen on the trip and will definitely be making our Top 10 list, if we ever get around to putting one together. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sf-ZKNxs4ck/Up5YykqkMeI/AAAAAAAAHNs/puVK9Q6vSDY/s1600/Panama+San+Blas+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sf-ZKNxs4ck/Up5YykqkMeI/AAAAAAAAHNs/puVK9Q6vSDY/s640/Panama+San+Blas+%25284%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Guna Yala, Panama9.2344394999999988 -78.1926250000000217.2277184999999982 -80.774412000000027 11.2411605 -75.610838000000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-37579116964916064742013-12-03T09:30:00.000-05:002017-08-01T12:15:59.535-04:00FUNNY MONDAY: PALM TREE JUMP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sq9KGtDXI7U/Up3maxbhHpI/AAAAAAAAHMw/C5u0T2XoT7U/s1600/Panama+Off+a+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sq9KGtDXI7U/Up3maxbhHpI/AAAAAAAAHMw/C5u0T2XoT7U/s640/Panama+Off+a+Tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From <a href="http://1of7.blogspot.com/2013/07/dummy-monday-volcano-jump.html" target="_blank">live volcanoes</a> to <a href="http://1of7.blogspot.com/2013/03/worlds-tallest-bungy-bungee-jump.html" target="_blank">high bridges</a> to the <a href="http://1of7.blogspot.com/2013/01/funny-monday-taj-will-make-you-jump-jump.html" target="_blank">Taj Mahal</a>, for some reason we like having our photo taken while jumping in the air. Tourists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So when we saw this reclining palm stretching out over a beach in the San Blas Islands, we went right to it. More or less.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At least the sand was a safer landing than the one Kip would've faced if he missed <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-dBspVJ11Y">this jump in Thailand</a>...or if this <a href="http://1of7.blogspot.com/2012/10/funny-monday-jumping-cat-monastery.html" target="_blank">jumping cat crash landed</a> in a monastery in Burma. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Guna Yala, Panama9.2344394999999988 -78.1926250000000217.2277184999999982 -80.774412000000027 11.2411605 -75.610838000000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-6835660831116043682013-11-25T03:00:00.000-05:002013-11-25T03:00:05.225-05:00FUNNY MONDAY: LIZ LOVING LOBSTERS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YuaAbDkEkI/UpLQAWfeJtI/AAAAAAAAHME/Dr7lwj1qMRA/s1600/Liz+Loves+Lobster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YuaAbDkEkI/UpLQAWfeJtI/AAAAAAAAHME/Dr7lwj1qMRA/s640/Liz+Loves+Lobster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The closer we got to the end of the trip, the more we felt we needed to spend a little more time on a beach. And Liz could spend more time with the fresh lobsters some passing divers delivered to the little island we were staying on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0San Blas Islands, Panama9.57 -78.82-15.9520345 -120.12859399999999 35.0920345 -37.511405999999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-48862778518989591262013-11-13T23:59:00.000-05:002013-11-14T22:45:08.291-05:00PANAMA SPECIAL OLYMPICS VOLUNTARIOS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cadsVxLF1o/UoMD9x0HXSI/AAAAAAAAHKo/hS9tknp1jMY/s1600/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+Liz+hug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cadsVxLF1o/UoMD9x0HXSI/AAAAAAAAHKo/hS9tknp1jMY/s640/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+Liz+hug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We never really thought we'd spend a weekend bowling in Panama City, Panama. Never say never. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We were resting up after our daily afternoon stroll between the fish market and Casco Viejo, when we heard two people talking animatedly about an upcoming sporting event. We soon figured out they were discussing a bowling tournament, of all things.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Interest piqued (Kip's a closet bowler, for real), we leaned in closer and soon learned that the Panama Special Olympics would soon be hosting its national bowling championships. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5m4hEHZcrDs/UoMD-u-1yVI/AAAAAAAAHKk/KwSMiuuNFow/s1600/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+bowlers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5m4hEHZcrDs/UoMD-u-1yVI/AAAAAAAAHKk/KwSMiuuNFow/s640/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+bowlers.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, we introduced ourselves immediately. Then, of course, we asked if they could use some free help at the tourney. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lucky for us, the two were helping organize the event, and soon enough, we were signed on as "voluntarios" for the big games. As volunteers, we would be doing everything from serving as guides for the participants to keeping order during the games, coordinating scores, and generally doing whatever anyone deemed necessary during the event. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZbZV6onq7Q/UoMD9y1ejJI/AAAAAAAAHKs/8BqCy0m32EQ/s1600/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+Kip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZbZV6onq7Q/UoMD9y1ejJI/AAAAAAAAHKs/8BqCy0m32EQ/s640/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+Kip.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Working at a bowling tournament may not seem like the funnest way to spend a weekend in Panama. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But think about it -- when would you ever get to sit front row at a national championship of anything, AND get to hang out, slap high fives and generally just have a good time? And do it in Central America with the amazing athletes from Special Olympics? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5ezXsULMcU/UoQnUkWGv0I/AAAAAAAAHLY/HnhHhfPAlQc/s1600/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+bowlers+hi+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5ezXsULMcU/UoQnUkWGv0I/AAAAAAAAHLY/HnhHhfPAlQc/s640/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+bowlers+hi+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yeah, we had the best time ever. That's us below in the center, hanging with 'our' team just behind us and getting a hug from Pedro. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uoMKW1THbAs/UoMD95X5QzI/AAAAAAAAHK4/45NqBnz2zMQ/s1600/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="438" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uoMKW1THbAs/UoMD95X5QzI/AAAAAAAAHK4/45NqBnz2zMQ/s640/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+Group.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Between frames we got to talk with the athletes. They told us about all the work they'd done to get where they were. They taught us how to say "strike" and "turkey" in Spanish. One girl told Liz she was going on a date with a guy from an opposing team, but that we couldn't tell anyone or her teammates would get really mad. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We learned a lot that day -- both about bowling and about life as a Special Olympian.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As the bowlers rolled their final frames and the medal ceremonies ended, we realized we had been a part of something very special indeed. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And we owed it all to volunteering and to the amazing athletes and people we met with <a href="http://www.specialolympics.org/Regions/latin-america/Locations/Special-Olympics-LA-Panama.aspx#.UoRV5Pmsim4">Special Olympics Panama</a>. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BrMi2Gvvbtw/UoMD-fz9sII/AAAAAAAAHKg/oMyJAujCpLo/s1600/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BrMi2Gvvbtw/UoMD-fz9sII/AAAAAAAAHKg/oMyJAujCpLo/s640/Panama+Special+Olympics+1+of+7+Liz.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Panama8.9942689 -79.5187919999999628.7433499 -79.841515499999957 9.2451879 -79.196068499999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-76140160344740459742013-11-08T03:30:00.000-05:002013-11-08T03:30:02.811-05:00PHOTO FRIDAY: GIRL IN PORTOBELO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2azShryt1Fk/Unxrl8du3yI/AAAAAAAAHJ8/r8M98TnJ9G4/s1600/Girl+Portobelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2azShryt1Fk/Unxrl8du3yI/AAAAAAAAHJ8/r8M98TnJ9G4/s640/Girl+Portobelo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Liz poses against a wooden column of the four-centuries-old Customs House in Portobelo, but a curious little girl strolls by and steals the show.</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Portobelo, Panama9.5549091529168066 -79.6548065185546089.539250652916806 -79.6749765185546 9.5705676529168073 -79.634636518554615tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-44562739180874821622013-11-04T23:22:00.002-05:002013-11-04T23:22:37.435-05:00FUNNY MONDAY: DO NOT DISTRACT THE DRIVER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DJm5_TleQUc/UmcjT_z3hCI/AAAAAAAAHGo/I0KSmnv_DvU/s1600/Panama+Bus+Driver+Distract.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DJm5_TleQUc/UmcjT_z3hCI/AAAAAAAAHGo/I0KSmnv_DvU/s640/Panama+Bus+Driver+Distract.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The photo above is noteworthy, not only because of the speed at which we were traveling when the shot was taken, but also for the four words at the top center of the image: "No Distraigas Al Conductor."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Translated into English, this means, "Don't Distract the Driver." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Based on the cornucopia of oddities in direct view of this determined driver, however, we must assume there is an alternate translation -- perhaps some sort of mantra to St. Christopher, the patron </span><a href="http://www.catholicfamilygifts.com/images/products/detail/medal/christopher/L2514.jpg" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">saint of bus drivers</a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For good measure, let us count the potential distractions in view:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fuzzy dice (4)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Feather boas (2)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Air fresheners (2)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Windshield wiper improperly stored</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coin changer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Odd mirror contraption on our left</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hanging fan to the left of that</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Various decals</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two little men holding signs that say "#1 Dad"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One stuffed monkey above the two men</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One orange siren, lit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two electric stars</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Guess we can't complain though, since the driver did get us safely to our journey. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-83235362237536491832013-11-01T08:28:00.001-04:002013-11-01T08:28:22.766-04:00PHOTO FRIDAY: STORM IN THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwoc5rf2GBQ/UnOdxunWJlI/AAAAAAAAHJA/AEHHkVSv0vw/s1600/San+Blas+Beach+Clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwoc5rf2GBQ/UnOdxunWJlI/AAAAAAAAHJA/AEHHkVSv0vw/s640/San+Blas+Beach+Clouds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A storm front blows across the San Blas Islands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Guna Yala, Panama9.2344394999999988 -78.1926250000000217.2277184999999982 -80.774412000000027 11.2411605 -75.610838000000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-47058000303303580342013-10-28T03:00:00.000-04:002017-08-01T13:09:43.362-04:00NAKED TRASH CLEAN UP <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEVRRYshp7c/UmUodGPemSI/AAAAAAAAHFk/gMaaLupN6UY/s1600/San+Blas+Trash+Clean+Up+1+of+7+naked+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEVRRYshp7c/UmUodGPemSI/AAAAAAAAHFk/gMaaLupN6UY/s640/San+Blas+Trash+Clean+Up+1+of+7+naked+boy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No, we didn't get naked to clean up a beach in Panama's stunning San Blas Islands. But a little helper named Christopher, seen here, did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We shouldn't have been surprised--the kid rarely wore clothes both times we stayed on his island, a tiny teardrop of sand not much larger than a city block. Of course, considering he lives a <i>Blue Lagoon</i>-like lifestyle surrounded by swaying palms and clear blue waters, who could blame him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While the San Blas Islands look and feel close to paradise, the Kuna people who live there are facing critical problems with clean <a href="http://my.opera.com/apronad/blog/show.dml/8319981">water, sanitation</a>, and trash.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ht1BqNIlgl4/Umb_JqfvYMI/AAAAAAAAHGY/xaMPU6EWw8s/s1600/San+Blas+Dive+Clean+Up+Starfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ht1BqNIlgl4/Umb_JqfvYMI/AAAAAAAAHGY/xaMPU6EWw8s/s640/San+Blas+Dive+Clean+Up+Starfish.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks to the steady stream of tourists and a growing local population, there isn't enough potable water to go around. In addition, all those people are producing lots of waste, which isn't being disposed of properly, leading to polluted oceans, contaminated drinking water, and trash in the water, wrapped around starfish, and dotting the beaches, which we did our best to eradicate with the help of little naked Christopher. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We even convinced some fellow travelers to join us on the clean up. Together,we walked the beaches, crisscrossed the island, and snorkeled the surrounding waters picking up trash. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you do visit the San Blas, make sure to carry out everything you carry in (and more if you have room), and before you book, ask if the island you're on has properly-functioning toilet facilities. If it doesn't, stay elsewhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AzZqO-_19Xw/UmU_OK5v69I/AAAAAAAAHF0/nGb9ThuB7j0/s1600/San+Blas+beach+clean+up+1+of+7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AzZqO-_19Xw/UmU_OK5v69I/AAAAAAAAHF0/nGb9ThuB7j0/s640/San+Blas+beach+clean+up+1+of+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And of course, if you see garbage on the beach, recruit some fellow travelers, and take the time to clean it up. You'll be glad you did, and you might make some new friends in the process.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Guna Yala, Panama9.2344394999999988 -78.1926250000000217.2277184999999982 -80.774412000000027 11.2411605 -75.610838000000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-36879009747328273862013-10-25T03:30:00.000-04:002013-10-25T03:30:03.936-04:00PHOTO FRIDAY: SAN BLAS ISLANDS, PANAMA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKPFjxKgxno/UmhmI00fqLI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/rY59tTgn0A8/s1600/San+Blas+Islands+Panama+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKPFjxKgxno/UmhmI00fqLI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/rY59tTgn0A8/s640/San+Blas+Islands+Panama+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More than 350 islands...less than 50 are inhabited. Welcome to the San Blas.</span><br />
<br /></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0San Blas Islands, Panama9.57 -78.82-15.9520345 -120.12859399999999 35.0920345 -37.511405999999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-75693599382644866952013-10-23T22:51:00.002-04:002013-10-23T22:51:37.002-04:00THE PANAMA CANAL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WEeaT24_e7M/UmhtgiGMdVI/AAAAAAAAHIY/bUbUnRZbIYE/s1600/Panama+Canal+Cargo+Ship+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WEeaT24_e7M/UmhtgiGMdVI/AAAAAAAAHIY/bUbUnRZbIYE/s640/Panama+Canal+Cargo+Ship+Bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cargo ship passes beneath the Bridge of the Americas as it exits the canal en route to the Pacific Ocean.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Historian David McCullough in his book <i>The Path Between the Seas </i>wrote this about the Panama Canal: <br /><br />"The creation of a water passage across Panama was one of the supreme human achievements of all time, the culmination of a heroic dream of over 400 years and of more than 20 years of phenomenal effort and sacrifice. The 50 miles between the oceans were among the hardest ever won by human effort and ingenuity, and no statistics on tonnage or tolls can begin to convey the grandeur of what was accomplished." </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As McCullough writes, mere statistics don't do justice to the marvel that is the Panama Canal. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3MMvRT5y5lA/Umh9UsdiGII/AAAAAAAAHIo/l4uSAfbmeGE/s1600/Panama+Canal+Cargo+Ship+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="467" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3MMvRT5y5lA/Umh9UsdiGII/AAAAAAAAHIo/l4uSAfbmeGE/s640/Panama+Canal+Cargo+Ship+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But let's give it a shot anyway, shall we? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the time the United States bought the rights to the canal from the French in 1904 following their decade-long failed attempt to build the waterway, $287 million had been spent and thousands of workers (20,000+) had died, mostly from yellow fever and malaria.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After 10 more years, millions of dollars, and thousands more lives lost, the canal finally opened to commercial traffic under U.S. control. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few stats:</span></div>
<div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Construction cost in 1914: $375,000,000 (not counting the French attempt)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cost in 2007 dollars: $7.4 billion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Number of workers to build: 56,000+</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lowest toll paid: 36 cents paid by Richard Haliburton, who swam through in 1928</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Highest toll paid: $375,600 by the cruise ship Norwegian Pearl in 2010</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time to cross: 1-2 days, depending on traffic; if a boat enters on time for her early morning appointment, she can make the passage in 8-10 hours, typically</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Boats per year: 1,000 (1915); 14,000+ (2010)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTWOo0zpq5A/Umhs7girRCI/AAAAAAAAHHs/eUPkGaAHeSc/s1600/Panama+Canal+Liz+Kip+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ho_jqWepvtk/Umhs8WjsOQI/AAAAAAAAHH4/s1OTCSNncfY/s640/Panama+Canal+Lock+Boat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the canal's 3,000-ton, five-story tall gates closes behind a cargo ship.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more stats, check out <a href="http://www.hillmanwonders.com/cruise_destinations_more/panama_canal_cruise_three.htm">this page</a> or the <a href="http://www.acp.gob.pa/eng/general/canal-faqs/index.html">official page </a>of the Canal de Panama. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Canal truly is a wonder of the modern world. I</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">f you ever get to Panama, you gotta head out to the Miraflores Locks and Visitors' Center and watch this feat of engineering</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in operation. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's so worth it. </span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-auPFiMQFNec/Umhs8Gl2HFI/AAAAAAAAHIE/TzXPHPLkVR4/s1600/Panama+Canal+Liz.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-auPFiMQFNec/Umhs8Gl2HFI/AAAAAAAAHIE/TzXPHPLkVR4/s640/Panama+Canal+Liz.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liz on the radio in the control tower of a ship passing through the canal. <br />OK, maybe it's a simulator in the Canal Visitor's Center.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTWOo0zpq5A/Umhs7girRCI/AAAAAAAAHHs/eUPkGaAHeSc/s1600/Panama+Canal+Liz+Kip+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="518" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTWOo0zpq5A/Umhs7girRCI/AAAAAAAAHHs/eUPkGaAHeSc/s640/Panama+Canal+Liz+Kip+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the visitor center.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEpr-IbAV-I/Umhs7mMaWmI/AAAAAAAAHHw/nlsD6tkuQT8/s1600/Panama+Canal+Cargo+Ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEpr-IbAV-I/Umhs7mMaWmI/AAAAAAAAHHw/nlsD6tkuQT8/s640/Panama+Canal+Cargo+Ship.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the bar of the Balboa Yacht Club. Great place to enjoy a sunset.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Panama Canal, Panama9.0574018 -79.6579292999999788.9319578 -79.819290799999976 9.1828457999999991 -79.49656779999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-88792871029324984212013-10-21T11:11:00.003-04:002013-10-21T11:11:43.444-04:00FUNNY MONDAY: KIP FEEDS LARGE RAT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIFhn5R76Mw/UmVCJp5bZSI/AAAAAAAAHGA/_fXo6Lkr6II/s1600/Panama+Mural+Kip+Rat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIFhn5R76Mw/UmVCJp5bZSI/AAAAAAAAHGA/_fXo6Lkr6II/s640/Panama+Mural+Kip+Rat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">OK, so the animal is called a <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/coatimunde">coatimundi</a>, and it's not actually alive. But Kip couldn't pass up a photo opp with this larger than life mural on a concrete wall in Panama City's Casco Viejo. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(No animals were harmed or fed in the taking of this photo.)</span><br />
<br /></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0San Felipe, Panama8.9531326 -79.5357556000000168.9452901 -79.54584060000002 8.9609751 -79.525670600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-816277507792822522013-10-18T12:53:00.000-04:002013-10-18T12:53:10.796-04:00PHOTO FRIDAY: "FACES AND PLACES" EXHIBIT IN WASHINGTON<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYbBFHtAVww/UmFlAv8C_KI/AAAAAAAAHE8/6q1RJUp71uE/s1600/Bridge+Crossing+in+Burma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYbBFHtAVww/UmFlAv8C_KI/AAAAAAAAHE8/6q1RJUp71uE/s640/Bridge+Crossing+in+Burma.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge Crossing in Burma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since it's Friday and last night was the opening reception of our first-ever photo show, Faces and Places, above is the first print that sold--a shot of two novice monks crossing a handmade bridge near Lake Inle in Burma. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone who made it out and helped us open the show, which </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">will be running through Dec 1 at the upstairs gallery in Shaw's Tavern in Washington, DC. </span><br />
<br /></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)20.5862914 96.9101805999999920.3483729 96.5874571 20.8242099 97.232904099999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-40275803470679080352013-10-16T13:59:00.000-04:002013-10-16T22:25:29.690-04:00INVITATION: PHOTO EXHIBIT IN WASHINGTON, DC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-67BjjAHWkhQ/Ul69I7PnmeI/AAAAAAAAHEY/lFAso-skTnc/s1600/Shaws+Taven+Invite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-67BjjAHWkhQ/Ul69I7PnmeI/AAAAAAAAHEY/lFAso-skTnc/s640/Shaws+Taven+Invite.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have a confession to make--we're a few weeks behind on the blog, geographically speaking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In reality, we just got back to Washington, DC, and we're having our first ever photo exhibit, Faces & Places, showcasing a few of our favorite shots from the trip. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You're all invited to the opening reception on Thursday, October 17, at the upstairs gallery of <a href="http://www.shawstavern.com/">Shaw's Tavern</a> (520 Florida Avenue NW), an awesome neighborhood spot about three blocks from our house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since we left Panama, we made a quick stop off in Colorado to see Liz's folks (<a href="http://www.postindependent.com/news/grandjunction/7884075-113/zipse-patrick-couple-volunteering">and volunteer</a>!) before coming back to Washington to move back into <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4501">our house</a> and also continue volunteering. It's been an entertaining, if not always easy, transition to the non-traveling life. More on that later. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For now, we're going to continue updating the site with stories and photos from Panama City, the San Blas Islands, more Panama City and then back to the U.S.A via Colorado. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Planning is underway for what's going to happen after we finally get caught up, but keep reading and stay tuned. We promise it's going to be a fun ride. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And if you're in Washington, DC, anytime soon, look us up and/or drop by Shaw's Tavern and check out Faces & Places! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Washington, DC, USA38.907230899999988 -77.03646409999998938.709493899999991 -77.359187599999984 39.104967899999984 -76.7137406tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-47069575885621661282013-10-11T22:35:00.000-04:002013-10-12T22:35:00.221-04:00PHOTO FRIDAY: PANAMA CITY SKYLINE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zO6kPEyKyOg/UlgMfJBxPiI/AAAAAAAAHD0/VS9Y0r6G0Rk/s1600/Panama+City+Skyline+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zO6kPEyKyOg/UlgMfJBxPiI/AAAAAAAAHD0/VS9Y0r6G0Rk/s640/Panama+City+Skyline+(3).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Central America's modern capital, Panama City and its towering skyline offer a striking contrast to every other part of the country. One of most dramatic examples lies just across a shallow bay and along the cobblestone streets of Casco Viejo, the city's colonial heart and former city center whose construction began in the 17th century. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Though the old city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997, modern Panama and its vertical architecture are edging their way across the water, particularly with the help of a new ring highway built over open ocean and surrounding Casco Viejo, seen under construction above.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Liz and Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186821974409502855noreply@blogger.com0Panama8.9942689 -79.5187919999999628.7433499 -79.841515499999957 9.2451879 -79.196068499999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-47911127611134869702013-10-09T05:00:00.000-04:002013-10-09T05:00:01.877-04:00TOWN CLEAN UP IN PEDASI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUbbPybyV14/UlIhDMkRQyI/AAAAAAAAHBo/sbR3ZyaZxMY/s1600/Panama+Pedasi+Clean+Up+1+of+7+Liz+Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUbbPybyV14/UlIhDMkRQyI/AAAAAAAAHBo/sbR3ZyaZxMY/s640/Panama+Pedasi+Clean+Up+1+of+7+Liz+Kids.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of Liz's little helpers, who gave her a hand (and a smile) separating recyclables at the Pedasi town cleanup.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In case you missed our <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/10/pedasi-panama.html">last post</a>, we'll sum it up: we love this place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A quaint town of 2,500 of some of the friendliest people you'll meet in Panama, Pedasi is a place where city folks go to slow down and old folks go to die, slowly and happily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Quiet streets, gorgeous views, quality bakeries and restaurants, a short bike ride to wide, empty beaches--no wonder <i>U.S. News</i> recently named it one of the<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/On-Retirement/2012/06/26/retire-to-panamas-gold-coast"> top places </a>in the world to retire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Who knows. Maybe we'll be back in a few years...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLTLnoTq2fg/UlIhMM5-b5I/AAAAAAAAHBw/-per-iEDNII/s1600/Panama+Pedasi+Clean+Up+1+of+7+Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLTLnoTq2fg/UlIhMM5-b5I/AAAAAAAAHBw/-per-iEDNII/s640/Panama+Pedasi+Clean+Up+1+of+7+Liz.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">If you see trash, pick it up--that's what the mayor said.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbxR63xSieY/UlIhMIt6LFI/AAAAAAAAHB4/deKaiKMp4Rw/s1600/Panama+Pedasi+Clean+Up+1+of+7+Mayor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbxR63xSieY/UlIhMIt6LFI/AAAAAAAAHB4/deKaiKMp4Rw/s400/Panama+Pedasi+Clean+Up+1+of+7+Mayor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging with Pedasi's Mayor Ricardo Barrios</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While many of the people who live there take pride in keeping their community clean, a few holdovers and passers-through haven't gotten the message, as noted by the cans, bottles, food wrappers and other kinds of trash littering the ditches and empty pastures along the roads. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But, this being a great community with very active citizens, they were doing something about it. A local Spanish school, together with the mayor's office and the local Girl and Boy Scout troops, was holding a volunteer town clean up while we were there (we found out by googling "volunteer Pedasi," as outlined in our <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2013/03/tips-on-volunteering-while-traveling.html">Tips for Volunteering</a>). And of course, we were only too happy to join in and happily demonstrate our <a href="http://www.1of7.org/2012/11/rupees-to-rubbish-on-everest-trek.html">expertise</a> in the area of trash clean-up. Plus, we got to meet the mayor!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Perfect opportunity for a little 1 of 7. </span><br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnWwI883Egg/UlIhMHsjwiI/AAAAAAAAHB0/gkkyUcXd2b4/s640/Panama+Pedasi+Clean+Up+1+of+7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire Pedasi clean up crew.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnWwI883Egg/UlIhMHsjwiI/AAAAAAAAHB0/gkkyUcXd2b4/s1600/Panama+Pedasi+Clean+Up+1+of+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
</div>
Liz Zipsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08859762187710214749noreply@blogger.com3Pedasí, Panama7.526237 -80.0290529999999767.526237 -80.029052999999976 7.526237 -80.029052999999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3982867792578874238.post-48123460013351055502013-10-07T16:18:00.000-04:002017-08-01T12:32:11.893-04:00PEDASI, PANAMA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are certain places in the world that just feel right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Maybe it's a deserted beach, sometimes a tiny town, or maybe even someone's backyard. On our way down the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuero_Peninsula">Azuero Peninsula</a> to sleep in the jungle at <a href="http://1of7.blogspot.com/2013/10/photo-friday-sleeping-in-jungle.html" target="_blank">Eco Venao</a>, we passed through one such place. Unfortunately, we were on the last bus of the day and couldn't hop off to explore, but something about Pedasi made us want to return.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G5tWjP73Gg/UlHI9BS4wsI/AAAAAAAAHBE/Mf1BBOjI-9A/s1600/Kip+in+Pedasi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G5tWjP73Gg/UlHI9BS4wsI/AAAAAAAAHBE/Mf1BBOjI-9A/s640/Kip+in+Pedasi.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kip walks in front of one of the pretty painted buildings along Pedasi's main street.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And return we did, just a few days later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We somehow missed the giant billboard paying homage to <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/393400/Mireya-Moscoso">Mireya Moscoso</a>, Panama's first female President, who was in office from 1999-2004. She was also born in Pedasi, a fact that local residents mention often, and which explains why nearly every street bears her name.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAjw29chLwQ/UlHH9GA3UnI/AAAAAAAAHA8/CfX7VzH2ZnE/s1600/Mireya+Moscoso+Pedasi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAjw29chLwQ/UlHH9GA3UnI/AAAAAAAAHA8/CfX7VzH2ZnE/s640/Mireya+Moscoso+Pedasi.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mireya Moscoso still watches over her hometown of Pedasi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Politics aside, there are so many reasons to love this small town. We liked it so much, that we came for one night and stayed for a week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not only are the surrounding waters full of tuna, making this area a <a href="http://www.pedasisportfishing.com/Welcome.html">game fishing</a> mecca, you can also see whales breaching from the beach, or take a short boat ride to <a href="http://www.pedasi.com/content/?cid=20&cat1=151&cat2=119&cat3=0&level=2&id=119">Isla Iguana </a>to snorkel in the wildlife refuge or relax on the white sandy beach.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtohfbYjhOo/UlHMyma8D5I/AAAAAAAAHBY/FrvlRIKtK3M/s1600/Biking+on+the+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtohfbYjhOo/UlHMyma8D5I/AAAAAAAAHBY/FrvlRIKtK3M/s640/Biking+on+the+Beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kip bikes on a deserted beach in Pedasi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As if that wasn't enough, the beaches are pristine, and seem to go on forever. At least that's how Liz felt when we rode our bikes through the sand. What was supposed to be a 15-minute ride turned into 45. But another great thing about Pedasi is the friendly town folk. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This family was only too happy to throw our bikes on the roof, take us for a spin around town (which oddly enough involved a poker game with a seven year old) and drop us off at our hotel.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x1PcAbTalrs/UlHMRvrZFJI/AAAAAAAAHBQ/GLkc4zKwvsA/s1600/Frienlies+in+Pedasi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x1PcAbTalrs/UlHMRvrZFJI/AAAAAAAAHBQ/GLkc4zKwvsA/s640/Frienlies+in+Pedasi.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our heroes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They even took Kip surfing with them the next day, and kindly returned Liz's purse that she'd irresponsibly left in the car the day before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like we said. Beaches, whales, and strangers taking care of us. What's not to like?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Liz Zipsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08859762187710214749noreply@blogger.com2Pedasí, Panama7.526237 -80.0290529999999767.463271 -80.109733999999975 7.589203 -79.948371999999978