El Valle de Anton

Woke up very early this morning, excited about driving to El Valle de Anton. El Valle is a little over an hour from Gorgona, and is an uphill drive on winding roads and through a very hilly area. Many indigenous Panamanians and their homes could be seen along the way. El Valle is located in the crater of an extinct volcano and is surrounded by mountains and cloud forest. I tried to capture some of it while driving -like many YouTubers video their drives - but I’m certain the photos and videos did not come out showing the beauty of my surroundings as I was really focused on the narrow winding roads and the hairpin turns. At any rate, when I arrived to the town, I walked around it for a little bit, stopped at a cafe for a cappuccino and chocolate cake, went to the outdoor market that had fresh produce, plants, arts and crafts, Panamanian hats, and purses with mola decorations. I bought a hat, a purse, and the sweetest watermelon I ever tasted. Afterwards, I visited their zoo and saw tapirs, jaguars, very active monkeys, ocelots, and numerous birds. As a tidbit of information...
Panama is home to over 1,000 to 1,050 recorded bird species, a remarkable number for its size, representing roughly 10% of the world's total species. This high biodiversity is due to its location, which acts as a bridge for migratory birds between North and South America. I am planning to make a special excursion to go birdwatching, something I know NOTHING about, but nature just fascinates me. Many of you may have heard me talk about spending hours watching an eagle cam located in Big Bear Valley in California. They are amazing creatures and watching their natural instincts keep me glued to the TV.

As I was leaving El Valle, I saw a Catholic Church with its doors open as people were walking in. The priest and the altar boys were standing at the entrance and I asked the priest about the language of the service. He said it was Spanish but I told him I would like to sit in it for a bit. After a few minutes, the service started and as the priest and the altar boys AND girls (times, they are a’changing) were walking in, the priest walked over to me, touched my head, and said “May God keep you and bless you.” So twice today, I have been prayed over. The priest and a childhood friend who texted me today to say she had been thinking about me and asked God to watch over me. She did not even know I was in Panama.! I am so grateful for those prayers.

After I arrived back at my Airbnb, I sat outside by the pool and felt this wonderful breeze that lulled me to sleep. I woke up and walked about a mile down the beach before I decided to turn around and come back.

It’s been a very good day.Read more