After making ten contacts and receiving two free gifts we decided we needed a break from the city and the yacht club world. (and we really wanted to wear something other than one outfit every day for a week) So we packed our day packs with our house and beds and headed to El Valle de Anton, the city in a volcanic crater.
El Valle is unlike most towns in Central America. It is more of a sprawl of a town where one is often confused on where the main area is. We were one of these confused visitors wandering around the streets for somewhere to set up camp. Turns out, we eventually ended up in what we can only describe as a Panamanian commune… I am not sure if everyone is aware, but R has a slight fear of communes (among various other irrational worries that will no doubt be discussed at some point)! She is afraid that we will drink the punch and never get out. It’s actually very similar to her Psych ward and Latin American jail fear.
Anyway we decided to set up tent out in the large green expanse and then tuck ourselves away for a minute so we could use the Internet and R could stop hyperventilating. So here we were, sitting in our tent in the middle of a commune in a volcanic crater planning to avoid more commune time by running to the grocery store, when we check our email and we read an email from our potential employer Jeremy! He asked to meet us in the city for a drink. We responded in the natural way, one of us of screaming (and it was actual screaming, loudly, in a tent, in a commune) and the other immediately closing out of the email and grabbing the purse to go collect groceries… After we collected ourselves and our groceries we tried to contact Jeremy to no avail (his phone hates ours apparently and email was not an working too well either).
But we still hold out hope that one day our electronics will get over their differences and make some magic happen. So the next day we decided to do as much El Valle as we could before we had to head back to the City for a possible drink. We hit up a steamy hike to look out point, went to the famous outdoor market choke full of amazing veggies and fruits, and swam in a waterfall in our pantaloons (since neither of us were organized enough to pack swim suits) before we headed back to the city (unfortunately we missed the apparently very nice hot springs largely because of our lack of proper swimwear; out at a waterfall after a hike is one thing, but pantaloons in public is awkward in Panama).
We were only in town for two nights, just a short weekend trip/vacation from our travels. On our first day we adopted a dog, who we named Negro, who then followed us about, slept outside our tent, accompanied us into all of the stores (much to the dislike of the locals), and hung around us in the commune up until the moment we got on our bus out of town. We also found a fancy Panamanian straw baseball cap for G-dad’s birthday back in June (a little belated at this point)! Juan, the friendly owner of our commune Casa Juan, told us we were welcome to come back and stay indefinitely, paying or not, anytime we wanted. He’s looking after Negro, so there is a slight chance we may consider stopping by some day… but it’s quite unlikely. Maybe if he hadn’t said that with the you two are such beautiful girls and you would make pretty babies statements too… It’s a chill place, though, full of artists and musicians and children and some super interesting conversation!
Also, sorry this is late. We are volunteering at a hostel in Panama City. Update to come this week!
H
G
R:
Rule #2: Don't Die. 
We finally found you two again!!!!!! You two have come into our thoughts and conversations since our meeting in April … But we couldn’t find you! Then … Tonight on a Saturday night I decided to clean a pile of papers that I had meant to go through 100 times … We found the little paper with the tiny white doggies which had your blog. Needless to say, George and I have been reading through everything… Trying to catch up on the last 6 months of your lives. So cool! I’m so glad to hear you both are doing well … And the traveling continues. Gotta live the dream!!!
You two were a huge addition to our trip to costa rica in April & we really enjoyed getting to know you both.
… G just passed out on the couch(tired), so gotta get him to bed. Until next time.. Keep writing!
-Chelsea
Chelsea & George, you two come up in our conversations so often you would not believe! (we giggled uncontrollably about those little white puppy papers, so cute!)
We would love to hear about your lives post Grad School, so expect an email soon(ish). When are you coming to visit the South again? We would love another Rotarian gathering, you two are the best!
Did you find that guys house? That is where you should have stayed!
No, his desciption of where it was located was very vague! I should have gotten his email in Bocas
The dog looks like my childhood dog “Gus”. He was a super dog and this one looks like he would be too……)Mom
He reminded us a little of Cocoa, which is why we adopted him in the first place. He was such a lover!