Boquete Panama
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I was chatting with a friend Phyllis from Boquete Panama in Chiriqui. The favorite ex-pat spot in the Panama Highlands. Phyllis and Kent her husband share my love for this area of Panama and we both have small farms (fincas) here. Phyllis was telling me the things she loves about living in Boqueteso I took notes.
Top Ten Things to Love about Living in Boquete Panama
10. Beautiful Volcan Baru (Baru Volcano) A stunning visual but mysterious too. When the clouds hang half the way to the top it like they were tired and couldn’t make it to the top. Many people say they could just sit back and look at Baru all day. It’s still labeled an active volcano, but that’s because it erupted within the past 1,000 years. It’s not due to blow again for maybe another 200 to 300 years, or maybe not at all. That adds to mystery of Volcan Baru!
9. The Orchids growing on the trees. When I lived ‘up north’ I always assumed they grew in greenhouses and were the exclusive domain of bridal bouquets and prom corsags. Now I can step out my door any day and relish in the beautiful orchids hanging on the trees in my yard.
8. Nobe Bugle Indian children looking so serious until they feel they know you. Their dark eyes peaking out from under long locks of black hair. It’s fun to try to make them laugh. “Hola” doesn’t get a reaction, typically, but making a funny face like crossing the eyes or weird contortions of the mouth often gets a smile.
7. Everyone says this is getting old and a little cliche but there’s nothing like a bold and beautiful Rainbow. One never tires of seeing them and sometimes actually often we get two! This is one place where you usually even have time to get your camera before they disappear.
6. Bajareque or the lite rain that Boquete is famous for. It’s not the torrential downpour you may think of when you thin of rain ion the tropics. You know the ones where you feel an urgent phone call to Noah might be appropirate. No this is the lighter side of rain. A lovely mist that keeps the area fresh and green all year round.
5. The relaxed Boquete pace. In Boquete there’s no sense or need to get irritated because there are two cars parked in the middle of the road. Even though the drivers are oblivious to other traffic. Those Boqueteños are so friendly (and love to gossip!) that just have to stop and chat with their neighbor even if it is in the middle of the road!
4. More bird species than the total found in all of the lands north of Panama. The largest and the smallest Hummingbirds on the planet and evry size inbetween; the evasive quetzal with their magnificent tails; green parrots flying in huge flocks; and the little blue, red, yellow and green birds of every shape that are love ripe bananas people leave out for them. In the book ‘Birds of Panama‘, they have them all listed but I never want to go inside to get fetch it for fear they´ll fly away while and I’ll miss the parade even though I know they will repaeta it for me tomorrow!
3. The Annual parades and school bands. Beautiful girls in tipico dresses, boys in campesinos costumes. Drums, drums and more drums! Itseems like it’s the the same show each year but we never tire of it.
2. The Panamanians Smiles even when you butcher the Spanish language they simply smile or they say don´t understand what you’re saying and then start talking in English. Sometimes they just smile and say “si” when we both know they have no idea what I’m saying! Still they keep trying to make sense out of it.
And the #1 reason why I love to live in Boquete Panama -
The people - Beautiful to look at, warm and frindly, and beautiful to be with. Can it get any better than that?