First Night In Boquete

On my first evening in Boquete, I treated myself to one of the best restaurants in Panama. 

I met Christof, the chef, owner, et. al. last April when I spoke at the weekly expat meeting about health and aging.  He is interested in preparing healthy yet tasty meals, so he attended.  I am impressed that a French gourmet chef, an expert on food and nutrition, would take time to go listen to someone he doesn’t even know, on a topic in his area of expertise.  That says a lot about his dedication to his art.

This little restaurant was full with families and friends, vibrant with chatter and laughter.  He comes out, I should say, he runs out, of the kitchen and tells me he is slammed and it will take a while to get served.  His waiter failed to come to work today.  I say, “get me a cup of coffee and I’ll be happy.”  He says he doesn’t have time to make it, so I tell him it’s OK and I’ll wait.

Then, I see a friend who had asked me to speak at the weekly expat meeting last April.  He let’s me know that he is now married and his wife is pregnant so we go through a round of congratulations.  He invites me to speak again at the meeting, which I accept.  Being connected and having friends in a new country sure makes the move easier.

Meanwhile, Christof is being helped by his 8 and 11-year-old daughters.  He is running the entire restaurant with only them tonight…and he asks them to make coffee for me.  In the midst of all the chaos, he takes care of me with the assistance of these cute little girls.   

All of this moves me.  The warmth, laughter, and camaraderie in the middle of breakdown, seems so…well...personal and embracing. 

That’s what I love about Panama.  It has the ability to move me.  What a gift.

In order to round out the eclectic Panama experience, I must mention the water on the floor of my bathroom at my hostel. 

When I first see the room and the water, I do the American thing and get the maid to mop it up, which she is more than willing to do…even though she knows a leak is causing the puddle and the puddle will return quickly.  There is never a thought about FIXING the leak.  There is no such thing as maintenance in Panama.

In the USA, this would be completely unacceptable.  But in Panama, it is somehow not only tolerable but charming in a quirky way. 

To put things in perspective, I am paying $25 per night for the room with a private bath.  With a puddle thrown in for just to keep things interesting!

In the USA, everything works, all the time…or we raise such hell that it gets fixed.  I doubt that this demand for perfection ever crosses most of our minds, as if there could be any other way.

There seems to be something more human, more real, and more vital about being unable to predict exactly what will happen in the next moment.  I know this drive most people nuts, but I find it challenging and stimulating.  We’ll see how I feel after traipsing through water for 3 nights!

Oh, by the way, my trout in jalapeño sauce was magnificent!