Da Beach!

When the going gets tough, the tough go to the beach.

Who knows what force of nature has kept us from the beach since Yella arrived in early February.  Insanity for sure.  There is nothing as relaxing as the beach.  When it's rainy in Boquete, it's sunny on the beach.

We had a little trouble getting out of Boquete Tuesday morning.  We were leaving after Spanish class at 10:30 but Tom, the resident genius, forgot to sign a check for Union Fenosa.  This was the check to GET THEM STARTED ON INSTALLING OUR ELECTRIC LINE. 

Just a minor detail.  We've only been waiting for this with abated breath for forever, or at least since February.

We were at the Union Fenosa office when it opened at 9 am to try to intercept the check before they sent it to the bank.  We weren't fast enough though.  They had already deposited the check at Banco Nacional down the street.

We ran down to the bank and asked a lady who speaks English if she could find the check so I could sign it.

This is where Panamanians shine.  She went into super helping mode and got the check.  I would challenge you to do this in the USA.  I signed it and we were on our way.  I would have kissed her but it would have freaked out the armed guard. (All banks and many other stores have armed guards--I don't know what they would do if confronted with trouble because they are just for show even though armed)

What a relief.  If we didn't get the check signed, it would have to wait until Friday, essentially losing another week.  We have already lost 5 months so more lost time would have rubbed salt in the wound.

The trip to Las Lajas Beach is about 2 hours, not bad, and a pleasant route to boot.  We arrived at the new Las Lajas Beach Resort at 12:30, just in time for lunch.

They are running a special for June so a room is $40 per night or $44 with tax, a great price for big new rooms with two queen size beds.

The place has an open air bar and restaurant on the beach side with a stiff sea breeze keeping it cool in the shade.  I love open air restaurants!

 

We had lunch.  Mine was a "Panamaina" fish dish which included rice and beans, salad and a generous portion of grilled fish.  It was great.  Price, $6.  Open air, the pounding surf and a cheap, delicious meal.

Now we're talking.

We did the beach thing...laying around, reading, napping...then time to eat again...

Perfect.

It started to rain in the late afternoon. Yella and I grabbed umbrellas and headed out for a walk on the beach in the rain.  Pretty cool.

This may be hard to believe but it was so cool it almost required a light jacket.  

Yella and I had dinner then played cards out in the open air restaurant until bedtime.  

We hit the sack with the window open, the surf lolling us to sleep.

Ah, the beach!