if it is Saturday and El Valle, we have a parade

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We are having breakfast at an outdoor area of a restaurant main street, El Valle, when low and behold, a saint is being honored and here comes a parade.  Musicians play horns and drummers beat drums,  children dressed as caballeros complete with hats, boots and toy guns, ride floats,

 and lots and lots of little caballeros ride stick ponies down the street with mom and dad close by.

 and bringing up the rear of the parade are two for real cowboys.  The skyline of El El Valle really is different.  This is main street.  This is Saturday.  This is El Valle.

 Below, This too is El Valle- a few tourists-   Left to right, Peder, with his two dogs, Jen and Raleigh and Stephen.  I have Deuce and we pretty much have made a parade of our own as we follow the parade route down the street.

 Unbeknown to us was the plan of the parade about to double back on itself and this time set off fireworks.  After all it is Saturday and it is El Valle.  Well the dogs and I are no fans of fire-crackers and bottle rockets.

 So we duck behind two buildings.  The parade marchers and attendants see us and this creates a stir.  photographs are made.  I reckon Deuce and I are in several hundred photos, but Peder and big ole Monty are in a couple of thousand photos.  Check out that little girl in the photo below.

 Then it was on the the center to see some of the exotic frogs that Edgardo and Heidi are working with.  Really amazing stuff they are doing and some remarkable frogs.

 Stephen, Peder and Heidi preparing batches of fruit fly breeding boxes for frog food.

then out to check on the jaguar

 equipment change

 a little story telling at lunch - again outside dinning-

 then back to the house where Jen documents that indeed Raleigh did take a nap.

 and I liked this frog.  I sorta identifywith him- he looks like I feel some days.

back in El Valle

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That mountain profile in the distance is quite famous and has been the subject of a prior blog.  It is The Sleeping Indian and Stephen and I hiked the entire profile a couple of years ago. (see February 2009 blog post for write up and photos) Yes, it is back in El Valle again.  Jen, Raleigh and I took a cab out here on Wednesday.  Stephen was off to Guatemala for an exotic work trip to Guatemala City and Edgardo and Heidi called to ask if we could come help get the frog lab expansion ready for a grand opening that was coming up on Friday. 

 Wednesday afternoon, showed that indeed work was needed and underway.

 Edgardo was putting together drainage systems and filter systems for the frog tanks

 and yours truly was being helpful.  Measuring, making and installing covers for the tanks, drains and plumbing systems and hanging lights and being somewhat useful was the order of the day.

 and the work site was properly set off from the tourists at the zoo.  Note to self - get some of that yellow tape.

 The skyline in El  Valle is just a wee bit different from Panama City.  Here is Jen and Raleigh our for an early AM check out of the day on the street in front of Heidi's and Edgardo's house.

and the big day came and at the zoo guest house

 Edgardo and others made speeches.

 while school children toured the zoo

 and then we went over to the frog center and cut ribbons and unveiled plaques and blessed things and such- note priest in foreground.

 and note clean plumbed covered frog tanks - ready for water and frogs.

 the press talked with Edgardo

 Elliot liked his Mom who now directs the center

 and Jen, Raleigh and I talked with some parrots who did the "hola" talk

 and some were really quite beautiful too.

that boy has a smile

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Check out that smile.  I am thinking he likes me.  Raleigh has started putting on the charm.  Not that he lacked much, but he has started a bit of cooing and those baby sounds along with some smiles.  Guess who likes 'em.  I have been doing some baby sitting lately — and enjoying it too.

 Check out those diapers.  Perhaps they are large enough?  For him and his cousin too.

But who does Raleigh really like the most ?  it is not even close.  

Patt is not the only one who trains at the gym

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I think because he likes to stay somewhat busy - Stephen works at the gym where he is part owner several evenings a week.  These two guys among others have shown up seeking training.  Stephen being somewhat obliging said "sure".  And at least one has turned out to be promising.  That would be Elton Brown, the larger guy to Stephen's left (your right) who actually is not very heavy - just big.   Photo here taken at the official weigh in for the "Ultimate Combat Challenge 10" Wyndham Veneto Hotel and Casino, Sabado 16 de Junio de 2012.

 Elton has worked with Stephen for a couple of weeks in the evenings. He is not a rookie and has fought and wrestled before.

 the two of them get along well- both work real hard.

 Here is big day, --Sabado, — TV and all — big crowd too.— It was broadcast pay-per-view. do not know if you happened to catch it or not.

 A mix of wrestling, boxing, and street fighting I guess best describes it

 talking a little strategy between rounds — like "don't let him hit you any more" and "hit him hard" — which Elton can do.

 the results of which are see here.  Those are not Elton's feet in the air.  Also we had pretty good seats huh ?

 and the announcement of the winner just in - note Elton's smile and Stephens reach.

and the TV interview.  Check your local listings.  more to come

Patt got home today

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After a short two day trip back to the old north state, Patt is back seeing Raleigh, the City, not the child.  Two days you ask?  thought Panama was relatively close ?  and you would be correct.  However, Houston was bad weathered in, so after a holding pattern that ran low on fuel,  it was off to San Antonio for some gas (to bad the Spurs ran out of gas too)and then it was back to Houston to spend the night - and where better if in the west to spend the night than an airport Best Western.  Patt reports being thrilled.  

getting on the third Houston to Raleigh flight the next day turned out to be the best option as the AM flights were delayed too,  (that Houston and summer weather).  So it was just a bit ago 8 PM I skyped with Patt just arrived back home and already missing young grandson here.  Patt did some serious playing with him.

 and taking care of him - including the ole diaper routine too

 but if you think it was all diapers and baby you missed part of the show.  In addition to Spanish lessons in Casco (they do not photograph well and as such are not documented) Patt did a little boxing at the Top Level Gym also in Casco.

 Patt seen here with coach / trainer Edwin with hands in protective position and fierce boxer like scowl-  actually I think she needs to work on that.

 and seen here delivering that famed left cross that known so well.

Restaurant Review # 22 The Bristol and Raleigh came too

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For the record this is actually over two visits. — and the numbering of my reviews is under review.  I may be off in my count — or may just now getting it correct.  Worry about that later if you wish.  I am not.

The Bristol is a very fancy hotel just down the street from Stephen and Jen's (it is where President Clinton stayed when he was here last year the same time I was in town- he stayed in the old section as this section was under construction).  So it is very very nice.  When Stephen and I walked into the lounge there was a TV production going on.  They game me permission to take photos so it was off to the races.  

We were there for the filming of  the Columbia English language TV food network food critic show who was traveling through Panama and meeting with one of Panama's most famous writers and chefs - Coquita Arias de Calvo.  She is the hotel Chef and has written a number of cook books.  and is according to the TV show famous.

 There was quite an array of food spread out, and filming and talking was going on.

 She grabbed be a book and posed for a photo with her latest book entitled ___ back to you on that.  Anyway I was filmed tasting some of the food and it was really REALLY good.  If you are in Bogota be sure to watch.  The crocodile was especially good.

 Stephen however thought I blew my credibility as fellow food critic, writer gourmet when I told them my last write up was about the Sobor de India.  He actually thought it was a  hoot  to talk about the Sabor in the Bristol — they are not quite the same genre.

 Any rate the view out the Bristol lounge window is right at Stephen and Jen's apartment- the tall white building in the right fore-gournd in front of the yellowish building.  Floor to ceiling windows are nice. and the furnishings and such are bordering on over the top.

 Nicer still was the satay — no chicken on a stick was this order-  any similarity with Thai Pepper ended with the name.   This was really nice and I know I said that but it sorta deserves it.  The sauces ranged from "third degree burn hot" -  to tangy - to sweet.  It was definitely a order to place again when back in the lounge again.

  Nothing wrong with a gin tonic either.

 And on a second visit, Patt and I were joined by Stephen, Jen and Raleigh.  We did indeed have the satay again as well as some seared tuna. whoa - that too was good.  Raleigh showed off so very well.

He slept.  

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Raleigh can and does sleep well — at least when we see him, here held by me, arms flopped out and totally relaxed asleep.  Jen reports that sometimes at night he does not sleep as well.  Oh well, but he does look so sweet sleeping- and has good daytime naps.

 He has a companion that enjoys a nap too,  

 and can sleep even while not being held.