Home sweet home Panama

We've been in the Buenaventura community now for 2 weeks and we are loving it. We are finding it an awesome place to spend the 'off season' and to call home for awhile. We initially thought -- based on our July trip through 'rainy' Central America -- that we'd have more of the same...rain, rain, rain.

Sunset at the marina basin

AMAZINGLY, however, we have discovered that there is a 'drier' wet season here at Buenaventura. Sure we get a few sprinkles every day and a once a week deluge of rain but other than that it is pretty beautiful. The sun is intense -- frequently at UV index of 11, and keeping temperatures in the upper 80s. Humidity is extremely high 60-80%.

An empty pool with a view of Panama Bay, stormy clouds in the distance

Thank goodness for the pools though! Every afternoon, around 3 when our air conditioner seems to not quite keep our cabin below 85 degrees we head to the pool. There are 2 large pools that are available to the Buenaventura community. We aren't sure how many people are living here right now but it seems pretty empty.

A southern lapwing mamma and baby

We've seen a few people playing golf early in the morning, a family going for a horseback ride and on the weekends a few more people in the pools. Since the gated community has a mix of residents in luxury homes and beach front condos as well as a hotel there are services that support full-time living as well as the hotel visitors. There are two nice small grocery stores, a handful of restaurants, sports center, golf club, dentist, salon, spa, rescue zoo and an equestrian center. And of course the Marina with charter fishing, jet skis, bike rentals and a small community of transient sailors.

Dan picking out veggies from the 'market' van

Every Tuesday and Saturday afternoons, there is a guy with a truck full of vegetables that shows up to the Marina and sells farm fresh goods including eggs collected from his own chickens. On Tuesday morning there is a shuttle van that takes us into the big Super99 grocery & Novey hardware store (like an ACE). We can rent a car for $28 for 24 hour period. Saturday is karaoke night at Dunas beach bar (as well as live music elsewhere on the property). Laundry is picked up and returned to the boat the next day for $15-$20. A 20 min walk and we can get a treat from the french bakery that serves chai tea lattes (with almond milk no less!) and fresh baguettes and croissants. Of course there is also nature every where we look. We saw a 6' crocodile eating a fish in one of the lagoons on the golf course and we frequently see 'new' birds from the southern hemisphere that I can add to my "life list" (app: merlin bird id).

DUNAS the exclusive beach front bar, hosting Karoke on Saturday nights

Last night, we gathered with our fellow live aboards in the marina for a "bring your own meat" BBQ at the head of the dock. We all brought one dish to share as well. After dinner we set up a movie screen and watched a movie together. This morning, Dan and a friend took the public bus to the nearest chandlery, about 30 minutes away for $1. He stocked up on fishing gear.

Life is good here. We have still much to explore and have started to plan out some inland adventures that we'll do in November & December. This weekend we head to Panama City -- then to Pacific Northwest. More on that next week.