November 22 to December 2, 2013, Panama

Here are some more of Wren and Laura’s recommendations for and photos from Panama.

2. Enjoy old friends and new while eating well.

Home-cooked gourmet meals by Jane and Tony, and while visiting Martine and Mark. Reconnected with pal Jon, the NY City Bagel Cafe entrepreneur and restaurant aficionado.
Gustatory delights at restaurants range from a $3 plato typico to a wine-pairing tasting menu.

Tasty tails purchased by Tony at the Panama City fish market.

Tony takes YouTube lessons on how to joint a rabbit, in order to repair a yummy rabbit stew for us.

Dining at Segunda Muelle (top rated Peruvian restaurant): Jane, Tony, Wren, Laura, and Jon.

Ceviche de pulpo at Segunda Muelle is the best.

Scallops gratin at Segunda Muelle are pretty dreamy too.

Jon and Laura in front of the psychedelic painting at Rausch, where we enjoyed the fancy tasting menu.

The beautiful starter plate at the fancy Rausch restaurant in Panama City.

Delicious pulpo (octopus) paté at the fancy Rausch restaurant in Panama City.

Old friend Jon at the beach cafe, anticipating the whole fried fish that he and Laura ordered.

New friend and Boquete resident Martine mugs with her plato tipico.

3. Light up native speakers’ faces by being the first to greet with a smile and “Buena”, “Buenas”, or “Buena, Buena, Buena”.

We never could figure out which if any of these were correct. But they all resulted in warm return greetings.

4. Bask, swim and beach comb on tropical beaches.

On the Tuesday, Wren and Laura took the short ferry ride from the Amador Causeway to the nearby island of Taboga for a day of hiking, exploring and enjoying the beach. On the Sunday, Jon and Laura spent a relaxing day at a beach on the Pacific coast — see picture of Jon above.

The beach at Taboga.

On the beach at Taboga: Can you spot Wren shading herself (the healthy alternative to sunning)?

This nice sand spit is completely underwater at high tide.