Pedasi

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Yesterday, we took our lives in our hands and drove from Panama City to Pedasi, a fishing village of about 2000 people on the south (Pacific) coast. We were able to rent from National at the domestic airport near the canal, so didn't have to drive through the city -- a good point for anyone doing this. We also drove across the Centennial Bridge, not the Bridge of the Americas -- much less traffic. Although Panamanian drivers can be aggressive, they are generally good-natured and better drivers than the amateur NASCAR drivers we encounter in East Tennessee. Driving anywhere in Panama displays the enormous economic boom taking place -- building everywhere! As we moved along the coast, we saw billboard after billboard inviting us to buy land, homes or condos in fancy developments. If all these are successful, in 20 years, this section of Panama is going to look like Myrtle Beach. Yuck.

We first drove west on the Pan-American Highway, which was in OK shape, though the government should be spending some money on the road to tempt the arriving gringos to drive to the growing coastal communities. (I had to check: the Pan-American Highway goes from the tip of Argentina to Prudhoe Bay, AK, and is mostly I-5 in the US.) Turning south, we drove toward Pedasi on smaller roads that eventually were the size of Route 360 near home. I quickly learned to like this town, as the developers here are having a hard time selling homes and condos to foreigners. There's nothing to do! Except fishing, biking, enjoying nature ... Gee, what a pity.

We are staying in a B&B called Casita Margarita, which is simple, cool, clean and friendly. Today, which I THINK is Thursday, Tom went out fishing and returned with over 100 pounds of fish, much to the delight of the guide and staff. They brought home amberjack, red snapper (local name is pargo), and albacore tuna, and threw back bonito and mackerel. We bought veggies and tomorrow the cook here will make a feast for guests and staff. The guide took home at least half the fish, including the amberjack head, which he will use to make "sopa". Anything he can't use goes to his neighbors, so everyone is happy. It's a good reason why tourists are popular, especially those who can't take their catches with them! We had albacore sashimi for lunch, and Tom tried to talk the ladies in the kitchen into trying it. "Ewww! Cruda!" Not a chance.

While Tom was fishing, I walked around the town and discovered the public library. It's a little smaller than Tellico Plains' but does have three computers for Internet access. I also listened to several US couples who had come to town looking for vacation ex-pat homes. Yep -- they all said they needed tennis courts and shopping malls. Nothing to do here.

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Photos

Pangas on the Beach
On the Pacific at the End of the Day

Tom's Amberjack
Captain Marcelino said it was probably about 50 pounds.

Two on One Hook
First time the captain had seen this: two albacore on one hook.

Casita Margarita
Our B&B in Pedasi, Panama

Public Library
Couldn't miss this,. It had everything, including Internet!

Comments

[Maggie]

Do they allow d-o-g-s?
Looks like paradise to me....rest and relaxation! Maggie and Chopstix have their bags packed, they are ready to board their flight and expect to have ceviche waiting for them....ok, maybe some pollo asada.

[Tellico]

Dogs
The dogs we saw in Saigon had collars and were pretty well fed. Nice to see.