January 5, 2016

After much discussion and going back and forth with the decision, we opted to rent a car instead of bussing around Panama.  Michel is our designated driver and it's been great going so far. The roads here are good and our Hyundai Alantra is comfortable.







We were at least two hours getting out of Panama City after heading out the wrong way, but once we got on the road it was a couple of hours and we were in El Valle de Anton. El Valle is a beautiful little town high in the mountains (1900+ ft. above sea level) on the floor of the largest inhabited volcano crater in the world. 







We lucked into two cabins at Cabana Potosi, where we hung our hats for a couple of nights and enjoyed the pristine yards and gardens.  Our hosts Dennis and Miryaja were awesome and we visited with them and shared stories. 





















Here is Conet, their pet parrot. He has been with the family for over 40 years and is very much a part of their family.

There are a lot of things to do in El Valle and there are quite a few Americans and Canadians who have made this their home (or home away from home). There are two or three different waterfall sites, but we only took in the one. La Mozas Cascadas is about a half hour walk to see the rapids. They were nice and the walk was good, but we didn't bother to go see the other two, after all we've all seen waterfalls.... and much bigger then these.  But it was a good way to spend an hour or so....

There is an Orchid Garden, a Butterfly Garden and a Hot Springs Mud Bath as tourist attractions as well, but we were told they were not much to see - they were just that 'tourist attractions'.

That's it for today - thanks for reading!