A Story...
I've Moved...
Seth and I have moved to Mexico and to a new blog. Please, continue to follow as we experience our new home in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
So It Just Wasn’t For Us…
We are off to our new adventure of Playa del Carmen, Mexico in four days. Needless to say, we are extremely excited about this new destination. Its not that Panama is a bad place, it just isn’t what we are looking for in our dream location. Mainly, we have a hard time adjusting to the lack of dreams or goals of the Panamanians. They just seem ok with the status quo which of course as Americans, we just don’t get. If I were to give a list, I would say the lack of flavor in the food, the trash everywhere and I do mean everywhere, the lack of tourist attractions, the horrible roads, the crazy driving, and the insanely, chaotic city. But its not all bad. We cannot even compare the wonderful medical care we received here versus the United States. Quite honestly, if I had to choose between having a baby in Panama or the US, Panama wins hands down. The people in general are willing to help you, and we have had more than a few Panamanians go out of their way to lend a hand. The ability to get Gringo food is very easy or at least for us, but maybe we’re not high maintenance in the food category. Overall, its not a bad place. It just isn’t our place. So as they say, “If you don’t like it, then leave.” Off to Mexico it is! Can’t wait to see what this new place has to offer!
Whiskey Pineapple Cake…
Wwwweeellll….I wouldn’t really call this a whiskey cake, but since I put a tiny bit of the magic potion in it, I figured I had to add it to the title. Honestly though, you could completely omit the whiskey, and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference on the flavor. Its really the moistness of the pineapples and the buttery frosting that make this cake. Of course, you could always add more whiskey or rum if you really wanted to bring out the flavor of the alcohol and skip that hole pineapple/butter flavor thing.
Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1 oz. whiskey
4 eggs
1 c. milk
1/2 c. oil
1 14 oz. can crushed pineapple
Frosting
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1 cup water
2 tsp. whiskey
1 cup sugar
1 c. chopped walnuts
Mix cake ingredients together in bowl. Grease and flour bundt cake or large round pan. Pour cake mixture into pan and bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Right before cake comes out of the oven, combine all frosting ingredients except nuts in pan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Make sure the sugar completely dissolves and isn’t grainy. Let the cake cool for about 5 minutes and then turn onto plate so it is top up. Use a knife and poke large holes into the cake. Don’t be nice, but don’t tear it up either. Slowly use large spoon to pour frosting over cake, making sure to get into all the holes. I used the spoon to scrape up some of the frosting that slid to the bottom and poured it back onto the sides. Press the walnuts into frosting so they stick. Enjoy!
Taelyn’s Baptism…
I was so excited to have my baby girl get baptized in the Catholic Church. I have such fond memories of looking at my own baptism gown and candles when I was growing up and asking my parents questions about what all this stuff means. So, you can imagine how overjoyed I was to not only be able to get her baptized while my parents and mother-in-law were visiting, but to get her baptized in Panama, her home country. It was such a great experience, and I was overwhelmed by the generosity of Father Oscar, in helping us to coordinate the event at such a short notice. The simplicity of the church, the parishioners, the service, and the event put everything in perspective. Its not about flashiness and showing your status in the community. Its about having a faith, a belief in something pure and celebrating that faith in its most simple form.
Lenos and Carbon…
Seth and I have watched time and again as Panamanians stand in line for over 20 minutes to order from Lenos and Carbon at Albrook Mall. As we are waiting for our own pizza or Taco Bell to come, we watch as these massive platters of beef and potatoes come whizzing by us to the many salivating waiting customers at the various tables. Every time, we say, “What I wouldn’t do for a good steak right now!” However, time and again, we keep choosing our old standbys and never give them a go. So when my parents were visiting, we decided to take them there, but we went to the one located off the Causeway. This is completely different than the mall experience. Clearly, this is the Lenos and Carbon where the wealthy Panamanians go to eat and be seen. It was very beautiful in the outside restaurant bordering the water and sailboats. However, I hate to say it, but maybe we built it up too much. Maybe we were craving good ‘ol Texas style grilled meat. Maybe we’re stuck in our ways. Who knows. But it just wasn’t what we were wanting or hoping it would be. There was no seasoning on the meat. None. And it was cooked medium which seems to be the Panamanian way here. In the flip side, my parents thoroughly enjoyed their fish, and I did like their version of tomato soup. But maybe we’re just going to have to stick with Texas style steak when what we really want is a Texas style steak! Ahhh…
Panama Canal…
Would you believe that we’ve been here almost eight months, and I haven’t done one single blog on the Panama Canal? Craziness, I know! Well when all the grandparents were visiting for the new baby, we of course, had to make it to the Canal Museum and watch all the big boats go through. It is pretty cool to watch all those large ships go through such a tight spot while being guided by small locomotive cars. If ever in Panama, you need to put this on your list of must do’s. However, I don’t recommend going on one of the guided tours where you go through the locks. From what I hear, its a 5-8 hour boat ride, with no shade, and it gets a little dull after awhile. You will see everything you need to see from the museum and driving down the canal drive.
Pan American Metal Garden…
We drive by this amazing spectacle of metal statues every time we drive back from Panama on the Pan American Highway. After saying over and over we were going to stop and look at this metal garden, we finally made the trip. And it was totally worth it! Zooming by in the car, doesn’t give you even an ounce of opportunity to appreciate the time, effort, and imagination it takes to make these metal masterpieces. They have hundreds of both wood and metal statues from gigantic to miniature that are bound to appeal to everyone’s particular interest. The owner matched his artwork with a very energetic and outgoing personality that was very easy to like. Of course, we had to pick up a piece of this one of a kind art which has a great story behind the object!
Cholos Comida Mexicana…
“Bienvenidos Cholos” is rung out the moment you enter the doors of this small little eclectic restaurant on the side of the Pan American Highway. We absolutely love this place! The food is good. The atmosphere is fun and quirky. But most of all, its the owners, Owen and Mariela, who make you feel like family from the first time you walk through the doors. Its become a place to see people in Coronado and grab some great food at the same time. Owen being a surfer, of course chose to decorate the place in his favorite theme. While funky surfer music fills the restaurant, you can’t help but be engrossed in the surfer memorabilia surrounding you on the walls, the ceiling, and even in the bathroom. Owen makes a point of going around and catching up with every single person there, and you’ll often find him sitting at a table chatting with the locals in between serving food and drinks. I’ve been experimenting and trying to get something different when I go. At this point its a toss up between the chicken chimichangas and the chicken burritos. One thing is for sure, their version of the sopapilla is dead on with crispy cinnamon triangles topped with ice cream and a dulce sauce! YUM!
The Grandparents Visit…
My parents don’t really get out much…well, out of the country that it is. What better excuse to come to Panama than to visit the granddaughter? My mom loves the ocean and all things pertaining to the beach so she’s absolutely loving that we live right by the water. Vacation, sun, beach, and new baby; all the makings for a great vacation! We walk the beach almost every night, and they can’t believe how soft the sand feels compared to other beaches they have visit. But most of all they are fascinated by the black sand that sparkles like millions of little diamonds all around!
California Burger…
Yes, I did say California Burger…in Panama. It’s this tiny little hamburger joint between Chame and Coronado that we like to hop into occasionally. The menu is simple: California Burger, Caribbean Burger, Veggie Burger, or Chicken Sandwich. I have to say it is nice to have a grilled hamburger when you’re craving something Statewide, but one of the best things about coming here is the service. The waitress who works it seems everyday, is just the most lively, spunky personality I’ve come across in Panama. She talks to everyone who comes in with the same upbeat, happy conversation that you instantly feel like you’ve known her forever. And the best part of California Burger? While you’re getting your burger on, you can get a car wash too. Gotta love Panama!
Humanity is Not Lost…
Last Friday Seth and I had quite an adventure to the city, and I have to say it may have restored our faith in humanity! We had drive into Panama for our doctor’s visit for the first time. Right when we got to the chaotic streets of Panama, our car decided that it didn’t want to run anymore. My doctor being the great woman that she is, said she would wait for us until we got it up and running again. After an hour of going back and forth to get a new battery, tools, and waiting in long lines, we were back on the road…right in the middle of rush hour on a Friday in Panama. Yuck! Finally, we got to the hospital two and half hours late for our appointment. Saw the doc, and then headed back to Coronado in the dark. No, I wasn’t worried. Not at all.
What do you know?!? About 10 miles outside the city our car decided that the battery wasn’t good enough and the alternator was going to finally take control of the beast. Our car officially died…in the middle of No Where, Panama…in the dark. As luck would have it, I ran out of minutes on my phone so I couldn’t call for help. After debating what to do for about five minutes, we decided to suck it up and start walking back to the city because we knew there was nothing between where we were and Coronado.
What do you know?!? Two military guys stop on the road and with our broken Spanish, we are able to communicate our situation. They decide to take us to a bus stop to go back into the city. The bus stop, of course, being a few miles off the highway and in the middle of Really No Where, Panama. At this point its about 10 PM, the Gringo in me is getting very nervous. No buses. No taxis. No phone. Just us..where we clearly don’t belong in the backroads of Panama.
What do you know?!? After about twenty minutes, two police officers stop. In Panama, this could be a good thing or a bad thing. We go through the same broken Spanish communication. They decide to take us to Really, Really No Where, Panama for an English translator. After some discussion with the English speaking Panamanian, he tells the police to help us get our car off the highway, bring it back to the police station, and then give us a ride back home.
And what do you know?!? One of the police officers is a taxi driver on the side! Go figure. He takes the battery from his car, drives Seth back to our car in the police vehicle, switches out batteries, and drives it back to the station for safe keeping! This whole time, I’m praying that everything will work out, and we will not become yet another tourist story for the internet. I tell Seth that they must be ok because they are helping us with our car. He of course replies, “They are just taking the evidence off the highway.” Funny Guy! Not so “ha ha.” After all that, the police officer/taxi driver goes off shift, and drives us an hour back home to Coronado!
So many unfortunate events occurred all in one night. So many very bad things could have happened to us. But this just shows for every bad story you hear about the police in Panama, there are probably two or three really great stories of their kindness. Reflecting, I think of the doctor that waited for us hours after our appointment on a Friday, the military men who drove us to the bus stop, the police officers who helped two stranded Gringos, the translator who made sure us and our car were safe, the police officers who went out of their way to secure our car, and the police officer/taxi driver who drove completely out of his way to get us home safely at 11 pm…Just goes to show there are still plenty of good people in this crazy world of ours and keep the faith in humanity!
El Machetazo!…
The El Machetazo opened up in Coronado last week! This is the same chain that Seth and I shopped when we lived in Casco Viejo so we already knew what to expect. However, this one absolutely blows the one in the city away! They have completely “Gringo’d” this grocery store to accommodate all the US and Canadian’s living in the area. Its three stories high with escalators that take your grocery baskets up and down on a special rail so that you can shop all three floors. They have sections for Christmas, hardware, toys, outdoor furniture, arts and crafts, shoes, clothing, electronics, appliances, home goods, cleaning supplies, food, etc. Although, some of the sections like the produce are smaller than US grocery stores, they have the basics of what you need and its extremely clean. What I find most interesting is that all grocery stores will have 8-24+ feet of shelving dedicated to just different types of soy sauce. This is because there is a very large Chinese community here from when they came to Panama to help build the Panama Canal and ended up staying. Overall, you can find most of the basic foods that you would use in a US kitchen. However, some items you have decide how bad you want because the prices will be exorbitant. One can of French Onion Strings to make green bean casserole will put you back $9.00! Whereas, a bag of Doritos will only be about $3.50 which is pretty comparable to US prices.
Cuban Picadillo…
When my parents and I traveled to Miami a few years ago, we had the most amazing Cuban beef hash dish at this local restaurant. I had totally forgotten about it over the years, but alas! Food Network reminded me of this fantastic and simple meal. I absolutely loved it…Seth not so much. He couldn’t get past the green olives. Oh Well! His loss…I sent some up to some friends on the 20th floor, and they loved it!
- 2 cups onion, diced
- 2 cups green pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large can tomatoes, drained and chopped or torn apart
- 1 small can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon cumin, ground
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 cup green olives, chopped
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper (to taste)
Sauté onion and green pepper in olive oil in a large frying pan. Sauté about 5 minutes, until the onion is softened, then add the garlic and ground beef.
Mash the onion and green pepper into the sautéing meat and cook until the meat is browned, about 5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, cinnamon, and oregano. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Add olives and raisins and simmer 5 minutes longer. Salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot over white rice
