Fruit Truck Comes to Town

Finally my hula hoop Madame Tutu and I had a playdate this morning. (Madame Tutu is the name she came with though we’ve been together almost a year now, I haven’t yet thought of anything different) All those days spent awkwardly hooping in my living room, or braving the cold out in the backyard, I would dream of doing it in sunnier climes, wide open spaces, overlooking the ocean....now I have it! Yay!! I’ve also found that bare skin sticky from the morning heat and salty air helps to keep the hoop slightly bonded to me better, so I had some good success with a couple tricks. I haven’t picked it up in many long months, it was a great feeling to dance with it again. With Jaime doing yoga on the waters edge and I with my hoop, it was another lovely start to our morning.





One of the reasons I took up hula hooping is how much I love watching it move, how photogenic it is, how mesmerizing the hoop is when the dancer dances with it. 


By 9am it was getting hot hot hot, and we headed next door to where our friends manage Rancho Estero, a small collection of private palm thatch roof cabanas. One of the nicer properties in town for sure, but a little out of our price range. Luckily they’re allowing us to use the outdoor kitchen since there isn’t one where we’re staying, only the restaurant. Though having someone else cook all your meals is nice, I’ve really missed cooking!

All of a sudden we hear shouts of “Naranja naranja! Pina pina! Papaya y Fruta!” The fruit truck is here! Phew! We were expecting it yesterday but it never came. I dropped what I was doing in the kitchen and bolted down the steps towards the beach just in time to meet the small little pickup truck loaded with fruits and veg. I took one look in the bed, turned to the young man and said “Quiero unos de cada, al menos!” I want one of each at least! Haha ohhhh fruit! I came away with oranges, pineapples, papayas, bananas, baggies of raw cane sugar, tomatoes, potatoes, a colourful assortment of food to last until next week when it rolls through town again.
Shortly after that we hear the water truck rumbling down the street filling tanks at various homes and hostels. It’s quite dry here, the dirt kicks up as dust and we’re reminded to conserve water throughout the dry season.

When the height of the afternoon heat started to wane, Jaime and I couldn’t wait a minute longer to get back out to the water. Still trying to be careful of my pale Canadian skin in the Panama sun, I’m reluctant to be out of shade from the hours of 11am to at least 3pm. He offered to let me take his board out and have a go at the waves, and I timidly agreed. Of course he decides to follow me with a camera, for my second ever go at surfing. Great, thanks Jaime! haha
Of course I had a blast out there, barely getting up on my knees but loving the rush of being propelled by the waves, laughing all the way! He was a great teacher, but he better be careful as there may be competition for the board now! haha

Checking out the surf as we head out...sizing up the other surfers, a wee bit timid to be out there with them!


Waxed up and ready as ever


"How do you use this thing again?" Just kidding

Our walk home late last night after dinner at the local Italian-owned pizzeria named Jammin was pretty entertaining when we bumped into a local dreadie named Chure meandering on his bike. He motioned us over, pointing out a little friend on his handlebars. A locust about six inches long, he hung out for 15 minutes or so just letting us observe him, while spending time talking with Chure in our limited Spanish. It’s so fun trying to communicate with gestures, pointing, nodding and laughing...my french is still coming out in dribbles, but I quickly am reminded that I’m not understood when all I get is half blank stares in return. Not 5 minutes later we stopped to have a laugh at three cats who live next door to our hostel, batting their paws at a land crab caught in the grates. Sticking their faces right next to it’s claws and jumping back in surprise when it would snap - ha! Jaime of course gets right in there, managing to clamp its claws shut and coax it out, tossing it to the cats to play with. Oh my god....belly laughs! Dogs roaming the darkened roads, fresh frog roadkill, crickets loud as ever, more shooting stars, catching beetles...the night offers plenty of life to observe.