Early on our trip we've found a gem on the ocean, due to Kathleen's recommendation. If you've dreamed of warm tropic breezes, beautiful beaches, lush gardens, wonderful service and a comfortable bed, this is the place for you.Although the Hawaiian beaches we know are gorgeous, this is easily as beautiful as any of them, minus the people and for a tenth the cost. Of course the one big drawback, or positive (depending on who's looking) is that there...

If you're into miracles, try the one unfolding in Puerto Lopez. In a fishing village far from the drugs and violence of the big cities, lie the drugs and violence of the small cities. Here you find the culture of 13 year old mothers and 12 year old dropouts. And poverty. Strangling poverty.An then comes an idea. Fredy, our teacher here at La Lengua language school, came to Puerto Lopez 10 years ago looking for a new life and instead gave life to an idea that...

And more. Some sell for up to a million. But when you consider a really good weaver can only make 4 or 5 hats a year, you can see why the softest, finest Panama hats can sell for so much.I came away with one tho--didn't quite pay that much, but it's a cutie. Bob tried one on just long enough for a picture then wouldn't buy it. Says he wouldn't wear it. But I think it makes him one cute Chicago boy, don't you?

We were out to lunch today and met the neatest people. Being the shy person that I am I offered my wife to them as their photographer. This immediately created a bond between all of us. They took pictures. We took pictures. We laughed. The one man that spoke English tried to explain why they were there and his wife immediately started jabbering excitedly to Karen.It's always exciting to meet people who are thrilled to meet you. That was the experience we had...

They'd all told us this was the most beautiful beach they'd ever seen. It's an unbelievable crescent shaped beach about a mile long that has not been darkened by shops or condos. Just simply beauty with no distractions of human structures. And no trash.This undisturbed white sand curve of natural beauty is anchored on each end by completely vertical cliffs and surrounded on 3 sides by an what for us is an extremely unique national park of dry forest....