Te pupuhi

31.3. Wow, we're both surprised! The Aloe Vera packs have worked and our sunburn is not even half as bad as the day before, wonderful! On the day of departure, we'll have a lunch at the diving school, where we still enjoy 10%. The boat taxi takes us to the mainland where we transfer to the bus. We'll be in Boquete at 17:00 and check into our really nice cottage at a bed and breakfast. At 'Il Punto' we order super delicious pasta and then go to the brewery for a drink. On the way, we book a coffee tasting for tomorrow at 9:00 to get to know the varieties grown here. The Geisha coffee is said to be one of the best coffees in the world. The soundcheck of the live band at the brewery is appealing, but we won't miss anything if we go to bed a bit earlier tonight...

1.4. We're on time at the café at nine and are led to a tasting room. Everything there seems to be very new and the people who work there also participate in the tasting. They're not used to explaining things about coffee to people, even though they have a lot of expertise. So the tour is actually not professional and worth the price. But since it's just the two of us, we can ask everything we want to know for one and a half hours and have a good and informative time. As for coffee, we prefer the European style and blends, but we understand why the expensive varieties (30 dollars per 500g) are something special for enthusiasts: They have more complex flavors and can be tasted more like a wine. However, the flavors are not as enjoyable in our palate as wine and we don't need to explore this world in more detail. We feel similarly about whiskey.

Today we're going to visit the Jungle Wildlife Refuge. The taxi is found in no time and takes us there. The entrance fee of an incredible 25 dollars is quite excessive, but the money goes to the animals. Of course, the aviaries and cages are far from the standards of European zoos, but most animals are allowed to roam freely or are let out once a day. We cuddle with dozens of cats, feed goats and parrots, and make friends with the spider monkeys. We also visit the blind pony and a species of bear (coati). The coati is let out and sits on our lap. But by far the most beautiful experience is with a female spider monkey, who holds you with her tail and seeks physical closeness. So the two of us stand at the fence, holding the monkey. Just like that, without asking for food, with closed eyes and relaxed, he holds us in his arms and we hold him. He doesn't want to let us go anymore and holds on tightly when we try to untangle his tail from our legs. A very intimate experience. We get a ride back to town with a British guy and a Polish woman and go to 'Ngädri' for dinner in the evening. A gourmet restaurant with moderate prices that allows us to experience the modern, seasonal, and regional cuisine of Panama. An absolute highlight! The menu is so tempting and extensive that we decide to eat there two more times to taste a large part of the dishes. We won't regret it!

2.4. Las Cascadas secretos is actually the only hike near Boquete that interests us. We want to hike to the trailhead, but after about a fifth of the way we realize that it's quite far. Wait one minute for a taxi, pay 8 dollars, and twenty minutes later we're at the trail. After the first ascent, we finally reach the expected checkpoint where we have to pay 10 dollars to see the waterfalls. The trail is in good condition and we meet quite a few tourists who have the same plan. It's definitely worth taking this two-hour round trip, the waterfalls are small but nice. A chicken bus takes us back to Boquete where we look for souvenirs and buy sunscreen. At 'Ngädri' today, there are 5 appetizers that blow us away. The chef and the waiter are happy about our compliments. An evening series on 'the worst roommates' sweetens our evening.

3.4. Another day to rest, read, get information, and enjoy a good meal. We find a beautifully painted wooden bowl that we bring home as a souvenir. 'Ngädri' has a food truck with great meat (US-style) this weekend, a culinary journey back to the Arizona desert in Page where we were in October.