Why Panama?? We have been asked that a lot, but the real answer, besides the actual real answer, is why not?? Ocean, Mountains, Coffee, and Chocolate – need I say more?
Truthfully, the real answer is that Nick has had his eye on Panama for a while – specifically, a dirt bike tour set up by Graham Jarvis, a famous (to some;) dirt biker. I know this will be a shock to all of you, but I, personally, am not in the dirt biker celebrity know;) BUT I’m always up for a trip anywhere – which is evident because we have been to Wyoming WAY too many times. I guess I’m starting to set the bar a little higher these days;)
We decided to fly in February and worked around some days off from school. We were going to wait and head out around spring break, but I have a hard time paying triple for a trip like this – the kids are still young enough and are doing well in school, so we weren’t feeling too bad about it. We have been making the kids keep a journal as homework. They have to write at least 2 sentences a day, and let me tell you that those 2 sentences a day are yet another reminder that teachers need to be paid more. Phew!! You’d think I was asking them to jump into a pool of broccoli and eat their way out;)
The plan was set – we would all fly together from Edmonton, stop in Houston for 3 nights, and then head to Panama City. We will be away from home for 15 days, and then we plan on jumping right back into life. It wasn’t long after we booked the tickets, and our life flip-flopped, as it usually does. Nick had to fly to Cleveland, Ohio, for a course, and it happened that he would be flying home on the same day we were to arrive in Houston. To make it easier (I’m not sure on who;), we decided that the kids and I would meet him in Houston, so we arranged flights that landed within an hour of each other, and honestly, it worked out really well.
I believe in being transparent and vulnerable – I don’t ever want someone to think we have it all figured out or that our kids are perfect and that nothing challenging comes our way. Although, I do want to brag that we’ve made it almost to the end of our trip, and not one of us has sh*t ourselves;). A few close calls, of course, but that doesn’t count!! So, this is a great time to remind you that our kids aren’t perfect; there, I said it!!! Again, I’m hitting you with shocking information, I know;). Now that I’ve disclosed that, I can move on to tell you that they are, however, amazing travelers!! We always have ‘family huddles’ before we do anything new or challenging, discussing what will happen, our expectations, and how we should all behave. Now that Nick was gone, I had to take on the responsibility of making sure no one got hungry because, well, Hangry is real and can take things sideways in an instant (usually to me;). We arrived at the airport with excitement, great attitudes, and a bag full of snacks;).
Side Note – I feel one of the best gifts we can give our kids is the ability to laugh at themselves and let them know that when things happen, many people have likely had the same experiences. Let’s face it, those embarrassing childhood memories seem to find their way into the forefront of our dreams at 4 am on a random Tuesday. It’s normal, right? If we can give our kids the room to realize that they don’t have to take themselves so seriously, maybe they won’t have to worry about that awkward thing they said to Sally in grade 3 when they’re in their 40s.
We had an early morning flight, and getting to the airport was one of the more stressful details. Weird, right!! Like, just call an Uber or a taxi like every other damn person;). I’ve had some pretty interesting Ubers, Lyfts, and Taxis in my day – honestly, probably enough for an entire blog post;). I was also prewarned by a few neighbors that these services can be unreliable that early in the morning especially to the airport. So, Nick spent some time calling and found us an airport transport company where you could book your ride ahead of time. They also provided a ‘Rudolph’ (a Yukon XL) with the nicest driver. We knew that the driver’s name was Willy, and no one was more excited than, you know, Lily. She was also bringing her stuffy named Millie, which led to her losing her mind and, of course, writing and performing an original song about the 3 of them. By the end of the drive, Willy couldn’t believe how many facts the kids knew about Rudolph and, really, how much they talked in general – maybe a little too much for 5 am;).
The flights went smoothly; as I’ve mentioned before, depriving your kids can really pay off. Let me be clear, they are fed, clothed, and watered – the deprivation comes by way of screen time. They don’t get a lot of it, and it shows, in the best possible way, while on an airplane. So, Mom, we can just watch whatever we want, like, the entire flight? I know I’m fighting a battle I will eventually lose, but for now, they can deal with the feeling of boredom on a regular day;).
We flew into Texas and met up with Nick, and it felt like home!! Isn’t it crazy that a place can transform into a feeling? This was Jake’s moment to lose his mind – Jake LOVES Teslas, like, LOVES them!! He and Nick took a few out for a test drive while we were living there, and he hasn’t stopped talking about them. The rental company upgraded us for $20, and we could drive around in a Model Y – the highlight of Jake’s trip – Supercharging it!!! Blew his cutie mind!!
We had stopped at a store, parked the Tesla and while we were inside, an empty parked SUV started rolling back toward the Tesla, our Tesla – the one we didn’t get the super duper insurance on….we hadn’t noticed until a lady ran into the store asking who’s car it was. Nick was on it – he had his phone out so fast and started videoing as the guys who owned the SUV tried to jump in and run. It hit the Tesla, pretty hard and we held our breath!! It was absolutely crazy, the Tesla only had a small scratch. Those Teslas are tough as!! What a wild moment – It certainly got our hearts pumping!!!
In addition to Nick driving like every red light was a drag race, we could catch our favourite BBQ place, see our turtle friends, get ice cream…every day, and reminisce as a family over some really great times!! We stopped in at the office and caught up with old friends. It was nice to break up the trip.
Panama City, here we come!! Another early morning, but when you’re excited and your bags are packed, it is not a hardship to get up and get going. We had a direct flight from Houston to Panama City – total travel time was around 4 hours – Not enough in the kid’s opinion;). We were now traveling as a family of 4, so it was easy!! The bathroom situation was the stressful consideration I hadn’t anticipated when traveling alone with the kids. To me, it’s easy, let’s all go to the Women’s, but Jake’s at an age now where that’s just not cool with him, and I’m uncomfortable letting him go alone in a super busy airport. We did our best to find family bathrooms and workarounds, but guess what else you must do?? Haul all your crap everywhere and lose your seats;). So, we welcomed Nick back with open arms!!!
I was determined to pack light – I tried my best to remember the trauma that we endured by overpacking when we went to Australia. Nick and I were hauling all our carry-on junk, and eventually Jake and Lil’s, like miserable mules with the kids in slow tow. I channelled and focused on how hot and uncomfortable I was. This, in turn, kept me in check when packing. Kids each have a small backpack they HAVE to carry. So far, they have been successful. I urged them to keep it light, and they listened like they really listened. We only checked one bag between the 3 of us, and reflecting back, as our trip is ending, I could have cut a few more items…..next time!! My big win of the trip?? A recommendation by my friend, Jesse, Jack 59 shampoo and conditioner bars!!! Just do it!!
Panama City is HOT, just an FYI;). You can check the weather and see the number, but it’s easy to forget until that wall of heat hits you. This is Nick’s best temperature, which makes him the happiest. He thrives and loves it so much. On the other hand, Lily wants to stay, but only if the weather cools down!!!
Do you want to know about my traveling itinerary hack?? Chat GPT!!! Hey, chat GPT, can you please plan a 10-day vacation in Panama fit for a family with twin 7-year-old’s. We want to drive around, and we want it to be fun for everyone – 1 second later, I have allllllllll the itineraries!! I, of course, used it as a base and suggestions and then modified it from there. It was great, and I will absolutely do it again!!!
Things we have learned about Panama – Take the good with the not-perfect – which is what traveling is all about;).
- Panama is such an interesting combination of affluence ( due to the canal’s success and tax breaks) mixed with 3rd world status – which is most evident outside the big city of PC. It is an emerging market with a growing middle class, you know, according to this thing called the World Wide Web;).
- Panamanian People are so friendly, kind, and welcoming. It’s always a challenge when you land in a country where you don’t speak the language, and there’s a certain level of awareness that you are absolutely being ripped off on your first taxi ride from the airport – but they do it with kindness;). Then you have the opportunity to learn your own lesson!!!
- If you want to go to Panama City, you should go when Carnival is on – the city is completely dead – to a point where you wonder if it’s you??
- Like many big, populated cities – there is a lot of garbage. Our kids are environmental crusaders and just couldn’t get past this. Why can’t they just clean up around here? True baby girl, but maybe not the best thing to mention in front of Panamanians. We are learning social context!!! We have spent a lot of time talking about our privilege – like, when you have basic needs taken care of, you can focus on other challenging subjects, like the environment and the state of the world!! Hard to do that when you’re just hungry!!!
- Kids are absolutely amazing – it’s been the joy of this trip watching them play with kids from all over the world, and there’s no verbal way to communicate. Playing is universal, and apparently, so is soccer….I mean, football;).
- If you are a thrill seeker, I recommend driving in Panama City during rush hour – phewww, what an experience, being that close to death. What a way to live, am I right??
- We rented a car. Before we left Canada, I spent a ton of time on Panama traveling forums collecting information on the inevitable shakedown from the Panamanian Police. It starts with a speed radar gun that looks like it’s from the 80’s. They wait at the bottom of the hill, stop you, show you the gun – which is always at least 20 over the limit and then it begins. Well, Sir, you are speeding!!! Your rental car company will charge you a lot of money for this expense. You can pay $50 now and save yourself a lot of hassle!!! We responded with, I’m so sorry, but we have no cash…….which they replied, no worries, you can just pay $40!!! We still don’t have any cash, can you give us a ticket?? They issued us a ticket, and we were on our way. 100% we will never see the results of that!!! There are tons of checkpoints along the way where they check licenses and then wave you through. Do your research before you leave!!!!
- We crossed a street tonight in Panama City, and Jake’s exact words were, That’s so much fun and terrifying at the same time!!!
- The city is alive; it’s full of chaos and movement. The sidewalks are worn, the horns are honking and the people watching is amazing!!!
We drove all over the country, hitting all the hot spots!! The road trip, for us, is such an essential part of our joy. Nick loves driving, and being able to stop whenever and wherever we’d like – is such an asset. The roads are decent…but the speed limits vary as much as my mood when I’m hangry!! It’s easy to find yourself stuck in traffic with no idea when it will let up. Bringing patience is the key!!
We traveled from Panama City to a mountain town called Boquete, located in the north of the country, closer to Costa Rica. This is where the big day was supposed to take place – Nick would spend an entire day dirt biking!! In preparation, the kids and I had signed up for a chocolate-making class to keep ourselves busy. We actually went to a grocery store and barbecued that night for supper, and while we were eating and chatting about how awesome this trip would be for Nick, he received a message that his trip was canceled. How sad is that!!! We planned our entire trip around this day, and he was excited to do what he loves. In true Nick fashion, he took it on the chin and focused on all the good around him.
Boquete itself is in an amazing part of the Country. It’s surrounded by mountains where there’s no shortage of hiking and outdoor activities. It’s also busy, full of expats, and very touristy. If you can get out of the hustle, it’s worth the trip. We went for a 6km hike to see a waterfall, and it was one of my favourite days.
The next stop was Bocas del Toro, a cluster of islands with amazing sandy beaches and clear water. We arrived in the port town called Almirante, and that’s when the insanity began; we didn’t quite know where we were headed, but not to worry, the people of Almirante were prepared for that. We were waved down in an instant – I guess it was very clear that we were tourists. We were directed to a parking spot and hooked up with a boat taxi to the island we were staying on. Saying that all of this was Chaotic is an understatement!! It was great to see how the kids handled the yelling in Spanish, the hustling and being directed to, hopefully, the right boat!
The island was fantastic – we didn’t have a ton of time there, but enough to fall in love. We did a day tour that included seeing dolphins, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint. It was so cool to see them jumping 5 feet in front of us!! We had some beach time and ended the day with snorkeling. The kids were sooooo pumped to snorkel, and Nick thought they would love it. I, on the other hand, knew the front they were putting on was to cover their nerves. Nick jumped in the water, and then the kids froze!! Oh, oh, is it our turn. You want us to just jump into the middle of the ocean, like right off this boat?? I sat and reassured them, and when they were ready, they each jumped in and clawed at Nick as if he were a life raft!!! See, I’m not the only one that tries to drown him now;). It didn’t take long, and they were off of him and on their own!! Another proud moment!
We had to catch a boat ride back to the mainland in the morning. We woke up, and it was raining but still 30C out. We packed up, walked to the boat dock, stuffed ourselves on a VERY full boat, and started the trek across the ocean. While we were in the middle of it all, I had the realization that what we were doing was absolutely insane!! It was stormy, we were in the middle of the ocean for 25 minutes, the boat was packed to the brim, and next to Jake and Lily was a boy with a couple of chickens on his lap!!! I mean, they were in a box, but still;).
Nick noticed that the boy had something living in his box and then asked what it was. He proceeded to open it, and out popped these ‘teen’ chicks. The kids got to pet them and take a few photos; meanwhile, I internally almost lost my damn mind – I have a huge bird fear, and the idea of being stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean with 2 right behind me had my heart rate up. Jake even commented on how brave I was acting;) We shared some candy, and all walked away with an incredible memory. How cool is travelling??
Travelling is absolutely full of ups and downs and our last travel day was a doozy!! We had flown from Panama City to Houston without a hitch and that in itself should have been a clear indicator that something was a brewing.
So, it turns out that I spoke too soon!! I know better than to brag before the finish line!! On the last day, the verrrryyyyy last day, someone did, in fact, sh*t themselves. In my mind, I thought, well now, at least the rest of the day should run smooth, right? Nah, that’s not our M.O;).
Our flight home was booked on a West Jet flight though a travel agent . Nick had to miss the first part of the trip and we were told that it would be fine, he could no show it and then catch the return home flight. Welllll, that wasn’t true at all. We got to the airport and because he no showed, they just cancelled everything!! Nick had no flight booked – Okay – This sucks, let’s pivot Willards!! The Solution was to pay for an entirely new flight. But wait, the Calgary to Edmonton leg of the journey is sold out:( Okay Willard’s, pivot again – so let’s rent a car and drive from Calgary to Edmonton.
We get in line for our rental car – an hour goes by!! We finally get our 4th rental car of the trip and hit the highway. 10 minutes in – mom, my tummy hurt’s, I’m not feeling well. I hand Lily a bag, you know, just in case. It’s paper but it’s all we have. The bag held up nicely considering that Lily puked everywhere but in it. It’s a humbling experience scooping handfuls of vomit from your daughters lap;). We cleaned her up the best we could and she slept the rest of the way home!!!
We made it home, exhausted and ready for bed. Thankful the day had ended but sad the holiday was over.
We learned a lot, like, we Love Panama, the Canal is Cool, Sloths, Monkey and rogue boat Chickens are awesome!! We are weary of West Jet, they were very unhelpful BECAUSE we used a travel agent. Teslas are tough as nails, and we still love Texas. Driving gives you a cool perspective in a new country and finding a patio table on a busy street is the absolute best!! Coffee and Chocolate are plentiful throughout Panama as well as all the smiles of the Panamanian people. Travel days suck but totally worth all the pain and puke;)
Thanks so much for coming along with us;). It’s fun to share our stories!!
Willard Family Adventures 