We got to Panama last year just in time to know about Boquete's annual jazz and blues festival, but too late to really get our act together and take the five-hour trip. As you know, we've since been to Boquete twice, but we've been planning on going to this festival ever since we missed it last year.
It also happens to coincide with Valentine's Day (not a Brent favorite) and our third anniversary.
Sheldon lives in Boquete, so even though we had tentative plans and wishes to stay at a hostel that has a tree house, we decided to stay with him instead -- which is, of course, an excellent choice.
With the warm days, we ended up deciding not to go to the festival during the day at all. However, every night there are a few official and unofficial festival activities -- mostly jam sessions at various bars around town -- and they were wonderful.
We met a guy with a little trumpet (called a pocket trumpet, I learned), and we asked what band he was with. He said he wasn't with a band, he just happened to be traveling there at the right time. Then what's with the trumpet, we asked.
"I carry this with me everywhere," he said. A true musician. Indeed, he hopped on stage during the jam sessions a couple of times.
During the day, we opted for hiking and, of course, true to Boquete form, eating. We took a hike to waterfall and on the way we saw the rare and elusive quetzals as well as several glass-winged butterflies, another rare species. It was a beautiful day for a hike, and it was such a treat to see those creatures.
On the third day, we enjoyed one last breakfast with Sheldon at Sugar & Spice, and started the drive back to Coronado.
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