A Second Visit to Fanny's Bistro in Cerro Punta

Today the weather was cooler and more cloudy than it has been previously. With it being cool and windy with light rain sprinkles, we decided that a drive to Cerro Punta and lunch at Fanny's Terrace Bistro would be a better option than the outdoor Jazz Festival.

This was Alison and John's first visit to Cerro Punta, an alpine market garden community, located in the north west corner of Panama, not far from the Costa Rican border.

The uphill and downhill twists, turns along the road divulged some magnificent scenery (as described in an earlier post) and got the adrenalin pumping on occasion.

Looking down on one of the many fincas (farms).

The day was peppered with periods of cloud and misty rain, followed by bursts of sunshine.                                                             At 6000 or so feet above sea level, temperatures were quite cool in Cerro Punta, and since most of the dining at Fanny's Bistro is out on the terrace, where one can enjoy the stunning vistas; we were prepared with layered clothing.

Fanny's Bistro, Cerro Punta

Fanny's Terrace Dining
 

Lunch was as delicious as our last visit. We all had the Executive menu (a three course meal) and at $4.50 plus tax and gratuity, who could complain. Beverages, both adult and other are very reasonably priced. The surrounding views ........ priceless!

 

 

 

Following lunch, it was time a walk down to the stream below the restaurant to walk off some much enjoyed calories. The grounds and flowers were gorgeous.

 

 

 

Following our stroll, it was time to return to the car, and commence the trip back home to Boquete.

 

Strawberries are a specialty of Cerro Punta, and on our drive down to Volcan , we came across this roadside sign for fresas and vino (strawberries and wine), two of my favorites.

 Unfortunately the place was closed so no sampling this trip!

 

Upon our arrival back in Boquete, we were greeted by the bajareque, the afternoon cloud and mist that descends upon the valley, creating Boquete's famous rainbows.

 

 

Another great, memorable afternoon, spent with family and good friends. Life is good.

 

 

Panamonte Hotel Garden Party at Boquete Jazz Festival

February 28th was the start of the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival, as well as the arrival of Susann's sister Alison and her husband from Canada. Following our arrival back from David airport, we let our guests relax and enjoy their tropical surroundings, before heading to the Garden Party, hosted by the Panamonte Hotel.

 
 




Day one of the Festival commenced with a New Orleans style parade, (which we missed) and ended at the Panamonte Hotel with a garden party, where the mainly ex-pat community enjoyed music, cocktails and jambalaya.

Joseph Wright, a spirited Texan and retired railroad conductor, opened the Boquete hotel in 1914 with just five rooms. In those days,  “Pop Wright’s Hotel,” as it was called, hosted weary travelers to Boquete who had made the journey from David by train, ox cart or foot, as there was no road.  During the ensuing decades, the small Boquete bed and breakfast saw its share of notable guests, including Teddy Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh, who dropped in during a flight through Central America. The great explorer Admiral Richard Byrd holed up at the Panamonte to finish writing his memoirs about his Antarctic expeditions.

In 1946, Hans and Vera Elliot purchased the small Boquete hotel and expanded it to include 10 rooms and a formal dining area. Hans had originally come to Panama from Sweden in 1924, as Captain of a Swedish merchant-shipping vessel.

Vera Elliot was a cultured and exceptional hostess. Her tasteful attention to detail and respect for perfection and protocol earned the new Panamonte Inn an esteemed reputation throughout Panama. It also provided the foundation for the tradition of hospitality carried on by the Panamonte today.

Vera hung oil paintings by Latin American artists, had the gardens planted with fruit trees and colorful flowers, and polished the cutlery until it gleamed.

 During the latter decades of the 20^th century, the Panamonte was considered the premier Boquete hotel retreat for  VIPs, and the Panamanian political and business elite, who came to Boquete to escape the humid heat of David and Panama City. The Panamonte's notable guests include; The Shah of Iran, John Wayne, Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman, Richard Nixon who  came for lunch.  

 Sean Connery is also a visitor of note, and one can only wonder if he had a dry martini, “shaken, not stirred,” in the Fireside Lounge?


Alison, John, Alan and myself enjoyed a happy hour drink in this very same lounge, and could imagine the stories that might be told, if these walls could talk.

As the afternoon came to a close, the usual winds and bajareque (light misty rain) descended upon the valley, reminding us that it was time to head back to Marni's casa.


Once outside, and on the way back to the car, we were greeted by one of Boquete's famous and frequent rainbows.

These rainbows often appear to reach across the entire valley, and try as we might, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow has yet to be found.

It is possible that the mere sight of these stunning rainbows is gold enough!

Adios Amigos

 

 

The older we get, it seems the faster time flies by. It is hard to believe that our good friends, Tim and Jan's month long visit is at an end.

 

We have had a lot of fun, and as always, enjoyed some laughs. It will be lonesome without them.

 

 

 Many a great meal has been enjoyed at our casita. Alan and Tim also treated us to some of their delicious creations from the kitchen.
Great job guys!

 

We have also enjoyed many dining experiences at local restaurants, and especially our last meal out at Casono Del Cuzco, a Peruvian seafood grill here in Boquete.


The food was excellent, as was the service. We all enjoyed a different specialty from the menu, and each was something we would order again.



Olga's was one of our spots for breakfast, where they cook up a mean omelette.

Olga, the owner will include a beautiful flower on your plate, and give you a heartfelt hug before you leave.

Adios amigos. We will miss you. Safe travels.

Visit to Cerro Punta

A Sunday drive from Boquete to Cerro Punta for lunch.

Cerro Punta is a small, beautiful village located in the highlands of the Chiriquí Province, Panama. The area has an  abundance of natural resources, cool mountain  climate, and amazing vistas.

Here at almost 2000m  (almost 7000 ft.) above sea level,  and frequently bathed in a cloud forest, Cerro Punta, is  the highest village in the entirety of Panama. This crown jewel is situated in a bowl-shaped valley surrounded by densely forested mountains, and it's fertile volcanic soil produces about eighty percent of all the vegetables consumed in Panama.

Reminiscent of a patchwork quilt, there are little patches of cultivated land everywhere you look. The town's altitude gives it a very special, incredibly clean and crisp atmosphere.

This recent agricultural explosion has happened at the expense of the surrounding woods, but the population premises are beginning to understand the consequences of deforestation and try to preserve the abundant resources, remaining natural, with a view to eco- tourism development as an alternative for the future of the region.

 In Cerro Punta you will find many roadside fruit and vegetable stands, with the freshest produce anywhere in Panama (it is grown right here on the hillside fincas (farms).

 Tourist services available include, hotels, guesthouses, cottages, restaurants, bars, guides and tour operators and, if you want to stay for some time, beautiful properties for rent or sale.

For such a small village, it was a happening place, with buses, tourists and locals all visiting the market and produce stands. This could be a regular Sunday event. I'm sure that much of the visitors come from the city of David for a break from the searing heat.

Many of the local indigenous people (I believe they are Nogabe) were out walking with families and participating in a ball game at the community ply field. These proud, hardworking people work the farms and look like they were enjoying a day off with the family. It is not unusual to see an entire family, including young children working the fields and harvesting coffee.

The drive from Boquete is just about an hour, along good road. The scenery alone is well worth the drive, but our lunch at "Fanny's Bistro" a new restaurant on the left hand side of the road, just before entering Cerro Punta under the bienvenidos arch.

 

Fanny's opened in late December 2012. You will be greeted by Fanny, the chef, who will prepare a delicious, freshly made meal.
There is minimal indoor dining amidst the small  art gallery, but if weather permits (as it does most times) dine out on the terrace and enjoy the spectacular views.

 We dined from the daily offering from the "Executive" menu, which was a pre-set three course meal. For $20, tip included, we feasted on pumpkin soup, one fish and one chicken entrée, two slivers of fresh out of the oven chocolate brownie, all washed down with a local beer and 2 glasses of Chilean red wine..... awesome!
We'll be back.

 

 



 

 

 





 

Dinner at the Cosmic Crab, Careening Cay

Our trip to the Cosmic Crab Restaurant started with a short water taxi trip across to Careening Cay.

 Upon our arrival, we were greeted by Joan, one of the owners. She invited us to walk through the resort and visit the gift shop, then enjoy happy hour and sunset at the waters edge.
The resort offers several small quaint cabins amidst tropical fauna, and some right on the dock, directly above the water.

Our stroll through the resort found the pesky no-seeums out in abundance, especially as the wind dropped and the sun slid down, close to the water. As a result, we bypassed the gift shop and headed to the restaurant where there was still  a light breeze and less no-seeums.

Jan was delighted to find that they served sangria. In fact, Jose, one of the resort workers was also the breakfast waiter at our hotel and remembered us.

 Jokingly, Jan suggested a sangria might be good for breakfast the next morning. Be careful what you wish for, because Jose was waiting at breakfast with a sangria in hand for her. Once again, we are reminded of how kind and friendly the Panamanian people are.

Dinner was an enjoyable experience, enhanced by the company of good friends and an exotic ambience.





Once again, Tim enjoyed another lobster feed.

 
 



Prior to our water taxi back to Bocas Town, Tim and Jan posed for a photo op in front of the bar with their Burnt River Yacht Club Burgee, from back home in Fenelon Falls, Ontario Canada.

 Another fun and memorable day in Panama. Tomorrow, we face the 4 hour bumpy drive back to Boquete.