Boquete in the News

Boquete Culture

One of my biggest concerns when we decided to pack up all our things and move to Boquete, Panama was “how will I keep busy?” I had been working full time, had a lot of friends and there was an abundance of things to do in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Boquete is a small town. I spoke only a little Spanish. I didn’t know anyone. Whatever would I do? If there is one thing I don’t tolerate well, it’s boredom.

We have been here almost four years, and just the other day I said to my husband: “I just want to stay home and do nothing tonight. I’m exhausted.” Clearly, I shouldn’t have been concerned about boredom if I was looking forward to a quiet evening of eating pizza and watching American Idol!

Let me give you a sample of things to do here, and you might decide you won’t even need a television:

Boquete has some great restaurants. There is a Panamanian cafeteria where you can buy more than you can possibly eat for under $3.00. Boquete also boasts Peruvian, Continental, French, North American, Mexican, Argentinian and Chinese restaurants. Coffee shops and bakeries offer prize winning coffees and light lunches. Musicians or small bands often entertain for tips, and many places have outdoor eating where you can catch a breeze and take in the scenery or the street scene.

While you are eating, pick up a copy of the Bajareque Times, a free monthly bilingual newspaper. It will give you a taste of the culture here. Over the last months there have been articles on coffee, a new dental clinic, a man’s work to protect the natural beauty of Boquete’s environment, a recipe for a typical Panamanian dish, and suggestions on good hiking trails, along with great photographs of local events and people. Check it out at www.bajarequetimes.com.

One recent article was a review of the first production by the Boquete Community Players. The Boquete Community Players is an amateur theater group dedicated to bringing classic theater to Chiriqui. People who like to act, direct, build sets, craft props, manage stage properties, create costumes, apply make up – or learn how to do any of these – will want to become involved.

I can’t sew a costume or build a set to save my life, so I got involved in acting. The Boquete Community Players put on the play The Night of January 16, written in the 1930’s by Ayn Rand. I auditioned for and was cast to play the part of a dowdy (and mouthy!) Swedish housekeeper. Typecasting?

Keith Cline, who played a detective, gives his view of BCP’s debut performance. “A friend told me I was perfect for the role of Inspector Sweeney. That did it. Flattery gets me every time. Thank God the role was small enough for me to learn without too much anxiety-and I was glad to get a part that had comic possibilities. Having spent much of my life learning that being myself is okay, I was finally free to pretend to be somebody else. What a great time! When’s the next show?”

Soon, Keith. The next production will be a musical set in a tropical paradise. Hmm, tropical paradise. Sounds familiar. And then maybe a comedy or a murder mystery. Possibilities abound.

If you are a hands on person who loves to learn new and creative things, Boquete offers a lot of choices. There is a chess club that meets on a regular basis. I’ve been part of a creative writing group and a book club. I also take acrylic art lessons from a Panamanian “profesoro” at a very reasonable rate. A community choral group, adults and children, performed Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus at Christmas and left the audience with tears in their eyes. There are salsa dance lessons and salsa aerobics. Talk about a fun way to get into shape! And much needed Spanish lessons, of course. Boquete boasts small groups of friendly people that give you the courage to try new things.

There are pristine and challenging golf courses. For the adventurous, there are internationally acclaimed white water rafting tours. Or go tree trekking — glide in a harness on a steel cable above the treetops of century-old forests, high above the blue rivers and waterfalls (unless, of course, you’re a afraid of heights like I am.) There are flower and coffee festivals. The orchids here will leave you marveling at how intricate, varied and delicate nature can be.

The Panamanian people are very outgoing, and boy! do they know how to celebrate! They host two Independence festivals each year in November (one from Colombia and the other from Spain), a Christmas parade and of course, Carnival. Women in Panama are among the most beautiful in the world, and for the parades they out do themselves by wearing pollera’s – long white traditional dresses that they proudly display by holding the ends of the dresses out like butterfly wings. (Some of these dresses-all made by hand-cost thousands of dollars). Tembleques, or beaded pearl head dresses are woven in their thick, black hair. Dark eyes, swaying rhythms-it is latin beauty at its best. School children from all over the country come for Independence Day to Boquete to march with military precision, play drums, liras (decorated xylophones), and proudly display the Panamanian and Chiriqui flags. Boys in sombreros and girls in cotton flowered dresses dip, weave, and curtsy with each other in tipico dancing. Bring a camera, and if you don’t have one, buy one. The parades of Boquete are not to be missed.

Do you like music? Boquete has hosted classical guitarists, saxophonists and jazz musicians. In March world famous Canadian flautist, Ron Korb gave a magical performance of Celtic, fusion, jazz and oriental music in the Catholic church downtown. And then, of course, there is Sammy and Sandra, a Panamanian brother and sister act that will have you shimmying to Latin salsa in no time at all.

In just the past few months alone, Valle Escondido-a master planned community with shops, luxurious spa, continental restaurant and a acoustically perfect performance amphitheatre-has offered several events. Golfers enjoyed perfect weather to attempt ‘hole in ones’ at three golf tournaments. The Former Miss Universe graced the Valle with her beauty, and the Cantina plied its customers with lots of green decorations and Guinness beer for St. Patrick’s Day. Folks had a great time eating barbecue and cole slaw while listening to The Roe Family Band-mom, pop and two brothers-perform toe-tapping, foot-stomping bluegrass in the chapel at Valle Escondido. Earlier in the year taste buds were tantalized with the First Annual Chiriqui Chili Cook-off-competition for next year’s is bound to be keen.

So, boredom here is no problem. The problem is making sure I have time and energy to go to all the classes, restaurants, concerts, dances, parades, festivals and other special events that Boquete has to offer. Life here is tranquil and exciting, relaxing and thrilling. From orchids to salsa, theater productions to parades, there is always something to do. Just bring your sense of adventure and your love of all things beautiful. You won’t be disappointed.

Source: Gate way to Panama

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