The National Park of Chagres, Panama, February 2023

Carnaval means a great deal here in Panama, so and so that the country grants some additional days off, so people can party or travel to visit their families and friends living far away. Being absolutely honest, I was not planning to celebrate much, but then I appreciated some extra time off and took an opportunity to visit the National Park of Chagres, some 60 km from Panama City. I absolutely loved the experience. The park is home to tropical forests and many wild animals with some amazing opportunities to see colourful birds, various amphibians and if lucky, crocodiles (which I did at the distance). After an hour of a pretty and comfortable drive, I reached one of the reception points, where I hired a small wooden boat, which then took me for an excursion along the Chagres River. Very relaxing and a beautiful day with some enjoyable conversations with my boat drivers, who were very kind and hospitable. We all know that at times, pictures are worth thousand words, so I thought I would share with you a link to a gallery with a photo report (end of the album) from the trip. If you ever have a chance to visit Panama, make sure to plan for a visit in the park. Absolutely worth it!

As you may have read in my previous post, I am leaving for Colombia for the HEAT training this Sunday. We are required to renew our HEAT certificate at least once every 5 years, so that we can work and travel in countries that are considered as 'high risk' countries. As I will be posted in Venezuela and it appears on the list (among a bunch of other countries in Central and South America), the training is really relevant and important for me, so that I can carry on my duties uninterrupted.

Finally, I am getting prepared for Tahir's visit to Panama. He is coming in the third week of March and will be with me for 10 days. It has been far too long without seeing him, and I am very excited to spend time together!