Madd Max Says Goodbye But Then Doesn't Leave

Uncle/nephew love.

 Taisie/Grandkid love.

 Upon arrival to the airport, the line began moving incredibly slowly.  And then the fam learned their flight was over booked and they were bumped to the next flight 6 hours later.

 It was tough on the kiddos, especially watching the adults get mad.

But we did end up in the airport lounge after some asking for supervisors.  Not the Copa Lounge.  Kind of the discount lounge? And with the food vouchers got the kids Carl's Jr shakes, which Max said made it all worth it.  Madd did not agree.

The family could not sit together after being bumped, but at the last minute, a flight attendant found 2 seats together.  The kids choose to sit with each other - 26 rows back from Jess.  And they were happy.

 Goodbye, Panama!

Madd Max Head To The Smithsonian

 The building where Aunt Rachel works.

 The wing where she works.

 The office where she works.

 And finally her work.  One of her students caught a fruit bat to show the kids (Aunt Rachel actually studies frog eating bats, but this guy was super interesting to look at too).  The kids got to feed it in the bat cage with sugar water pipettes.  What really caught their attention was the little parasites that live on the bat, similar to lice on humans.  As it turns out, these parasites have a mold on them - a mold that is named after Aunt Rachel - Gloeandromyces Pageanus.  (Note the Page part of the second word).

Taisie was tasked with holding the bat in the bat bag while the fam drove to release it.

While fireflies twinkled in the dark forest, the bat was returned to where it was found.

Madd Max Head Back To Gamboa

 For some last pool drinks.

 Cheers?

 Fam selfie.

And perhaps the highlight of the day - riding in the back of the pickup truck.

Although for Jess, this was the highlight of the day.  The first and only rain the fam got in Gamboa.

Madd Max Head Back Into Town

For some ice cream.

And to stop by the outdoor market.

 Taisie did a little shopping with her granddaughters.

 Sibs.

 And the fam.

Madd Max Zip Line At El Choro Macho

 The model of the hiking and zip line trails.

 The beginner zip line crew.

All the way over on the other side of the forest.

Maddie zips thru.

 It was a little much for her - she declined to go on the advance course, as did Gwen.  Simon, however, was super excited to go and convinced Max to come along.

The girls chose a vantage point.

Where they watched this - Simon going first, then Jess, Max and Sam. 

Max on the steepest line of the advanced course.

It. Was. Awesome.

For Jess - prob one of the top 10 life experiences to date.

Happy zip line cousins.

Madd Max Gets Rain On Thanksgiving

It is the rainy season in Panama, but until today, there was none.  The morning looked like this.  El Valle is in a volcano's caldera and the mountains faded in and out all morning, like Brigadoon. 

Max made a new friend, and was thrilled that she wanted so much love.

The fam cozied up in the living room on various electronics (and at the puzzle table).

Happy Gwen.

Happy Sam.

Happy Taisie.

Happy Catan.

And a little Miss Mary Mack before heading out once the rain stopped.

Madd Max Hit The Pipas Beach Restaurant

 Crossing one of the bridges from South America to North America.

 Warm ocean water.

 A very glam beach goer.

 Taisie!

 Some of the crew who swam.

 The hole diggers.

 The Panama beach dogs.

 Mojitos.

 Looking deep into the hole that went mid-thigh on Maddie.

 Decorations from Max.

The evening ended perfectly in El Valle with a heat lightening storm and a wee bit of rain on the patio, accompanied by some wine and cheese.

Madd Max See Some Sloths

The fam headed to the Punta Culebra Nature Center, run by the Smithsonian. Check out what everyone is looking at.

It focuses on marine life, but also has wild sloths in the area.

Smile!

Also - it had this guy eating a mango.  How cute is that?

Then it was over to the Biomuseo, designed by Frank Gehry.  Jess did not like the outside.

But really liked the inside.

Which had a fine attention to detail - down to the fake bird poop in the hummingbird diorama.

A movie on Panama and it's animals.

 That had screens around, above and below you.

Boys and a view.

And this cool flower.