by Ric Falgout
I wake up to the songs of the small area of rain forest adjacent to my back yard. The tropical song birds are my 6:00 a.m. wake up call. No more do I hear the sounds of the city that I left behind in the U.S.A. Here life dances to the beat of a different drum.
My first task is to let our five English Springer Spaniels greet the morning. They hit our acre size yard at full speed and after taking care of their morning business they make a bee-line to the avocado tree to see if any have fallen during the night. It seems that my English Springer Spaniels have a taste for avocado, mango, and coconut.After a few minutes I place them back in their area and I pick two to keep me company during my morning run. The mornings are very fresh here in Puerto Armuelles and it is very pleasant to take some exercise. We have a nice jog down the hill past the two bilingual elementary schools, the swimming pool, the tennis courts, and the golf course. The whole morning environment is filled with the song that only the tropical song birds can make. As we jog I take in the sights of my new home in the tropics with the different types of foliage always catching my eye. We make our way down to the old Chiquita Banana office buildings and past the airport that is still used today. At a steady pace I and my two running mates make our way to the downtown area of Puerto Armuelles and to the Pacific Ocean.
Soon I pass by the most tempting part of the morning. It is here that I pass by one of the local bakeries. I can smell the fresh bread and other assorted items being made. I pass by with a smile because I know I will be back for fresh baked cinnamon rolls. As we make our way to the Pacific Ocean we pass by all the small shops that make up the downtown area of Puerto Armuelles. After rounding on a particular set of shops I see the tranquil morning waters of the Pacific Ocean. There in front of us is a small little ocean side park where I will let my two running companions rest and take in the sights.
As we reach our destination I sit on a park bench and reflect on my life. I look out toward the highlands of Punta Burica and the deep green colors that blend in beautifully with the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. I watch as a sailboat that has made Puerto Armuelles its port of call for a few days sways with the ocean. I watch as the local fishermen bring in the catch of the night and make their way to the fish market just a few blocks away. Then I glance in the other direction toward Playa Tortuga Chiriqui where I will start building my new home. I think to myself what a great location my new home will be in. Only 10 minutes away from Puerto Armuelles, yet secluded to truly enjoy a well deserved tranquil lifestyle.
Well, it is time to head back and get ready for another day in Puerto Armuelles. I call my two companions and we start to jog the way back thinking of those fresh baked cinnamon rolls.