The way to Santa Fe
All photos copyright 2008 by Bill Baio. All rights reserved.
I had heard about a place north of Santiago called Santa Fe. It had peeked my curiosity for a while. So on a return trip from my friends who live in Gorgona, about 45 or so miles west of Panama City, I decided to head to Santa Fe after a bout with some tires that just didn't want to hold air while traipsing through the Azuero peninsula. With apologies to Anthony Bourdaine, off I went with no reservation.
This is Vincent's Restaurant in the town of Chitre, a pretty good sized berg where I spent the night after battling with tires that weren't so pneumatic.
Vincent's Mom & Dad get the early shift at the restaurant. Leo Ross, a legend in these parts, introduced me to the fine cuisine here which keeps me coming back when I am anywhere close to the area. A couple of my favorites are the combination Chow Fun served on Fettuccini noodles and a breakfast treat of a grilled filet mignon with onions covered by two eggs over easy, known in this part of the world as bistec a caballo, with an ample supply of buttered bread toasted lightly. The windowed area to the right is the dining room with air conditioning if al fresco doesn't ring your bell. So, should you go there if you are in the neighborhood? Shame on you if you don't.
On the north side of Santiago the road to Santa Fe begins. Off in the distance you can see the coridllera that run from Costa Rica in the Northwest.
Sometimes you have to stop and smell the, no strike that, let the moo cows go by. These are some pretty good sized Brahmas that are coming off the bridge.
A placid view of the river which flows under the bridge where the cows were.
A closer look of the cordillea.
A blend of hazy blues, a little smoke, & earthen clay.
Green berries provide an interesting foreground.
Further into the cordillera.
Withered fence posts an parched grass give testament that the rains have not yet started in this part of Veraguas Province.
The hills in the center show their need for moisture.
Fascinating formations like this one caused the trip to go a little slower.
Rocks appear more jagged against a bright blue sky.
Pulling back a little, the contrast now includes the red soil in the foreground.
Scrubby vegetation leads up to the peaks.
The Rio Santa Maria flows at the entrance to Santa Fe. A youngster is catching fish in the foreground.
A view from the other side of the bridge.
Another river another view. This tree is loaded with bromeliads and stands on the shore of the river.
A local arts and crafts shack.
The proprietor of the craft shop, Anayansi, models a necklace made from multicolored corn kernels. Guided trips to sights in the area can be arraigned here.
While exploring an area north of the town, I ran into this little one taking a milk break.
This fallen tree is across a stream I crossed. As near as I can tell, I was about 30 miles or so from the Caribbean side of Panama.
After conversing with some locals, I figured it was time to head back.
One last look and it was back to Santiago.