PANAMA!!!

Well, I've been back for almost two weeks so I figure it's time to post about my trip! I caught the nastiest cold ever as soon as we returned and I think it means next time we go to Panama we should just stay there!


This trip was amazing! Now, I don't really have a point of reference given that I haven't travelled much....but we just had the best time and we're already planning our next trip there. Not only is it this beautiful, tropical place; it's absolutely fascinating to boot. The country is undergoing an amazing transformation. They are recovering from the dictatorship of Noriega and have implemented political and economic changes that have resulted in a rather liberal democracy and a period of booming growth that is serving to better the lives of all Panamanians. In a time when most of the world is suffering a horrible recession, Panama's economy grew by an astounding 10% last year and they raised their minimum wage by $50/month. Pretty damn impressive, no?


We hired a Canadian expat one day to take us on a day trip that included a boat tour on the Canal, lunch on the Amador Causeway, and walking around Casco Viejo (Old Panama City). He was super knowledgeable about the history of Panama and entertained us with anecdotes about the area's development and tales of the infamous pirate Captain Henry Morgan (yep, not just a character to sell rum - who knew?).


I could go on and on about Panama....though I don't expect many readers want a history lesson! But if you're interested, then definitely check out the links above. All I can say is if you're a somewhat adventurous traveller then you must go! It's hot, beautiful, rich in culture and history, has amazing food, and friendly people. What more could you want?


All the below photographs are my own. If you wish to use them for whatever reason, please be so kind as to at least link them back here to my blog.

 

The Sheraton Bijao Beach Resort - loved it!

Me on our balcony - super-happy and tanned.

This helped with the "super-happy" part.

I loved the Pacific - nice and warm with no scary crap swimming around.

Panama's beaches are streaked with black volcanic sand, and it is HOT. You've been warned.

 Canal boat trip.

Passing one of these ships on the water is a little unsettling.

Capuchin monkey!

Driving along the Amador Causeway in Panama City - lots of cool shops and restaurants.

Best. Shrimp. Ever. Panamanian food is SO good!

Panama City Skyline.

In Casco Viejo:

The Golden Altar.

My awesome husband!

The economy may be improving, but there are definitely terrible slums as well...

I loved the mountains!

Okay, a lot of pictures I know! But I had a lot of trouble choosing favourites. So there it is - took us a year-and-a-half to get around to it but we finally went on our honeymoon and it was perfect! We're definitely going back, because one week was not enough time to see everything we wanted to. But for now we're eagerly waiting to see what new experiences may be in store for us....

~Michelle

Back from Panama!

So our long-overdue honeymoon was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! What an incredible country it is!

I plan to write a full post about it, but for now here is my favourite photo from the trip. I definitely feel like a rockstar for getting this shot!

Now I'm on Day 1 of post-vacay detox and focusing on nutrition and fitness. And that whole "I need to find a job" thing....

~Michelle

Counting Down to Vacation!

The countdown is on! Only a few more sleeps and we will be on our much-delayed honeymoon in Panama. Of course I'd rather be closer to my goal weight before going somewhere tropical....but there's no sense in not living life while waiting. I've been busting my ass this week so that I feel strong and confident - I know I'm working on it, and that's what really matters. I found cute clothes that I feel good in and my mission is to just enjoy it and not fixate on my weight. I mean, look at this place - why on earth should I waste time worrying about how I look when I'll be surrounded by so much beauty?

(image via Google)

So in other news, Project Baby is going wonderfully. Some days I've had difficulty eating enough, but for the most part I'm doing the lean protein/complex carbs/tonnes of fresh produce and zero-sugar thing. My pace on the elliptical is improving and I've set some clear goals to challenge myself. 


Currently, 5 km on the elliptical takes me 60 minutes. I want to get that down to 45 minutes and then I'll add hills. Today I also swam 250 metres in 30 minutes. I want to reach 500 metres and preferably in 45 minutes or less. But so far so good! I'm feeling more in control of my body now and less helpless with the fertility situation. I think these changes are going to help a lot - I need to believe that. 


No doubt there will be some hiccups on my vacation, but that isn't the end of the world. I'll still try to eat lots of fruit, nuts, etc. and will be doing lots of swimming! I should at least break even and not lose too much strength over the week. I'll probably fit in some basic strength moves most days too. It feels too good to be working this hard to take a vacation from it!


~Michelle