Super Bowl in Panama

Ok, so that was months ago. You are asking me why I am going to talk about the Super Bowl in April? Because I have been so busy...the dog ate my notes...I had temporary amnesia...any of these work for you?

Anyhoo....

One of the best things for me about being a parent of adults is getting hang out with them. And I am going to do a little series on just that topic.

This past February we were visiting our son and daughter-in-law in Panama (that is Central America, not the Redneck Riviera). He has a great job there and they love it. So we decided to go check it out. The first day we did typical tourist stuff: Panama Canal, Panama Viejo, Casca Viejo, etc. All great but nothing to compare to the adventure to come.

We flew to Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast. Our lodgings were nice--a really great outdoor shower. Well it was great until we found we only had cold water. And we were in the middle of Carnival so that wasn't getting fixed. They kept telling us they would fix it but we were obviously on island time...no biggie!

The night we arrived was the night of the Super Bowl so we asked if there was anywhere we could see it. Not really expecting a positive answer, we were suprised (in more than one way) to be told we could see it at "Bumfucks." I was standing there thinking that I thought that was in Egypt. Well, don't fuss at me, that is what he said! And he said everyone in town would be there.

So we got ready and headed down there early to get a table. The place was named "Baumfaulks" after the German founder, but the name has been bastardized over the years to what we were told. It was a typical Caribbean structure with a thatched roof--very rustic! Upon entering, we saw a young Australian couple we met earlier in the day. They had a great table and asked us to join them.

This was maybe the most amazing people watching place I have ever been. My son and I agreed that we felt like we were in a Hemingway novel or a Jimmy Buffett song. By the time the game started we had seen American and European college students, familiies of all sorts, Panamanians, guys who I am sure came straight there from Viet Nam and never left, tatooed and kerchiefed bikers and biker babes, people who were drunk, people who were high, women looking for love, and a fight right in front of us. It was great!

Our table was evenly divided on which team we were cheering for (Go! Little Manning!) and we laughed and bantered the night away over a table filled with wings, chips, other munchies, and buckets of beer and bottles of water. About half time we were even invaded by costumed creatures from the Carnival Parade!

I have never had an experience like it! While the game was on, everyone was into it, cheering for their favorite team du jour. No differences mattered. When the game ended everyone poured out into the street to join the Carnival crowd and we blended in with the others. Everyone was there to have a good time--and we did!

The best part of the whole experience was that I shared it not only my husband, but with my baby and my daughter-in-law. It is a memory I'll treasure for the rest of my life!