Bronnie's Travels: April 2011

Friday 29 April 2011

The Wedding of William and Catherine 29.4.11

Well I can’t not mention it!!!!

OMG!!! She did not let us down did she! When I first saw her getting into the car I just thought Princess Grace and funny commentators said the same as time went on.

Watching CNN wasn’t good as Piers Morgan didn’t know a sole they didn’t even know the designer of the frock for ages.

Anyway I watched it on CNN then turned over to E News and saw the whole thing again with fantastic commentary Angela Griffin a royal commentator and Giuliani Ranchi who I love from E News. It was well done

The music was divine Carol Middleton looked stunning and understated The Queen looked fab as did Camilla in fact I thought they all looked fabulous!

After waking at 3.00am and having coffee and fruit I had a little sleep for a couple of hours from 8.00am to 10.00am!! Still feel tired but worth every minute!!

We head off tomorrow to Cuba after a pretty easy stop over in Panama City.

This is an easy place as it is stable safe and very friendly. It is a booming place for lots of big international companies. Buildings are going up all over the place. They say it’s the best place to live in Latin America.

The weather is warm and they get lots of rain to fill the Canal!!! A great place to retire as costs are not high as US or UK!!!!

Poor Kerrie had to do tour of the canal early this am so she probably feels exhausted! So pleased I didnt have to go!! I have been through the canal, by ship, flown over it in a helicoptor, and been along it by train and bus!! Seen it all ways!!

Thursday 28 April 2011

28th april 2011 Embera Village Panama City

28^th April Embera Village Panama City

Another bloody early start up at 6.00am as we are going to travel some distance to the Chagres National Park and the Embera Village where we will experience the life of these native Indians.

Stephen collects us at 7.00p.m and we head off through the heavy morning traffic, similar to Melbourne, pop of approx. 3 million.

We eventually arrive after about one and half hour of rough rocky roads combined with heavy traffic.

We arrive at the river and we are surprised how un touristy it is. Long boats await us and the river is muddy and fast flowing, a 15 min ride to the village.

We then wait and wait for other tourists to arrive not many of them and then we are told to get back into the long boats.

We then head off up stream again to visit a waterfall.

It’s a pretty hard trip and the 2 boatmen have to push us through some difficult parts.

We see some crocodiles sleeping on the banks, they are muddy in color and not quite as large as ours but nether the less still didn’t want to fall in the water.

Eventually we arrive at the location and we hop out! Kerrie and I didn’t know that we were doing this part and Kerrie just had on mules which made this walk a little uncomfortable for her.

We walked through the jungle and over rocks up small hills and then across the creeks on logs of wood and even had to wade through the water.

We arrived at the waterfall and it was pretty but I have seen better back in Aus!! Anyway it was a lovely interesting walk through the jungle.

We then walked back to the long boats and back to the village again.

Here we had some delicious fish out of the river and plantain served in a banana leaf and with a hibiscus.

Here we were told the history of the tribe and how they live! No TVS or electricity still very primitive. But they are gorgeous, not tall delicious milk coloured bodies girls wear bright coloured sarongs with beaded tops to cover their breast. In the old days these tops were made with coins given to them and the tops are handed down from mother to mother. The men wear beaded small wraps to cover their parts!

The tribe make lovely baskets out of palm throngs and dyed with natural colors, turmeric for yellow and herbs for the other colors!

They had their wares out, baskets, carvings and beads all available!

They then do a little dance for us and then homeward bound.

It was a lovely charming day, not too touristy

Get home late afternoon.

I go to the computer to do my journal and work out yet again how to down load photos to the blog!!

I am challenging myself, as this is also a new computer, my new Mac air so I’m dealing with learning a new computer on the job plus blogging!!

Not sure how many of you are reading my blog as I have only one follower!!

I know when you are reading this!!

We head to the bar, which is charming, small and lots of atmosphere.

We have a salad and head off to bed. I must say I’m feeling very excited as it’s the eve of the wedding and I’m pleased to say we have CNN and they are covering it all!!

How cute is William going out and saying hi to all the people queuing!

I have an early morning call for 3.00am with some coffee as I would die if I went back to sleep!!

So tomorrow we will know all

I guess you are all having Royal Parties so hope youre having fun!

I feel so nervous for Catherine my stomach is turning so I can’t imagine how she feels!!

Heres to a fabulous day for Prince William and Kate Middleton!

Las Vegas - Panama City

It’s a long day but went smoothly leaving the hotel at 7.00am. 2hrs 15.00 to Houston

Transtransfer at Houston Texas with no wait perfect. A 3.45hr flight to Panama City arriviarrivinng at 9.15pm easy through customs and our driver there to pick us up.

We eventually got the The Bristol Hotel about 10.30p.m a quick drink at the bar and bed!

Kerrie and I both have suites room 309 and 409. It is charming boutique hotel and the staff are friendly and very helpful. Its one of the Leading Hotels and they always seem to be a great standard.

27^th April 2011

Today we decide to go to explore the old city old Casco Viejo. This is a world heritage site and the buildings are all being restored to their original state. This is the area where the people who worked on the Panama Canal lived, and in the last 10 years the number of houses being renovated is amazing. They are of French and American style and the now the values going sky high. Expats are purchasing them

John and I were here about 6 years ago and for me the difference is huge. Little cafes and vendors selling Kuna Indian souvenirs, these people live aon San Blass islands a little archipelago on the Atlantic side of the canal and a spot that John and I visited. Extremely charming fishing village and the women do this amazing embroidery

They are tiny people with colorful beads around their legs and arms and brightly covered wraps.

Very gentle too. Tables of Panama Hats are being sold and of course we have to buy one! Only $18.00 much cheaper than when John and I purchased them!! I guess ours where better quality but well see.

They are great as you just roll them up and put them in your suitcase!

We have a wonderful wander around up and down the tiny streets and so few people around. We catch a little tram that also takes us around telling us about the history of the area

Casco Viejo

We continue our wander and pop into galleries which have some fabulous and interesting pieces, too big cant bring them home!

We are recommended a lovely little restaurant and have an interesting lunch of local food.

We now call our driver and he takes Kerrie to Mirafores to view the locks of the canal and history of it.

Casco Viejo

We continue our wander and p op into galleries which have some fabulous and interesting pieces, too big cant bring them home!

We are recommended a lovely little restaurant and have an interesting lunch of local food.

We now call our driver and he takes Kerrie to Mirafores to view the locks of the canal and history of it.

As I have done this before guess where I head, yes to the shops. A beautiful new upmarket mall with all the labels, have a wander and back to the hotel for a quick shower and meet Kerrie in the bar. We have a couple of drinks and head for bed, no dinner as lunch was filling and we have an early start in the morning.

Casco Viejo

We continue our wander and p op into galleries which have some fabulous and interesting pieces, too big cant bring them home!

We are recommended a lovely little restaurant and have an interesting lunch of local food.

We now call our driver and he takes Kerrie to Mirafores to view the locks of the canal and history of it.

Sunday 24 April 2011

2ND WEDDING OF THE CENTURY JAMES AND PENNY DO IT VEGAS STYLE

Now these words should be with the photos I have just down loaded!!
Remember Im just getting this together!
I have now photos on facebook picasso on your emails so sorry everyone but practise makes perfect!!!
Oh Happy Easter dont know it Easter here!!

2^nd Wedding of the Century James and Penny do it Vegas Style

23.4.11

After my big night I don’t get up till about 12noon!! OMG it’s all go here!

Breakfast hair makeup and now off to the Wedding

We arrive at The Little White Chapel its just so Vegas!!! We have to wait in queue then herded in to be then told there was too many of us so head to another chapel.

Penny looks stunning in a short filled frock with feathers around the bottom so fitting with the scene and so stunning to boot! James looked so handsome with jacket bow tie casual groovy and hip!

The service was actually really lovely and Pen did a lot of crying.

After the service the 55 of us headed to Simons a stunning restaurant near the Palms. We hit the cocktails and boy do they know how to make them here!!! Yum!!!!

We have a fabulous dinner with lots of laughs and grog then it’s off to the Ghost Club roof top bar with the view of Vegas1 by this time we are all getting pretty pissed!!

I’m having fun with Matisse one Frenchman a friend of Peter and Donnas and then Georges another French man friend of Pete and Donnas!

Adoring the attention of these fabulous young men!!

So by now its God know what time and its time to head back to the Luxor and the Cat Room another fabulous club

Well the highlight of the night is when I’m asked for my ID!!!!!

I’m so excited I even got a photo of me having to produce it not once but twice!!

As we have connections here we are treated like rock stars and don’t have to queue to get in

Am I having a ball!!! Now I’m in real party mode, the youngies treat me like of them, I’m flirting and they are too outragesly, I’m a cougar!!

Got my new beau Willow alias James Wilson, his gorgeous girlfriend is going with the flow and allows us to be stupid!!

But by 4.00a,m the old girl has to turn into a pumpkin and head home!

Taxi!!!

I’m about a 5 min walk from hotel but tell the cabbie just drive and I would get lost!

Tumble into bed wake at 11.30 feeling not 61 but 101!!!

24^th Recovery!!!

Kerrie calls and tells me they have a Cabana at the Moorea Pool and to head down, but not before I have some poached eggs and toast, yes feeling like shit!!!

I eventually get there about 2.00p.m and I’m not the only one nursing a rotten head!!

This is pretty cool, our own pool and cabana lots of gorgeous bodies and great viewing spot of looking at the fake tanned boobs that walk by!!!

The boys are enjoying it!!

My beau Willow is there to greet me! Oh what a night and he keeps us the flirting!!! What did I say!!!!!

Anyway we sit down and have a great chat, now we are nearly neighbors, his family has a house at Flinders on the 10^th hole, I know it well. He works in the family business 3^rd generation of manufacturing things for power stations. He’s working his way up the business, his brother GM and he’s factory manager, a few more staff than us about 400 in total with 2 plants

Onto golf and his Mum is Cathy Wilson who plays at Peninsular and is a member at Flinders so we hope we may catch up and have a round sometime!!

Back to the room before we head out again to Lava restaurant at the Venetian, now there is no playing up tonight as most are leaving early morning so dinner and bed at a normal time!!

It’s been great not having to think and just being told where to meet and all organized at these amazing places!

I’m sure your surprised I haven’t mentioned shopping!! Well haven’t been near a shop, I’m living like a bat sleeping during the day to venture out at nighttime!!

Maybe tomorrow when the crowds have gone I may go have a look!!!

You can’t be a party girl and a shopper at the same time!!!!