Art Festival, Cholo's, & Fun with Friends

Viernes! We took our time in the morning to enjoy hotel amenities, and met up with Blanca around noon for the artisan festival. The 36th Artisan Festival (36 Feria Nacional de Artesanias) was held at the Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA in Panama City, and was filled with hundreds of booths selling all kinds of goods, food, and desserts. Plus, they had cultural and folk dancing on the stage throughout the day. We were able to see a few different dance groups, including a team of young kids! They were so precious!!

After the festival, we packed up the car and headed to San Carlos with Jorge, Blanca, and Monica. We found out what Panamanian rush hour is like (just as fun in the USA), then stopped in Coronado for dinner at Cholo's Mexican Restaurant. Cholo's is owned by a "gringo" named Owen, who was born and raised in Panama before living in Virginia Beach and Hawaii before coming back to Panama and opening his restaurant. He spent a lot of time talking with us, laughing along with us, and all around getting to know some new friends. All of this, and the food was INCREDIBLE!! Brittani said they were the best enchiladas she's ever had, and I ate a burrito that was literally the size of my forearm. He & his crew even brought out dessert in honor of Brittany's birthday!!! How cool is that?!

Following a very entertaining trip to the grocery store, our friend Adrian met us up in San Carlos, and we settled in at the Navarro's beach house. We spent the evening hanging out and teaching each other fun party games from each other's countries... leading to a LOT of laughter and inside jokes! Awesome day :)

<3 Jordan