Valle Escondido Newsletter

Mothers day on Thursday?

Last nights "mothers day" dinner was a great success with a full house and great music by our local jazz trio. The only thing wrong was the name of the event. I was told it was to celebrate mothers day which in Panama falls on December 8th. Then I was told it was for the U.S. mothers day, but that falls on Sunday. Last night I though we had it figured out when  I was told it was to celebrate the International day of women, but in checking this morning I find that falls on March 8th which was two months back and we forgot to celebrate it. 
In any case, a good time was has by everyone and the champaign and roses made all the ladies happy and giggly. It just goes to show that in Panama, nobody really knows anything for sure, but everyone is happy. Now, when is the international day of Man?

Mothers Day Dinner Special

This coming Thursday is Mothers day in the U.S. and although not a lot of residents are fortunate enough to have their mothers nearby, it is still a good time to celebrate with a very fine dinner at the Sabor Escondido. Invite someone special and join us this Thursday. Be sure to make reservations. Click the image to enlarge!

Cinco de Mayo party at the cantina

Baseball in David- Sunday the 13th of April

If you like baseball you will enjoy watching the Chirqui baseball champions play this weekend in David.   Judy Isham has organized the Valle Escondido bus to take a limited number of particiapnts down to see the game this Sunday.
Even if you don't like baseball, you will loving watching all the people and the many Vendors.  They sell everything from Cerviche to KFC.  Be sure to bring something soft to sit on as the seats are concrete with no backs.  For those of you who do not ride down on the bus, we will sit between home plate and 1st base.  It will be a fun time. The charge for the Bus will be $5.50 per person and will leave from the Cantina at 4:30 pm and return about 9:00.

Contact Judy via email at monaviejudi@yahoo.com if you would like to join them.

Wine tasting event 6pm Friday-Country Club

Come taste and enjoy the best wines of Latin America!
This Friday the 11th of April a wine tasting event will be sponsored by Cosecha Wine Store and held in the members private lounge at the Que Brada Country Club. They will have free wine and cheese along with an expert in South American wines. This event is for country club members. 

Non-members don't despair! Another wine tasting event will be held in the near future for all Valle Escondido homeowners.

Happy fathers day in Valle Escondido

The fathers day event Saturday night was very special thanks to Cesar and his wife Antoinette. Cesar played the drums in his Jazz and Blues group and it was fantastic. Antoinette guided our chefs into preparing the best boneless chicken and porkchops you have ever tasted. It was a great event and made all us fathers and grandfathers feel very special. Thanks to everyone for making this such a great time!

Whew! Thank God it's Sunday.

This weekend was our first real test for the resort here in Valle Escondido. It began Saturday with a Golf  tournament and luncheon for 60 golfers plus the sponsors and staff. The day could not have been better with clear blue skies and light wind. Many of our homeowners participated in the event and the ladies took away one of the trophies.
The tournament events finished about 2pm and then we began a dinner with entertainment for a group of 40 Shrine-rs from Panama City and a wedding party in our country club facilities for 180. The staff did not go home or sleep but stayed up all night preparing for a luncheon for 175 who work for AES, the U.S. company that manages the hydro electric project here in Chiriqui. Our new hotel received glowing reports from the many people who stayed with the shrinners and the wedding party. It is Sunday afternoon and we just bade farewell to the long suffering staff who just put in 20 straight hours and we welcomed the maintenance crew who now has to dismantle the pool covering and prepare the facilities for the club members tomorrow.
It is really amazing the amount of work and staff that goes into each of these events, but to do them all in one weekend is a real testimony to the great people who work for Valle Escondido. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to all 50 staff members who directly participated in the events and the many other who worked to prepare the facilities.

New Years Eve party in the valley!!!

Valle Escondido will host a New Years Eve extravaganza at the country club this year. Featuring two great bands, fireworks, cuisine by chef Alex and an open bar. If you were lucky enough to attend the Opera two months ago you got to experience the magic of Chef Alex and his staff. I promise you, nothing compares to it in Panama! The new lounge will be completed and furnished and so will the new event center and barbecue area behind the clubhouse. Plenty of different environments to enjoy.
Our hotel is already booked so be sure to get your tickets before they are sold out. Limited seating! $145 per couple, $75 single.Click on the image to see the invitation. Contact Jessica for reservations. Credit Cards accepted.

Boquete Jazz festival in February

Here is a link to the first annual jazz festival that is planned for the first week of February. This should be a great event and Valle Escondido will be hosting one day of this event. Check it out here 

The beautiful Chiriqui Highlands has long been one of Panama’favorite vacation spots, and the jewel of Chiriqui is beautiful Boquete. Boquete is a community of approximately 18,000 people of a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities, including approximately 400 ExPatriots who have come here to live.The local mix of residents includes indigenous native people, Panamanians              and people from all nations. This is what makes Boquete unique…..this,                   and the outstanding mountainous views abundant everywhere you look.

Major hit!

Last night more than 200 people dressed in their best came into our new country club for an incredible show. Three opera singers had come to Valle Escondido from Barcelona, Spain for a special concert to benefit the Hope Foundation. Ricardo Velasquez-Baritone, Carlos daza-Baritone and Mark Sala-Tenor. The three men belted forth in solo and in unison with a variety of pieces from famous operas. Saralia Velasquez sang the closing number with the local children’s choir as backup that left many in tears. The event left everyone attending feeling as though they were transported to another world. Our estemed provincial governor, Virgilio Vergara, his wife and the Monsenor Lacunza were in attendance, but the star power were the performers.