Valentine’s Day in Bocas del Toro

Sweethearts Forever

Bocas Marina
Bocas del Toro, Panama

With the Bocas Marina Cantina under new and creative management, a Valentine’s Party was planned and executed with impeccable flair by Dyllan and Darian. The festivities included welcome pink jello shots, romantic poetry on ribbon-tied scrolls, hundreds of paper hearts flying all over the posts, walls and tables, and a great meal of eggs benedict, champagne, and rum punch. The highlight was a musical trio booked in from Peru – with a keyboardist, percussionist, and “girl singer” who started slowly and romantically, then built up to full-on dancing music. They were truly the best entertainment we’ve seen in Bocas, and it figures, considering they are from out of town! Here are a few moments from the party…

Garden Tour

After brunch, we went with Len and Lois and Pam and Bill on a tour sponsored by the Bocas Garden Club to the nearby island of Cristobal to visit a small farm owned and run by a retired Puerto Rican couple. Though they only have five acres, they are able to grow 68 kinds of fruits and vegetables on their property.

Chocolate Competition

Another highlight of the weekend was the annual Chocolate Competition sponsored by Dave Cerutti of “Green Acres” chocolate farming fame.  The tasting was a zoo – but there were some really creative applications of chocolate – from mole sauce to liqueur, and cake to ravioli – all having been made with the local “black gold” that is Dave’s chocolate.  The winner was a woman from the marina who made a flourless chocolate cake that made you melt.

After the chocolate competition, we ended up at the Pirate, home of the Bocas dinghy dock, for whole deep fried snapper, beer, and more entertainment from the Peruvian trio. All in all, a very eventful Valentine holiday!