Paradise the Hard Way
Saturday, April 26, 2008
I can't begin to describe how cool it is to read
someone else's account of what we have been up to down
here for the past few years. I just read the article
Paradise the Hard Way in Inc.'s May 2008 issue about how
Tranquilo Bay came to be what it is today.
Obviously you can't capture all of it in 5000
words or less, but the folks at Inc. did a pretty
good job. We came down here and built Tranquilo
Bay for a change in lifestyle. We got what we
bargained for and then some. All of us share ups
and downs on the island. Fortunately there have
been more ups than downs. We are celebrating this
article as a definite up!
We have been pretty busy over the last few months as my lack of posts indicates. I am going to try and post some of the photos from the past few months over time in order to give you a feel of what it is like to be here. We have done all the hard work for you. You just have to come down and enjoy. Give us a call - we will find the right time for you and your group to visit.
We have been pretty busy over the last few months as my lack of posts indicates. I am going to try and post some of the photos from the past few months over time in order to give you a feel of what it is like to be here. We have done all the hard work for you. You just have to come down and enjoy. Give us a call - we will find the right time for you and your group to visit.
Smile
Friday, February 29, 2008
We had a couple of photographers come out to take
photos this week. It was interesting to watch the
process and watch how our employees took part in the
photo shoot. They really enjoyed it. Here are a few
photos Jim took of our crew having portraits taken by
the photographers.
I have added a new page to the main website on our employees. It currently includes only their photos, but we will add some information on them in the near future. Here is the page: www.tranquilobay.com/employees.htm
I have added a new page to the main website on our employees. It currently includes only their photos, but we will add some information on them in the near future. Here is the page: www.tranquilobay.com/employees.htm
Heaven on Earth
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
I consider Tranquilo Bay to be a slice of heaven on
earth. There are few places in this world where a group
of people can end up and have the opportunity to
participate in a dream. Obviously Tranquilo Bay is our
dream. We are grateful we get to live it each and every
day. However, when we get to watch other people enjoy
themselves doing all of the different activities we
have to offer while immersing themselves in nature it
is so rewarding. It is wonderful to have a lively
discussion at dinner amongst the guests we have from
all over the world sitting at the table.
Here is an example of the different kinds of "thank you" we get from our clients once they return home. This one came to my Dad's house along with a favorite book of our guests' children when their boys were Tres and Scott's age. We will be reading it to Scott, Tres and Boty for many years to come.
Here is an example of the different kinds of "thank you" we get from our clients once they return home. This one came to my Dad's house along with a favorite book of our guests' children when their boys were Tres and Scott's age. We will be reading it to Scott, Tres and Boty for many years to come.
Dear all - A belated thank you for a wonderful time at Tranquilo Bay. We loved EVERYTHING. You did an amazing job and despite the weather we had a fabulous time. Thanks for the biscotti recipe. Mine won't be as good because the atmosphere just isn't the same. For the kids, I am enclosing one of our favorite books. Hope they like it. Love and hugs to all: R, N, E, G & I
Behind every...
Sunday, February 03, 2008
I am into quotes right now. They seem to help one get
the point across far better than one's own words at
times. This one caught my eye the other day:
It is a variation on the common theme of behind every good man is a good woman. It is fitting for our situation as we were separated by 1800 miles as we built Tranquilo Bay. I would not have wanted nor could I have completed what Jay and Jim did to build Tranquilo Bay. However, they could not have done it if they didn't have a regular influx of cash coming their way from the girls they left in Houston.
We have been reviewing our quest to build and create Tranquilo Bay recently. It is quite a gift to be able to look upon what it has become and is continuing to develop into - almost as one watches a child grow. It is a labor of love. One that has its ups and downs of course, but oh what a ride it is.
It is a variation on the common theme of behind every good man is a good woman. It is fitting for our situation as we were separated by 1800 miles as we built Tranquilo Bay. I would not have wanted nor could I have completed what Jay and Jim did to build Tranquilo Bay. However, they could not have done it if they didn't have a regular influx of cash coming their way from the girls they left in Houston.
We have been reviewing our quest to build and create Tranquilo Bay recently. It is quite a gift to be able to look upon what it has become and is continuing to develop into - almost as one watches a child grow. It is a labor of love. One that has its ups and downs of course, but oh what a ride it is.
Opportunity
Sunday, January 27, 2008
We are a fortunate group of people. We try to make the
most out of every opportunity. We have found that
opportunity presents itself o us on a regular basis.
One day the opportunity may be to put our guests onto the best waves Bocas del Toro has to offer that particular morning. To rise to meet that opportunity we need to be prepared - we have to know our available options, judge based upon the conditions and then make a call.
Another day our opportunity might be to make every one of our guests feel welcome. One family might want to go snorkeling and another couple might want to go kayaking and then a third group may want to hang out, while one child would love to go fishing. It is our responsibility to make all of these things happen. We do so with a smile upon our faces because it is completely within our abilities to make each of these things happen for each of our guests.
The best quote I have found which sums up how we approach our business and our lives is this one:
The thing that we do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. We always hope for the best weather and conditions for our guests' experiences, but sometimes it rains. So we always have a plan for how to deal with the rain. It may be as simple as wait 30 minutes and the skies will clear or a bit more complicated where we have an excursion where everyone will have a good time rain or shine.
One day the opportunity may be to put our guests onto the best waves Bocas del Toro has to offer that particular morning. To rise to meet that opportunity we need to be prepared - we have to know our available options, judge based upon the conditions and then make a call.
Another day our opportunity might be to make every one of our guests feel welcome. One family might want to go snorkeling and another couple might want to go kayaking and then a third group may want to hang out, while one child would love to go fishing. It is our responsibility to make all of these things happen. We do so with a smile upon our faces because it is completely within our abilities to make each of these things happen for each of our guests.
The best quote I have found which sums up how we approach our business and our lives is this one:
The thing that we do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. We always hope for the best weather and conditions for our guests' experiences, but sometimes it rains. So we always have a plan for how to deal with the rain. It may be as simple as wait 30 minutes and the skies will clear or a bit more complicated where we have an excursion where everyone will have a good time rain or shine.
Take Aways
Friday, January 04, 2008
Each day I wake up here I count my blessings. There are
so many things and people who helped me reach this
point in my life and for that I am grateful. This
evening I have been reviewing in my head the multitude
of people I have met in the last few weeks and how
spending time with each and every one of them has been
rewarding. One of the things that is so great about
being here in Panama and running a small lodge is that
we get to meet people from all walks of life with a
variety of interests and experiences. It is so cool
when these people come here and have an adventure
together.
I try to make it a point not to ask people what they do for a living as that conversation is one they have regularly at home. On vacation in the middle of the Caribbean ocean one should talk about different things. So I thought it would be interesting to give a brief list of ONE thing that I took away from each group of our guests over the last few weeks (I obviously took away much more than one thing from each family and each person for that matter but to list all of them might become tedious for those of you reading this)
S – teenage boys are very good at entertaining 4 year old boys – thanks guys!
H – chai tea helps to make friends
M – there are good white wines
K – family trips are one of the best gifts to give and to receive
E – there are other people who like bugs and snakes as much as Jim and Jay
N – teenage girls are up for all kinds of adventure – even bat caves
S – it is possible to truly unplug and just “be” on vacation with your family
Z/C – let me sleep late and then keep me going all day and into the night
C – game for anything especially if it includes bacon, chocolate or beer!
R – children can’t learn to speak properly if they don’t actually chew their food
R – cousin in a very distant way – that whole 7 degrees of separation thing rings true
B/H – when it seems like there is more to the story there usually is
There are so many things that I learned from these recent guests. If I did list what each of these people did for a living and the accomplishments among them I would go on for days. Suffice it to say that our guests accomplishments far outshine ours yet we can all spend a bit of time here together and have a great time doing so. Thanks to all of you for spending some of your precious vacation time here with us!
I try to make it a point not to ask people what they do for a living as that conversation is one they have regularly at home. On vacation in the middle of the Caribbean ocean one should talk about different things. So I thought it would be interesting to give a brief list of ONE thing that I took away from each group of our guests over the last few weeks (I obviously took away much more than one thing from each family and each person for that matter but to list all of them might become tedious for those of you reading this)
S – teenage boys are very good at entertaining 4 year old boys – thanks guys!
H – chai tea helps to make friends
M – there are good white wines
K – family trips are one of the best gifts to give and to receive
E – there are other people who like bugs and snakes as much as Jim and Jay
N – teenage girls are up for all kinds of adventure – even bat caves
S – it is possible to truly unplug and just “be” on vacation with your family
Z/C – let me sleep late and then keep me going all day and into the night
C – game for anything especially if it includes bacon, chocolate or beer!
R – children can’t learn to speak properly if they don’t actually chew their food
R – cousin in a very distant way – that whole 7 degrees of separation thing rings true
B/H – when it seems like there is more to the story there usually is
There are so many things that I learned from these recent guests. If I did list what each of these people did for a living and the accomplishments among them I would go on for days. Suffice it to say that our guests accomplishments far outshine ours yet we can all spend a bit of time here together and have a great time doing so. Thanks to all of you for spending some of your precious vacation time here with us!