Driving along the roads of Panama at a snails pace trying not to get caught for speeding, you tend to notice a lot more of the details along the sides of the roads. But, only the passenger because the driver has to watch for massive potholes, people on horseback, a sloth ambling by, and all the vendors along the way.
Speed limits here are (60 - 80 kmh / 35 - 50 mph) slooooowwww. I bet Germans get the most speeding tickets here. Just a guess.
Back to it. As your whizzing by at a sloth's pace thinking to yourself what's that? What's she selling? What kind of animal is that? Did I remember my toothpaste? Why are the cows so skinny? I have wondered the same things so today is a great day for us!
But we'll keep it simple. That large bright green ball hanging from a rather spindly tree is easy to spot and you can see that it's heavy the way it is weighing down the branches.
It's a MIRACLE! Well, technically, It's called the Calabash Tree or here in Spanish, it's called Calabazo, but some call it the miracle fruit. This is a highly respected tree that grows in Central and South America, Africa, and other warm places.
This one weighs about 8 lbs/4kg and full of fruit. The fruit is not very flavorful but it contains a lot of juice. It's full of vitamins, potassium, calcium, and iron. Most people here don't eat the fruit but instead squeeze it for the juice and then combine with other plants to make a tea. It is known as a whole body wellness remedy especially for after childbirth to replenish lost nutrients.
When dried, the shell is useful in so many ways from cups, bowls, scoops, and beautiful pieces of art. Like what our guests create when it's too hot to be out on the beach.
Yahoo! Now you too are armed with the supremely interesting fact to explain to your driver what they are missing on the sides of the road. I hope that road you're traveling ends at our resort! We are excited to share this magical place with you and your family.
Sending you love from Panama and subliminal messages that this is where your winter vacation needs to be spent.
Your Friends in Morrillo,
Cari and Ryan Mackey
Owners and Hosts
Morrillo Beach Eco Resort
TRAVEL TIP: If you do get pulled over for speeding like the rest of us, take a ticket and don't pay a bribe. It's usually just about $25-$30. There are still crooked cops that will try to get cash from you. It's easy to pay the ticket. We'll help you.