It is always a treat to receive notes like these on the dinner trays from appreciative guests. We must be doing something right!
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It is always a treat to receive notes like these on the dinner trays from appreciative guests. We must be doing something right! |
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Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010: Hi Jane and Barry, Well it's almost 2 months now that we enjoyed our stay with you at the Coffee Estate Inn. I think we all agree Ernie, Linda, Ray and myself that our stay with you was the highlight of our trip to Panama. I want to thank-you for your generous and gracious attention to all our needs during our stay. Thank-you so much for providing supper for us that first night when we arrived late due to a semi blocking the bridge. It was so generous of you to offer to prepare supper for us. It was so delicious the first night that we decided to order our meal in the next night as well and just like the first night we were in awe of the delicious meal you prepared. Thank-you again. Thank-you also to your Mom who put together the fresh flower arrangements for the cottages they were beautiful. Thank-you Barry for the coffee tour and roasting. Ernie has watched the coffee roasting video several times, he seems mesmerized by the video. I am sure he can still smell the roasting as he sips on his coffee. I must add that none of the other accommodations we had even come close to what we experienced at the Coffee Estate Inn. Your attention to every detail was exceptional. We really enjoyed visiting the Boquete area. It is very beautiful sometimes it felt that we had moved back in time. We drove through the mountain areas wherever possible and saw the waterfalls, rapids, huge gardens, a castle, we went to the wildlife sanctuary and zoo. We also got a taste of Panamanian food at the Sabrosan and homemade ice cream from a little shop near the visitors centre. The food at the Sabrosan was nothing like what Ernie and I experienced at a Panamanian restaurant in Panama City the first time we visited Panama but then the restaurant in Panama City was small and quaint. Thank-you again for your generous hospitality and I hope one day we will be able to stay with you again.Wishing you peace, joy and happiness, Shirley and Ernie
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks so much. Meeting you, hearing your story, and spending a few days in the beauty and solace of your amazing retreat was truly a highlight of our trip. We have found
ourselves telling so many people about you and the incredible slice of heaven that you have built. Not only is the setting beautiful, the food amazing, and the coffee delicious, but your personal passion,
inspiration and caring made the experience truly remarkable. Thank you for sharing it all with us! Wishing you both all the best. It was a pleasure to meet you. Best regards, Erica and Carrie
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 Hi Jane and Barry, we just arrived in our B&B in PC and albeit, it is nice, it is no Coffee Estate Inn AT ALL!!! We were thrilled meeting both of you and spending half of our vacation with you as well. It certainly will remain one of the special places to where we have traveled and I suspect, we will be returning. Well, I'll sign off for now. Thank you for surpassing our expectations of our stay. Thank you to your staff as well. I am sure we will be seeing you in the future. We will stay in touch for certain. Most sincere wishes, Lisa and Chris
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 Hi Jane and Barry, thank you for the nice note and for sharing your paradise with us! We had a wonderful stay and appreciated your hospitality and knowledge. We're back in Panama City for a night, and then home on Sunday. I anticipate a great cup of coffee Monday morning! As a matter of fact, I expect we'll be drinking your excellent roast and having great memories for the next few weeks! Thank you again for a wonderful vacation. Bob and Laurie
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 Many thanks for the emails and pictures. We arrived home in one piece and without incident, which is always a good thing! By the way, did we tell you what a splendid time we had at La Montana y el Valle Coffee Estate Inn, and how well we were looked after? In fact, Michael and I both agree that the last time we were so well cared for was when we stayed with Michaels Aunt Marcelle and her husband Brian, on our trip back to England last year. Many thanks again to you both. Best Regards, Michael and Cathy
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 Hi Jane, hi Barry, Thanks for the pictures. These are great. We really had a wonderful time at at La Montana y el Valle. I can say uneqivocally it was the best place we stayed in Panama. We were enchanted by your wonderful garden. We loved the fresh oranges. We loved the fresh coffee, and loved learning about the whole process seed to cup. But most of all we loved the amazing view from the beautiful little bunglow. Our only regret is that we didn't have more time. In any case, we've been raving to everyone we know. Thanks for making it a wonderful stay. All the best, Damon and Carolina
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 Dear Jane and Barry, To be at a loss for words is one of the most feared maladies to strike a Trial lawyer, but I really don't know where to begin in my attempt to thank you all for one of the finest times and most enjoyable weeks we have ever had in all our travels! We got home yesterday afternoon and, while this is our home, and we of course love being home, as anyone would, we found ourselves constantly comparing our place and our town with that wonderful Shangri La that is your home and your place with all of its beauty and wonder and color and flowers and birds and I could go on and on but that is just a glimpse of the kind of reminiscing we have been doing since we arrived back on Shady Lake. And, I would be remiss if I did not thank you profusely for the great photos with the Volcano in the background! They will help us immensely when we try to convey to friends and family what we saw and experienced in that land of abundant natural beauty. We can't wait for our visit in February and look forward to seeing you then, sincerely, Jim -- and La Hefa!
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 Thank you guys so much for sending the pictures. The
rest of our trip was wonderful, but nothing could compare to our stay with you in
Boquete. Thank you so much for the great accommodations and wonderful service. It
was the absolute perfect destination for our first anniversary. We typically are not repeat
travelers as we are determined to explore all corners of this earth, but there is something
magical about the Coffee Estate Inn & Boquete that is already calling us back. I can
assure you that if we make it back to Panama, that you will be seeing us again! I will
send my pictures of the grounds & flowers when Tonya returns from her trip to northern
MN. Cheers! Greg & Tonya
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 Hi Jane and Barry, Christine and I wanted to say
thanks for such a great visit. We had a most wonderful/relaxing time when we were there
in May. As you know our drive with Daniel to Almarante became and adventure about
3/4 of the way there b/c of the natives shutting down the road. That said we made it and
heard that you called La Loma to make sure we got there okay (thank you)... Since
getting home we have sipped our way through 2 of the 3 1/2 pounds of coffee we bought
from you, and think of our stay and tour of the coffee estate. Barry does a great job with
the tour! That said, we are wondering if you ship your beans? I am sure you get asked this
quite often and we decided that before we ran out we would check... allowing us either
shipping time or time to figure out where to buy good beans here. Thanks again and we
look forward to coming to visit in the future. Sam and Christine "Do not follow where
the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path and leave a trail. "Anonymous
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 Jane and Barry - It has been crazy getting back into the
swing of things here in NY after such a wonderful trip. I am sitting here catching up on
e-mails and doing some work while drinking a delicious cup of your coffee. Thanks for
the info, the photos -- and a lovely stay at the Coffee Estate Inn.. Hope our paths cross
again soon. Thanks. Lisa
Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 Jane and Barry, The two of you - and your wonderful
hospitality - made our stay in Boquete an incredibly memorable one. We understand why
The Coffee Estate Inn gets rave reviews. We enjoyed our time in Bocas. You were right
that 2 days worked well. Punta Caracol Lodge is a very unique place. We had the
chance to meet Piluchy as well - she is lovely and her place is special. Thanks for the info
and links below, which we will look forward to reviewing as we plan our next trip. Take
care, Lisa and Rachel
P.S. We can't wait to have your coffee when hit stateside.
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 Hi Jane and Barry, Thank you for a beautiful and
memorable stay at your Coffee Inn Estate last week! It was a fun trip and we really
appreciated your hospitality, fresh coffee, fruit (yummy mango) and breads, deluxe
scabble game, coffee tour and help with our rental car/flat! I am going to see my parents
this weekend and am excited to give them some of your fresh roasted Panamanian coffee.
It is tough being back at work this week. I keep looking at our pics and dreaming I was
still on vacation, learning and exploring, versus at the daily grind of work life. Anyway,
thanks again for a wonderful experience. Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend.
Purple smiles from California, Vanessa & John
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 Jane and Barry- my apologies for the delayed thank you
for both your fantastic hospitality, fun photo of us, and recipes. It took me a couple of
weeks to get back and settled before I had the chance to try them. Well, we did and Leo
has stated the dinner, on a score from 1 - 10 (10 being the best) was a perfect 10. Now, I
cook a lot, and some fine recipes, but I rarely get a perfect 10 from Leo, and you are to
thank. We are also enjoying the fine coffee we brought home. I was up in Vancouver,
BC this week and their coffee Caffe Artisiano was voted "Best in the world" (Artisan
from Panama) so I said "I'll take a pound". Well, the barista stated, the pound sells for
$105, so I said, oh, I think I'll pass. I was happy to see "Panama" coffee doing so well. I
hope this note finds you both well and enjoying Spring. It's been glorious weather here in
Sacramento, and we are waiting for the Black Chinned Hummingbird to arrive in our
yard. Mary Kay
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 Jane and Barry, Thank you, thank you, thank you for a
very relaxing and pleasant stay in Boquete. John and I were able to slow down and
rejuvenate in the mountains. We appreciate all the valuable information you shared with
us. We will keep it in mind as we continue our journey to find a place to build our nest
outside the USA. Jane, your mother is a hoot. I enjoyed chatting with her on a couple
occasions while at Las Olas. I can see why she enjoys the beach...there's nobody there.
Fondly, Madonna and John
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 Hi Jane and Barry, Thank you for the great memories
of Boquete and the Coffee Estate Inn. We had such a great time, thank you so much for
your hospitality. The place was beautiful, the breakfast and coffee was (and still is!)
fantastic, and you both were amazing, kind and knowledgeable hosts. And thanks for the
great advice - so far so good :) Thanks again and we hope to see you when we return to
Boquete - hopefully sooner than later! All the best, Erica and Sean
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 Barry and Jane, Thanks for all your sweet email
messages. This is just a short note to let you know that both Chino and I cherish our
memories of Boquete and especially getting to know you both. Typical of our travels, it's
one thing to enjoy a nice vacation, but then there is the trying to keep up the lifestyle
when you get back. Well, we bought a coffee roaster. I roasted the green beans that you
so generously gave us and they were great!! Just like in our cabin. Awesome. I've since
bought some Lerida Finca beans from Sweet Marias--although they are plenty good, they
don't compare with what you gave us. So, we've been roasting beans from here and there
and WOW ... It's like drinking a different beverage. I took all the roasted beans I had
bought from my custom roaster and donated them to my office--can't stand to drink it.
The rest of our stay in Panama was lovely. Daniel gave us a great tour over to Almirante--
what a great guy--we had a blast. The place we stayed on Isla Bastimentos was
interesting--we were the only persons there for five days. Snorkeling was great, but the
chitres chewed up Chino pretty good. Isla Contadora was a bit of a mistake--I had know
idea that all the well healed and privileged of Panama City party there for New Years--it
was like a non-stop disco party. The hotel that we stayed at was a joke. The staff is surly
and unhelpful, and the hotel is in really poor condition. We managed to find a quiet
beach, however, and the snorkeling was fantastic as was the weather--hot and clear the
entire time--and that more than made up for the accomodations. Here's hoping that you
are both doing well. I think of you fondly every day. Best Regards,
Dana and Chino
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 Hi Jane and Barry, Thank you for the pictures. We
really enjoyed our stay with you. Your place is so lovely. The grounds are a visual feast,
and the breakfasts, fresh coffee and "date night dinner"
were simply exquisite. We really appreciated your personal hospitality. We have recently
finished the marvelous coffee we brought home from your estate. We were sad to finish
it, but we headed Barry's advice that "vacation coffee" must be consumed and not stored!
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks so much! We had a
wonderful trip to the Azuero peninsula. Stayed at the Villa Marina which was lovely, not
much to do but we enjoyed reading and the beautiful views and walks on the beach -
very tranquilo! Our luggage finally met up with us in Panama City, obviously where it
has been the entire time. I spoke briefly with a COPA agent who said Copa had sent a
message somewhere but no one had answered it. Likely story! But Jose Saenz found it
at the airport and delivered it to our hotel (he only charged us $20 and we gave him $40).
So at least I have something different to wear in the city. And it was a good experience
for me to remember that I can travel very easily with only one skirt and one blouse; now
the shoes are a different matter and I am glad I had yours for the hike in Boquete with
Hans. WE had a wonderful time in Boquete and especially at your beautiful inn. I am
sure we will be back. Thank you for all your hospitality and especially helping me retrieve
my luggage. You went way beyond the call of duty and I do appreciate it. Regards,
Sarah and Fred
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 Jane and Barry, thank you. We had wonderful travels
throughout Panama, and our stay at Coffee Estate Inn was simply perfect. Thank you for
your attention to every detail. What a very special place!
Natale and Mike
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008
Dear Jane and Barry, Thank you very much for your incredible hospitality. I can't believe
your attention to detail. No wonder you have guests who have stayed over 40 times. We
were extremely impressed with your commitment to sustainability. You have set the bar
high for Panama. Actually, you have set the bar high globally. Thank you again.
Sincerely, Jennifer
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 Hola from Wisconsin.....You are really efficient!...I am in the
process of developing the photos of Panama as I sit here.....Paper always seems to be an
issue...One must have the EXACT paper, for the EXACT moment....We had a wonderful time in
Panama, with the highlight being a coffee farm/B&B....You have a good thing going. We were
made to feel quite welcome by your warmness...The accomodations were perfect, with some
exceptional touches...(I liked the Q-tips).......We will spend several fun evenings laughing about
all the fun we had......Dinner was a hit also...Thank-you again for your kindness, and sharing your
life/ business with us...The coffee tour was great.....God Bless you all, and panama.......Rich S.
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 18:53:05 -0500 Jane, thank you for you hospitality, you
have a beautiful place on this earth and it is clear you are enjoying it. We had a fantastic
week. We will definitely see each other again. And so far, the splinters are pointing in the
right direction..By the way, the book is great.. Now I know what Barry meant when
he said it will change your perspective... I will send it back as soon as I'm done with it.
Cheers! Diego
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 Greetings Jane and Barry, We are finally back and settled
in San Francisco. We really enjoyed our time in your space and have good news to share
with you. We got engaged about an hour after we left the coffee estate. We were on our
way to CalaMia and stopped in David for lunch. We were eating at a chinese restaurant
called the Restaurant Steakhouse and the egg rolls were pretty good. I am happy to
report that despite the location, Stefanie said yes to the proposal. As I tell the story to
friends and family, I point out that we had just left one of the most beautiful places we
have ever seen and then I raised the topic in dusty David. Thank you for the
pictures. Turns out that they were taken right before we got engaged, so they will be
treasured images. Once again, thank you for sharing your incredible space with us. I
expect we'll see you again soon. Bobby and Stefanie
Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 Jane and Barry, Thank you so much for the pictures. And thank you
again for a wonderful experience. While I'm not much of a coffee drinker (eek!!) I can certainly appreciate
your methods/efforts in that regard. But I know Jessica really enjoyed the coffee and my parents will too
(sooner rather than later of course). The fresh squeezed orange juice was fantastic. And of course the
bungalow, gardens and panoramas were absolutely amazing. I've already been singing praises of the
Coffee Estate Inn. Thank you again for your wonderful hospitality. Salud, Adam
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 Hi Jane and Barry, We truly enjoyed sharing in the oasis that you have
both created in Boquete! We cannot stop talking about the beauty, knowledge, comforts and incredible
service we experienced while we stayed at your inn. This trip was very emotional for us, being that we are
currently living in two separate countries, and the beauty and serenity of Boquete was refreshingly
therapeutic! Thank you again for going above and beyond to make our stay comfortable. We shall miss
having the fridge stocked with fresh breads (the banana bread and cheddar biscuits were sensational). We
will return and will recommend your inn to others! Take care! Thank you for sending the pics--they came
out great! Sincerely, Esmeralda & Jose
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008
Dear Barry and Jane, We just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much we
enjoyed staying at "Eden". It truly was an experience we will never forget. You were
amazingly helpful and the coffee tour by Barry enlightened us beyond belief. Who ever
knew there was so much to learn about coffee? We have ordered a French coffee press and
a grinder and we have decided to keep 3 out of the 4 lbs. of coffee we bought from you!!! It
is by far the most delicious coffee we have ever tasted. Again, thank you for your warm
hospitality and generosity. We can still taste Barry's delicious sweet breads and scones!!!
Warm Regards, Susan and Fred
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008
Dear Barry and Jane, Thank you for being such gracious hosts on our recent visit to Panama. The grounds
at the Coffee Estate Inn were magnificent, and we especially enjoyed our stay at the Jewel bungalow. We
will always treasure our memories at the Coffee Estate Inn - from the friendly, informative chats to the
delicious Date Night dinners. Panama is a beautiful and diverse country, and we were impressed by the
friendly people everywhere (next time we visit, Spanish will be spoken !). Karen and I enjoyed our visits
with you, and we truly appreciate all the help you provided. Our return flight went very well - we were even
fortunate enough to be processed through U.S. Customs in Miami by a friendly (will wonders never cease)
immigration official. Again, thank you for being such wonderful hosts. We returned from Panama with
many wonderful memories, and can't wait to return again! We look forward to seeing you soon.
Best Regards, David and Karen P.S. Everyone enjoyed their freshly roasted coffee from the estate, and
we are savoring our Barubica liqueur.
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008
Dear Jane and Barry, Thank you so much for the photos of us; they really came out well!
And again, thank you for all you did to make our stay very enjoyable. And it's so nice to
have the coffee to enjoy for many mornings to come. It was great meeting you, and we
will recommend you to any of our friends who are planning a trip to Panama. Fond
regards, Charlotte & Paul
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008
Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks so much for having such a wonderful place for us to stay and
being such fabulous hosts. Your inn was probably the most delightful place we've ever
stayed. We just loved it there-the room, the gardens, the view, the coffee and food, and
both of you. It was such a pleasure to meet you. Our trip to CR was really fun too. It was
great to be with our daughter and her husband. They are so fun to be with. And, we hit
great weather-not too hot! Thank you for the pictures and info on Costa Rica. Sincerely,
Lee and Carol
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 Hi Jane and Barry, I am so sorry it has taken me so long to
respond but we had computer glitches for a couple weeks, and then I got busy. We absolutely
loved our stay with you. You were warm and gracious hosts and we would highly recommend
your place to everyone (especially those dinners). We loved it so much that we hope to come
back next year and pair it with Bosque.
We hope to see you next year, Fondly, Cathy, Chris, Alex and Zach
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2008 Dear Jane and Barry,
Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciated your wonderful hospitality on our
trip to the Coffee Estate Inn in February. We can't get the beauty and tranquility of your
paradise out of our minds and we hope we never will. Thank you so much for sending on
the photos of us at the Inn and the amazing lunar eclipse. It was delightful to share the
experience with you both. Still savouring the Estate coffee and have recreated the
Indonesian Chicken Dinner thanks to your great recipe. Can't recreate the setting though.
We long to return and hope to see you again soon. Hope both of you and Pat are well.
Take care eh! Sherry and Morrey
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 Jane and Barry - We just got home to the Cape last
night. We had a wonderful time at the Coffee Estate Inn and have already recommended
it to friends. The rest of our time - in Nevis and Puerto Rico was also relaxing, but
without the wonderful birds. Thanks again for your assistance and guidance during our
stay, not to mention the best food we had in Panama! I'll put Steve right to work on
making those wonderful potatoes. I am sorry we missed the owl, so thanks for the
photo. Be well and happy. Ricki
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008
Thanks very much for the photos and recipes. It will be fun to make the recipes, then
enjoy dinner while remembering our visit to your place! We really did enjoy our visit,
and hope to return someday. Right now, we've got about 15" of snow on the ground --
it's really nothing like Boquete at all! We too wish you happy days and continued
success in Boquete! Mark & Claire
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 Hi Jane and Barry, Thank you both for allowing Sandy and I to enjoy your bit of
paradise. Also, thank you for the great pictures. Our time there was the best way to end
our vacation. We hope to visit again. Dave
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 Dear Jane and Barry, Thank you for making our Panama experience so wonderful. You
were the highlight of our trip. Still talking about the Date night dinner - flowers, votives,
and the best food ever. We'll be back. All the best, elaine
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 Jane and Barry, Thank you for your kind words and all of your warm hospitality and
solid advice. We enjoyed having the opportunity to share thoughts with you on issues
there and abroad. Hopefully we will be able to return and continue many of those
conversations that were for "another day". We deeply respect the dedication and love
that you put into your Inn. It is a piece of paradise. The fresh baked breads, oranges and
bananas were such a treat and the cuisine delicious. We felt very much at home.
It is of great comfort for us to know that there are folks out there of "like mind" who take
control of their destiny and make life what they want it to be. We all too often hear
complaints with no attempt to change. That is the easy road. Change takes hard work,
adaptation and cajones. As we savor each cup of your "Boquete" we will see in our mind
a wonderful environment where nature serves up a full bounty. We may be back at work
near Philly today but our memories of those magical mountains will live with us forever.
Hope we meet again along the way. Best Regards, Judy and Michael
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007
How are you lovely people? I'm sorry I'm so tardy in sending you this note. We enjoyed
our trip to Boquete, and staying at your lovely inn. It truly was the height of our trip!
Boquete is so beautiful, and luscious I could have stayed a month. It will definately be a
stop on our next trip - but we'll stay longer I hope. The two of you have done a
remarkable job of building a wonderfully, enchanting environment for your guests- you
are most talented hoteliers (sp?). I also enjoyed our drinks with you and getting
acquainted- Dan has always spoken so highly of ya'll- and I agree! Thank you also for the
pictures- they are going in our Christmas cards My best to you both , and a very Happy
Holiday Season ! Fondly, Jan
Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2007 Barry and Jane, Thank you very much for making our stay at your "bit of paradise" very
pleasant. We still talk about the wonderful pork tenderloin dinner and the exquisite
table setting. We have recommended anyone planning on going to Boquete to
consider your facilities. Wishing you both the very best of the holiday season.
Hopefully, we will see you on another visit. Alice & Art
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 Dear Jane and Barry, Thanks so much for the pictures
and especially for the wonderful stay we had with you. We will remember it for a
long, long time and will surely recommend anyone going to Panama to visit you.
We are now in Panama city again after 2 beachdays in Santa Clara (no TV, no
internet) and have done the canal transit today. Friendly greetings from C.J.
and Adrian
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks for the pictures ... it was
great of you to take them!! Well we finally made it back to Panama City and checked in
around 5:00pm this evening. We have two nights here and then we are homeward bound
on Saturday. What a ride all the way to Pedasi and back ... it was very secluded and a
great experience!!!!!! We sure have seen alot of this country this week. Thank you again
for your wonderful hospitality and knowledge of the area. You both were great!! We had
a wonderful time. If we come back to Boquete we know where to stay!!!! Take care and
have a wonderful holiday season!!!!! Diane and Ray
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 Jane & Barry: Thank you so very much for sharing
your home with us. It is one of the loveliest places I have ever been to. I love every
flower that grows on your farm. The accommodations and surrounding are reflective of
your personal natures and we appreciate your handwork, care for the environment and
commitment to the highest of standards. You must feel very proud. Take care. Say hi to
your Mom from Calgary. As yet I am still happy there is no snow. JD
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007
Thank you so much for a wonderful time. Richard really enjoyed it and for me
it was a nice reconnection with you guys, nature, and my favourite place to
visit and stay in Boquete. Judy
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 Hello Jane & Barry, Alain and I very much enjoyed
meeting you. Your coffee estate is a
very special place, A real gem with every facet truly spectacular. Congratulations on
helping to create this beautiful paradise. We miss you guys and miss Boquete. We have
not decided yet what our future plans will be. But we definitely know we will be back
again even if it is just for vacation, and specifically to see you both. Your Inn is the best
place in town, and I will recommend it to anyone going to Boquete. Thank you so much
for your kindness and for making our stay extremely comfortable. Looking forward to
hearing from you soon. By the way, if you ever come to Florida, we would love to have
you stay with us. Big hugs, Veronique & Alain
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007
Hi Jane, Thanks again for a wonderful time at The Coffee Estate Inn this August. Adam
and I were recently looking at the pictures we took from the porch of our bungalow and
reminiscing about our stay with you. We had a nice drive from Boquete to Almirante
with Luis and met Henry from La Loma in Bocas without any problems. Staying at La
Loma was a wonderful experience--one that I'd recommend to anyone who loves
exploring nature and eating delicious natural foods. Speaking of delicious foods, would
it be possible for you to send me the recipe for your lemon souffle pudding? I'd also
appreciate it if you could e-mail me the digital pictures you took of Adam and me on your
balcony, if you still have those. I hope the filming for the Canadian garden show went
well. Please let me know if there's a way Adam and I could see the episode. Best
wishes, Marina
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007
Jane, Barry - We had a wonderful first experience in Panama thanks to your
accommodations and hospitality. Whether we get back to Panama is uncertain at this
point, but should we do so we would in all likelihood stay at the Coffee Estate Inn. We
both enjoy the people and countryside and the Boquete is a good way to experience both.
Feel free to use my (our) name(s) and email address as references should that be of any
help to you and your business in the future. Michael
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 Hello Jane, Zack and I are back in Panama City
and we received the package you sent. Thank you! We had a terrific time in
Boquete and we thank you for hosting us. We also had a fabulous time in
Bocas with Henry and Margaret at La Loma. We had some nice sunshine. We
head back to Seattle on Tuesday. Thanks again and best wishes -we look
forward to having your coffee when we get home! Marketa and Zach
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 Hello Jane and Barry, we just wanted to thank you for
making our honeymoon stay so wonderful. We had a fantastic time at the Coffee Estate
Inn, and we have been raving about it ever since we got home. It was great meeting you!
Laurel and Peter
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007
Thanks so much for the pictures, but most of all thanks for the hospitality! You have
made your place into a wonderful spot to relax and get away from it all and we had a
wonderful time while we were there. Terri and Ed
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2007 Thanks, we had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the
peace and quiet. I tried to hire Barry as my full time chef but he said he was spoken for.
keep up the good work.
John and Bobbie
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 Jane and Barry, we have finally returned home and have
had time to capture all of our experiences while visiting Panama. Thank you so much for
our wonderful stay. We thoroughly enjoyed it and will highly recommend it. We also
appreciate you telling us about the guys on bicycles in Almirante . . . it could have been
very questionable as to what their motives were if we had not known. Everything
worked out great and we made it to Bocas. Hope to see you on our return. Again, many
thanks, Maureen and John
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 Hello Jane and Barry! Thanks so much for the photo--
what a nice memento for us to have. Back in CR now, preparing to return home
tomorrow. Truly loved our time at your lovely estate--we will return one day! hello to
your mom--very impressive gal--hope she enjoys her new digs! So good to meet you and
to hear from you--thanks for taking such good care of us--the breakfasts were wonderful!
Blessings, Jim and Jill McDaniel
Date: Sun, 05 Aug 2007
Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks very much for the photos. Our stay with you at Coffee Estate
Inn was by far the most enjoyable part of our trip to Panama. We got home last evening,
not much sleep. I'm going to make a pot of your coffee this morning and try to get
caught up with all the mail. We do look forward to another visit. Thanks again --Bob and
Carol
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 Hi Jane and Barry. First day back at work, would rather be somewhere else! We
arrived in Adelaide after an arduous series of flights taking nearly 48 hours. Took quite a few days to get
over that kind of jet lag. Landed into a very cold climate and I promptly caught some sort of virus. Jill and I
are starting to feel better now. When we originally planned our trip to Panama we thought the highlight of
our trip would be at your coffee estate inn and although we did enjoy Panama City, our original expectations
were absolutely correct. Jill and I thank you again for looking after us so beautifully. Being so far from home
it was so comforting to stay in a place that was so welcoming and that felt entirely safe. I would not hesitate
to recommend your B and B to anyone venturing to that part of the world. The photos you took of us on the
balcony turned out great- thank you. I am already missing that layback atmosphere and of course all those
delicious candle lit dinners. (I did ask Ophelia if she would come back with us but she just smiled !) Hope
this email is finding you both in good spirits and health and hasta luego for now.
Kindest Regards Jill and Vlad
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 Jane & Barry, The balance of our trip in Panama was very nice. We had a
great time in Boquete and your place was everything we had hoped for plus some. Thank you for the
photos -- I have added them to my photo album. Thank you again for a wonderful stay, your fantastic meal
and the pleasant company you provided. Take care, Joe
Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 Dear Jane and Barry, Thanks for your note and the pictures! We are
home as of last night uneventfully....had a fabulous dinner Monday night at Limoncillo and Jose came
through with all our transfers as you knew he would. Please do thank all your staff again for us for
everything they did to help make our stay such a lovely one. And, yes, thanks to you both for sharing your
paradise with us....I hope you'll have us back! With thanks, Carol and Dick
Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 Hi Jane and Barry, We had a fantastic time at La Montaña - we agree, you
do have a claim on
paradise. Marianne loved your gardens and grounds, and feels a little bit constrained back here in northern
Illinois where we are barely able to plant tomatoes yet. Thanks for your travel notes -- your information
packet helped a lot with our Panama planning and I will file these for future adventures. I've included a few
pictures -- the bellbird, and Marianne and me enjoying your excellent dinner. Thanks for your hospitality
and for opening your home and experiences to us. Sincerely, Mike and Marianne
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 Jane, Barry, Thanks so much for your incredible hospitality. You guys are
fantastic at making guests feel at home. We can't begin to tell you how enjoyable a time we had. Aside from
our talks with you, the dinner and your expert birding advice, one of the crowning events of our trip was
getting the opportunity to see the male and female Quetzals. It was even better than the first time we saw
them. What can we say about Limoncillo. The place is fantastic. We had a wonderful dinner and experience
and it's within walking distance of the Bristol. Not too bad, eh? We felt a little out of place at The Bristol.
Too many suits there, and we sort of felt underdressed, especially in the restaurant for lunch, which by the
way is excellent. We loved the cozy bar for drinks. Stay well. Keep in touch. Cheers, hugs, love, Susan and
Joe
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 Dear Jane and Barry, many thanks for the photos, we've got very few of
Peter and I together. I'll forward them to Peter's mum in Australia as she complains about the lack of photos
of us. We had a wonderful time staying with you and really felt it was like staying with old friends. The
bungalows are lovely and the bed was gorgeous. Your attention to detail is amazing. I could go on but I
expect you are used to these accolades. I've become the UK spokesperson for tourism in Panama - I've not
stopped talking about how great the holiday was. It's amazing how everyone knows about Costa Rica but
when you say you've been to Panama they look at you as if you're mad. In fact one of my work colleagues
asked me if we had gone because we are interested in transport!! People here only know about the canal.
Thanks again for your great hospitality, it was so nice to meet you both. Best wishes, Julie and Peter
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 Hello, Jane and Barry, Just wanted to let you know we arrived and have
adjusted to the temp. Loved our ride with Daniel. So fun, interesting. Looking forward to our return trip
with him. You have wonderful resources. Again, many thanks for the wonderful stay...Barry our coffee tour
was so interesting. I looked over my notes this am and have a couple of questions re removing the sticky
covering in the vat. So interesting, all of it. More details when I am not rushing to connect with Michel with
whom we never could speak but left messages. Dorinda
We thought of La Montana and you all for our entire trip. It was such a lovely stay...your place is so
unique, so well run, you are such a great source of information both before we arrived and after arriving.
We would never have found our other destinations without you...Al Natural (we liked it...food was great,
concept enchanting), THe Bristol (one of our favorite city hotels and the restaurant is grand...just bought
Coquitas cookbook...should be a challenge...in Spanish! We hope all goes well with your new project and
your mom's arrival. We look forward to our next visit to La Montana. Dorinda and Marvin
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 Thank you Barry and Jane for the wonderful time at La Montana y el
Valle Coffee Estate Inn. You have such beautiful spot tucked up in the hills of Boquete. We
just love the place and if ever back in Boquete would love to stay again. Thank you again for all
the arrangements you made for us; the rental car, the tour with Santiago to spot what I believe
to be the most beautiful bird, the Quetzal and the beautiful ride back with Daniel, where he got
us on the boat back to Bocas without a hitch. We hope all your guests have as great a time as
we did. Thanks for the pics and the recipe. Damien & Deb
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 Jane and Barry, Thanks so much for the kind words and
future travel advice, we appreciate it! We'll absolutely talk your place up to anybody who'll
listen to us, and if we ever get a chance to be back in the area, we'll be sure to book
immediately with you guys. All we have now are the memories, the pictures, and the coffee!
Those really won't hold us for long, though, because we had a great time there. Again, thanks
for everything, and we hope to see you again soon someday! Jason
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 Jane and Barry, Thank you so much for your amazing
hospitality and wonderful welcome during our trip. Your place was a true delight for us for so
many reasons: superb travel advice, great conversation with you both about Panama and the
adventure you've undertaken, fantastic food and drink (although we had to "fast" for a few days
after leaving Boquete since we were somehow overserved. ), a completely engaging and
educational trip through the coffee field, potentially the most comfortable beds in Panama,
detailed service by the housekeeping staff, and so many little touches that made the time at the
Coffee Estate Inn better than we ever could of imagined. I'm still remembering how great our
cabin looked when we walked in and only saw fresh flowers, candlelight and a table set for a
romantic dinner! Although we had a great trip, we'll try and keep our enthusiasm for Panama
and bit tempered to keep the entire north american continent from moving down and taking
over!Thanks again for being such superb hosts. You really did make our trip even better than
we could ever express. If there is anything we can help with, please don't hesitate to ask. All
the best, Sasha
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2007 Hi Jane and Barry, Being back at La Montana y el Valle was
fabulous. Wish we could have stayed another week. As always, it refreshed and revitalized our
minds and spirits. We will stay at NO other place in Boquete; that's for sure! May you enjoy a
new year with good health and happiness, Cindy and Marilyn
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 Hi Jane/Hi Barry - Just returning to work after the idyllic
illusion that was our honeymoon! The greater the height scaled the harder the fall! Thanks so
much again for arranging the rendezvous with Jose we arrived back to Liz's parents home on
the 28th and brewed an immediate cup of coffee. The taste almost took me back to that
wonderful oasis you own in Boquete. We haven't encountered any splinters yet so fingers
crossed!. Say hi to Luis for us next time you see him. Stay well (and happy) - Talk soon, Shane
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 Dear Jane and Barry, Many thanks for the pictures. Kasia and
I had an absolutely wonderful time--thanks for everything. Let's stay in touch! I'm certain that
Kasia will do the genographic research. All the very best from Bloomington, Bill
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 Hi Jane and Barry, Thank you for the photos. We had a
wonderful stay in Boquete and really appreciated your wonderful hospitality. Hope you have a
happy and prosperous 2007~Best, Thi & Mike
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 Hi Jane...Thanks so much for doing that. We're actually in Pedasi
right now and have no cell phone service, so the fact that we can't charge the phone isn't exactly
pressing...but we realized about 20 minutes after we left that we forgot it- so again, thanks a lot.
Also, thanks for your immense hospitality. We had a wonderful time at your beautiful inn, and look
forward to a return trip. Happy new yea r- Matt and Kate
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!! I am
sorry you had to look through the garbage for my ring, but really appreciate it more than I can
say. And thank you for everything - we had a fabulous time staying at the Coffee Inn. Well
worth every penny, and then some. Hope you continue to enjoy paradise. We look forward to
seeing you again, Stacey and David
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2006 Hi Jane & Barry, Thanks again for your hospitality, your
place was a nice respite from the usual surfer hovels we shelter in. That green blanket is our
faithful adventure blanket that has served us well through the years. We are retiring it in
Panama. Please find it a loving home. It's spent too many sunny days in the trunk of my car.
Thanks for the photos. Best, Stefan
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks so much for the photos and
information on Guatemala. It was so great to see people living their dream. We hope to bring
you a lot of business and
to come back for a longer stay. Thanks again, Barbara and Tommy
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 Just a note of thanks - for the photos, the recipe, our stay,
our tour of the estate but above all for Barrys advice ....I hope it turns out to be of assistance
and then, with my newly acquired fortune, we can return to Boquete ! Jeff and Val
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 Barry and Jane- Want to thank you again so very much for
the wonderful time we had in
Boquete. Your place is gorgeous, you are incredible hosts, and we couldn't have
asked for a
more splendid and memorable honeymoon experience. I can't wait to come back!
Warm
regards-Jasmine
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 Hello Jane and Barry, Many thanks for your kind
email and photos.
And most of all thank you very much for the lovely stay we had at your
very special place. We loved every second of it! It truly is a piece of
paradise! Thank you also for all the delicious oranges. We still have at
least one glass of orange juice every morning, which is a special treat
and reminds us of lovely Boquete and your kind and perfect hospitality.
We just loved our bungalow and the candle light dinner on the terrace...
I have attached some pictures too. You probably have loads yourself
though...All the very best to you both and your piece of paradise
Anneliese and Uli
Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 Hi Jane, Can't speak for Kyle but I am struggling
through a working day dreaming of the beauty
and serenity of your current home. Both of you have been in my thoughts. I am
sorry for the
delay in thanking Barry and you for a wonderful and memorable experience at
Boquete, and
especially, for your kindness and generosity. I miss you both and Boquete.
(Shhhh, I think I
left my heart there :) Please take good care of yourselves AND KEEP IN TOUCH.
If you
ever need an able assistant, don't forget ME! LOL Hugs & smiles,Van
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2006 Jane & Barry, we just arrived home from our
amazing trip to Panama. Thanks for forwarding
the pictures of us (I think they are the only photos we have of us together!).
After leaving
Boquete we had a great time in Bocas where we ultimately crossed paths with Kyle
and Van at
Al Natural. What a coincidence that we all stayed at The Coffee Estate Inn (in
the same
bungalow!). You have a slice of paradise in Boquete and hope to be back soon.
Thanks for the
great memories -- Jeanne and David.
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 Hi, wanted to say thank you from all of us. We
had a wonderful time in Boquete and we all
agree, the best meal we had during our entire trip to Panama was that which you
prepared for
us. It was fabulous, as were the accomodations. And thank you for all the
"extras." Thank you
for a wonderful stay. And we still all think you would make great
restauranteurs!!! Kathy &
Rick
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2006
Jane and Barry, we are back to the real world and working...not so fun. We had a
wonderful
time at your place and everybody loved the coffee we have given them.
We wanted to thank you for putting our pictures on thecd...we have them all and
had no more
problems with our camera for the rest of the trip. Hopefully we will meet
again....one of these
days! Sandesha and Kapil
Date: Tues, 17 Oct 2006 Barry and Jane, we had a great stay. Things
couldn't have been any nicer. Thanks for all your
hospitality. Hope to see you in the future, Scott and Donna
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, thanks for the fantastic
vacation, hope to return someday. Thanks also for
the contact and I will send my resume soon. For some reason the computer I am
using will not
let me view the pictures but I'll keep trying. Cheers! David and Yazmin
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 Hi guys! We're back home safe and sound and had
the best time! Thank you so much for your
hospitality. We cannot say enough good things about you both and your inn!
Thought I would
give you a brief update on Punta Galeon on Contadora. We found out from one
hotel guest and
the staff that the hotel would be torn down soon. They are building houses on
the property. I
guess this explains why they don't answer the phone, why their web-site is down,
why the
thatched roofs were torn off of most of the buildings, etc., etc. I guess there
is no need in going
into much further detail. I didn't really see any other accommodations worth
mentioning except
some cute villas across the runway from Punta Galeon. It's too bad. What a
beautiful area. Oh,
and we never made it to Hacienda Del Mar, although, I'm sure it's lovely. I
think we've decided
on Bocas for the wedding.
Thanks again for all of the information. It was very helpful. Brandy and
Brannon
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 Hi Jane & Barry, thanks for the photos. Our stay was
soooooo enjoyable. Should we find
in our travels any inn which even comes close to your level of "over the top"
hospitality, we will
certainly advise you. Thank you for such a very memorable experience. So much
fun to
meet people like you and Barry who are so passionate about living. Our best to
you two. Susi
& Phil
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 Hello, thank you so much. We really enjoyed our stay,
both of you are great!!! We are still
thinking about where we should go. Boquete is number one in Panama so we have a
lot of
talking to do but until then it was a pleasure to know you both. Donna & Steve
Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2006 Hello, we are back home now and I have a cup of your
coffee to hand. Many thanks for
making our stay in Boquete so enjoyable. Regards, Julia
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 Dear Jane and Barrry, thank you very much. We had a
wonderful time in Boquete and I'm sure
we'll return soon. Regards, Kristin
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 Hello Barry, Hello Jane, Thanks for the pictures, they
are in the memory of my computer, but
also in me. It was a wonderful experience to share with you all our visit.
Thanks for being such
nice host, I should really learn from you! regards, mausi
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006
Hi Jane/Barry: Hope all is going well for you. I can't tell you how much
Tracee and I
enjoyed our stay at the Inn. We talk about it all the time and recommend it to
all our
friends. I wish we brought back more of your delicious coffee. We will be in
Panama again at the end of the year and will contact you when we have the dates.
By the way, do you have any of the pictures taken while we were there in April?
All
our friends want to see you all and your finca. Please email them to me when
you
can. Hoping to visit you again soon, Jack
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 Dear Jane and Barry, Sorry to be so slow in getting back
to you - we have only just got our
ducks back in a row after getting home. We really enjoyed our stay with you in
Boquete and
thought every bit of your hospitality was spot-on, including of course the
coffee tour which was
fascinating. Many thanks also for sending the photos through and the Costa
Rica/Guatemala
information. Many thanks once again.
Kind regards, Anne, Alan and Alice
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006
Thank you so much for the wonderful experience and the fantastic service. We will definitely be
recommending your place to everyone we know! The info you provided was very helpful and
you were so patient with all of our questions. We are already enjoying the excellent coffee this
morning and had no problems getting everything home. Jose's driver was fantastic. We got to
see the Miraflores Locks and the Causeway. We also did some great shopping in the YMCA
building. Unfortunately when we tried to drive through the San Felipe area, there was some kind
of walkout at one of the schools and the police had the streets blocked off. So we just went on
to the airport. Oh, well, that's life as you say! Next time. I must apologize. We were so
sleepy yesterday morning that we forgot to leave the maids a tip. Is there some way that we
can send them a tip from here? I really regret we did not get to thank them properly for the
wonderful job that they did. Please let me know if there is some way to rectify that situation.
Again, thank you for everything. It was one of the best experiences we have ever had. Hope
that we will meet again someday! Allison
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006
Dear Barry and Jane, Thank you so much for the cute photo and for your warm hospitality
while in Boquete. It was definitely the better part of our trip. Best to the both of you. Jeanne
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006
Hi Jane and Barry, Deb and I really enjoyed meeting you and spending what wasn't our ideal
second honeymoon, with all the running around and decisions, but that said, without The Coffee
Estate Inn and its hospitality, we would have been fried! You guys sure know how to make a
couple feel pampered. Let's keep in touch. Larry and Deb
Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006
Hi Barry and Jane! Just had to take the time to say hi. I really miss your place, especially the
coffee!! I haven't found any coffee here that I like - I'm having withdrawals. We've been
talking about visiting you again next spring. What month do you recommend for the best bird
watching? I'm guessing March or April. Well, just wanted to drop you a hello and hope all is
well with you two. Miss you and your wonderful place!! Carolyn and Greg
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006
Jane and Barry, Thanks so much for the great photo, and more importantly, your warm
hospitality. Hope our paths cross again someday. Peace, Misha and Ceci
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006
Jane and Barry, thanks for being who you are! Our stay at the coffee Estate Inn was a lifetime
experience. I don't want to say once in a lifetime because I'll be back. From your coffee to
your liqueur to your graciousness, the experience leaves us feeling satisfied. And all that before
we had the gourmet dinner you prepared and served. It is as fine as any restaurant in the world
and enjoyed on a deck looking out on the Boquete valley and Mt. Baru. The three fresh daily
flower arrangements in the room each day - what can't I say about it all - awesome in any
language. Larry and Robyn
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006
Jane and Barry, Thanks for the pics and the recipe and the fine time at your place. We
connected with Thrifty as scheduled. Rather than give us a different car, guy showed up with
new brake pads, took the car into town and changed them. The old pads were burned,
resulting in the grabbing. Car is fine now...thanks for the intervention. We will be by to get
some coffee. We'll be in touch. John
Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2006
Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks so much! We LOVED it at La Montana and will recommend it as
the only place to stay in Boquete! It was really nice to meet you both! Best regards, Mario and
Lisa
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006
Barry and Jane, Thanks so much for everything. We definitely intend to return to Boquete - had
a wonderful time - thanks for making it so memorable. Ted and Diane
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 Dear Jane and Barry, We arrived home safely at 7:00p.m. this evening, after a smooth six hour drive
from Boquete. Our cat Gracie and our dog Bob were very happy to have us home. Thanks for a
superb stay and a delightful time in Boquete. We especially enjoyed meeting you both, and
enjoying your unsurpassed hospitality and the beauty of your Inn. We were so relaxed, that the
traffic as we neared Panama City didn't even bother us. That's saying something! Hope this feeling
lasts! All the best always, Marsha and Don
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, Thank you for the pictures. We did have a
wonderful time and hope to visit with you again in October. The date is unknown as yet, but
that is the plan. Rick and Rose.
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, we loved our stay with you and look forward to returning. We will be
posting my pictures on "snapfish" soon so you can see some of our images. Cheers, D& D
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 Thank you! We had a wonderful and relaxing weekend at your estate. Thank you for the
pleasant experience. Regards, Lynda and John
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 Thank you very much. I left a note about you all on a couple of travel
websites...of course, it was just cumulative as you've had unanimously positive responses. I've
never stayed anywhere with such wonderful attention to detail and enthusiasm for the job that
you are doing. Thank you. Andrew
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, We'll send your picture after we return home -
haven't looked at any of them yet. We certainly enjoyed meeting you, learning so much from
you, and staying at your beautiful estate. Went to El Valle - very pretty, and liked our stay at
Casa de Lourdes. Took the canopy ride, and saw a new development in the
mountains. Stopped at Coronado on our way back to Panama City. Again, we appreciate
your hospitality and all your great suggestions. The dinner was wonderful, too. I'll send you a
copy of the book when it's out - spring/summer 2007. Warm regards, Jan
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 Hi, Thanks for your e-mail. We are impressed that you kept away from the cake for a couple
of days. We loved it and on the way home we decided we should have bought the whole thing
and taken it home! We had such a great time at the Inn. You and Barry are the consummate
hosts and the Inn is so lovely we plan to return (with or without our friend in Pakistan). As for
the socks, yes, we realized we'd left them. Please send them along with a big bag of coffee
beans. Please pass our regards to Barry. Cheers, Courtney
`
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 Thanks so much for the picture and the fabulous dinner!! We had an amazing time .So sad to
be back in the real world, but I'm inspired by the amazing time that we had and wonderful
people we met. I hope to be able at some point to live out my dream of living abroad. Take
Care! Warm Regards, Brandi
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, Our enitire trip to Panama in March was wonderful--the highlight of the trip
staying with you. The Decameron was great because we were able to use a separate beach,
pool area and restaurant which were beautifully landscaped and empty. The restaurant next
door to the condo--Rancho Rio was also empty and wonderful. Lisa Harril couldn't have been
nicer and the condo was perfect. Canopy Towers was fascinating and worth it because I got a
very reduced rate. Their guides were good and we happened to have 3 other guides staying
there who were unbelievable on the walks. Each of the hotels we stayed in Panama City had
something to offer. The Bristol was elegant, quiet and had a great restaurant. The Hotel Caesar
Park was fun because you saw Panamanian families and birthday parties but it was too far from
the center. The Miramar had a great view and location but our room needed some work. The
grand finale of the trip was an invitation to the opening of Playa Bonita!!! Everyone wore white.
Beautiful food and people (1500 of them including the president of Panama), fireworks,
entertainment on 3 stages and all you could drink. We sat with a member of the US consulate
and learned alot. Best, Margaret
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 It seems like we just left, but who knows how many others have sat on "my porch - in my
chair", who has walked in my garden, and taken pictures of my birds. It will ALWAYS be
mine. (and Jeff's!) Hope to see you soon! Let's stay in touch ! Love Linda.
Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 Hi Barry & Jane, I'm finally home after what was an exhaustive and thoroughly enjoyable run
around Panama. The country held more surprises than I could have imagined and, of course, I
have my favorite parts. Thank you once again for your fantastic hospitality and for your
support. It was a delight sharing time with you, and I only regret that that time was so short.
The images on the CDs are fine. You were my lifesavers in that regard! Please feel free to
delete the images on your computer. Hugs, Christopher
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 Cheers, Jane and Barry Thanks for the
memories....You and La Montaña y el Valle - The Coffee Estate
Inn certainly helped make our trip to Boquete a very enjoyable and
unforgettable experience. Lou and Spica
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 Jane and Barry, when we returned, work caught
up with us quickly, and we realized that we hadn't written yet to
tell you what a wonderful time we had at the Coffee Estate Inn. We
appreciated your hospitality and the grounds were beautiful. We look
forward to returning. We noticed how relaxed we felt when we returned
to New York. Dan and Betsy
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2006 Dear Jane and Barry, Thank you for the
photos--yet another gracious touch at your inn. We voted our stay
there as the best of our Panama experiences, not just because of
Boquete's charm but especially because of your attention to
details of comfort and ease for your guests. We will sing your praises
and hope to return in the future. (Also, the coffee is terrific.)
Warms regard, Jon and Kathleen
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 Dear Jane and Barry, Great to get a thoughtful
note and photos from you all on my day back to work! This AND a pot of
good coffee from Barry's crop that my secretary just brewed. Our
heads are still in the bosque nuberoso, with great memories and
desires to plan the next trip! Best wishes and come see us sometime.
Lindsay
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, Well I've finally found
the time to open the attached pix, they are GREAT, thanks. It was a
memorable trip for sure and as stated earlier, we'll return. Pix
of your place delighted all our friends. Ordered the burr grinder,
should arrive by weeks'end, then we get to try REAL coffee. Thanks
again for your assistance from Jose to the rental rig. Happy St.
Paddy's to ya. Mike
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 Hi Folks, It was a great time, as we said we
will return for sure. We never got the chance to walk around with the
tree list or the bird list, it was my intention to fall asleep one
afternoon to the rustle of the Bamboo and that didn't happen
either, so there's lots of unfinished business. We haven't
broken the seal on the coffee yet Barry. so reviews forthcoming upon
landing at home in NH. We'll write when we're back home. Hasta
Luego, Mike and Louise
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2006 Jane and Barry, We very much enjoyed meeting
you both and our stay. I was nothing but pleased with our stay at La
Montana y el Valle. I appreciate reliability, cleanliness, and
beauty!! Not many places can offer all three. Trish
Date: Thu, 2 March 2006 Dear Jane and Barry: Thank you for sharing
your piece of Paradise with us....and for sending us the photographs!
Kindest regards, Roberto and Maruja P.S. We saw Rosio at 5am
today......of course we only talked about you and your place.Thank
you, again.
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 17:40:52 -0500 Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks for
the pictures. They are very fun. The rainbow is so characteristic of
Boquete. As Will says "We found the end of the rainbow and
it's Boquete." I really enjoyed meeting you both and love the
world you have created in Panama. You have such a lovely spot and I
admire your approach to land stewardship and conservation. The world
needs more people like you! Best wishes, Jane
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 Thank You! We just got home and are getting
back to "normal". It was great staying at your place again.
We had a wonderful stay and vacation in Panama! Best Regards, Elvira
and Bill
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 Thanks--good pictures! We had a wonderful time
at the Coffee Estate Inn. It was our favorite place that we stayed. Of
course getting upgraded to the Penthouse Suite at the Bristol in
Panama City the last night of our trip wasn't bad
either....We're enjoying the coffee we bought from you. I think
it's the best I've ever tasted. Please let us know when you
come to Austin/Kerrville. We would love to show you some of our
favorite places for music.--Coral
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 Hi Jane - We're safely back to real? life
here in DC and melting snow on the ground. We enjoyed meeting those
interlopers Coral and Terry - even if they did kick us out of our
cabana. We made a nice birding group. Chago and Caesar were great -
and what a treat to see the quetzales. Thanks for arranging it for us!
I'll say again how very much we enjoyed our stay with you, the
dinner and setting, coffee tour, grounds, all the terrific information
you provided, and just the chance to meet you and Barry. We both look
forward to returning at some point Return of rental car in David was
as smooth and efficient as could be. Thanks for arranging that for us
as well. Flight out of David was on time too. So we had a last
afternoon and eve in PC. Bought some baskets and a couple molas at the
artesans market at the YMCA. Did a quick trail through the
Metropolitan Park. Had a delicious dinner at Limoncillo. Stayed again
at the Bristol and flew out early the next am. We loved Panama's
diversity -- locales and people. Hard to believe most people here are
still totallly unaware of its' appeal. Thanks again for your
significant contribution to our great trip! Judie & Ed
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, Thank you so much for
sending the pictures. Mike and I wish we were in Boquete today,
we're having a blizzard!! However, we did enjoy a great cup of
coffee this morning! We also want to thank you again for making our
stay with you so enjoyable. We look forward to another visit real
soon.Fondly, Kathy and Mike
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 Dear Jane and Barry, First of all, I want to
thank you for such a wonderful stay. We had such a wonderful time
staying at your Inn.. The food, the grounds and both of you made our
visit just perfect. Also, thanks for all of your help planning our
trip and setting us up with just the right people. Daniel and Chago
were great. Chago really showed us a great time. We even got to swim
in the river.. a real treat. I can't wait to try the recipe for
the muffins but I have a feeling that they will never taste as good as
they did that morning in your kitchen... Hopefully one day we will be
back. S
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, Thanks for forwarding the
wonderful pics - we had the greatest time in Panama. We met the most
wonderful people in the country and include you both in that group.
Thank you for your wonderful hospitality and food. We will be talking
about both meals for some time to come. We should be back within the
next 5-6 months and will contact you, in advance, for a reservation at
the inn. Best wishes for a happy, healthy 2006 and an inn booked with
great guests! Julie
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2006 Hi Jane and Barry Well, we are back in London
and all is grey - it feels like we live in black and white compared to
the colour of Panama and Costa Rica. We just wanted to say thanks for
all your help leading up to, and during, our stay at your lovely
place. It was one of the high points of our trip, and by far the most
luxurious! We have opened the coffee which we bought from you and are
living our little piece of Panama in our flat in London through it.
Its delicious! We have one quick question to ask - when we run out of
coffee, can we order some more from you? Is it likely to travel well
in the post, or do we need to wait for our next visit to Panama!? We
may also be keen on purchasing some more of the Ngobe woven bags -
would that be possible. We would be grateful for your honesty - if you
don't think this is a good idea or isn't possible, please say!
Anyhow, thanks again, we really loved it. Highly recommended! Regards
Neil and Rebecca
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 Hi Jane and Barry, Well, we have finally
gotten through the mounds of laundry and bills; reality (along with
the snow) hit us hard!! We had such a wonderful time in Panama. While
Panama City, the Canal area, and Playa Barqueta were all fun, our high
point was the highlands and our stay in Boquete with you. You've
heard it 1000 times, but here is one more: the setting of la Montana
is sensational and, even more important, you are remarkable hosts. It
truly was a memorable journey for us and we thank you. Our best wishes
for continued great coffee and great health to you both. Doranne and
Randy
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2006 Hi Jane & Barry, our stay with you was
certainly one of the highlights of our Panama trip. We not only
enjoyed meeting you both, but your facilities and grounds are first
class. What a wonderful experience. Thanks again for everything, and
we hope to you you again in the not too distant future. John &
Nancy
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2006 Dear Jane and Barry, My husband, Jason, and I
stayed with you this July for the first few days of our honeymoon.
We've been thinking a lot about you both and the Coffee Estate
lately and just wanted to let you know that we've put together a
little review on TripAdvisor with a few pictures. It should be up in
the next few days. I've also attached a few of the pictures we
took during our stay in Boquete. Thanks again for helping to make our
honeymoon so extraordinary! We dream about the day we'll be able
to come back and stay with you again! Amanda and Jason Bratten
Date: Sun, 01 Jan 2006 Hi Jane & Barry, Thanks for the pics. We
just got home about an hour ago. We had a great time in Panama and
staying with you in Boquete. Hiked for four hours in the Soberania
park; one of Jose's drivers took us out there. We saw three
motmots, a racoon-like long-tailed creature, lots of lizards, and many
other beautiful birds. We think we heard a howler. La Posta and
Limoncillo were also quite good. Picked out two lovely Wounaan baskets
and got some other crafts in Panama City. Back to work for now. .
.Kind regards, Robin & Marc
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 Happy New Year Jane and Barry! Thanks for
staying in touch. We want you to know that our stay with you was just
wonderful. We liked everything about it. We certainly would recommend
"The Coffee Estate Inn". We hope to come to Boquete again.
We are really enjoying the coffee. Regards Jerry and Patsy
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 Hello Jane. We loved our stay with you and the
quality of your inn. Justin and Lauren would like to stay two days
with you in December. They were calling for the 24th and 25th.
Appreciate your kindnesses and the hard work invested in your
gardens-farm which we all thoroughly enjoyed. We'll are now
totally spoiled by your coffee! Merry Christmas! Give our regards to
Barry too. Mary
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 We had a tremendous time at The Coffee Estate.
We loved it! Thanks for the e-mail about Brian's shorts. Sorry he
left them. He says you don't have to worry about sending them to
us. Feel free to toss them out. Apologies again. As promised,
here's the picture we took of you two. Hope to visit again soon!
Chai
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2005 Hello Jane and Barry! We are both home and very
sad to have left your beautiful establishment. Thank you again for
making our stay so wonderful. And thank you too for the information
regarding Costa Rica. We are already talking about our next adventure!
I will be sure to let you know when we go! Warmest regards, Alison and
Matt
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 Hi Jane, Alice and I are back to our real life
with great memories of our time at your place. I will be sending
photos once I have had time to go through them and select the best
ones. Hope you are doing well. Dave
Time: 29 Nov 2005 Dear Barry and Jane Thanks so much for hosting us
at the Estate. We had a wonderful time and miss the place already. You
run a tight ship there, and we appreciated every moment! Thanks.Jim
and Kate
Date: Sun, 20 Nov Jane and Barry, We have been back a week now and I
am finally getting back into the groove. We have told everyone about
your place and the great service and Dinner. Your operation seems to
be flawless. We appreciated all of the help and info you shared with
us. What a beautiful country! And the people were so very warm and
friendly. Carolyn was amazed at the birds and plant life on your
estate. She said she would like to come back down and stay in Boquette
for a week at your place. Have a great Holiday season and tell Barry
everyone we have served it to is nuts about the coffee. Thanks for
everything Greg
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 Thank you again for sending these pictures and
for your exceptional and gracious hosting of us in Boquete. The first
picture is now the background for my computer at work - such fond
memories of our trip! We've relayed our positive feedback to Doug
and Abby who are looking forward to coming in February. Best, Julie
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 Dear Jane & Barry: Thanks for the photos.
They are great! We all had a wonderful time at your beautiful Inn.
Again, many thanks. Bill & Nancy
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 Jane and Barry, Thank you so much for your
wonderful hospitality while we visited Boquete. We loved your place
and hope to visit again sometime. It was a really wonderful
experience. Thanks again, hope to meet up again some day! Lucy
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 Jane & Barry, Greetings from Chicago!
We've been back home for a couple of weeks and are finally getting
caught up with everything. Thank you both for a very memorable stay at
your Inn. We loved Boquete --- it is absolutely beautiful and made all
the more lovely by staying at The Coffee Estate Inn. We can't wait
for another visit - we feel like there is so much more to explore in
the Chiriqui Province and surrounding area. Hacienda del Mar was also
quite beautiful. Even though there was privacy, there wasn't the
means to be as self sufficient as we could be in Boquete as well as in
one of your bungalows. We learned we enjoy the mountain climate better
- not suprising since back in the states we prefer Michigan, Colorado
and Wyoming to the southern states. Thanks again for the wonderful
hospitality!!! We hope to meet again someday. Fondly, Gretchen &
Erik
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2005 It was a real pleasure to stay with you
recently, and my memories are fresh and clearly positive. I enjoyed
the peace and the view, and especially liked your presentation of the
area in Boquete. Boquete is as wonderful today as it appears
historically, when Presidents and the upperclass weekended there. I
have a really positive feeling that we will be in Panama soon again. I
also enjoyed Panama City life and we may be buying oceanfront property
there for now, then branching out to the country in Chiriqui later. My
wife is very interested in my reports from Panama. It was interesting
to pull up your website and read the accolades, as well as learn your
story of your initial trip to Panama. Thank you for making my trip
comfortable, and may we be in touch again soon. Regards, Roger
Wed, 21 Sep 2005 Dear Jane and Barry: A short note to thank you again
for your kindness and hospitality, this past week end was one of the
best in recent times, we have made it a point to do it again.Thank you
also for the pictures. Warm regards y hasta luego, Mercedes and Will
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 DEAR JANE AND BARRY.THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WONDERFUL TREAT. WE ALL HAD A VERY PLEASANT STAY AT MONTANA Y VALLE. I
AM ENCLOSING 5 PICTURES OF YOUR PROPERTY. I HOPE YOU WOULD LIKE THEM.
I TRUST THAT YOU WILL DRINK THE HACIENDA MONASTERIOS WINE FOR A
SPECIAL OCASION. PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR US TO DRINK IT. NEXT TIME I
WOULD TAKE YOU ANOTHER BOTTLE. BEST REGARDS. ROBERTO
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 Hey Guys- Just wanted to drop you a note and
say THANK YOU so much for the weekend. We had a great time and we
loved seeing you and staying at your wonderful place. It feels like a
second home to us, we are so grateful to you both for providing such a
haven (and heaven). We LOVE the new Barubica and the label. We think
it is just a wonderful idea and a unique liquor. We feel sure that you
will be a success with that. And it must feel so rewarding to make
something yourself, start to finish, and be able to send that out into
the world. Great accomplishment.Well, thank you so much again. We
really enjoyed it so much. Thanks so much again-Take care, Kim &
Phil
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 Hi Jane and Barry, We're back home from
our unbelievable vacation. We had a wonderful trip - our stay at your
place was a high point. Thank you from all of us for building such a
beautiful inn with fabulous views, preparing delicious meals, and
being such great hosts. Also, thanks for sending us the pictures and,
of course, the coffee. We all look forward to returning. Diane
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 Barry & Jane Just wanted to again express
our appreciation for your gracious hospitality. All of us really
enjoyed our stay with you and have been sharing our stories with
numerous friends and family. I even spoke to my beverage manager who
was quite impressed with my new knowledge of coffee. Nothing like
hands on and being there with the growers eh?! The rest of Panama was
great and we had a blast. Thanks again and happy trails. Regards,
Jane, Beverly and Michael
Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 Dear Jane & Barry, Well, we arrived back
home in Ohio last Sunday eve after about 23 hours of being up. I have
been consumed with thoughts of Panama and am already trying to decide
when to come back. I feel like I am supposed to be there. Thank you so
much for our lovely stay. We so enjoyed the food, coffee and goodies
you guys provided. I want to make another trip down this winter and
explore some more. I will keep in touch and may have to visit you
again. Again thanks for all of your hospitality. Sincerely, Marilyn
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2005 Thank you so very much for a wonderful
...wonderful stay....not only did we enjoy all that was available at
La Montana but it was a real delight to meet you folks and I do hope
we can continue our new friendship. Your kindness did indeed extend
beyond our stay in Boquete and we were well treated both in Bocas del
Toro and in Panama City. Again...thank you.Take care, Denise
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 Dear Jane and Barry, Was it all a dream or
were we really drinking coffee on the porch watching the clouds drift
through the valley? We had such a wonderful and gorgeous time of it?
All was so fabulous. Liza and I thank you again and thanks for the
recipes and the pics and everything! All the best, Keith and Liza
Date: Sun, 29 May 2005 hi jane and barry, Thank you for all of your
hospitality and kindness. It really added a special touch to our trip
that none of us expected. We are all sadly making our way home today.
Eric and Stacy are flying as I write and I am on my way to the
airport. Mary leaves tonight at 7. She is touring panama city today.
Thank you again for making our stay more memorable. Have a fantastic
day! Robert
Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 Dear Barry and Jane, Thank you. I don't
think I have ever seen two happier people. Our time with you was
perfect and we will relive those luscious days (filled with that view
and surroundings) many, many times. My dreams remain filled with the
smell of your roses and I can only end by thanking you once again for
your hospitality. We look forward to hearing about the property and,
of course, the coffee liquor whenever you get a free moment. Our
warmest regards, Bill and Sylvia
Date: Wed, 25 May 2005 Jane & Barry, Staying with you was
certainly the apex of our trip to Panama. I hope we can come back
sometime and stay longer. Sure enjoyed the coffee. All for now. Our
best, Shirley and Roy
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 Thanks so much for good memories.We had a
wonderful time staying with you and tell all our friends about it. The
rest of our trip was great fun. From Panama City we spent a day hiking
around Gamboa and, of all exciting things, saw a jaguar.....it was
gorgeous. We stared at each other for a few seconds and then I got
scared and decided to move away. An unforgettable experience. Looking
forward to visiting your beautiful estate again. Fondly, Judy and Herb
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 Hello Jane! We had such a wonderful trip to
Panama in January but your place was the highlight. Kent and I loved
the Coffee Estate Inn. The hospitality you and Barry offer and the
beauty of the property made for a wonderful visit. You set the bar
very high and none of the other places we stayed offered service that
came even remotely close to yours. Take care! Wendy and Kent
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 Dear Barry and Jane, We had a wonderful stay
with you. I know you can relate to the what happens after you return
from a vacation. You are desperately trying to hold onto the past, as
present pushes you forward. We hope your home provides you with the
same pleasure it does your for your guests. Sincerely James and Mary
Date: Wed, 04 May 2005 Hi Jane, Hi Barry! First of all, let me repeat
tha we had a wonderfull time at The cofeeestate Inn!!! Everything was
amazing. It is nice feeling to know Panama has a quality place to
stay. You are great people and that make the place even better! It was
really nice meeting you. We left really happy. Ah!!! Thanks again for
everything, Love Claudia
Date: Wed, 05 May 2005 We are home and a little tired from the trip
back (all in one way) though it went swimmingly. Tom is presently
grinding your coffee and is a happy camper. Thank you again for your
hospitality. We had a terrific time and your place is tops. Thanks
also for the CR info.sounds amazing. Jess and Tom
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005Hello Jane, We had a wonderful stay with you. I
have been telling everyone about it; and that last evening there with
the music and fantastic dinner was the perfect end to a very special
trip. We thank you. Best regards, Carol and Dan
04 Apr 2005 Dear Jane and Barry, Just briefly let me say that we all
had a brilliant time in Panama largely thanks to you both. The
pictures are great. The light and the scenery have come out just
right. We will also recommend you very warmly by word of mouth to
people we know well enough to know that they would appreciate staying
with you too. Las Olas turned out to be brilliant too, we are all so
relaxed it`s not true. No doubt a couple of days into work and living
in Mexico City will have us back to normal though!!! Oh! yes, we dined
at Limoncillo too and that was excellent and April and Chris decided
to ditch the very basic hotel they were staying at and booked in to
Caesar Park!Thanks for all the info about Costa Rica too. No doubt
we`ll be in touch with you again. Our very warmest wishes, John and
Lizzie
Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2005 We had the BEST time staying at La Montana and
would love to return - with friends. I have a number of different
chicken recipes (which I use as "pheasant" recipes) and
although some of them are similar to the dinner you served us last
Friday night, none are quite the same. When you have time, we would so
appreciate the recipe. Have you ever thought of selling a small
cookbook? It would make a lovely memento of a stay at your place. (As
if you have nothing else to do!) Thank you again for making us feel
pampered, cossetted, and spoiled, but never smothered. Kathy and Donn
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 We all made it home, arrived home at 1.30am on
Tuesday morning, so it was a VERY long day. But of course there were 4
cats glad to see us, so we stayed up for a while enjoying their little
furry bodies. Again, can't tell you how much Alan and I enjoyed
our stay at your wonderfful inn. When Alan confirms the dates for a
possible return to the Coral Star next March, you will be hearing from
me, and give me back my little cottage that I feel in love with. So
again, thank you Jane and Barry, I loved my stay in Panama, and most
certainly will be back. Love and kisses Sandy
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 Jane and Barry, What a wonderful time we had at
your inn! Instead of feeling like we were merely staying at a fancy
resort (which it is), we actually felt part of your family. Thanks to
you and your employees for your warmth and hospitality. We also
appreciated your guidance in helping us choose activities. I now know
that we could have stayed a week and still would have had plenty to do
and could have just spent a relaxed time enjoying and appreciating
your lovely town - maybe next time. We never found Pipeline Road, but
the searching for it led to lots of fun and other discoveries. Thanks,
too, to Barry, for showing us around the coffee estate and teaching us
about coffee. I am now more open to appreciating coffees other than my
once-preferred (burnt) French Roasts! Wishing you all the best. Debbie
Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 Hi Jane and Barry, Hope this finds you both
well and happy. Weve been back a couple of weeks now and our wonderful
visit seems like a dream. We had such a great visit to Panama and our
stay with you was the best. Boquete is so nice and your estate is a
little garden of paradise. But you know that. We're still enjoying
our coffee. We shared most of the bags with friends and colleagues so
everyone is loving Panamanian shade grown coffee. And I have Susans
pictoral record of our vacation as a slide show screen saver on my
desk pc at work, so I take mini vacations throughout the day. A funny
thing for both of us is that we are both still having dreams about
Panama. The place went deep into our souls. It was such a pleasure
meeting you both. We didnt have opportunity for long conversation but
we both responded to the wavelength you guys are on. Were readers and
found it fun to see some of our favorite books in your library. Well,
this is just a note to say hi. We know you are both very busy, and
even so would enjoy exchanging thoughts with you once in awhile if you
like. Thank you. Until next time, take care, Steve and Susan
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 Hi Barry & Jane, Once again we had a
wonderful time with you. Boquete was at it's best this year with
all that sunshine. Los Olas was very nice and very quiet. Besides a
conference group of about 30 people there were 8 tourists there the
first night. The beach is beautiful. It's so surprising to see
miles of undeveloped beachfront. As an environmentally conscious
person, I loved it. As a real estate agent, I was drooling! We just
loved the meal you served us. If you get a moment would love the
recipes. I swear to not share it south of Miami! Best wishes and
thanks for another great memory. David
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 Hi! Boy could I use some more time at the
Coffee Inn!! We enjoyed your beautiful Inn so much and wish we could
have had more time to relax and take it all in. I'm happy we did
and saw as much as we could on our whirlwind trip, but I could see
coming back and spending relaxation time at your place. Need more
vacation time and $$!! Anyway, thanks again for your hospitality and
we have already raved about and recommended you to many people. Hope
to see you again someday!! Deb McDonald
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 Hi guys. We made it back a couple of days ago
and had a wonderful time. We did go to Dracula and saw some very
impressive orchids. The whole area is quite lovely in Cerra Punta and
some fine horse ranches in the valley. Los Olas was empty except for
us an two other couples so it was nice and relaxing. We did lots of
diving in Bocas and the visibility was quite good when we were there.
Found a new resort at Bocas del Drago called Bocas del Mar. Run by a
Canadian and his German girl friend. They bought it from an Italian
that had left it untouched for two years and they are still in the
process of bringing it back up to par. Great private beach and coral
reef, excellent beds and linens and very good food. Saw lots of sloths
and birds. We stayed there instead of going to Colombia, which allowed
lots of down time and reading. Again we had a wonderful time with you
and very much enjoyed our talks and over all experience.Thanks again;
James & Tamara
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 Thanks again for your hospitality. We had a
wonderful time in Boquete and would recommend your Estate to anyone
traveling there. We did get our camera back O.K. and Jose gave us a
ride to the Airport. Hope to see you both again some day. Bill
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 Thanks, Jane! The pictures are great! We
really enjoyed our time in Boquete and at the Coffee Estate Inn--we
certainly hope to make it back again soon! We made it to Panama City.
We'll e-mail you next week once back in the States with our
thoughts on Hacienda del Mar. Thanks again for your hospitality! Kelly
and Ravi
09 Mar 2005 Hello Jane and Barry, We had such a wonderful time
staying with you. The drive to Almirante was very nice, such wonderful
scenery. Again, I want to thank you for all the help you gave us. I
hope to get back again. If we do, you will be the first place I make
reservations. Sincerely, Anne
07 Mar 2005 Hola Jane and Barry, Thank you very much for the awesome
time in Boquete. You have a wonderful place there and made our
experience quite enjoyable. Tara is planning on doing an elaborate
write up on our trip. She will forward you a copy. Muchas Gracias!
Jona
Wed, 9 Feb 2005 Hi Jane & Barry - well, I am back in the office
today and dreaming of where I was a week ago. We really, really
enjoyed our stay at your place. We took your advice and went to Finca
Dracula. We were so glad we did. Once again your recommendation was
right on. They were so nice there and even sent us some pictures. We
also enjoyed the drive (and it didn't take as long as we thought).
That side of the volcano is so beautiful. And we followed you advice
and had lunch at Bambito. I can't thank you enough for all the
help you gave us in planning our trip and in ensuring that it was an
enjoyable stay. Best, Joanne & Lou
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 Hey Jane and Barry, We are now home safe and
sound, and are just now unpacking. Please let me know if I can ever do
anything for you from the states. Is there anything that you have
trouble getting that I could send you (unusual spices?, computer
stuff?). We had a great time at your place and in panama in general.
Your help and advice in planning our trip was invaluable. I also
appreciated the time you spent with me discussing your personal
reflections on Panama and Boquete. P.S. Our plane was over an hour
late going back to Panama City and we were beat so we didn't go to
the restaurant you recommended. The Japanese restaurant at Caesar Park
was having a seafood buffet and was packed. We had a very good dinner
there. We also bought the Conde Nast on the way home and were glad to
see the good write up on your inn. Talk to you soon. John
Tue, 25 Jan 2005 Hi Jane and Barry, We had a GREAT time in Boquete,
it would not have been the same without the wonderful company, you
made us feel very special and we thank you for that. Our time in
Contadora was very relaxing and peaceful...we will send pictures Carlo
and Sharon
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 Hi Jane, We had a great time with you and
it's always a wonderful place for us to spend time together
without any of the other crap that life puts in one's way!!!!!
Also of course you are great hosts - I'm sure I put on half a
stone in those few days.Hope you are both well, Regards, Paul
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 Hi Jane and Barry - Thanks for a great time and
some great food! We enjoyed meeting both of you and hope to visit
again. Our second week in Gamboa was interesting. The Gamboa
Rainforest Resort (as you know) is a typical big "tourist"
resort with lots of canned activities and so forth. We were able to
find a good birding guide (on his day off), however, who spent two
full days with us on Pipeline Road and other good birding areas. For a
very reasonable cost we got to do some world-class birding and added
several hundred species to our trip list. Too bad that the Gamboa
Rainforest Resort and Canopy Tower are the only alternatives in that
area - both have drawbacks. Otherwise, we enjoyed relaxing, a few
siestas, and the view of the Canal and the Chagres River. We stayed in
the "historic village" at Gamboa - which are the older
2-story wooden villas that have been "modernized" by adding
TV and telephones. These accommodations are spacious and furnished
with pleasant wicker furniture, although a bit frayed around the
edges. Much better that the hotel-like setting of the main resort. The
food was expensive for what we got, but of reasonable quality. Thanks
again. Happy New Year! Mike