What, with all the stress of preparing for a Panama Cruise, I am desperate to quit obsessing over every detail, so we were thrilled when friends invited us to join them last weekend on their pontoon boat on Kalamalka Lake. What a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon and a welcome distraction from all things Panama!
Contrary to popular belief, Kalamalka is not an Okanagan word for Lake of Many Colours. Rather, the lake was named after an Indian chief who lived on the lake's northern shore. That's what it says on Wikipedia. Kalamalka Lake has been called one of the 10 most beautiful lakes in the world by National Geographic. How lucky we are to have it only a half hour drive from home. And now, on this pontoon boat with good food, great company and perfect suntanning weather, we are thinking, "This is the life."
How refreshing to jump off the back of the boat into the cool, turquoise water and float around the middle of the lake (in a life vest, of course). The water is so clear we could easily see our feet below while we tread water. The ocean in the Caribbean is reportedly just as blue and wonderfully clear, too, and I can't wait to go snorkeling in Aruba, one of the ports of call on this cruise. (Sorry, my mind wandered there.)
As we cruised near Kalamalka Lake Park, we came to a spot where young people were plunging from the cliffs into the water. Yikes, I sighed relief when I was sure none of my children were participating. Boaters observing from the lake clapped and cheered as the divers performed back flips and somersaults. Despite the obvious hazards - almost yearly someone is seriously injured or dies as a result of cliff jumping here - it is hard not to be impressed (if not slightly worried).
These daredevils put me in mind of the famous La Quebrada cliff divers in Acapulco, another port of call on our upcomng cruise. We were in Acapulco this past February and witnessed these athletes hurl themselves 136 feet from narrow ledges to the crashing Pacific below. Our taxi driver told us that the divers clean up the gardens and pick up litter on the hotel grounds when they are not diving. Hmmmm, is there a lesson in that?
On the way home, we stopped at Starbucks for an Iced Americano. Hanging on the wall was a poster for "Guatemala Antigua Starbucks Coffee." Our cruise ship stops in Guatemala - yes, Antigua - for a day, and we are trying to decide between booking an excursion to a coffee plantation or a zip line tour. Good heavens, how can I stop obsessing when everything points to Panama.
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