May 15-June 4, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 27
PANAMA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
GENEALOGY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
up literally on the other side of Portobelo, on a private island. Part of what makes El Otro Lado unique is the contrast of the whole experience. Imagine staying in a world-class, luxurious resort, on a private island. Six unique houses make up this magnificent private retreat. We booked the Casa Grande. Colorful, African inspired art, handcrafted tile floors, and comfortable, bright furnishings, can perk up the most jet-lagged soul. El Otro Lado has created nice walking paths that lead through the unique grounds, which are set within the jungle terrain. The work that has gone into creating this magical place is unreal. If you are looking for peaceful, comfortable and beautiful surroundings to relax, El Otro Lado has created a masterpiece. Daily, there is a special menu offering fine dining, in a gorgeous room full of paintings, sculptures and stunning artwork made by locals. The Pasion Perpetua restaurant, on the property, overlooks the infinity pool and the bay. Breakfast was delicious. Warm croissants, crispy bread and butter, a generous portion of fresh sweet papaya, green apple, cantaloupe and the sweetest pineapple ever to be eaten, arrived first. Our made-to-order omelets were cooked to perfection and served by the wonderfully attentive staff. Now picture all of this, in the midst of arresting beauty of the deep-green, tropical rainforest. Howler monkeys make their presence known, as they swing through the jungle that surrounds you, as you watch from your balcony. Many of the bright, colored flowers don’t look real. In the morning, the beautiful birds that look hand-painted provide entertainment while you sip coffee, listening to the sounds of the jungle. Immersing yourself in Central America’s raw beauty is dreamlike. The colors are surreal. Sounds of exotic birds, howling monkeys and the smell of tropical flowers spike your adrenaline. It’s sensual excitement on every level. El Otro Lado is
other countries or from the east to the west coasts of the United States. Each county in California has either a genealogical society or historical society or both. Almost all have websites where you can find information about their locations, hours, whether they have a library, and other information. Genealogical societies in the tricounty area include: n Ventura County Genealogical Society: venturacogensoc.org n Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society: sbgen.org [has a large library] n Santa Maria Valley Genealogical Society: smvgs.org n San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society: www.slocgs.org All three counties have historical societies, historical museums, or both. In additional, there are Family History Centers statewide. If you cannot visit the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (www. familysearch.org), you should visit the local centers, which are “branches,” if you will, of the main library. They are working to digitize a lot of their record collection. All of these are major repositories for genealogists. Again, not everything is online,
Photo contributed The island’s rainforest is full of unexpected beauty.
unlike any other destination. There is always a boat and driver ready to take you to across the bay, to Portobelo, if you want to go to the explore it. Portobelo is a little village, population 4,000, that is bursting with art, history, good food and the sounds of reggae music. The locals are proud of their heritage and teach their youth how to paint, create art and play instruments. If you’re hungry, the food is excellent at Casa Congo restaurant. It sits right on the bay and serves delicious fresh fish and yucca fries. On the way back to El Otro Lado, ask the driver of the boat to tell you about the San Fernando Fort, which is next to the El Otro Lado. Our guide told us fascinating, true pirate stories that took place in this stronghold. Long-rusted cannons and walls from the fort still stand in the ruins from the 17th century. If you are looking for a unique, exclusive getaway, El Otro Lado is beyond compare.
GRANTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 n Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue n Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center n Solvang Theaterfest, Inc. n Wilderness Youth Project In addition to the financial grants, each
Travel expert Donna Polizzi is the founder of Keys2TheCoast.com, offering honest recommendations on the “Best Places to Wine, Dine, Explore and More.” Visit keys2thecoast. com or Keys2TheCoast on Facebook.
RD File Major repositories a a must for genealogy research.
so a visit to them is a requirement for due diligence and to achieve accurate, successful research. Your ancestors deserve no less. If you have questions, please send them to news@santaynezvalleystar.com so they can be answered in future issues. Sheila Benedict is a professional forensic and family genealogist. She is the author of “Research in California,” which she wrote in 2015 for the National Genealogical Societies’ “Research in the States” series. nonprofit received a brief promotional video produced by Cox Communications showcasing its work. Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk. com. Voted #1 Best Pest & Termite Co. • Look for the Ant on the Truck •
Pests carry harmful bacteria and diseases! Call us today and take the worry out of tomorrow!
Free Limited Termite Inspection Free Estimates Same Day Service Monday-Saturday Eco Smart Products
805-688-7855 www.oconnorpest.com
Kevin O’Connor President
The BREAST Special EVER VER 805-688-8400
www.droquist.com
Melinda R. Oquist, D.D.S.
Allergies got you down, sneezing, and miserable? Let us help you! BUELLTON MEDICAL CENTER Family Practice
DENNIS R. BALES, O.D.
195 W. Hwy 246 • Buellton, CA 93427
M-Th 8 am-6 pm, Fri 8 am-4:30 pm, Sat 9 am-2 pm, Sun Closed
2040 Viborg, Suite 240 Solvang, CA 93463 www.visionsource-dennisrbalesod.com Office Hours by Appointment
(805) 688-0707 (805) 693-9839 Fax
Ph: 805
686-8555 Fax: 805-686-8556
E-mail: info@buelltonmedicalcenter.com www.buelltonmedicalcenter.com
se habla español
Santa Ynez Valley Plastic Surgery
Breast augmentation starting at $2,500 385 Alisal Solvang • syvplasticsurgery.com
call for consultation • 805-350-9288 DrBaeke@SYVPlasticSurgery.com