The past few days have been absolutely amazing. Every day in Panama has taken my breath away; I am completely enchanted with this place and can definitely answer the question "What is the best place you have ever traveled to?" with complete certainty now. I absolutely LOVE this country!!!! I will try to backtrack and fill in the gaps since I have for once made it to the Internet cafe before 10:30 pm. (I think I have finally got this picture uploading thing down too, so I updated the Costa Rica entry with more pictures, FYI) On New Year's Day I took off with Manu, the Indian Canadian dude, to Bocas del Toro in Panama. I had originally planned on staying in Puerto Viejo longer but with the motorbike tour we did, I saw everything I ... read more

The comforting thing about the timidity I had about traveling solo is running into people who are even more clueless than I am. I don't know how many people I met that didn't speak a lick of Spanish or who had never even made it out of the country before starting out on a 6 month journey...I felt quite reassured that I need NOT be so concerned. Anyway, yes, I actually did make it to San Jose alive after a very long layover and customs line. Once arrived I searched for someone resembling a backpacker type to try to split a cab to the center of town. I lucked out and found some girl staying at another hostel and we thought the cab driver said that I would have to pay the full amount anyway, but ... read more

Since I have had to postpone the culinary and cultural delights awaiting me in SE Asia, I have been scurrying around to devise a contingency plan. Pleased to announce that I bought the ticket, and it lands me back in previously trod Central America. However, this time I will get to add Panama's splendors to the itinerary and will not be as much of a whirlwind traveler (last time was 5 countries in 4 weeks). Three weeks from tomorrow I fly out to Costa Rica, where I will hopefully meet some cool travelers to usher in the New Year with (or find a place to salsa with the Ticos!) From there I plan on visiting Panama's Bocas del Toro and the Chiriqui highlands before heading back to western Costa Rica to (hopefully!) learn how to surf ... read more