skiptothefuture

(BARB) OK now that things have settled down (it took me a week to get back to normal...well as normal as I can be), it's time for an update on things here in Florida. We've been in our 22 ft. camper for 17 days. It's not so bad having such little space (and no TV)...but we haven't had to spend a day inside due to rain either...so we'll see how THAT goes when it happens! Right now we are in Highlands Hammock State Park http://www.floridastateparks.org/highlandshammock/default.cfm and it's a beautiful park. It has lots of history. It used to be a camp for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) which was a gov't program used during the depression and prior to WWII to give young men work. Young men enrolled for up to 2 years and they were ... read more

3/9/11 (Barb) Well I guess we ended the blog a little bit too soon. We didn't have to leave the hotel til midnight so we spent Monday morning doing up some laundry and packing. Well I was packing and Skip said he wasn't packing yet..too depressing. I said that when I get a gut feeling to do something I usually did it or I ended up being sorry if I didn't...boy was I right! Around noon I started to get queasy. I went to our room about 1 pm and got into bed with chills. I knew I had a fever. I slept for a few hours then woke up to having to go to the bathroom....diarrhea ….I went a few more times and then I took some Amodiam AD but that didn't stop it. By ... read more

Monday March 7, 2011 (Skip) It always seems to happen this way; when I reflect back on any adventure/journey the events always seem like a dream. Did all these perceived events really take place? Sure I know that right now I am in Panama; the surroundings confirm this, a different language confirms this and I surely feel that I am in Panama. But still the many events the took place over the last three weeks are a blur at best. My favorite dream state of Panama keeps coming back to the many wonderful people we encountered during our travels; the challenge Barb and I faced whenever we entered into any eating establishment (most of the time someone in the restaurant came to our rescue); the truly changing panorama of the land and sky as we ... read more

Sunday March 6,2011 6:44 pm (Skip) More than likely this is our last night, under the stars so to speak (actually under a elaborate covering in a open bar) and listening to a very lovely piano player. How can life be better? Mellow lights, faint outline of Palms, good company, nice music and of course good booze. Oh yes, we've just ordered Burger and fries, how American!!! Believe it or not, no steak or fries since we have landed in Panama!! Now that has to be a first for most Americans! Also, a big also, no Bud!! Gerald this is for you!! This world is truly amazing. The gentleman next table to us is from Miami, USA; speaks fluently 4 different languages, works in all of the America's (Central and South) and is very nice. Oh ... read more

Sunday morning 3/06/11 (Skip)Please note: When I refer to Europcar rental it is with the understanding the agent that I am dealing with in Tocumen Airport is Auto mobile car rental ie: www.automobilecarrental.com Further note: when attempting to access this web site this afternoon a notice was posted on top of the web page as to the following: NOTICE: This domain name expired on 02/09/2011 and is pending renewal or deletion . Go figure? Who am I really dealing with?? Today is the day that I always knew was just around the corner; this is the day I must face the dragon, Europcar Rental. In days of old, one would dress in battle armor and pick up your old trusty sword or spear and proceed into the unknown. So what's so different today? No sword ... read more

3/5/11 (Barb) We left Santiago this morning around 9 am after having our usual breakfast and then taking a pic of our cute waiter. Off we head for Panama City...praying that the car makes this one last trip!!! Uneventful ride except the other side of highway is packed...heading OUT of Panama City...our side..not so bad. We begin to hope the city has emptied and we will have it easy thru the city. Not to be! Not to be! Ms. Garmin had an idea where to go BUT we'll seestreets are blocked off for Carnivalle parade (we guessed) and after going thru the same packed streets....packed with people and cars....3 times....we headed back OUT of the city planning on trying another way on our own...Ms. Garmin just wanted us to keep making circles....guess she was thinking we ... read more

March 4, 2011 (Barb) OK OK Ok....I give up...will this craziness ever end???? Yesterday was another day of lounging around cuz Skip was still not feeling well...his stomach was just not 'right'. He slept most of the day away. I wandered off by myself...no not in the car...I'm not that crazy yet!!! I wandered around the area...not tooooo far cuz as most of you know I'm directionally challenged. I found a small store...kinda like a mini Super Walmart type place with (isn't that a contradiction in terms?? LOL) with a small grocery and large meat counter at one end. I wandered around but did not buy anything. That was the most exciting part of the day. We went to bed as usual with me making sure flip flops were right next to the bed in case ... read more

3/2/11 (Barb) Skip is much better today and we took a ride in another direction toward Santa Fe near the National Forest. Of course it goes to dirt roads before you get there...so we turned around just outside of Santa Fe. The ride was certainly beautiful...we both agreed this was our favorite area..maybe cuz of the lack of trash??? We kept seeing this funny looking things hanging from some of the trees along the side of the road....red, shaped like a plum tomato with a nut like thing growing on the top. We stopped and picked one up and when we got back to the hotel....we asked the clerk there what it was..she gave us a name and indicated that we could just bite into it..so we did..and YUCK bitter taste..so we threw it away once ... read more

Wednesday March 2, 2011 (Skip) When we first started writing about our travels in Panama we mentioned the difficult time we experienced with the rental car folks at the airport. I believe sufficient time has passed between our unfortunate experience at the airport, for there to be an objective evaluation of where we are at this point with this rental Company. The Rental company's home page is: http://www.europcar.com/ When I arrived at the Europcar rental desk, the first problem I encountered was no reservation for the vehicle. After arguing for several minutes and showing my printed confirmation from the website they agreed that I did indeed have a reservation. The second discussion centered around third party insurance. I finally agreed and the tab was $13 per day.(see below explanation) The third disparity occurred when I was ... read more

3/1/11 (Barb) Both of us are feeling a little queasy today so we're taking it easy. Skip is sleeping right now...I've been reading. We did go for a little ride around Santiago. We got here in the dark so we had no idea what this city was like. It's a pretty big city...3rd largest I believe in Panama. It's the cleanest city I've seen so far. As we drove around the country side I did notice that the homes were kept up more. Seems to be less trash and such around...some but not as much as I've seen in other places. I like this city's looks. Still the same kind of stuff here tho..like horses tied up in front of a house just waiting to be rode or just ridden! That cracks me up..and lots of ... read more