Blogs from Panama City, Panamá, Panama, Central America Caribbean - page 34

Hi everyone, hope you are all well! Before we start, our last blog entry (from Nicaragua) has been lost so if anyone has a copy, online or not, if you could lets us know, that would be most appreciated. I really can't be bothered writing it again and we have probably forgotten most of it. Anyway, we are now in Panama, on a small island in the Cribbean (once again ;-). We spent our two weeks on the Chocolate farm in Costa Rica and had a great time. We would work for 4-5 houres in the morning and have the afternoons off (because it usually rained). We spent time digging ditches, harvesting cocoa , watering gardens, peeling cacoa, making chicken coups, roasting and grinding cocoa etc etc. You probably get the picture that life of the ... read more

After leaving Bocas Del Toro, James and I began the journey to Panama City. We caught the water taxi back over to Changuinola and from there took a bus to David, which is in the south-east of Panama. That bus took about four hours but luckily all the transport has been fantastic so far, with air con etc. This journey was fairly uneventful, although the views were amazing. However we did also experience just how dangerous the windy roads can be, passing a huge lorry that had driven straight off the side of the road, and around the very next corner a banana truck that had overturned (quite surreal, bananas everywhere). By the time we reached David it was time to find a room for the night. David is not unlike San Jose with its´bustling, noisy ... read more

I thought Panama City was fantastic, I'm just not exactly sure why. Maybe in the process of writing this blog I'll figure out what I liked about it, but maybe not. I think it was just the 'vibe' of the place. In some parts, the standard big city hustle and bustle was there to be seen, but in Casco Viejo (the old town) where I stayed and mainly hung out, life seemed to move pretty slow. I think part of the reason for the laid back attitude of the Panamanians is the canal. Handling around 40 ships a day with an average toll of more than US$50,000 (yes, I went to the Panama Canal Museum), it is a handy little money spinner for the country, especially considering that it was built mainly with American finance ... read more

I took a side trip from Panama city to Portobello and Isla Grande. Portobello is an old port town, nothing much special here expect for the forts which still remain well intack and the city itself is pretty. On down the road for about an hour you come to the place to take a boat over to Isla Grande. This place was paradise, especially after having been in the city for awhile. We got an awesome place right on the beach and went swimming right away. I love the Carribean!! So clear, so warm. I saw my first macaw in the wild, a blue and gold one here. Only spend a nite and 2 days here, but it was really great. Hiked up over the island which was really pretty. Less then a month till ... read more

Attention all those shoe stringers out there looking to get to South America quick, easy and cheap. If you are one of those travelers who eats in restaurants with walls or sleeps in hotels with a concrete floor then this information is not for you, otherwise please read on. There are several ways to get from Panama to Colombia. The first and most dangerous is to walk a few weeks through the Darien Gap. If you are lucky you will not get shot or robbed by guerillas trying to smuggle bags of cocaine across the border, you might not starve to death from lack of provisions but perhaps you will be eaten by a crocodile. The second option is the most popular which is to take a yacht for about 5 days along the coast stopping ... read more