Blogs from Kuna Yala, Panama, Central America Caribbean - page 5

We are in san blas coco bandero cays with 20souls on board. Tomorrow morning we head off to cartagena where we will be staying for maintenance works untill the 25th june --... read more

09.04. - 20.04.2010 Ueberfahrt auf der Stahlratte von Carti via San Blas nach Cartagena, Kolumbien Wir mussten wieder einmal mehr sehr früh aufstehen, denn um 5 Uhr sollten wir abgeholt und nach Carti transportiert werden. Wir wurden dann auch abgeholt, allerdings etwas spaeter…. Allerdings war es dann fast 6 Uhr bis alles Gepaeck auf und in die Jeeps geladen war und wir dann losfuhren. Gegen Mittag erreichten wir den National Park und etwas spaeter luden wir unser Gepaeck auf ein kleines Boot, welches uns zur Stahlratte brachte - einem gewaltigen 2 Master. Wir wurden von er Crew (Nicole und Roli) und dem Captain Ludwig (von den Kuna und spaeter auch von uns liebevoll Lulu genannt) in Empfang genommen. An Bord waren schon Megan und Marshal, Chris und Dan aus den Vereinigten Stadten, alle samt Motorraedern. Nach ... read more

Hi all, We have ended our previous entry traveling in & around Panama City. Well, today I will take you with us from Panama City to Cartagena in Colombia, a trip on a sail boat! Yes, we know; A cruise sounds like a very special and romantic journey: Blue ocean, sail boat (yacht, if you'd like), cold beers on deck, partying at moonlight, etc. The truth is far from that, unfortunately, it was not anything like the vision we had in mind - at all - and today we thank (god?) we have literally survived it. Though we were not far from not surviving it. The sail boat - Awab - was waiting for us in Carti which is the main 'town' in the San Blas Islands, the land of the Kuna people. To get to ... read more

March 25 2010 San Blas Islands, Panama, Central America We left Cartagena early, about 6.45am to try and make sure we were able to get into the Hollondaise Quays with adequate daylight. Debs and I made way and left the kids to sleep as we had a bit of a motor to clear the harbour and the first few miles of the entrance. The departure was uneventful as was the rest of the trip across to the islands. We caught up with the guys from High Five about two thirds of the way across and sailed in company with them all the way into the anchorage. Our first view of this amazing place was the low profiled, coconut palm filled small islands protected from the swell by a large encompassing reef system. We dropped the anchor ... read more

During the past year and before deciding we would take Sandcastle home, Roger and I toured Kuna Yala. We were fortunate to meet a group of sailors who enjoyed similar types of site seeing and entertainment that we do. This resulted in a great 9 months of fun and good living. Steve aboard Liward loves surfing and guitar so does Roger and Jeff of Dragonfly. Paul of Dream Weaver played the percussion. Thus the group "Los Gringos" was born! Every island we visited was entertained by the Los Gringos. In return, the Kunas, welcomed us with open arms. Sometimes the looks on their faces made it hard to determine whether they really enjoyed it or not but the requests for more said it all!!! Lili, myself (Linda), Una and Karen... read more