From Sea to Sea
Trip Start
Dec 03, 2007
1
17
29
Trip End
Mar 29, 2008
Bocas Del Toro,
Panama
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The island has lots of wildlife, including noisy howler monkeys which would swing by our bedroom windows and 280 recorded bird species. The hotel and restaurant were the only ones on the island so we were happy that it was a decent place to stay. We met some fellow Canadians from Windsor and were able to rent kayaks for a morning and go swimming in a little tropical cove complete with a īcold beerīstand.
Phoning home was an adventure as we had to climb up onto the roof of the 3 story restaurant in order to get a signal. It worked and the view was great.
The Canadians were heading off the next morning in their rented car and offered us a ride to the highway which we gladly took. Hopping on the waiting bus, we went on to the Pacific palm lined beach of Las Lajas. It is a huge beach which apparently is very crowded on weekends but was empty when we got there on a Tuesday. Even though it is a great spot, good accomodations are lacking and we spent the night in a rustic cabin.
a great casa on the canal to Changuinola
The cabin was up on stilts, had a cold shower, 1 foot to spare on either side of the bed, plastic mattress cover, and the walls did not meet the floor. But we did have air conditioning. Not my favourite palce to stay.Chrisī bronchitis was not improving so we visited the little hospital in San Felix. After seeing a doctor, getting medication and 2 sessions on a ventilator, we paid a grand total of $.95 and we were off again.
This time we took a bus back to David and neaded north to Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean side. The 4 hour trip from sea to sea was beautiful as it went through a beautiful mountain range and through tropical jungles. Arriving in Almirante, we took a water taxi from a dock area which reeked from the garbage and was inhabited by rats. Not a very pleasant place. Beside me sat an indigenous family, made up of a mother, her teenage daughter and a new born baby. Little did we know that the taxi was dropping the family off in the middle of the channel (about 1 km from the shore) as the rest of the family was waiting at a buoy in a dugout canoe to pick up mom and the new baby. It was amazing to see how easily, or gracefully, the transfer took place and the family paddled off.
Isla Colon, one of the most developed islands in Bocas del Toro, is a funky caribbean town where people speak english, patois and spanish. It is a friendly and relaxed place where it was easy to meet and speak to people.
a nasty corner at the Almirante dock
In fact, we met a man we knew from Boquete and also met the 2 Canadians from Windsor. Staying in the Hotel Laguna was a good thing as we were close to everything and had lots of perks - hot water showers with pressure, air conditioning, a TV, towels, soap, a fridge, a balcony and room to dance around in! What a pleasure. It was a pleasure to stay there for 3 nights. Isla Bastimentes, a 10 minute boat ride away, had a gorgeous little beach called Red Frog beach which we got to by walking on a manicured trail through Panamaīs first marine park. The park is an important nature reserve for many species of Caribbean wildlife, including a tiny red frog which a little boy showed us, all wrapped up in a big green leaf. Chris and I enjoyed our visit and got a nice tan after 2 hours of beach time.
A followup visit to the hospital was needed and after 3 hours, a doctorīs examination, a chest xray, more ventilation, penicillin shots, amoxicillan, tylenol, ibuprofin, cough syrup and a $17.50 bill we were set to go again. I am not sure if we should make a medical claim on our insurance when we get home. What do you think? Chris is feeling a lot better now and didnīt have to take half of the meds.
Going home was a treat. We took a water taxi to Changuinola and then 2 buses home but itīs the water taxi ride for $6 that needs to be talked about. What a trip. We travelled along the old canals that used to be used by the plantations to transport bananas for the Chiquita Banana company. It was a scenic 45 minute trip that was full of wonderful sights, including beautiful water birds, indigenous homes, animals and plant life. It was a highlight of our trip in Bocas and we were happy that we had the opportunity to catch the boat when we did.
Well, back to Boquete and 2 more nights of the Fair. Hmmm.
Comments
Wow again!!
This is an amazing 'blog' You do a great job keeping it up to date! I hope Chris is on the mend. We have flu bugs going around Guleph, so you are missing them! Lots of snow here this week and cold. Enjoy your beaches and warm weather.
Jeff's mom still in hospital, so hope she improves this week to go home. Jeff is up in Peterborough for the week and comes home on the weekends.
cheers, Franki.