Back to Bocas del Toro
Trip Start
Feb 25, 2008
1
6
18
Trip End
Mar 18, 2008
Bocas del Toro,
Panama
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Today, we are back to Bocas. We are staying in Hotel Las Olas, which is a birght yellow, 3 story building with a deck overlooking the waters. Our hotel room costs $45 dollars with a full breakfast included, served on the deck. Our room is on the second floor and we have a balcony over the street and has a flat screen TV. There is air conditioning but doesnīt work really well. The temp is about 90 degrees outside. This hotel is in neighborhood, off the main street. Children are playing in the street outside, and kids are playing baseball in the park. Baseball is a big deal here in Panama. You see lots of people with baseball caps, especially the NY Yankees
Beautiful Bocas del Drago Beach
. Now that we are settled, we took a bus across the middle of the island to Boca del Drago. This is a beach at the west end of Isla Colon. This is the picturesque beach you see in the Carribean travel brochures. Curved white sandy beaches, with palm trees swaying, coconuts fallen on the ground, crystal clear jade and turquoise waters, with a slight breeze.
Fred found some shade under a palm tree and sat on the fallen palm and read his book. I on the other hand, waded, floated, and swam in the beautiful waters. Wandered the sand looking for shells, got back in the waters, sat on the palm and read my book, back in the waters. Well you get the idea. We then walked around the curve of the beach, but all too soon it was time to catch the bus back to town. There are supposed to be many starfish but I donīt think we got far enough around the corner to see them. While waiting for the bus, we sipped on a Panama beer.
I did begin to feel like pins in my feet. I found little hair like stickers that would break off when I pinched them. I am still finding them in my feet. Donīt know what they are and I did wear plastic shoes in the water
Birds sitting on the posts - Bocas del Drago
. Donīt know if it was a jelly fish or what. The bus ride was very scenic, partially on the coast and partially in the forested middle of the island. Many tropical flowers along the way, that one would pay an arm and a leg for in the florist. Many modest homes, some little more than wooden shacks, with laundry drying in the breeze. One park had a serious baseball game going on; uniforms and everything.
Back in Bocas, we ate a vegetarian pizza at a cafe on the main street. Home to sit on the deck and enjoy the evening. It was only when we arrived in our room did we realize how sunburned we were. Fred had a red chest and back and my nose was bright red. Fred mumbled something about me being able to guide Santaīs sleigh, so that will give you an idea of how red my nose was. I did use sunblock, but taking Doxycycline and going to the beach in 90 plus weather, donīt quite mix. Well worth it though.
We later went in search of an internet cafe, but being Sunday night, many were closed. Fred found an expat bar called Baumfalks and enjoyed a beer, bought a t-shirt and a Panama license plate.
Where to next...we talked about going across the border to Costa Rica, but finally chose to go high in the mountains to Boquete. See you in Boquete on the next entry.
Jane and Fred
