Santa Clara, Panama
Trip Start
Jul 18, 2007
1
4
7
Trip End
Aug 24, 2007
Santa Clara, Cocle Province, Panama,
Panama
Monday, July 30, 2007
Left Bocas del Toro at 8.00am arrived to Panama City and took the bus
to Santa Clara. The bus that takes you to Santa Clara is Aguadulce or Anton, either one you just tell the bus driver to drop you off in Santa Clara. After two hours drive the bus dropped us on the highway and we (Tyler, Kelley and myself ) had to walk 1km to Las Veraneras, the place where we were staying for two days. the bus was filled with the scent pines on the roof, it was a trip. After that long walk with our backpacks, and not knowing what to expect from this place. There was nothing, nothing at all. We arrived to Las Veraneras, it seemed that back in the day this place was really nice but today with the arrival of big resorts, this place was falling apart. It was nice though, we wanted to stay in a cabin. The cabin was $45 and we were three so it was perfect. The only thing was that the restaurant, the only one around, has only fried things. Can you imagine two days eating fried chicken, fried fish, french fries. Oh God... our stomach was about to collapse. I was in a strick diet of beer. Nothing else. The toillette wasnt working properly, men it was fucking hillarious. I have to say it was an adevnture to be there.
July 31
We woke up and went to the beach, the sand was darker than in Bocas del Toro. Here the moskitos were killer, especially because the cabin didnt have any netting or anything. bocas it was all right but here I was in pain. We spent the whole day on the beach. During the afternoon Kelley and I decided that we wanted to see around.
arriving to las veraneras
We walked for hours and we arrived to the highway, there was literally nothing around. We found a small grocery store, so we bought some groceries. we went to a restaurant for dinner, this restaurant was 15 minutes drive from Las Veraneras. it wa sreally good restaurant. Great food. I cant remember the name it was something like Los Amigos Restaurant.August 1
We woke up and head to Farrallon to the DeCameron Hotel. It was enormous, I bet somebody was washing a lot of money in this resort. they charge us US$60 all inclusive. We went to the beach, had luch and during the afternoon relaxed on the pool and bar that was inside the pool. We went for dinner and Kelley and I decided that we wanted to go for a drink and relaxed. Tyler wanted to party so he went to this pub in the resort.
My God what a change. I was missing Bocas del Toro. From las Veraneras that we couldnt use the toilette and now everything was served right there. It want my type of place. I was missing a lot Bocas del Toro... but at least I saw it and knew that I didnt want to come here again. Not because it wasnt nice but it wasnt my place.
The next day we did the same thing, beach, beer and drinks.
August 3
I left Farrallon, the guys where staying there for another day and then going back to Panama City. I took a shuttle from DeCameron to Panama City and then decided that I wanted to go to Isla Grande. Again to the Caribbean.
Took a shuttle that left me in Portobelo where i saw the ruins and then I had to take a boat to Isla Grande.
The first two nights I was staying in this place called Banana Resort. It was a beautiful house with pool, kayak and an amazing view. I met the most interesting people from Panama City they were all with their wives and they were there for the weekend. I stayed the whole time with them, drinking El Abuelo rum 7 years aged and coke. It rained all day so what better thing to do than drink and chat. This people were great and so interetsting, they were friends from childhood, Viktor, Daniel and I cant remember the name of the other guy.
The next day I met up with the guys again, but during the morning I went to the town. Theres nothing much. I wanted to get a hostel there but I decided to stay where I was. During the night we decided to go to town all together. Good times
People here are so friendly. They were worried about me, because I was travelling by myself. But my trip was almost over so I well they were worring a little bit late.
They left the next morning and I was leaving the siland later on that day. I took the boat and then catch a shuttle to Panama City.
August 4
I was leaving Panama City to Buenos Aires.
