Panama Peek, Caribbean Chill

So back at Jungle Hostel it was time to have a nose at them there trails. Teeny though they were, the night walk previously had seen 2 poisonous viper snakes – eek – apparently eye level so I would have been ok 😀  First though a few ‘on site residents.  Now I would add that bugette number 2 was near enough the size of a loo roll … not andrex puppy roll out length I hasten to add – blimey there would have been no pic then as I would have kneeled over with fright.  Rather height thereof – strange analogy I know but it was on the loo wall at the time.

Once out and about ‘Buts Butterfly Attenborough’ captured the following. Now I have to say that hmmm during said sleuth about my hair did tickle my arm a few times and as for when the leaf fell on me …  Let’s just say if I had done the 3 day Corcovado I think I would have spent a lot of time squealing and twitching.

The first butterfly had lovely blue wings when opened but getting that shot you need to have the quickest reflexes in the world – infact I have seen the huge Blue-Mopho butterfly, that has wings that can span up to 20cm, on 5-6 separate occasions cue an image to show you that beauty.

Next day and it was off to Panama.  Bit of a whizz trip as our plan of action was to nip straight up to Bocas Del Toro – bit of a party town with access to fab islands, in one day.  Result as Louchi happened to be travelling same day as us so we were guided on first section and got lift down to port at Puerto Jimenez.  Here we jumped on to a boat to Gofito – Julius a tad nervous as his humungous suitcase was attached by a little piece of rope on the roof whilst we whizzed across the bay bouncing away.  This was followed by a mini bus to Paso Canoas border.  Here we went our separate ways and bade farewell to Louchi and to be honest it was super quick to get across and more a case of hmmm are we now in Panama?!

Julius and I jumped on another mini bus with air con, hip hop FM and more space than our normal mode of travel.  The first thing I noticed was that the roads were better and the houses were jail free.  This took us to David – pronounced Da-vid and within 15mins we were in the next mini bus – as was the world and his wife, with pick ups squeezing more in enroute.   I swear at one stage I nearly had a winkie on my knee – well actually I would rather have had my legs round me neck rather than have a strangers winkie on my knee.  Look mate take your winkie over there, I’m already carrying missus boob on my right shoulder.  The scenary was fab from David to Almarente – excluding winkie and boob.

So from start to finish – pickup, boat, taxi, minibus x 2, boat, we did it in around 11hrs for the bargain sum of $31.  Arriving into Bocas you are met by pastal coloured restaurants, bars and accommodation on stilts on the waters edge. Alas for our budget we weren’t in such accommodation – goodness is that the sound of a softly strung violin? Cue a hostel with a concave bed where I was bitten to pieces the first night due to a large window with mossie net flapping in the breeze.  14 bites anyone? Oh and a hand like the pillsbury dough boy. That was just the next morning.  Not that I was bitter and twisted counting them all you understand.  Very tempted to change óstels but as last few nights with Julius thought I would hang on in there and give them the benefit of the doubt with change of room.   To take my mind off of scratching and hmmm more scratching a boat trip was called for.  Off we headed to see the dolphins in dolphine bay – along with another 10 odd boats.  An idea of what the dolphins would have seen when they popped up.  Then onto the rather fabulous Cayos Zapatilla  – check out that water.

Another day, another island as I went off and checked out Carenero, a 30 sec boat ride away.  Here I was, if I’m really honest, saddened to see how the real locals live.  I have seen this contrast many times before and it never sits well with me.  The locals themselves were so friendly, smiley and happy and to them I suppose that is what they are used to and seemed happy with their lot as opposed to the need more/must have more ethos back home.   There was also a school there and as previously witnessed, children were spick and span in a sea of white and blue with polished shoes.

My initial mission was to check out the beach here but could only get so far before it started to rain.  I had seen many holes in the sand and these red blurs where zooming in and out.  At such stage my feet were also a blur running over said óles as I wasn’t sure of the occupants. Later found out that they were the one claw fiddler crabs.  On the subject of crabs, from the rain I had to take refuge.  Cue to the Cosmic Crab where I was a happy bunny looking at the starfish, meandering crab and watching the world go by inbetween reading my book and hmmm a beer or 2.  Avoided any of the “nuts” combos – the last one making me feel particularly queasy.

Panama is a LOT cheaper than CR – the latter apparently the most expensive place in Central America.  Certainly for the former, beer, tuna and biscuits were half the price.  Eeek I think I might have given away my oh so balanced travellers diet. 😀  Peter at said jungle hostel makes trips to Panama to stock up and purchase all sorts of goods due to the price saving.

Time to head off from Bocas and back to CR.  Although I would have liked to check out the Panama Canal, we were on a time limit and yes I could have gone there on my own but decided it was too much of a faff as I also wanted to cut back into a different part of CR so would have had to come back on myself.  Anyway back to exiting via Bocas – this was easy peasy with a boat, minibus organised combo for the sum of $28 and as Julius was heading off to the airport, easier for me to travel back this way.  Now I have to say the bridge (which apparently was 100yrs old – no shite sherlock) was a tad scarey as can be witnessed in the images below.

My final destination in CR was on the caribbean side – come on down Puerto Viejo! Very different from the Pacific side with fab afros, dreadlocks and Bob Marley blaring.  Shown into my dorm room only the top bunk was free.  I would have needed a trampette to get into it.  Decided to treat myself to a private room – check out my bed – ha!!