Mango or Orange?

When Jan and I were in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago, we thought we would stop by a food vendor on the street and try a Mango. I very politely asked the lady if these were mangos on her cart, but since she knew very little English, she waved to a man sitting nearby. I asked him if these were mangos, and he laughed and said "no, oranges". To be fair, these fruits were green, not orange like I am used to. As we left I could see him laughing politely at the gringos.

Now that we are in Panama, we stopped at a mercado and bought a pineapple, and a mango. Of course I had to ask, "where are your mangos por favor?" I felt that this way I wouldn't look so green in the gills.............

Later today we are going to slice this deliciously fresh fruit up and have a treat. Being sunday most all establishments are closed, so these may be our meals for today.

Bocas del Toro - day 5

This morning was a lot nicer morning than the day before. After a fruit bowl and plate of pancakes , we packed up and headed downtown to try and find a quad to rent for the day. After learning how to operate one of those darn things, we headed off down Main Street in search of the beach. What a blast this was. Even tho we rode double, it was a lot of fun navigating this ATV thru the turns. Of course Jan may have a different opinion since she was riding on the back.

It wasn't long before the paved road turned into sand. As we rode along the beach, we stopped many times to watch the waves and soak in the scenery. Soon we saw the surfers waiting for the next big wave.

Of course, it started to sprinkle on us, and we got plenty of mud and wet sand sprayed all over us. After a while we turned around and headed back to a turnoff that headed off to Boca del Drago. Boca del Drago is on the other side of the island, and was about a 45 minute ride thru the hills in the rain. But all in all, it was a great ride. We saw a lot of wildlife, such as cows, chickens, and ducks. I was hoping for monkeys and sloths, but oh well.

Soon we reached Boca del Drago, which is nothing more than a beach side small town with a couple of restaurants, (of which one was not open), but beautiful beaches. We had some papas fritas and cold cervazas, then headed back to Bocas del Toro.

After returning the rental, we went back to the B&B to clean up. Our clothes were wet and muddy, but this one one experience we will certainly remember.

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant on Main Street, and the food was delicious, as usual. Most all the restaurants are on the water front, and this one was no different. As we ate we watched the storm brewing off the coast. Luckily it blew around us, and we got back to the B&B dry.

Bocas del Toro - day 4

Way too much rum last night, but we got out of bed anyway this morning hoping to have a fun day on a catamaran. As we walked to the downtown area, we got soaked from the slow steady rain. Once we got to the boat, others that had signed up the day before backed out, and left. So there was Jan, me, and the boat captain waiting the rain out to see if it would clear out. Then another couple showed up, and we all agreed that a bad day out on a catamaran is still better then a good day at work, so off we went.

It was a little chilly and a lot wet, but since we signed up for snorkeling, we figured we were going to get wet anyway...... The captain headed the boat out towards one of the outlying islands and eventually we were at Dolphin Bay. It only took a few minutes before we saw the dolphins coming up for air then diving back down. After that we went snorkeling along a reef right by a mangrove outcropping. Very colorful, with starfish everywhere. Also sea urchins, and lots of colorful coral.

All in all it was a very nice relaxing trip. The captain was from Germany, and he was very informative about the areas we visited.

Dolphins in Dolphin Bay

Afterwards we returned back to the B&B to clean up and find a spot for dinner. Tonight we are relaxing in the hammock, listening to the rain, and drinking coke with nothing in it. Tomorrow we hope to rent a four-wheeler and find some beaches.

Bocas del Toro - day 3

We thought for today that we would just walk around town for the day to get a feel for the place. What a quaint little town! After a hearty breakfast of fresh fruit and eggs at Lula's B&B, we headed out to find a tour operator for a Catamaran tour around the islands. After walking for about a mile thru the downtown area, we found the tour company and booked a trip for Friday.

Then off we went to the ree-membory shops. Of course! After buying a few trinkets, we had a big lunch back on the Riptide since this is now our favorite fried seafood place. While eating we had a nice rain shower, and the breeze made it very comfortable.

We liked our cervazas at the Riptide

This was a very lazy day, so after a brief stint back in the air-conditioned room, back we went to the downtown area for a few more trinkets. Dinner today was Ritz crackers, peanut butter , and the ever famous and delicious Ron Abuelo rum.

Most of the afternoon was spent on the balcony of the B&B paying bills with the iPad, drinking rum, FaceTimeing with family, drinking rum, getting to know the surfer dudes, drinking rum, chatting, drinking rum....... You get the picture?

Then I had to go back to the corner mercado and get a bigger bottle of rum. The dude behind the counter knows me by now.

We go on a Catamaran tomorrow, so I hope to have few more nice pics to show.

Bocas del Toro - day 2

We got to the island of Bocas del Toro today, but it wasn't easy. Starting at the beginning:

We left the B&B early enough to go do a drive by at the Albrook airport, just so we would know how to get there later on in the afternoon. After missing turn after turn, we finally got there. Then off we headed to go find Panama Center Apartments. This is where we plan to stay for the two weeks we are in Panama City after the week we stay in Bocas del Toro. The apartments was not easy to find, especially since there are NO addresses in Panama. Just street names. So after 3 drive bys, I finally called the place, and found it. We were sooooo close.

Gerald the manager at the Panama Center Apartments showed us a nice studio apartment that we decided to reserve. The area is right central Panama City. If this place doesn't give us a feel for living in Panama I don't know what will.

Then off we went to Albrook Mall again to find a Claro store so I could get a SIM card for the iPad. So you stand in one line to get a number for another line, then go to another line to pay for your purchase, then go back to the second line to get the product. Did ya follow all that? We left after the second line cause we was getting hungry. Maybe I can find a Claro store in Bocas.

Then we returned the Hertz at the airport and waited for our flight. While waiting we met Sam and Nancy, who own a 42' sailboat in Bocas. Nice folks we chatted with while waiting for our flight. Our 4 pm flight was late. We finally left at 5pm, and after a really nice flight on a prop airplane, we finally landed at Bocas. What a beautiful area. The waters are all kinds of blue.

Bocas del Toro Airport

Being Gringos, we got ripped off getting a taxi to Hotel Lula's B&B. Next time forget the kids in the airport and just go straight to the taxi area. Talk to the taxi driver and no-one else. Lesson learned. 

We checked in at Hotel Lula's, which is a real nice and safe B&B just outside of town. It was a good location and actually walking distance to town and the airport. 

Hotel Lula's

For dinner we walked a few blocks down the road to the Riptide Restaurant.  The food was delicious, and there was usually entertainment in the evenings. 

Riptide Restaurant

Panama City - day 1

We made it to Panama City today. The flight from Austin to Houston was standing room only, but as luck would have it, the flight from Houston to Panama City was only half full. This is a 3 1/2 hour flight, so being able to stretch out was nice. Going thru immigration and customs was a breeze, and renting a car was easy.

We easily found our B&B by using our GPS, and quickly settled in. I, of course went straight to the well stocked fridge and got me a nice cold Balboa.

As soon as we checked in, we saw a small monkey hanging outside the patio munching on a bunch of bananas. Then folks here pointed out the snake in the tree swallowing down a bird. What a great place to relax in the cool evening air.

After relaxing from the long trip, we headed out to Albrook Mall to find a phone carrier. Folks, this mall is almost the size of Buda. Anyway after walking for almost forever, we found a store where one of the salespeople spoke some English. I handed him my unlocked Blackberry and asked for a prepaid SIM card for activation. For under $20, I now have a Panama number and cell phone that I can use to call hotels, tour operators, friends, etc.

We then searched for a Claro (dataplan for the iPad) store but had no luck. Our feet were giving out. So off we went to dinner, then back to the B&B to relax out on the patio, hoping the monkeys would return for dinner.

Below is a pic of the front of the La Estancia B&B and one of driving into Panama City. This B&B is on the side of Ancon Hill and has great views out the back where the open air patios are located.

Panama trip preamble

It is now 2 days before we head out to Panama for a 3 week adventure. And this is my first post from the iPad, which is what I will be using for my daily posts while there. Even though there is wireless access almost everywhere you visit, I plan to try and get a micro-sim card for the iPad from one of the wireless carriers serving Panama. With that I'll have Internet access most everywhere we travel. I'll be updating the blog has to how that worked out later.

I also just obtained an unlock code for my old Blackberry Bold smartphone. Unlocking the phone was easy, so I plan on getting a SIM card from a phone carrier in Panama as well so we'll have mobile capability. I'll explain later how that turned out as well.

We are almost packed, and looking forward to this adventure with uneasiness. Spending three weeks in a country where we hardly speak the language makes us a little nervous, but from our previous trip there, we found out that the language barrier was not that much of a problem. And as long as we can avoid getting sick , or mugged, then I think this will be one adventure we'll look back on years from now with fondness.