Panamanian Paradise

Desitination one in Panama: San Blas Islands. Shortly after arriving in Panama City, Angel and I left on the early morning (5am) jeep to the other side of Panama, where we crossed the jungle on a bumpy single lane road, forded a 3 foot river (it reached the hood of the 4x4 truck, it was pretty high), and arrived at a insect infested little boat landing at a river. Onto the boat, up the river, which dumped out into the Caribbean ocean. After some faltering from the engine (uh oh!) we eventually picked up speed and headed out through the sprinkling of islands that were visible in the near and distant horizon. We pulled up to the dirtiest, most crowded island I could imagine, no beach in sight. Trying desperately to hold on to my determination to enter the islands with no expectations, I tried to look for a silver lining. Failing to find one at arriving at this floating dump, I was immensely relieved to learn we were just picking up some gas (hence the faltering engine). Whew! We cruised past beautiful, teeny little caribbean gems, white sand beaches ringing small stands of palm trees. As we came up to a particularly pretty little island with a few cabañas on it, I hoped we would stop. Sure enough, we soon beached on a stunning white sand beach.

Three days of lounging ensued. I read 500 pages, got a little tanner, did a fair bit of sleeping. Pretty relaxing, at least for me. I don´t think that the 4 out of 6 people in our group (Angel included) who got sick (food poisoning? Who knows..) thought it was exactly paradise. However, I think I might have gotten sea-fooded out a bit (one meal was literally buckets of lobster, king prawns, and giant crab). Back on main land now after 3 days on the islands. Today we are celebrating Angel´s birthday (July 8th) since she will be leaving before it, and I won´t be back in the states yet. Pedicures, baked goods, a nice dinner, and some Media y Media (a trick I learned in Argentina, half white wine and half champagne) should round out a nice last day in Panama City. Off to northern Panama to climb some mountains (hey, I didn´t get that pedicure for nothing), and then Angel and I will part ways...at least for a week or so. :-)

So here is the Island story, part II. Mariel has got part I down for you. :-)

San Blas: 378 islands strewn about the Caribbean side of Panama, near Colombia. At least 370 of them are covered in palm trees hanging lazily over the calm ocean. They are, as they sound, a backpackers dream. For $30/night one can have a private cabaña, eat lobster and huge crabs at prepared meals, and lay out on the beach all day long. Paradise. The Islands are owned by the Indigenous tribe Kuna Yala, which are dark brown people who average 5 feet tall, with great white straight teeth (at least most of them...) They sure do pretty well of their tourist visitors! The islands don´t have fresh water on them, so that gets boated in every day from the river on the mainland.

Mariel and I went to the Island that is meant for couples. It is quiet, good food, private cabanas. Pretty awesome. I guess we are pretty antisocial. However, we were antisocial with two other antisocial couples so I guess that makes us a big social group of antisocialites. I think we all slept about 14 hours a day, waking at 5:45 and napping most of the day which of course tired us out for the 8:30pm bedtime. Very relaxing.

And then here is why Mariel wanted me to write my own blog about this...I got pretty ill on the first night, then it kept going from there. Of the 6 of us, Mariel and another girl Jen were the only ones not to get sick. Nothing that can´t be cured by some good water and clean food, can´t heal. Good thing I´ve brought my cipro! I´m on the mend now and my birthday pedicure present from mariel is just the start to a wonderful day in Panama before we head off to Boquete to see some volcanos. Then its home for me in just a few days!