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Day 8 (San Blas to Portobello) Panama

Today we journeyed from the San Blas Islands to Portobello.  I was quite sad to leave, as I think I could have stayed there for a couple of months.  The people of San Blas have such a uniquely intact culture that operates on it's own terms, a thing to marvel at in this day and age.

It took us about 6 hours to get to Portobello traveling northeast up the coast of Panama.  We arrived around 3 in the afternoon, which gave as the opportunity to jump off the boat and take a look around the town.  Apparently Portabelo had been a major stomping grounds for Sir Francis Drake.  He pillaged his way throughout the region; hence many long abandoned forts and cannons remain along the outskirts of the town, which we were able to briefly explore.  There wasn't much to the town, but it did have a unique charm to its brightly colored homes scattered along the main road.




But a major Panamanian attraction was noted in this town for the first time, and it is in fact my favorite thing about Panama.  If you get a chance to go yourself, you’ll see that public buses here, are in fact the coolest form of public transportation I’ve ever seen.  The buses are pretty much designed in your standard high school “Sixteen Candles” style, but where these differ, is in the incredibly brightly painted exteriors, each showcasing the individual artists style and flare for whatever he/she’s into.  Buses are adorned with images of Christ, Yosemite Sam, Billy the Kid, Frodo, Selena, Shakira, you name it, and it’s there.  And it’s not just a face on the side of the bus, but the whole damn thing is decorated, grill to tail, 1985 graffiti style.  Every time I saw a bus it just sort of made me smile.




Anyways, towards sunset we headed back to the dingy, the troops were getting hungry...

Day 7 (Portveneir Island - San Blas, Panama)

Stu and Val’s friends arrive, and I am relieved to see that they are down to earth, lovely people.  Eric and I take part of the morning and check out the island, the people of San Blas, and the dangerously small “airport” of Portvenier.

Day 6 (Portveneir Island - San Blas, Panama)

Up at 8am today to clean, clean, clean….I’m still not loving my situation, but trying to make the best of things.  Stu and Val have friends arriving tomorrow, so the boat needs to be “flipped” quickly: Eric moved into my cabin, his cabin made up for guests, heads cleaned, boat wipe down.  By noon I’m feeling tossed, still not fully recovered from my overall lack of sleep and soggy room.  Eric forces me to get off the boat with him after lunch and take a few hours off on the beach (which I am greatly thankful for later).  San Blas is unbelievable from the moment I saw it.  Fortunately for Eric it was a good windy day, so he took off kite boarding while I hung out on the tiny island we were anchored off of: Chichime.  It’s really the quintessential fantasy island for any office worker sitting in a cubicle with fluorescent lights over their head.  A real “Joe vs. the Volcano” kind of fantasy.  I felt content for the first time since joining the boat…Oh yeah; THIS is why I do this for a living.  Even though it was only a 2 hour break on the beach.  It was all I needed to remind me that in the end, it really is worth it.  With my own resources I would never have the opportunity to be in a place like this, and see such a precious place.

Day 5 (Arrival in San Blas Islands, Panama – Chichime Island)

Yuck, Is all I can say.  The seas are rough, my cabin smells like mildew…r we there yet??? Mmmmm, not until 2am, do we actually arrive.  Which is not so much fun when you’re trying to anchor somewhere you’ve never been to before.  3 hours sleep, then we get to clean the boat all day, yeah!

Day 4 (Tortola, BVI’s to San Blas Islands, Panama)

Ok, some days provide life lessons. Today is one of them.  If you're having problems sleeping, even if you can’t sleep for three days straight, do NOT take a sleeping pill.  Murphy’s Law states then when left up to chance, what can go wrong, more often the not will, right?!  Needless to say, having been unable to sleep well, I groggily jumped at the chance for a good night sleep, and sure enough, just as I’m wondering off into la la land, the weather takes a bit of a change, and things get a little rough.  This all would have been find had I not forgotten to seal my overhead hatch.  So of course just in my moment of blissful takeoff into sleep, I am suddenly doused with bucket after bucket of sea water from my hatch.  A single sprinkle would have been fine, but now my mattress is currently swimming.  Like a cold wet kitten, fresh outta the womb, I’m feeling pretty helpless here, not too mention the fact that in my groggy state, I can barely stand up straight.  I had enough sense still left in my head to quickly grab my computer and wipe it off before stumbling into Eric’s cabin and crashing on his bed while he was on watch.  Needless to say, Eric was kind enough to let me have his bed for the night, while I slept off my sleeping aid coma….cleaning up my cabin the next day was no fun, let me tell ya.

Day 2-3 (Tortola, BVI’s to San Blas Islands, Panama)

Vibes are beginning to mellow out a bit as we settle into life at sea, and the daily routines ensue.  I am still feeling challenged and anxious, with little personal space to work it out.*  ON a plus note, dolphins visit us and ride at the bow for a bit.  I am hoping it’s a good sign of pleasant things waiting on the horizon, and on the evening of day 3 we catch our first fish…Wahoo!  (Recipe for Sushi to come shortly!)