Last days in Panama

As we were waiting in Bocas to leave for the airport we decided to have a beer. Piñata the parrot at the resturant decide to join us and nip on my ear. 

We left Bocas Sunday afternoon at 2:30 and arrived back in Panama city at about 3:20. It felt like we were coming home. 

Tonight was a beer and pizza night to watch the NFC championship game which did not end well. Like they say in Chicago wait until next year. 

Our last day we visited the historic district one last time, Casco Viejo. We strolled the streets and then went into a museum about the history of Panama. Unfortunately, we learned the good and the bad the United States has done to this country. We learned  the history from the Spanish occupation to the Columbia occupation to the US occupation. In 1999 Panama finally became a free independent country without any forgien country's on its soil.  After the museum we stopped at the bar Havana Vieja. I had a Cuban beer and Elenita had a mojito. 

Writing this blog has been fun. I hope to do this is the future again. We loved Panama and we will return. It is the most progressive country in the Central America and maybe the Americas today. There is new construction and renovation going on  everywhere  in the city. Great public transportation and even a underground being built for the future. I think this country is going to have a bright future. The Panamanians are a very proud people and they are very happy with their country. Tomorrow we fly back to Mexico. We will spend the night in the city and then take the bus to San Miguel on Wednesday. This has been a great trip. 

The weekend in Bocas

This morning I went scuba diving even though it was raining. Elenita came along with hopes of snorkeling. The water was a little to choppy for her so she decided to meditate on my first dive. During the second dive she decided to stay in town.  The diving was mostly coral gardens. Not a lot of fish but a decent amount plus a few sting rays and some eels. However, the coral was pretty amazing. Some of the nicest I have ever seen.  When I got done with my second dive it was still raining. I walked back to the hotel in my wet suit. 

For lunch we went to a simple place that served fish tacos, hamburgers and sandwiches. There was a cute parrot that whistled at the woman. His name was Piñata. 

After lunch we decided to rent bicycles for the rest of the day.

We went through the countryside and along the coast of the island. 

On our way back we stopped to buy some water. Here we met a couple staying down the street and they shared with us that their place rented kayaks. Tomorrow if the weather is good this is what we will do. After returning our bikes we went back for cocktail in our hotel. We decided to have Indian food for dinner.  We chose the same meal Peppered fish cooked using Mahi Mahi. It was one of the best ways I have ever had Mahi Mahi cooked.  When I get home I am going to research the recipe. 

Today, Saturday, January 18, 2014 we decided to rent kayaks for the first time. It was a blast. We went on a calm bay through and around mangrove islands and palm trees. 

Here we are paddeling on the bay and through the groves.

After a beautiful afternoon of kayacking we grabbed our bikes and started heading back to town when I saw the door open to the brewery. We have been down this street several times and we thought the place was closed down. We decided to walk in and met Maya from the islands and Peter from Seattle. They met here, married and lived in Seattle for several years. Then Peter an engineer decided he had enough of corporate America and started making beer in Boca. The beer was pretty good  and the conversations were wonderful. We spent about 1 hour just talking, laughing and sharing life's experiences. A wonderful time was had by all. Time to return our bikes. Another day, another adventure. Back to shower and search for dinner. 

We ended up eating at an excellent restaurant siting on the Caribbean Sea. This is our last night in Bocas and the full moon was over head. It is time to go to sleep. Goodnight Boca.

Back to Panama City for two nights. 

Bocas del Toro the Caribbean side

We flew on Air Panama to Bocas del Toro the Caribbean side of Panama near the border of Costa Rica. 

We arrived at our hotel on the Main Street of town. 

We checked in and after about 40 minutes we lost power on the island so we went to the lobby for happy hour.  We then walked searching for a place to have dinner. The streets were filled with people. It was pretty cool everyone was walkng around with their flashlights. The town of Bocas is filled with mostly European tourists, residents and backpackers. The locals are mostly black Caribbean Panamanians. It appears that the local languages are Spanish and English. However, in the streets you can here almost ever European language. There is a variety of different types of restaurants from local fish and chicken to Thai and Indian,  We finally found a Thai restaurant called Lemongrass and had a wonderful romantic meal by candle light over looking the sea.  Being in Panama now for over a week we have learned that there is not a large variety of fish served. Corvina which is a general term for a type of sea bass is served everywhere. This fish is very common in this part of the world from Costa Rica down to Peru. Once in awhile you will find Mahi Mahi and Red Snapper. There is good selection of sea food. 

On Wednesday morning we had breakfast in the hotel and met an American couple living in Boguete, Panama about 6 hours from here in the mountains. We all decided together to take a boat ride over to another island and visit a beach called Red Frog Beach. 

A Local found a red frog. 

We went to happy hour on a boat called The Rip Tide with a beautiful full moon. 

 We decided to go to the other side of the island. First we took a taxi across the island and then we had to walk about 1 mile on a beautiful trail. Our taxi driver was wonderful. When he learned how much we loved the views he drove slower and pointed out areas and told us about animal life on the island from monkeys, large cats to sloths.  A day in paradise what an amazing beach we discovered. Playa Estrella.

During our walk we saw this little hummingbird protecting her nest. 

We finally arrived and Elenita starting studying relaxation. 

We could not have picked a more beautiful place to spend a perfect day and my wife learned a lot in that relaxation course. 

On our way back from the beach a woman pointed out a sloth in a tree. 

Tomorrow I will go scuba diving. 

Panama Viejo the old city

On Sunday morning we learned how to use the local buses. The metro bus system is very easy, inexpensive and a fabulous mode of public transportation.

This is not the metro bus put it makes a better picture.  It took about 20 minutes to arrive at the old city Panama Viejo.

Established in 1519 by Pedro Arias Dávila under the royal decree of Charles V of Spain, Panama Viejo was the first permanent European settlement in South America.  The city soon gained prominence as the capital of one of the most important colonies under the Spanish crown, and was actively used as the base for Spanish expeditions in South America. The growth of commerce in Panama Viejo can be measured by the fact that by the end of the 16^th century, the population of the city had increased manyfold, to an estimated 10,000. However Old Panama’s history was plagued by a host of natural and manmade catastrophes.  The city’s growth was harshly curtailed in the 17^th century by sporadic occurrences of earthquakes and fires. The most severe incidences of destruction as recorded by historians are the earthquake of 1620, and the massive fire of 1644. 

Inside the old church tower is a staircase with views of the city. 

After visiting this historic site we took the bus to the  modern city shopping mall to look for those hiking shoes for Elenita.

 At night we went back to Casco Viejo for some craft beer. 

We then walked over to the restaurant Milano for a wonderful Italian dinner and a great waiter. 

 

Monday we went for a bike ride along the water front. 

Panama city is a very beautiful city with a spectacular skyline and water front with walking, jogging and bike paths. The old quarter Casco Viejo being restored with many fine restaurants. Beautiful neighborhoods, good transportation and outdoor activities.  We were told that with all the growth and construction going on the current unemployment rate here is 0%. 

The Canal

I wish I could say it was fun. We left the B&B at 8:30 after some wonderful fruit and homemad yougert. We didn't eat to much because there was going to be breakfast on the boat. The taxi took us to a location were we bought our tickets and boarded buses. There was some kind of delay and we did not leave unit 10:00. We drove for about 45 minutes where we were scheduled to board a boat. After another delay we finally boarded at around noon. First we went toward the Atlantic to kill some time. About another hour lost we finally headed toward the pacific and through the canal. I think we had our breakfast at about 12:30. 

Going through the locks. 

At about 2:00 pm we were served lunch. I have to admit it was a very good lunch with the exception that they ran out of beer.  Our tour finally ended at 7:00 pm. It was a very long day. We left the boat dock and stop at the restaurant Mi Ranchito and  had really nice seafood meal. Would I do this again, most likely not.