We made it to Panama!!! (As I jump from the sailboat to the ground kissing it..oh wait…it still feels like I’m swaying. ..ugh)
Now that we have completed our tour of South America we were excited to start Central America off in Panama City, Panama!
We decided to stay in the Casco Viejo part of Panama. The history and architecture was beautiful! Colorful buildings, colonial style Presidential Palaces, and GORGEOUS views of downtown Panama City….what more can anyone ask for?
Our view of downtown Panama City from outside the front door of our hostel!
If you find yourself in Panama City do not miss The Armador Causeway. It is a stretch of land (sorta like a boardwalk) that is about 6-7 miles both ways surrounded by water and here you will find locals running, walking, and riding all sorts of bikes. On one side you will have the most stunning view of downtown Panama City and on the other is the south entrance to the Panama Canal!
If you get a chance….rent one of these…they are AWESOME; )
If you don’t know, Jorgie’s emblem for his travels and his website (www.jrifter.com Check his site out if you haven’t! ) is the jrifter on the yellow crossing sign. Panama City has so many funny jrifters….this one here: BIG BOOTY JRIFTER; )
I WORK OUT JRIFTER 😉
THE “DO YOU EVEN LIFT?” JRIFTER ! LOL
Panama City was good to us but now we are heading north to BOCAS DEL TORO!!!!
We thought we’d run into them along this trip….we even prepared for them by buying a really expensive 100% silk bedliner cause we read they hate them…but to no avail….there you were. You NASTY LITTLE THINGS. BED BUGS. Now we noticed them as soon as the sun set, but after a very frenzied, tazmanian devil like gathering of our stuff, we were moved to another room where I TORE UP the room and bed looking for other little critters only to find this room crawling with geckos….BEFORE you let it slip from your mouth…I KNOOOOW “Geckos are our friends, they eat the bugs!” (in Jorgie’s annoying voice) 😉 I’m truly not that scared of them but I think after the bed bug incedent I wasn’t having these little geckos. Here’s the freakout…ENJOY:
Bocas del Toro is an archipelago ( group of islands ) so you have to take a small…I repeat…SMALL boat (THANK YOU JESUS!) to get there.
Bocas is known for it brightly decorated building afloat the island.
Keep your eyes open for hummingbirds! They are fast little things but they are EVERYWHERE here!
Hand shaven RASPA!?! I’M IN! Let me get my money out; )
Small bus ride can take you to another part of the island called Boca del Drago. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! The beaches here are gorgeous!
Looks fake right!?
Hop on a lancha for a 5 minute ride to STARFISH BEACH where there are no longer many starfish on the beach (if you swim just a little further out you will see them…but don’t pick them up out of the water because it kills them and they are trying to preserve them!) This place makes you feel isolated from the rest of the world….with Piña Coladas ofcourse! 😉
Local fisherman regularly pull their catches on shore to sale to the foodstands.
What in the world is the torquios one?!?
If you wanna little taste of “home” while on Bocas, visit TACO SURF! This restaurant/surf school is great! Their tacos were a welcome treat to these two TEXANS that were just about to throw the towel in on traveling if we couldn’t find a decent taco! 😉
The owner Justine and her husband run a cool place with a very chill vibe! For the budget traverler that’s wanting “not so budget tasting tacos” get your butt here! Thanks Justine….your place saved our trip!;)
Check them out on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/bocas.tacosurf
valarieivester
A Conscience Journey 