Thursday

BARONESS
Jim & Christine Lister
Thu 5 May 2011 16:45
Thursday 5 May 2011

Well, we had our first good nights uninterrupted sleep but had the agent Pablo, not Carlo which I got wrong, on the boat at 8.30am wanting us to go for our National Park Passes, now! Jim was still asleep and I was not dressed never mind in my right mind, as Jim's mother used to say. Needless to say I declined his "offer". He said he would be back in 30 minutes, its now 10.15am and no sign of Pablo.

Having dropped anchor at 11.00am yesterday we awaited Pablo's arrival with Officials, who finally arrived at 5.00pm. Two Officials on board but they filled the paperwork in, sat in our cockpit. They were friendly and asked for a soda, Jim gave them a beer as it was all we had in the fridge, they took the beer away with them. All we were asked was if we had pets or plants and did we have a fumigation certificate which we don't. Others got theirs in Panama at a cost of $35 and all it seemed was that it was apiece of paper.

The Officials did not look round our boat but Northern Rose's experience was slightly different as one of them asked to see over their boat and asked to look in their fridge for fruit. When Officials left we had to go too to go to Immigration. We went ashore by water taxi cost is $1 each. Pablo relieved us of $450. This is made of $200 ($100 each) National Park fee, $120 agent fee, $130 Port Captain's fee, this is based on boat tonnage and is what you tell them in Panama for the Zarpe that you have to get on leaving Panama (Northern Rose is a very light steel boat) how these fees are worked out seems a mystery. Taxi to Immigration was $3, driver took us + Pablo waited and brought us back, also paying a visit to the National Park to get our passes but they were closed, hours of opening were 9.00 - 5.00. Also closed 12.00 - 2.00 for lunch?

There are various excursions, Pablo does a round Island tour for $50 each this includes food. There is a $400 4 day trip includes all food and stays in hotels but Lorriegra are going on one that is $150 for 3 days all inclusive, we've had no feed back from any of these trips as yet.

It was interesting ashore as "seals rule OK" they are everywhere. If you wish to sit on one of the park benches you will probably have to share with a seal. There are some old power boats anchored on the way to shore and they have been totally taken over by seals with not a spare bit of deck available.

We rowed to Pat and Glen's for drinks and dinner which was really nice of them as it had been a long tiring day, (I had been up since 300am)Pat took a photo of us as we were rowing against the tide and must have looked comical. As we were sitting chatting in their cockpit we heard splashing and realized that a seal was attempting to get in our dingy, with a little shouting it seemed it was discouraged and left. Dingy did remain uninhabited all night as we were to "tired" to lift it on our return form a very nice evening.

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