Safiya last day in San Blas

Safiya
Harvey & Sue Death
Tue 28 Feb 2017 19:11

09:33,49 N

78:57,01 W

Lemmon Cays

After two nights in the Holandes Cays we managed to drag ourselves away, and headed for the Lemmon Cays, again only about 5 miles further west but we are now moving into “commercialism”! On our way there we saw a huge cruise ship anchored off with literally thousands of people swarming like ants around a tiny island

There is a constant stream of little wooden local ferries making their way from Panama mainland to the islands. The South Americans arrive with their little pop up tents and cool boxes and the islands are transformed into tented villages, it must be their idea of a weekend in the country getting back to nature with no electric or running water!

Some of the more enterprising locals have built little holiday cabins for those who do not want to rough it. It’s a shame but I guess its progress for them and an easier way to earn a dollar than fishing or collecting coconuts!

Having said that we managed to buy some of the biggest lobsters yet from one of the locals which provided dinner and lunch.

Navigation around the islands is very tricky with loads of reefs and the published charts are very old and inaccurate but we have a very good pilot book that we rely on. The San Blas ferry in the picture attached obviously relied on the old charts and ended up on the reef!

We’re now making our way to the mainland, our last stop before we arrive there is an island called Porvenir where there is a tiny air strip with alleged daily flights to Panama City although we haven’t seen any aircraft taking off or landing and the Customs guys are all lying in hammocks under a tree!

After two weeks in paradise it’s time to enter the real world again and Terre Firma tomorrow.

 

 

 

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