09.22.2N 79.57.00W

We are about to leave Colon, after a few days of being tourists in Panama City. This is our furthest point south for this season. The boat is now provisioned up (wine, beer and nibbled mainly) and ready to head north again. As there is reasonable internet here, I thought that I would share a selected few of the pics we took of the trip so far this year. So these are included below. Hope you like them:-

1.       Bahamas: After a steady trip down the US east coast, we spent a few weeks in the Bahamas. I have to say that we were tempted to just stay there for the whole season.

Sunset at Volley Ball Beach – Exuma Island – Bahamas.

2.       Heading South: But we decided to head south…. And 6 days later we caught sight of the coast of Colombia…. A very welcome sight after 6 days at sea.

Land Hoy! Colombia in the distance

3.       Santa Marta – Colombia: First stop was Santa Marta. This is a lively town, but the main attractions are the national park with its forest and rivers

Amazing flora and rivers in the jungle

4.       Cartagena: From Santa Marta we sailed down to the old Spanish colonial city of Cartagena las Indias. This is a very modern city which is growing like crazy. But they have preserved their old quarter very well which is very Spanish.

Cartagena Old City Central Square

5.       San Blas: From Cartagena, we sailed overnight across to the Panama coast and the San Blas Islands. This is a semi-autonomous archipelago of tiny islands. Most have just a few huts or are uninhabited, but others (nearer the coast of the mainland where they can run a water pipe) are completely covered in a mix of grass huts and concrete single story blocks. These are inhabited by the Kuna (or sometimes spelled Guna) Indians. These are very small (just above pigmy) Indians who try to live a very simple life. The women make cloth doily type things called “Mola” with which they construct the parts of their national costume. They seem to be struggling to preserve their way of life and are seeking independence from Panama. This has led to a few issues as they try to tax cruisers (who they see as super rich) to help pay for their fight with the Panama government.

You can understand why they try to preserve what appears to be a very idyllic way of life. The men fish and laze about while the women do housework and make molas. Not sure how long they will be able to remain in this state.

Typical San Blas Island

Kuna Village 1…… Very confident boys!

Kuna Village 2…. Everyone is inside having siesta……. or making molas

A Mola workshop                                                                                              Grandmother selling Molas outside her and sons shack…. Love the nose-ring!

6.       Panama Mainland: After about 1 month in the San Blas, we made the short trip to the Panama Mainland, stopping initially at Linton Island. Panama is mainly jungle the coast has crocodiles and several varieties of snake. While there, we and several of the rally boat members took a dinghy ride through a mile long cut in the mangrove swamp to a French marina that has a rather tatty looking restaurant, but which serves the best food on this coast. This passage through the swamp is called the “Tunnel of Love”….. but you keep an eye out for snakes in the branches!!

Tunnel of Love

7.       We also called in at Portobelo , which is about 20 miles from the San Blas, but on the Panamanian mainland. This was once the main Spanish port for the transfer of pillaged gold from the Americas to Spain. It is a little run down these days, but it has a ruined Spanish fort and is a “colourful” town.

The main form of transport in this area are these wildly painted buses known as “Red Devils”. So called because they drive at breakneck speed on what are rather dodgy roads.

A “Red Devil”!

Portobello also has a claim to fame in having a statue in its church called the “Black Jesus”! This is attributed with several miracles and is a site of pilgrimage from all over Latin America.

The “Black Jesus”…. Still in Christmas attire!

Fuerte San Fernando in Portobelo Panama

While in Portabelo, we had yet another get-together with the rally crews in one of the local bars.

Party Time!

8.       Panama Canal: Our latest stop has been Colon at the entrance to the Panama Canal. We moved into the rather nice marina here and left the boat for a trip to Panama City. On the bus that took us the 1^st leg, we came across a sloth crossing the road. (very slowly!!!). This would take a while, so we got off to have a look

Why did the sloth cross the road?

We also visited the main locks in the Panama Canal. An amazing sight……. (Look at the clearance between the ship and the sides of the locks!)

He might be leaving a bit of paint behind!!!

Busy Canal!

The canal runs 24 hrs, 7 days a week……. But may have to close as El Nino is causing a drought and the lakes which feed the canal locks are extremely low. The Panamanians hope to get a new canal running alongside the old one opened later this year. The new canal recycles the water it uses.

9.       Panama Canal Railway: After visiting the canal, we went to the Colon station and boarded an old American train for the trip through the jungle to Panama City

Panama Canal Railway

10.   Panama City: And finally, we arrived in Panama City for a stay at the Waldorf Astoria for some well-earned pampering in what is a vibrant and growing city.

Panama City Skyline as viewed from our hotel window

Hope this has been of some interest.

Best Wishes,

John & Georgina