Cup o´ joe

We finally got back on the road again, heading, that´s right, North! After picking up Laura at the airport, I got caught up on all the stories from the wedding, and after hearing some, I am kind of glad I wasn´t there! No, a little homesick hearing all the stories of family having a good time. After getting pulled over for speeding next to a church, that is a serious crime here. Luckily the officer gave us a regalo (gift) and let us go. After a night stay to split up the drive, we arrived in the growing town of Boquete. A small mountain town primarily for farming and the true outdoor hub of Panama. We found our way to a cheap place to stay well equipped with a crazy owner. He drew us a map that carried onto two sheets of paper that was completely illegible. With our new map we decided to head out and see one of the coffee plantations. We had a great tour of the farm and got to see the process. Ambition set in and we decided to make an attempt on the local dormant volcano where you can see the Pacific and Caribbean oceans at once. With ten hours ahead of us, we started before light, and headed up. With the clouds rolling in, and me being old, we didn´t quite make it to the top. We decided to try and head down and get to Bocas in order to not have to spend the night before getting to the coast. The drive was wet to say the least. A quick stop to promote damns, hooray for damns!

Separation anxiety

I wasn´t sure what to do without my sister. My cousin Charlie is getting married this weekend in Chicago. I dropped my sister off at the airport this morning, the Panama government won´t allow me to leave the country without the car, so I am stuck here missing the fun. I tried to head straight for the docks to catch a boat back to the island Taboga, where we visited a few days earlier, however, an accident on the highway clogged traffic enough to allow me to watch as the only boat of the day pulled out in front of me. Not having a plan to do much else, I caught up on some things in town, and caught up on some reading. Not being a big reader and all, it took me a while to catch up. I caught the boat the next day and continued my beach bum ways for a couple of days. I didn´t even take my big camera with me and just enjoyed the tranquility. When I got back I was lucky to have a visitor in my sister´s stead, Mary. My good friend Paul´s big sister. She is traveling with her friend Alex and will only be here for the weekend, after spending a week in Bocas del Torro. It was great to see someone and have a night out. We found a great place with my favorite, sheesha. We laughed and shared memories of when she was a good influence for her brother and I, somehow I don´t think the influence took. It is good to hear about news from back home and can´t wait to get back and enjoy all the changes. For now I am going to relax for a couple more days until I pick up my much missed, and favorite, sister. Sorry the blog is a little boring, I am in Bocas right now wondering why I am inside.

Raining cats and leaf cutter ants

With a renewed sense of purpose, we headed out with our newly reunited compadre. We didn't have much time to go to far, as Laura needs to be back in Panama City for a flight back to the U.S. We settle on Valle, a small town nestled in the crater of an extinct volcano. It was a nice relief to head up to the higher altitude, where the heat didn't bite as much. We went for a short hike, and were finding a place to camp, when it started to sprinkle. We decided to eat lunch and see if the weather blew over before deciding to camp. Good thing we waited, and the buckets began to poor. We drove around a found a nice place, a little pricey, but we are not in a position to complain when the crater is slowly filling with water. The rain killed our day, but it was nice to get out of the city and meet some kinder small town people. We even found a good breakfast place with decent french toast and REAL maple syrup (sirope!). After picking up a few wall decor as a errand for the hostel owner in Panama City, we drove back. Laura has a flight to catch.

Reunited and it feels so good

All I have to say, is after a long day of paperwork and driving around, she is back. Not really sure what happened, one minute we were getting the bill of lading, the next this guy was driving us around. He gave us a bill for a $100 and gave us the keys. The only hard part was getting the car out, we were boxed in by a old VW van. When the attendant could not get the VW into reverse, I had to help push the car back into position. But none the less, we are reunited.

Beach Bums

With the car in limbo, and a weekend ahead of us, we headed for tranquility. We got up early to catch a ferry to the island of Taboga. Once at the port, we realized it was a special weekend and were forced to take the second ferry at 10. It happened to be the weekend that they celebrate the Virgin Carmen with a procession that continued onto boats around the island. We found a man who rents out a room of his house for cheaper than all of the hotels, and seeing how we planned to spend most of our time on the beach, it was a good fit. Rafael ended up being great, he laughed and played cards with us, and had a great time. I hope to go back before I leave. It was a relief to meet such a kind person here in Panama, we are starting to think it is just the roughness of the city as to why people are a little less receptive. Taboga is great, it has a nice calm beach, with warm calm waters, and a six pack is only $4. The first day we tried not to get too motivated, as we wouldn't want o overexert ourselves. The day included lying on the beach until the tide kicked us out. Afterwards we found the only restaurant in town, and retired to the hammocks at Rafael's with an amazing view. Apparently we overexerted ourselves, as we slept till the late morning. We decided that another beach day was in order, kind of like wash rinse repeat, we sat on the beach until the tide kicked us out, gathered our things and were back on the boat to fight the car battle again, maybe we will have luck tomorrow!

Suspended in car limbo... again

Not so used to being in the air, but it was a relief to throw in the headphones on the flight and kick back. Our first impressions of Panama weren´t that great. The people don´t seem nearly as friendly as they were in South America. They just seem a little more turned off to our being here. Maybe we haven´t been here long enough. After finding a place to stay, we started making calls to see where the boat, and our car, was. It would arrive the next day, and we could pick up the bill of lading then. We should not have got our hopes up, as the boat didn´t arrive until after 5 and we couldn´t do anything until Friday. With a day lost, we decided to plan something the next day. We decided to see a little of the city while we were waiting for a call. We headed Casco Viejo, an old part of town equipped with the original walls from Spanish control. It was nice to walk around and see the skyline from the water. We headed out for the causeway where you can see the boats lining up to cross into the canal. Still with no word on the car, and with me being a complete nerd, we went to the Canal. I found it amazing, and yet so simple. I was in awe the whole time the boats were lowered to sea level. We gave up hope on the car around 5 and headed back to the city, and a little cinema (Got to fill two of my nerd urges in one day, we went and saw Batman. Greatest movie ever, maybe not, but really good).

Saying goodbye to the South

After getting everything we needed in the jungle, we headed back to the capital. We drove back over the mountains and out of the jungle, heading into Quito for the second time, this time armed with a ferocious sister, I was certain I wouldn´t be robbed. The breaks seemed to be wobbling a little, so after we settled in we took the car back to our friends at the dealership. They were surprised to see me, probably thinking they would have to fix another window. Instead they were more than happy to change out the break pads and give her a thorough physical. Laura had spent some time down here last year with a host family and wanted to go and say hello. South American hospitality only includes a full meal and a night of cards, they don´t just say hello. I met her host mom, her sister and the two new girls that were staying with her. We learned a new card game, kind of like playing gin rummy and poker at the same time, we lost horribly. The next day we caught up on some interneting, met back up with my good friend Newman, and had a great night out. There is more to the story, but due to the contract I signed, I am not at liberty to say. It was sad to say goodbye to Quito for a second time, but we had to be on the move.
We drove down to the coast to the town of Manta, the shipping port for the boat North. We arrived thinking the worst, and ended up with the normal. We went through customs, narcotics, billing, holding, the whole 10 yards, and still had enough time to put in a few beers. Paolo and Xiomara decided to make a little weekend trip up and hang out with us. We hit up the beach, drank some beers and even had time for a little partying. I was lucky to have brought my reading glasses as we played bingo and I wouldn´t have been able to read the numbers. We chilled on the beach the next day before the long drive back to Guayaquil. So far so good with the car, but now lets see how the other end in Panama goes. Thanks Paolo for everything, will miss you brother!