“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.”

Beautiful, beautiful morning! The sun shining on calm, dark blue water. Boats anchored and waves gently lapping against them. 

I sat early on the deck overlooking the harbour, watching fish jump and listening to the sounds of Bocas Town awakening. Mindful of the gift we have waiting for us to develop at home in our cabin. We will have the same opportunity to sit on a deck overlooking the water, in our own home, every day we want to. Gratitude....

 

There was no power in Bocas Town today. When we checked into our hotel last night there was a sign at reception saying it would be off from 7:00 am till noon.The town was installing a new generator. No big deal for us as we planned to be out on the islands till suppertime...Morning toileting was a bit challenging but living in the jungle has taught us to be resourceful...and patient...

  

Breakfast was a bit more challenging. We had little time to find a restaurant with its own generator. Wandered around a bit until we noticed a crowd seated and headed there. They didn't have a generator, but they had planned ahead, so after a breakfast of juice and 89 cent empanadas, we were satisfied and ready to take on the day! What a day it was!

Homer, "our hustler" as we've affectionately come to call him, came to collect us in a boat and took us to the tour site around the corner-nice touch...

There was a little confusion about who was going in which tour when we got there and found many people lined up, but it got sorted out-at least, we think we went on the tour we signed up for...Presently we were on a boat which quickly filled with about 15 others, and off we went. It is poetry watching the drivers maneuver these boats! The can turn on a dime and back into places fluidly with such ease and ability, it is impressive!

Along the way we enjoyed the sights uncommon to us-huge ferry's carrying semi-loads of goods to the islands, lovely, peaceful, sailboats, fishing boats, dugout canoes...

  

 We headed to Dolphin Bay, arriving with 5 or 6 other boat-fulls, and followed by 5 or 6 more. We did see some dolphins, and each time, the boats would start up and race over to the area they were jumping, only to lose them again. Kind of comical...a bit disappointing-no different than watching them in the harbour from our dock. We had dreams of seeing them swimming alongside our boat, and hearing them call...oh, well, next adventure...

 

From Dolphin Bay, we drove through spectacular waters, sighting islands along the way, until we came to a floating restaurant named Jasmin's.

A bit of insight for future: ask for clarification when booking tours. Homer told us they would stop for lunch at a retaurant-we didn't ask for particulars. At 11:30 we did stop, but it was to place our order. We would come back when we'd been to Bastimento Island. Most dishes were $10 apiece, and drinks were inflated x2. 

 

 

No other choices when there is only one restaurant in the middle of nowhere...Turned out the food was good. but with foreknowledge, we would have packed a picnic, eaten on the beach at lunch time, enjoyed a fruit bastido on deck, and no felt so forced by circumstance to pay too much. 

 

We had a lovely time lounging there though...                                                                     

We arrived at Bastimento Island about 12:30...white sand beach, scorchingly hot on bare feet, wide open, blue skies and clear, clear water. 

 

You could stand there and watch the fish swim by!

 Bastimento houses Panamas first marine park, along with the Zapatillas keys. 

It is one of the most important marine habitats in Panama. Beautiful coral reefs, which Michael enjoyed snorkeling in. There are also nesting beaches and a mangrove swamp that all contribute to the survival and protection of many marine species-some endangered. Sometime we{d like to see the turtles lay their eggs here-and what a treat to watch them hatch! Four species of turtles lay their eggs here between March and September...

After our fill of the water, we went and explored the beach. We walked for miles. It was a scorching day-34 degrees and the sand flies were pretty pesky. As long as we kept moving and when we got under the trees, we were much more comfortable to explore.

 

 

Slothful behaviour comes with observing nature...

                          

Playing catch with a coconut!

 

 

Back at Jasmin's Restaurante,  at about 3:00 we took just a little over an hour to eat and relax. Interesting watching the owners hop into a motor boat to run over to their house about 1000 metres away!

Bano

General store

This restaurant is built on concrete and wood pylons and has wooden sidewalks leading to the little general store and the baño. 

 We enjoyed relaxing in  that atmosphere and a whole world was opened to Gabriel, who was so intrigued by the aquarium under our feet...this kid is not the least afraid of water! Just sitting and water the myriad fish swimming by, examining the barnacles with their incredible colours and oysters attached to the pylons under the decking-the miracle of marine life we have no opportunity for in the prairies-a gift to us!
 


 

 

Our driver asked if we'd like to snorkel for awhile longer-we were tired but said we'd come along. When we got there, Michael and the kids took one look at the others jumping in, and promptly followed. I had left my contact case at the hotel so was out of luck...firming my resolve to have my eyes lasered! Oh to have been able to have jumped on a whim! And seen what was down there too!

 What an incredible experience!

 

They had so much fun and  I thoroughly enjoyed watching their reactions-all the while marveling at my kids swimming in the middle of the ocean, with no land in sight! How do you ever begin to describe the miracle of such a life opportunity! 

 

An incredibly enjoyable day! Our holiday could be complete right now and we would be thoroughly satisfied-and we still have another day!

Michael and I are seriously sunburnt! We were sitting on the sides of the boat with the kids in the middle...and I didn't listen to Michael's suggestion of getting sunscreen because I didn't want to pay $16 a bottle for it! I guess I'll be doing that tomorrow...

On our return about 6:00 pm we discovered the power still off. Hmmm...Preparations for Carnival are underway and people are gathering in the streets. In some ways we wish we would be here for Saturdays festivities, in some we are glad we are not...there are semi-loads of beer arriving daily, and we hear stories of how out of control it can get... There is an air of anticipation and excitement here. And so we walked, and saw the sights.

Not terribly hungry after our 3:00 lunch, we took our time. In the jungle we would be starting to turn in around this time-here, there is activity- people don't  get up as early here either. Probably because they're not in bed by 8:00...

We found a couple of little craft shops to spend mucho time in! We checked out a few hostels and hotels for future planning. we explored the candle-lit shops and street vendors booths, and kept our eyes open for a lit resturant.The Chinese place was one but when we wandered in there, the guys decided they weren't interested. Seemed most others were dark so we thought we'd just buy some yogurt at the grocery store-also Chinese owned, and also with a generator-when we came upon the Restaurante Milano in the Swan's Cay Hotel-$120.00 per night and no rooms to accommodate four. 

 They had a generator, or maybe a few, the restaurante, its huge kitchen, and all three floors of the hotel were grandly lit. We approached the restaurante thinking it would be hugely expensive...we were pleasantly surprised. Gabriel and I shared a large pizza for $7.00, Allie had spaghetti and Michael Chicken Cassida, for about the same.

 Today the Diablos Rios are out-people wearing elaborate devil costumes trimmed with bells on the legs and dancing throughout the streets with whips. They use them too! Not on tourists, but they can be seen chasing residents down the street.It seems to be a desirable thing to be whipped-we saw a youth, about 16 or 17, proudly showing off three nasty looking welts to his family who gathered approvingly around. Apparently, a whip-snapping devil oppresses Congos, or African slaves, in the Congos y Diablo carnival ritual. The devil represents Spanish conquerors in the rite, which dates to colonial times.

 Gabriel was quite freaked out. So were we all, truth be told...pretty creepy!

As we were waiting for our meal, we watched trucks driving through the streets with entire drum bands (and a few men in drag) on them-10-12 people crammed into the shortbox playing various types of drums-steel, bongo, etc.-or dancing while being followed by Diablos and spooks...

Saw the lady from the craft shop who told me to put coconut water on the burn on my face-yikes, it's bad...

We went back to our hotel with a cheap bottle of red Chilean wine from the supermarket-Danette would be horrified, we're talking about $4.00 a bottle, but its really quite good- we shared a glass on deck with Joe, in plastic cups we'd gotten from the guy at the front desk-I know, real class...but a nice, companionable end to a really great day...kids contentedly asleep, our feet up, watching and hearing and smelling and feeling life on the harbour...nice!