A day in Bocas

Today started off a bit uneventful. Even though I was up early and walked to the market on the island to stock up on water and these delightful cans of pre-made rum and coke, it kind of took forever to get teh day started. I decided I wanted a breakfast that was not toast so I went to this cafe at a nearby hostel where it took me TWO HOURS to get breakfast. Since dinner the first night also took that long, I think it is an Isla Carnero thing.

Then it rained. Then I walked down the island to take a swim in the "beach" on the island, but it was really shallow and I kept getting caught in seaweed. Then I tried to pick up snorkel gear and it took another half an hour for someone to hand me a mask. BUT then, finally, the day started. I decided to snorkel at a place called Hospital Point. I had some tumultous times with past tour companies, so I really wanted to go to a place where I could be in control. I had a water taxi drop me off (which, fun times, they really do just stop near the shore and tell you to get out) and thankfully had the forsight to arrange with him to pick me up again in a couple of hours to go back. I shudder to think if I had forgotten and been stranded on the island attempting to shout down nearby taxis or hitch a ride with other tourists. It was lovely. I saw swordfish swimming near the surface and a variety of colorful fishies on the bottom. Of course, the waves made the water a bit murky at times and the boats themselves did not help. Nonetheless, there was some very cool coral (which I may have banged my knee on) and other things to see.

After my taxi came back and deposited me at the hotel, I changes and headed to Old Bank or Isla Barrimento. Old Bank is the second largest city in Bocas del Toro, and one of the women I met while snorkeling suggested I visit there and go to a place called Up in the Hill in the rainforest. She said it was a cool cafe and shop with products made on sight. Of course, I start thinking a big endeavor that would have lots of local products that I could buy as souveniers. No such luck. In truth, I spent 45 minutes hiking up a hill in the scorching Panama sun to get to someones house that had a patio where you could order an egg sandwich, a coffee, or a brownie and buy coconut lip balm. It was delightfully quirky in its own way, but not necessarily worth the long hike. I ate a brownie and a coffee, bought my two dollar lip balm, and enjoyed the experience. At least I got to see some rainforest.

The woman, coincidentally, was from Scotland. Coree Brown, she thinks that the Scots will waiver when it comes to the final vote on separation out of fear. After the jungle, I took the water taxi to the main town, Bocas del Toro (Panama loves to do that). I wandered a bit. It is mainly restaurants, shops, hostels, tour companies, and a few casinos, but was a fun look around nonetheless. It was nice to find a store that did not primarily sell moth balls and Virgin Mary candles, though I did enjoy that the "gourmet" market sold Biquick and Jiffy. Alas, I realized I had a cash shortage as we were there and needed to conserve. Instead, I opted for a low key dinner and took a water taxi back to my island abode. So now, heavily sunburned but happy, I am off to bed!