Bocas

Another travel day today. One more of wonderful Panaminian coffee and we were on another mini bus bound for bocas. There isn't really a direct route there, so it's probably not that far as the crow flies, but with mountains and general lack of roads, it was a 3.5 hour ride. Not that I am complaining about the no roads thing. Much of the space between the towns is a national park, shared with Costa Rica, the thing is massive. Nice to know there are still areas where animals can roam without human impact of any kind.

It was a beautiful ride curving through the mountains. Many small, subsistence cattle farmers. We crossed a few dammed rivers. A little sad to see, but then again, not contributing to climate change. It rained for a good portion in the middle, a little hair-raising on the windy roads, but I guess what's left other than trust and prayer.

The ferry ride to the main island of bocas was nuts. On a boat with maybe 15 people, just rolling over super choppy waves. Stupidly, I had forgotten my small boat lessons from north center and we experienced the worst of it in the front of the boat. Needless to say I was happy to get to the dock...to get in one more boat and go to this land that we are staying at. The island chain is pretty compact. Many aren't even the distance across pioneer lake and the length might no be more than going down north center.

Once at our dock on island bastamientos (?) we had a 5 min walk to get to the other side of the island. It looks like a corona commercial. The restaurant is more or less on the beach and our tent is feet from that. We spent the afternoon swimming (finally!) and then a happy hour with $3.50 piña coladas. It's going to be a good next couple of days. Hoping for some snorkeling tomorrow.