El Porvenir

04/05/11  We left Panadub, without enough dollars to pay for a 3rd night, and in need of a fresh water shower (after 5 days).  Porvenir Island has the airport.  It's ridiculous.  We decided to fly to Panama city for the fun of it and stayed 2 nights in the best airport hotel you can imagine.

During our stay we found both Crabs and Geckos in our bed during the night (unusually friendly), and John saw a 1m (probably more like 1.5m) Baracuda 3m away (probably more like 1m) while snorkling.  Ouchh.

Our 20 seater Twin Otter coming in to land.  You have to be seriously careful where you put your boat because they come in below the masts.  Can't afford to waste an inch of runway at this airstrip!

We don't even have a ticket...I guess we just get on?

A great view of Porvenir.  Also of the rest of the Islands and Reefs.

Marooned

02/05/11 We went in search of a desert island to get stuck on for a few days and did really well!  Actually, it turned out the first one we reached and got set up with hammocks had no food or fresh water, so after a bit of hassle, with Kunas who don't really give a damn, we eventually landed on Panadub.  (Its May by the way, we fly home at the end of the month! Crumbs.)

Lancha is the taxi of the San Blas.  They're quick and painful (on the ass).  We took one from Porvenir to Panadub.

This is where we stayed.  One cabana on the Island, one Kuna family, one parrot, one monkey and a handful of palm trees.

Pelican Island. (West view from hut)

The family.  Plas, the dude in the middle who looks like Pharell, turned out to be a chief of the surrounding islands.  Intimidating at first, gangster springs to mind, especially with San Blas being one of the main cocaine routes from Colombia to Central America.  But he was a great host, and we lucked out meeting the girlfriend of his mate, who got us 60% discount!

El Parrot.

El Monkey (food stealer, grrrr).

El ...one that likes to sit on your feet?
Turns out the gangster chief likes animals. And he gets them as gifts from the villages... just keep the man happy ok?!

30 bucks a night each included 3 incredible meals a day.  We ate massive Lobsters, Konch (squid like stuff that lives inside this shell) and always coconut rice.

We would've had Crab too, but we left that afternoon.

Inspired by a German surgeon/carpenter we met in Colombia, John has been, er, wittling.  There's been a random shape, a small windmill for the beach and the latest, an attempt to reach Panama un-manned.  The Trimaran "There & Back" was pretty quick for a 2fter, but didn't proove ocean-going and capsized just 200m off shore.  Looked good though!

Chilled :)

Sailing To San Blas

28/04/11  We've left South America, a land mark and a half for our trip. (Luckily the infamous FARC and drug cartels of Colombia did not live up to their reputation and we left unscathed).  And what a way to leave; on a 36 hour sail North into the Caribbean Sea towards the desert islands of the San Blas.  Our boat was 43ft Cool Running II, home of Sandra and George who had stopped to make some cash on their way around the world, by sailing backpackers between Colombia and Panama.

Unfortunately the wind didn't favour our shedule, so we had to motor the big crossing to the San Blas.  It was still an amazing experience to be surrounded by nothing but blue sea for a full day and night.  George, our 'cantankerous captain' had enough detailed stories to keep us entertained the whole way.

No land or a ship in sight, just blue water, hundreds of meters deep.

Dolphins came to say hi!

We finally dropped anchor and the skipper 'opened the pool' :)  We had two days exploring the San Blas islands and snorkling around the reefs.  We also discovered that these Austrian guys are in to their food!  We're talking fresh pizzas and baked bread, beef goulash etc. in the galley of a yacht!  The bar has been raised.

Water as warm as it looks :)

The Kuna people live on these islands!  There are over 350 islands in the San Blas.  You could walk around this one in max 10 minutes.

Neeeeeowm. Zoink.

Sailing between islands.

The Kunas sail between islands on dug out canoes.  Apparently some even get adventurous and take them all the way down to Colombia!! 3m waves in that is brave!

Can't remember the name of this island, but it had a village crammed on right up to the edge and we had a look around.

Ever been tempted to jump into a public toilet before? Probably still not a good idea.

The Kuna ladies have amazing clothes, scarfs, nose rings and beads up their arms and on their legs (like socks).  Grace got a little of the love :)

Boys rocking the water out of their canoe after capsizing it.

Sandra and George left us at Porvenir island, where we had our passports stamped for entry into Panama, as we decided to stay in the San Blas for a few more days.  Oh go on then ;)