Sunday we made our way back to Limon from Isla Grande. This involved changing buses in a pretty rough town called Sabanitas and asking to be let off at the entrance to Limon, which is a good 5 miles down the hill from Caleb's house. The first time we did this, with Caleb, there were taxis waiting and we took one to his house. however, this time, there was only one solitary dude standing at the bus stop and no taxis. The dude started talking to us and pulled out his cell phone and seemed to be calling a taxi for us, but we couldn't understand everything. Then as we're kinda waiting to see what's going to happen, a police car pulled up and the guy goes up and talks to the cop and motions that we should get in. Uhhhh, OK .... so we all get in and the cop takes us up as far as the fork in the road, where another car is waiting. It wasn't marked as a taxi ... but our little friend went over and talked to him and motioned at us and then, again, said we should get in. It was just a dude and his wife cruising around. We couldn't exactly describe where Caleb's house was, as Limon is really a district more than a town, so we said near the store and near the cemetary. So we drove and drove, Anna and I are looking at each other wondering what the hell to do, and finally we arrive at a little graveyard -- clearly not the large hillside cemetary in Caleb's little part of town. OOPS. So we tried to explain better and the guy driving seemed not too put off, and he backed down the road to turn around ... but then when he tried to go back up the hill his car stalled and we all had to get out so that he didnt roll back into a ditch ... anyway we finally ended up in Caleb's town, much to our relief, and paid the guy $4, which is quite a lot for a taxi, out of intense gratitude. Accidental hitchhiking.
So that was yesterday ... we spent the rest of the afternoon feasting on more fresh fish and beer and packing up for the next leg of the trip. We left Limon really early this morning (after NO sleep ... I think it was toads outside making a noise all night like a boat motor) to come into Panama City again. Left our bags at Belsy's and did some shopping at the mall (yes, just like America)--beach shoes that won't tear up my feet as bad as my flip flops have, Claratin for my horrible allergies (really expensive, but i can't breathe through my nose at all, ugh), another memory card for my camera (About the same price as US).
Then we went to the Miraflores locks, which is the part of the canal set up for gringo tourists, but it was really cool to see the enormous ships squeezing through the locks.
Then went to Casco Viejo, the older part of Panama City built by the Spanish. It was really interesting ... the whole area feels like Europe, all the buildings are way old and have balconies, narrow brick streets, old churches, and two lovely plazas. Except about 70% of the area is just in shambles, the buildings literally falling down around the dirty children and stray cats playing outside them, and the other 30% has been recently beautifully restored to its former 18th century glory.
Tonight Caleb is at at the airport meeting another friend, then we will meet him at the bus station and catch the overnight bus 7 hours east to David. From there, we'll take another bus north and then a boat to Bocas del Toro islands, also in the Caribbean, for two beach and snorkeling days before heading south to Las Tablas for Carnaval.
We got a little taste of what Carnaval will be like in Isla Grande, where they started the celebrations early. Basically, lots of LOUD music and dancing and young men yelling and drinking of cerveza (always, constantly, drinking cerveza ... it's the only way to stay hydrated and cool) and, well, I think four days of Carnaval might be a bit much. I'm hoping we can get away from the crowds for a day or two and head further south from Las Tablas to some of the Pacific beaches. However, we expect the buses to be really crowded and everyone advises to stay off the road during Carnaval (that cerveza again), so not sure if this will happen.
I am sunburned, congested, and covered in bug bites and poison ivy, sweat and sun block ... but happy to be experiencing something different and seeing so many beautiful places. And embarrassing myself trying to speak Spanish, which always comes out as French, but whatever! |
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