Panama and Starfish

             I haven’t done a picture post in awhile so, to fill you in on my 3 days at Bocas del Toro, in Panama, I have decided to do a picture post.  Que bueno, verdad?  So here it goes, enjoy the pictures and my captions.  Hopefully, by way of the pictures and captions you can garner enough information about my weekend and how awesome it was.  However, if you want to ask a question, please feel free to do so in the comment box below and I will be sure to answer it for you.  Enjoy!

Walking across the bridge/border to Panama after our 7 hour bus ride.  We still had about another hour bus ride after this.

The person who was supposed to check our bus after we crossed the border into Panama was eating lunch so we had to wait outside for him.  It was hot so I tossed this heat-fighting outfit together.  Stylin'

After our 1 more hour bus ride, we got to a port and boarded a water taxi so it could take us out to Bocas del Toro, an island and where we stayed for 3 days while in Panama.  By the way, we 'had' to go to Panama in order to renew our visas since our 90 days in the country was almost up.

After arriving late Friday, we didn't do much.  However, the next day, Whitney and I decided to go on a bike ride around the island.

On our bike ride, which took us all day and we basically rode on every street there was to ride on, we saw some monkeys just hanging out in a tree.

We stopped at a really pretty beach with clear blue water and nice sand.  We were the only 2 there but the waves were monstrous and destroyed us so we continued on our bike ride.

We passed a photo-worthy church.

We based 2 lone tombstones.

Finally, after riding for about 20 miles up and down hills, we arrived at where we were headed, Boca del Drago.  We had to walk the last 800m because the chain on Whit's bike decided to fall off and stay off.  However, we were finally there!

Of course, the water was clear and calm and PERFECT!

I just had to get in and pose for the camera.

I saw some seagulls.  They all had their own posts.

There wasn't much at Boca del Drago except for one expensive restaurant and a few huts like the one above.  So, being the adventurous gents we are, me and old Whit decided to explore along the coast some.

Good thing we did because just a bit up the coast was Starfish beach!  There were countless starfish.  It was amazing!!  After that, she and I just laid in the water along the beach and talked for a few hours.  Lemme tell you, that water, that sun, the atmosphere was so relaxing and tranquil.  I had the 3 most relaxing days ever this past weekend.  God-like is the only way to describe that beach.

Since Whit's bike broke and because we were soo very tired, we waited around for the next shuttle to come by at 5ish.  We found some hammocks and just relaxed while also attempting to talk to each other in Spanish.  While waiting, we also met 2 gringos from Montana, Les and Mike, who are building a house on the island.  They were great guys and it was fun talking to them.  You meet the most interesting people when you travel and are open to talking to others.

The next day, Laura, Whitney and I spent the day on another island at Red Frog Beach.  It was so very relaxing.  I just laid out, explored, and napped in the shade all day for about 7 hours.  Perfect.

The old gang at Red Frog Beach (Laura, me, Whitney).

A map of the area and islands.  We stayed at Bocas del Toro which is on the southern tip Isla Colon.  The island with the giant frog is where we went to Red Frog Beach.  Also, right next to the name Isla Colon, to the left of Isla. there is a small dot (it's a starfish).  That is where Whit and I biked to.  We also biked up the east side of the island to where the surfer guy is in the ocean on the map. 

A cool shot of Bocas del Toro in the morning.

The main street in Bocas.  There were lots of gringos and bars but it was a really cool and relaxing place.  We met a local man named Nester but he told us everyone calls him Snoop.  He was very nice and proceeded to tell us how he learned the F-word.  Surprisingly enough, it was from a Bob Marley song.

The one thing I didn't like about Panama was that they didn't sell bananas like they do in Costa Rica.  I'm not sure why.  And if they did have bananas they were green like these.  Yuck!

The flag of Bocas.

Sadly, while I was enjoying my time in Panama, a lot of people live like this in poor conditions along the water.  There were tons of trash too in the ocean and around these houses.  It puts things in perspective sometimes to see others with less than you.  You begin to realize that you yourself don't need all the things that you have in order to live.

On the way back to San Jose, in a little town in Panama, we saw some school kids playing kickball.  I love how kickball is universal.

And finally, we crossed the border bridge again but this time from Panama into Costa Rica.  On the Panama side of the river was this lovely Panama flag.  While Panama was relaxing, cheaper and fun, it was certainly nice to be back in Costa Rica, my home away from home.