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Around Panama- October 2008

After my spanish clases, I traveled around Panama. First to the Caribbean ocean at Bocas del Toros, then to Panama City for a few days, and then to the remote islands of the San Blas archipelago, home of the Kuna people. The people of Panama are friendly, funny, and helpful, and my spanish lessons helped me get around. I generally prefer mountains to beaches, but I had an unforgetable time...
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The day after I left Boquete, I stayed in a Hostal, and met a couple of travelers who had heard about a turtle release program
The day after I left Boquete, I stayed in a Hostal, and met a couple of travelers who had heard about a turtle release program		 We got up at 4:30am, to be at the beach at dawn to help set the turtles free!
We got up at 4:30am, to be at the beach at dawn to help set the turtles free!		 A very tiny turtle...
A very tiny turtle...
The eggs are collected from the beach where the turtles lay them, and re-buried here where they are protected
The eggs are collected from the beach where the turtles lay them, and re-buried here where they are protected		 Re-burying the turtle eggs collected that morning
Re-burying the turtle eggs collected that morning		 The starting line...
The starting line...
Go! Be free! Grow up and roam the big wide sea!
Go! Be free! Grow up and roam the big wide sea!		 Wait, aren't you headed the wrong way?
Wait, aren't you headed the wrong way?		 Scrambling towards destiny
Scrambling towards destiny
Such a long way for such a little fella
Such a long way for such a little fella		 My friend Rukaya from England and the turtle guy- I never did learn his name
My friend Rukaya from England and the turtle guy- I never did learn his name		 The turtle guy goes running each morning to find nests, and then collects the eggs and releases them when they hatch
The turtle guy goes running each morning to find nests, and then collects the eggs and releases them when they hatch
It's a big world for little turtles
It's a big world for little turtles		 Makin' tracks
Makin' tracks		 A slowpoke, even for a turtle...
A slowpoke, even for a turtle...
Almost there...
Almost there...		 Turtle stats
Turtle stats		 Taking the boat to Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean side of Panama
Taking the boat to Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean side of Panama
Going out snorkeling- yes, we look like tourists!
Going out snorkeling- yes, we look like tourists!		 Bocas del Toro- pretty touristy, but beautiful surroundings
Bocas del Toro- pretty touristy, but beautiful surroundings		 Dolphins!
Dolphins!
Restaurant in paradise
Restaurant in paradise		 Fresh crab
Fresh crab		 The visibility wasn't great, but the reefs and fish were beautiful
The visibility wasn't great, but the reefs and fish were beautiful
Jellyfish
Jellyfish		 'Red Frog Beach'- very nice!
'Red Frog Beach'- very nice!		 My fist scuba dive in Bocas- and I had company!
My fist scuba dive in Bocas- and I had company!
He sure looks like a shark!
He sure looks like a shark!		 But, no teeth, so that's a relief! He followed us around the whole time, sometimes quite closely!
But, no teeth, so that's a relief! He followed us around the whole time, sometimes quite closely!		 Pan1_033.JPG
Pan1_033.JPG
Me and my fishy friend
Me and my fishy friend		 Feeling green
Feeling green		 Me, the fish, and the wreck
Me, the fish, and the wreck
A well preserved part of the wreck
A well preserved part of the wreck		 g1/57/393457/3/105111715.iEJeKzSb.jpg Later in the day, I set out to explore the bat-cave!
Later in the day, I set out to explore the bat-cave!
I met a spaniard, Mario, at the cave and we did some spelunking
I met a spaniard, Mario, at the cave and we did some spelunking		 Yes, the cave was full of bats- and not sleepy bats either
Yes, the cave was full of bats- and not sleepy bats either		 Exploring further in the cave
Exploring further in the cave
In some parts of the cave, the ceiling was completely covered with bats!
In some parts of the cave, the ceiling was completely covered with bats!		 The whole ceiling moved with the wiggling and chattering of the bats- it was kind of creepy, but amazing to see!
The whole ceiling moved with the wiggling and chattering of the bats- it was kind of creepy, but amazing to see!		 Me at the entrance to the cave...
Me at the entrance to the cave...
My new friend Mario, from Spain
My new friend Mario, from Spain		 The beach at the end of the island- deserted and beautiful!
The beach at the end of the island- deserted and beautiful!		 Local wildlife- I'm guessing some type of heron
Local wildlife- I'm guessing some type of heron
Starfish beach, with starfish everywhere!
Starfish beach, with starfish everywhere!		 Me and a local
Me and a local		 Mario gets a kiss...
Mario gets a kiss...
Pan1_053.JPG
Pan1_053.JPG		 Underwatershot
Underwatershot		 Trying the rope swing...
Trying the rope swing...
It's a bit too long!
It's a bit too long!		 Blub
Blub		 Mario crossing the ADA approved bridge
Mario crossing the ADA approved bridge
The village at the end of the island- very quiet
The village at the end of the island- very quiet		 Scootering back to town
Scootering back to town		 An amazing huge tree covered in epiphytes and vines
An amazing huge tree covered in epiphytes and vines
Biking around the island
Biking around the island		 Back in town, watching the traffic in the bay
Back in town, watching the traffic in the bay		 Getting ready to go diving
Getting ready to go diving
A very cool... coral?
A very cool... coral?		 Fish in a sea of coral
Fish in a sea of coral		 Coral growing under an overhang
Coral growing under an overhang
Some type of small spiny lobster
Some type of small spiny lobster		 Lookin' cool in my pink mask and snorkel
Lookin' cool in my pink mask and snorkel		 Downtown Bocas del Toro
Downtown Bocas del Toro
Road construction is universal
Road construction is universal		 Another downtown shot of bocas
Another downtown shot of bocas		 View from the balcony of my hostal
View from the balcony of my hostal
The hostal 'Grand Kahuna'- a bit tacky, but clean and well run
The hostal 'Grand Kahuna'- a bit tacky, but clean and well run		 Tree frogs being raised as part of an experiment at the local Smithsonian Research Station
Tree frogs being raised as part of an experiment at the local Smithsonian Research Station		 On tour at the Smithsonian Tropical Research station- they had dozens of tanks with different colored frogs
On tour at the Smithsonian Tropical Research station- they had dozens of tanks with different colored frogs
A red tree frog
A red tree frog		 Giant grasshopper
Giant grasshopper		 The aquatic tanks at the research station
The aquatic tanks at the research station
Beautiful views from town
Beautiful views from town		 More beautiful views
More beautiful views		 Me and my ride at sunset
Me and my ride at sunset
Sunset in the Caribbean
Sunset in the Caribbean		 Next stop- the Lost and Found hostal in the cloud forest
Next stop- the Lost and Found hostal in the cloud forest		 Wait, I think I see something...
Wait, I think I see something...
It's a cloud!
It's a cloud!		 The hostal perched on a hillside high in the mountains
The hostal perched on a hillside high in the mountains		 The dormroom- caverous, with beds for 22!
The dormroom- caverous, with beds for 22!
Sunset in the mountains
Sunset in the mountains		 Andy, the hostal owner and Rocky the jungle critter
Andy, the hostal owner and Rocky the jungle critter		 A rare view of Volcan Baru, the highest peak in Panama, and the only volcano. Boquete is nestled at the foot.
A rare view of Volcan Baru, the highest peak in Panama, and the only volcano. Boquete is nestled at the foot.
A leaf-looking moth
A leaf-looking moth		 Surrounding the hostal was a shade-grown, all-organic coffee plantation
Surrounding the hostal was a shade-grown, all-organic coffee plantation		 This one I know- a coati
This one I know- a coati
A curious coati
A curious coati		 And a three-toed sloth
And a three-toed sloth		 At the bus station- an indigenous woman in the colorful dress stands in the fore
At the bus station- an indigenous woman in the colorful dress stands in the fore
A shocking return to civilization- one of the largest malls in Central America is next to the bus station
A shocking return to civilization- one of the largest malls in Central America is next to the bus station		 The mall was huge, packed, and very much like the bigger malls in the US, complete with fast-food favorites
The mall was huge, packed, and very much like the bigger malls in the US, complete with fast-food favorites		 The locks on the Panama Canal
The locks on the Panama Canal
A huge car-carrying cargo ship passes through the locks, with only a foot clearance on either side
A huge car-carrying cargo ship passes through the locks, with only a foot clearance on either side		 Looking down the locks
Looking down the locks		 Pan1_104.JPG
Pan1_104.JPG
Yes, I was really there!
Yes, I was really there!		 Me and the Colonel
Me and the Colonel		 Here is a huge wetland being filled in for development, with Panama City in the background
Here is a huge wetland being filled in for development, with Panama City in the background
I joined a local environmental field trip sponsored by Audubon Society of Panama. It was amazing how similar the issues were.
I joined a local environmental field trip sponsored by Audubon Society of Panama. It was amazing how similar the issues were.		 We visited a wetland, mangrove forest, and a local 'beach'.
We visited a wetland, mangrove forest, and a local 'beach'.		 We also did some birdwatching- this a migrating Peregrine Falcon
We also did some birdwatching- this a migrating Peregrine Falcon
At the beach- lots of trash washes up from the nearby city
At the beach- lots of trash washes up from the nearby city		 Audubon Society of Panama offices- they have four employees
Audubon Society of Panama offices- they have four employees		 A yellow headed Caracara- a common local raptor
A yellow headed Caracara- a common local raptor
I hiked through the large metropolitan park near Panama City, and saw lots of birds (and no people!)
I hiked through the large metropolitan park near Panama City, and saw lots of birds (and no people!)		 Looking out over Panama City
Looking out over Panama City		 An ant track across the path
An ant track across the path
Panama City- there were almost as many buildings under construction as were built
Panama City- there were almost as many buildings under construction as were built		 Many vultures circling overhead- a common sight in Panama
Many vultures circling overhead- a common sight in Panama		 On the way to the San Blas Archipelago
On the way to the San Blas Archipelago
Up and over the mountains
Up and over the mountains		 The road took a turn for the worse...
The road took a turn for the worse...		 Then we drove through a river!
Then we drove through a river!
And some big puddles
And some big puddles		 The busy port of call- we quickly loaded onto a boat headed to the islands of the Kuna people
The busy port of call- we quickly loaded onto a boat headed to the islands of the Kuna people		 There are lots of islands, small and big, and only a few are large enough to be populated
There are lots of islands, small and big, and only a few are large enough to be populated
My friends, the English women from my spanish class stayed on this island for two days!
My friends, the English women from my spanish class stayed on this island for two days!		 Island paradise
Island paradise		 Checking out the local sights...
Checking out the local sights...
Snorkeling around the islands- some amazing soft corals!
Snorkeling around the islands- some amazing soft corals!		 Like a garden on the ocean floor
Like a garden on the ocean floor		 Pan1_132.JPG
Pan1_132.JPG
The dock at the kuna village- next to the toilet, which empties directly into the ocean
The dock at the kuna village- next to the toilet, which empties directly into the ocean		 The long boats and sailboats of the Kuna
The long boats and sailboats of the Kuna		 Kuna village where we stayed
Kuna village where we stayed
A Kuna woman at the hostal
A Kuna woman at the hostal		 Mainstreet of the Kuna village
Mainstreet of the Kuna village		 Kuna village- the Kuna people are autonomous in Panama- they won the right to manage their own affairs about 80 years ago
Kuna village- the Kuna people are autonomous in Panama- they won the right to manage their own affairs about 80 years ago
The house where I stayed
The house where I stayed		 A Kuna woman showing their amazing textiles- all stitched by hand
A Kuna woman showing their amazing textiles- all stitched by hand		 Heading out to the islands again
Heading out to the islands again
Our destination island for the day
Our destination island for the day		 A shipwreck next to the island
A shipwreck next to the island		 Amazing, and now covered in coral, and home to many colorful fish
Amazing, and now covered in coral, and home to many colorful fish
Pan1_145.JPG
Pan1_145.JPG		 Hey there...
Hey there...		 Me at the wreck
Me at the wreck
Snorkeling the wreck
Snorkeling the wreck		 Snorkeling the wreck 2
Snorkeling the wreck 2		 Fishies
Fishies
Snorkeling at the wreck 3
Snorkeling at the wreck 3		 Hanging at the beach
Hanging at the beach		 Heading out to spend the night on a remote island- with a storm coming!
Heading out to spend the night on a remote island- with a storm coming!
Important supplies
Important supplies		 Sunset the next morning, after the storms had passed
Sunset the next morning, after the storms had passed		 Our camp- my hammock, and two tents for my Belgian friends
Our camp- my hammock, and two tents for my Belgian friends
Rainbow in the morning
Rainbow in the morning		 Yes- sunRISE
Yes- sunRISE		 Another rainbow shot- it was so amazingly beautiful!
Another rainbow shot- it was so amazingly beautiful!
Pan1_164.JPG
Pan1_164.JPG		 Pan1_166.JPG
Pan1_166.JPG		 My hammock- it only rained for a couple of hours, but there was thunder and lightening all night
My hammock- it only rained for a couple of hours, but there was thunder and lightening all night
Back in Panama City at the hostal Mamallena
Back in Panama City at the hostal Mamallena		 The guys there were great- friendly, helpful, and quick with a shot of rum or pancakes
The guys there were great- friendly, helpful, and quick with a shot of rum or pancakes		 My parting shot(s)- three shots of rum at 6 in the morning before my flight home... now that's hospitality!
My parting shot(s)- three shots of rum at 6 in the morning before my flight home... now that's hospitality!
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