Fiesta Week-Bocas, Panama

Carola from Vancouver BC and this lady's rescued parrots. View of the park from the Hostel balcony. People are starting to arrive for the 7 hour parade.
One of the fire bridgade bands.
A downs syndrome girl who was majorette.


Some of the local indigenous children. There is a mix of indian, african and spanish decents in the area.

I am now back in San Jose and not any too soon. I am just not a partier, not that this is a shock to any of you. I was very ready to leave Panama. I love to have a good time, but I have my limits, especially with strangers. I'm not 20 years old and living to get wasted. I really did enjoy my time, but I couldn't take any more of it. I haven't had a real nights sleep in 3 days. Between the horrific noise that the rain makes and the all night techno musicfest, I'm worn out. With all the smoking and crazy weather my asthma has returned as well. However, it was a great experience of local life and a Panamanian holiday. The main event was a parade around town which lasted for nearly 8 hours. It was amazing! Every school in the area has its own band and every government office and local associations walked with their banner. All the fire, police, military have their own bands. In the school groups the boys play the drums or horns and the girls look pretty or play a xylophone type instrument. The different dress for each group was really fun to see too. I have photos Ill post later when I get a better connection. These people have amazing stamina. They walked in the hot sun for at least 2 hours and many of the women had high heel shoes on. It was also televised on local T.V. It was a beautiful day for a festival and I had a prime seat as the Hostel Heike, where I stayed has a balcony and they are located right across from the main park where all the action took place.

I did have a few fun outings to the other islands as well during the week. We took the bus to the end of the main Island, Colon to Boca del Drago. I laid under an almond tree and listened to the surf and read a book for a couple of hours one day. I made another friend, Carola from Vancouver, B.C. The majority of the people I met are Canadian or not from the US. It's amazing how much fun you can have with strangers. So far I've been hitting it off with one person at a time and it's been a nice way to travel. Carola is in her late 20's but she's been all over the world. I may see her again in S. America.

One afternoon we spent 3 glorious hours on Wizard Beach on Isla Bastamientos. We caught a perfect break in the rain and had perfect weather to enjoy the beach. The surf wias strong, but we had fun body surfing for a while and then I took a walk along the sand and of course got lame sand flea bites, which are still driving me crazy. (The weather has been off and on with rain, but the humidity was constant. I've never experienced anything like that before. I did learn to appreciate a good cold shower. It was one of my favorite pars of the day.) Anyway, the weather broke and we spontaneously came across a group going so we went with them. The boat literally dropped us off on the beach and we had to jump in the water and wade to the beach. Getting off was fine, but getting back in with the huge force of the tide coming in was not so fun. I have a huge bruise and knot on my shin. I actually have amassed quite a few bumps and bruises along the way. I guess that's normal from all the traveling.

I'm starting to settle into the rhythm of this kind of travel, I think, and I am figuring out how I want to spend my time. I don't want a whirlwind experience. I think I want to stay at least a week in each place I go and really get to know it. Constant backpacking is tiring. Just today I took a water taxi, a van taxi, a Rover Ranger taxi and a travel bus. I'm now back at the Hostel Costa Rica Backpackers and even though I only stayed here a couple of days, it feels like home. It's nice to have familiar surroundings. I'm learning it really takes a few days to get your bearings in a new place. Anyway, my parents made it to San Jose and I'll see them tomorrow for a wonderful week in Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast. Everyone I've talked to says its the most beautiful part of Costa Rica, so I'm really looking forward to it as well as seeing loving and familiar faces. Okay friends, ciao!