Bye Bye Bocas

Somehow we seem to have become a little behind with the blog. Last time we wrote there was definitely pizza eating and we were in Bocas....

From memory our last couple of weeks in Panama went something like this:

We decided to stop Spanish classes for a week to try and figure out what to do next and catch up with some studying. Spent a week in the hammock and no decisions were made. This ‘take it as it comes’ approach could be dangerous as we discover we are extremely indecisive. Decided to stay a week longer to think some more.

We watched Independence day parades in Bocas, saw Gio’s doctor march by on the day he was supposed to be taking out Gio’s stitches (avert your eyes if squeamish...)

Two days before our week’s extension is up we make a decision to sail to Colombia!
It rained a lot – especially when we are packing and trying to leave Bocas – was it a sign?!
We were up at five for last minute packing and a 7am boat to the main land. Feeling pretty mixed about leaving Bocas as life is easy and it’s a beautiful place. But our favourite teacher had just developed Dengue.... so maybe it was a well timed escape after all! Next, after a bit of a wait at the bus ‘station’ and Gio almost getting himself locked in the toilets for the day, we embarked on a ten hour bus journey to Panama City.

After two interesting films made by a Baptist church in the south of the US, a lot of windy roads and feeling a bit green around the gills we arrived in Panama city and stayed in a lovely hostel, with a lovely parrot, ate the worst fast food ever and had a big sleep. I woke up feeling a bit rough on Saturday so our grand plans to visit the canal were shelved and we started our hunt for a replacement buckle for Gio’s rucksack. Not the most exciting of days, nor perhaps the way to make the most of the city but we like Panama a lot and wished that we had more time. We did have fun braving the local bus to get home and attempting to enlist everyone’s help to figure out where an earth to get off of it again...

A local bus in Panama City

Saturday night we took it easy and went to a movie, English with Spanish subtitles, enjoyed the translation of every swear word to “ay caramba” and how much the Spanish audience get in to the film. Gio was a little taken aback by the big guy next to him crying at a slightly sentimental part of the movie...I loved it.