girlscout's Blog

     We met our friends in Atlanta, and from there we flew to Panama City together. Arrived late Thurs. night. Awoke early next morning for a very bumpy 1 hour plane ride in a prop plane to the islands of Bocas del Toro. After arriving at the main island, we made our way to the dock - then a very choppy boat ride for another hour to the island of Bastiementos. The whole island is a national park and our Eco-Lodge is called "Al Natural". Our thatched hut has only 3 sides with 1 side open to face the Caribbean. Our toilet is outside!  We can swim, hike or kayak here. The main dining hut serves us all our meals and they are made from local vegetables. No meat - just chicken and seafood, lots of rice and vegetables and many fresh fruits and cheeses for dessert. Lots of Chilean wine with dinner!  At night, we shine our flashlights in the water. Then turn them off and surprise! There are bio-luminescent planktons in the water and it looks like stars shining in the ocean - very cool!!!!! Oh yeah, more stars in the sky than I´ve ever seen in my life!

     Our huts are up on stilts and at night the waves lap under our hut. Our bed has mosquito netting, but we still manage to get chewed up, even with insect repellant on. Oh well, it´s worth it to spend time in paradise!

     Back on the boat to the main island, on another small plane back to Panam City. A driver picks us up and drives us 2 hours to El Valle, in the mountains of Northern Panama. Internet access here! And our hotel room has 4 walls and an indoor bathroom! There are mountains looming high behind us. Cooler here. Many beautiful birds, frogs, geckos. We ate breakfast this morning out on a patio with birds singing overhead. In a short while, a guide is picking us up to take us hiking to a waterfall and some petroglyphs in the mountains. More later!