We made it to Panama. We are now in a town called Boquete, about 2.5 hours from the Costa Rican border at Paso Canoas.
We traveled yesterday from San Jose 3 hours south to a town called San Isidro de El General, but we didnt really like the look, so we bought another ticket and kept heading south to a town called Nielly, near the Costa Rica - Panama border. We rolled in after 7 pm so it was a bit dark, but we located a room to stay in without a problem. Mari quickly collapsed into bed with a burning migrain, and I made my way to the store to purchase bananas, water, a liter of beer and ice cream. I made it back to the room, opened the ice cream to share with Mari. Opened the bottle of water, took a swig, and while trying to screw the cap back on dropped it on the floor. While bending over to pick it up, I knocked over my liter of beer, shattering on the floor and filling the room with shattered hopes and dreams along with a strong odor of beer. Thus, I spent the next 20 minutes cleaning up the beer and glass fragments. Poor me!
We awoke this morning, ate at a local eatery, then hopped on a bus headed to the border. arriving at the border, we got our passports stamped outta Costa Rica and made our way to the entry point of Panama. We stood patiently in line awaiting our turn at the little window, only to be told that we needed proof of exit before we would be allowed entry into the country. Now...I am not knocking Panama, but really? Is this the country that people flood into and never leave, especially Americans? Hmmm, I never knew. Perhaps the economy is booming and Mari and I just dont know any better. Anyways, we spent the next hour or so in a nearby cybercafe creating a mock flight itinerary ¨proving¨ we would be leaving the country. Well done Panama! You turned us into actual lying, coniving people, even though we really are leaving at some point.
With our fake document in hand, we passed right through and hopped on a bus headed to David, Panama´s second largest city, where we caught another bus north to where we are now - Boquete. I heard this place was a nice mountain town, located near the local volcano and highest point in Panama. What we found is an American commune/retirement community. Not quite what I thought it would be, and I blame Lonely Planet for failing to say such a thing. I really wish I could talk to the authors of this book sometimes. But, on the same thread, it gave me a great idea how to improve upon the text and make world wide traveling information more accessable to the masses. I need to discuss this plan with a few tech savy friends.
Now that we are in Panama, we do actually need to drum up a plan to head south. As you probably know, Panama is attached to South America, connecting to the northern part of Columbia. As you probably didnt know, this path south through Panama is inaccessible. The southern region of Panama is called Darien. This southern strip of land, connecting to Columbia is known as the Darrien gap - and its off limits. There are no real roads or thoroughfares through. It is heavily used by the drug runners funneling drugs into Central America from Columbia. It is not impossible to cross, people have done it, but it is not recommended and said to be quite dangerous. Thus, anyone heading south from Panama must either fly to Columbia, or take a boat to sail to Columbia.
We need to make a decision. We have three choices. Fly to Columbia, and continue our travels. Sail to Columbia, and continue our travels. Or, break from the plan and fly to Uruguay for a respite, then continue our travels northward. Our fake itinerary is a flight to Uruguay. What will our real itinerary be? Not sure, but we have to decide soon.
T
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