Saturday we had an experience that I cannot imagine happening anywhere else in the world. A group of about 20 cruisers had scheduled a trip to the Thai restaurant on Bastementos for lunch. It was pouring so heavily that the launch that was supposed to come get us could not see to get out of its dock. Undaunted, we called for a water taxi and 17 or the original 20 rode over to Bastementos in the rain. We then proceeded to hike up the mountainous backbone of the island, initially on a concrete sidewalk and then through the mud on a trail through the jungle that was barely worthy of the name. About a mile or so in (and UP - maybe 1000' elevation gain), we reached the restaurant where we had great Thai food sitting outside (but under a roof) looking out over the jungle to the ocean. The rain stopped, the clouds that hung in the mountains were spectacular, and the food was fantastic. After lunch, we hiked another =BD mile or so (still UP)to a "chocolate factory" is a couples' house. They have a cacao plantation of sorts and make their own totally organic chocolate which they sell from their front porch. It was delicious. And then we slipped and slid down the muddy trail to the dock (Did I mention that the restaurant makes a "magic" drink with lots of rum that makes all of this much easier to take but harder to accomplish?) We all had a great time, but I really cannot imagine another place where either the restaurant or the chocolate factory could exist and stay in business when it requires such effort just to get there. Come to think of it, Sunday was pretty unique too. We flew our spinnaker as we sailed from Bocas down through Dolphin Bay to Lagoona Palos (where our island is). There we anchored of a friend's house - he has excellent internet so we could use Skype from the boat - and took the dinghy over to Rana Azul, this little open air pizza restaurant that is only open Friday evenings and Sunday noon. And it is ALWAYS crowded. Charming hosts and we always meet more ex-pat "locals". Life here certainly is different. I like it.