02/09/2010, Kanildup, San Blas Islands, Panama
We returned back to Nargana for the Super Bowl Party, which a couple of other cruisers orchestrated with the Kuna Indians. Nargana got electricity about two years ago, so the town has now got icemakers and TV sets, including one guy that has a big screen TV and a satelite dish - apparently the only such set up in the entire San Blas Islands. There were a LOT of the Kunas there, apparently the TV set is still a huge novelty to them (or maybe they were watching us watch the TV). The Indians also did up a chicken barbeque for us, too - very tasty. Monday involved a quick run into town to fill our jerry jugs with diesel, and to buy whatever they had in the store - which once again consisted of chicken, or chicken. Also, you could get chicken, too. Or chicken wings. Anyway..... We also ran the dinghy up the Rio Diablo and went swimming in the fresh water - this is also where the residents of Nargana go to get jugs of drinking water, since they have no water on the island itself.
Now we are back in Kanildup, planning where to go to next. We did learn that "dup" in the Kuna language means island with a well on it - which is most of the islands. The wells do have fresh water, not quite drinkable, and are just holes dug into the centers of the islands. These are used by the Kunas for watering the young coconut trees, and the cruisers to do laundry and washing.
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02/08/2010, Panama- Nargana to Green Island
It was a quick stop in the big city as the captain doesn't like it there, so back at nearby Green Island to hang for a few days until our water maker parts arrive. Don't think I've mentioned seafood yet here, we have been feasting on lobsters, octopus and conch brought boat side almost daily by the Indians. They are barterers and John usually has no problem coming to terms with them. Today he purchased 11 small lobsters for $10, enough fro a feast for four! The chief cook has also mastered the pressure cooker to soften the octopus and conch. We haven't eaten in our whole lives as much lobster as we have in the past few weeks.
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02/07/2010, Panama- Canbombia to Nargana
Some of the cruisers arranged to have some locals host a Superbowl party so back to the big city of Nargana. One of the residents provided a big screen television with a satellite feed, seats, $1 COLD beers, $3 plates of great barbeque chicken with bread and veggies.....Lots of New Orleans Saints fans, the underdogs, in the fleet so there was a good turn out; about 50 cruisers and 20 locals not counting the numerous local kids floating thru. It was a great game and the crowd went wild when the Saints won 31 to 17 over the Indianapolis Colts for a Las Vegas upset. The rum front passed at the after party on "Blow Me Away".
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02/05/2010, Canbombia, San Blas Islands, Panama
On Wenesday we blew out of the "big city" of Nargana and sailed about twelve miles to Canbombia. There are quite a few boats here, about half french (who have very raucus parties on the beach nightly). The US and Canadian crowd tends to leave the beach party at dusk, but the french seem to go all night! Makes you want to learn to speak french!
Anyway, this is yet another beautiful place, narrow entrance channel between two reefs (of course un-marked, we have not seen any sort of channel marker or bouy since leaving Colon) but pretty easy to get inside, and nicely protected behind the island and several other reefs. Sharon has done a bit of kayaking, I've swum to the island and back, and we have both got a little socializing in. Mayble snorkeling today??
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02/03/2010, Panama- Nargana to Canbombia
Got out of the dirty city water fairly quickly and moved to what appears to be a cruiser's hang-out. Lots of boats here and we crashed happy hour on the beach with about 25 people all speaking English and very friendly. Nice to get to communicate with other folks.
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