09/23/2009, Bahia Azul (Bluefield), Panama
Sometimes we create our own monsters. Before we even had the anchor down, we had cayucas coming at us from every direction. The first cayuca had a couple girls aged 12 and 13 that giggled a lot. We asked them if they could take us to the waterfalls that we had heard about. So, tomorrow for $5 we'll head off to the waterfalls. They asked if we could take their picture for school. Of course, we said sure. They giggled and said that they'd be back at 7 am tomorrow morning to pick up the pictures and off they went. Their uncle was also in his own cayuca wanting to sell shells. He also asked for his picture to be taken but he waited for me to print it. Then a single girl came and asked for a pencil which we gave her. Then a lady with 4 tiny kids came, sold us some fruit and asked for cookies for the children which we gave her, and asked for clothes which I had already donated to the hospital in Bocas so I had to say no. Then she asked for our trash. We were confused but gave it to her and said thanks. Then she asked for $1 for the trash. OK, we gave her a dollar to dispose of our trash....its worth a dollar. She then asked for a photo but we said no again and waved goodbye. Then a cayuca with 4 kids from about 4 to 8 years old came up. They asked for pencils which we gave them but then we couldn't understand anything else they wanted so we waved goodbye again. We were really glad that we were clued in before leaving the States to bring school supplies. When people in the States ask for something you know that it will probably end up on E-Bay but here they actually ask for things that they need and will use. Its also really good experience practicing our minimal vocabulary in Spanish. I also giggle a lot. P.S. Bryan wants everyone to know that we actually got to sail today from Cauchero Bay to Bahia Azul. It was great!
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09/19/2009, Split Hills
The Cerutti family Green Acres Chocolate Plantation has a nice 2 hour walking tour around their gardens and cacao plantation. While Linda explains when and how they've cleared land, replanted vegetation, and dug ponds, David uses his 28" razor-sharp machete as a walking stick. You forget that he's carrying it until every few steps he takes a whack at a dead limb or diseased cacao pod. Linda comments that "the most dangerous thing in the rainforest is a gringo with a machete." We got to see where and how they ferment, dry, roast, crush by hand, and finally grind the cacao nuts. Cacao grows best under this rainforest canopy, and the Cerutti family is working on restoring the rainforest at least within their 30 acres.
For those of us 'chocolate lovers', the Cerutti's explain that chocolate is healthy. It contains antioxidants and tryptophan which controls the production of mood-modulating serotonin. Eating chocolate releases endorphins, the body's natural pain killer. These factors may account for a sense of well being after consuming chocolate. As we walked David picked and broke open a cacao pod. There are about 30-40 cacao seeds/nuts in a pod and each nut is encased in a white juicy pulp. You can eat this sweet goo then can crunch into the nut. Wow! That's real chocolate. No artificial preservatives or fillers there!
We moved the boat yesterday another couple hours down to a beautiful secluded bay called Cauchero Bay. There are 3 other boats here including one catamaran called "Tisha Baby" with folks that we'd hung around with in Bocas. We all got together last night on Tisha Baby for happy hour and had a fun time. I took brownies that I'd made from the organic chocolate and cacao bits that we'd bought at Green Acres.
As a side note, we had a pleasant surprise because it was cool here throughout the night. For months, I've been waking up 3-4 times a night with sweat dripping off me and No, it's not a female thing. In Bocas it was just really hot with little breeze. Last night I'd wake up and smile to myself and go right back to sleep. With chocolate in the belly and a great breeze, I was in heaven.
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All I get is guilt.
09/16/2009, Dolphin Bay (Laguna Porras)
Well, we finally left Bocas del Toro this morning. Course we only went 9.1 miles and we motored the entire 2 hours. Oh well. The good news is that we are finally on our way toward the San Blas islands. We're anchored up next to the Chocolate Farm which we hope to tour tomorrow. Two native boys in their cayucas (dugout trees) came by a little while ago asking for pencils, paper, and crackers. Its dusk and we're listening to the howler monkeys with their 'whooop whooop' conversations going back and forth and all kinds of birds. Its 86 degrees with 71 percent humidity. Its a beautiful and quiet evening all in all. As Bryan says, "We traded water taxis and ferries for howler monkeys and parrots. Its a good trade." Will write more later.
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Do you do the genset/AC thing when it's 86 at dusk, or just sweat it out? Does it feel hot or are you used to it?
Don
S/V Laurie Lee
(The guy from the Venice transient dock)
AC???? What's that? No, we haven't had that on in a year now. We just sweat... Well, actually, I sweat and Bryan seems fine. I turn on the little fans all over the boat and Bryan complains about it being too cold. I think he just likes to give me a hard time. We only used the genset to heat water for showers, run the water maker, and recharge the batteries.
09/15/2009, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Well, after 3 1/2 months in Bocas and 11 1/2 months since we left St. Petersburg, I'm embarrassed to admit that I've just recently gotten my watercolors out and started painting again. A very British lady from South Africa organized some Saturday morning watercolor workshops at the Bocas Marina and got me inspired. I scraped all the old, moldy stuff off my palette and started fresh. After a couple quick paintings some neighbor cruisers commissioned me to do a painting of their grandchildren. It was wonderful! They are beautiful children and I had such fun. And, the cruisers liked the painting so much that now they can't decide if they're actually going to give it to their daughter for Christmas as originally planned or keep it for themselves. So, please pardon a little bragging on my part. I'd almost forgotten how much I love to draw and paint and this really gave me an ego boost. So, here's the result.
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Love you both!!
You hardly even went outside the lines.
Love you. Lunch?
The painting is totally awesome. I love the site. I finally got a laptop so now I can stay in touch. Thanks for sharing your travels!
Love,
Karen
09/02/2009, Bocas del Toro, Panama
The Calypso Cantina has had 2 fire shows since Kristel and Ben left. I sure wish they had been here to see one, but as a previous boss used to say to me regularly...."timing is everything." (And he knows who I'm talking about.) Anyway, Bryan took some great photos and I've uploaded them to the photo gallery on the right side panel. Please check them out. Dyllan and Darion are fantastic dancers and the fire just adds to the excitement. This last Friday night they had 2 bands jamming together, 4 belly dancers, and the fire show. Add that to awesome baby back ribs and we all have a lot of fun. Love to all!
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08/07/2009, Isla Bastimento, Panama
Well, the ladies of Bocas get together on Thursdays for lunch each week at different restaurants. I have gone a couple times but this week, Kristel and I decided we had to go to this new Thai restaurant up the mountain in the middle of the rain forest on Isla Bastimento. The ladies had a water taxi launch take us over to this neighbor island. We had been warned ahead of time that its a little bit of a walk up hill and part of it is through mud. If the other ladies could do it, then surely we could.... right??? Well, I was wrong. The meal was really good but I fell down TWICE on the way back down the mountain slipping and sliding in the mud. Yes, literally mud from head to toe. There's nothing really more to say.... the picture tells it all.
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BTW, what are you holding in the mud photo??
Cheers, Mark
"Wishbone" North Dock
Take care!
