You know, a lot of people talk in terms of streets or suburbs, some in terms of towns and states - cruisers talk in terms of countries.

Nicaragua, Belize, Honduras .... Canada... Hawaii ... Ecuador.

Well - we refined our objective today, saying - we go Mexico via Ecuador! It's the hurricane season coming up in Mexico, not to mention Swine Flu (I asked you not to mention Swine Flu!)and it's very, VERY hot in the latitudes above the hurricane zone, Sea of Cortez. So our current thinking is - Mexico, via Ecuador. Lots of our new friends are going there. Like Timmo, on Pipe Dream, a 27 foot sloop, single-handing. (He told us of the very best bars and restaurants in every port in the South Pacific. I have them noted).

We spent the day today mostly in Taxi-Tony's taxi, travelling around Panama City on errands set by the Port Captain, in pursuit of our "Zarpe" or port clearance. This document is necessary when you check in at the next country. An hour's hot, noisy ride and $30 official fee later we found our boat was NOT on the database in the Panama Registrar's Office. This was an Alice In Wonderland Experience. Nobody seemed to know what they were doing, and none of it made sense. I stepped off the world, rather than go insane. $60 US for the taxi, that's $90 Australian. It took so long it didn't get done; we go again tomorrow, our second last day before leaving. There is no way we are going to leave on time. There is so much shopping to do, and jobs left unfinished.

Still, we're happy!

Goodnight.

P.S. The next day: We are calmer now, and still thinking of Mexico via Ecuador. Adrienne is out with Tony as I write, getting the Zarpe. It's gonna take a bit more time to get out of here, but we'll anchor in the Perlas Islands for a week or so until we are truly ready. Check out the Perlas on Google earth!