My expectations were high when I got to Panama because I heard so many great things about this country.
But I was a little bit disappointed in the beginning, prices were as high as in Costa Rica! And I got a cold the very first day in Bocas and lost my voice for a few days. On top of that it rained the whole week that I spent there. Hmm, not a nice start in this country.
But it should get better! And yes it turned into an amazing time at the west coast. It was a long way to Santa Catalina, had to take several buses and stop overnight. But finally there, the beach was nice, the waves good to surf, sunshine the whole day and awesome diving! Got to see a whale shark while diving out at Isla Coiba, which is a nature reserve and similar to the Galapagos Islands. I was as well surprised how stunningly beautiful the beaches were on those islands. Well preserved and protected from all people. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera that day and so I can't show any pictures of this paradise.In Santa Catalina I met Grady (U.S., met on Utila) again and we travelled together to Panama City and for the next weeks.
Panama City is very modern and it is called Miami of Central America. Big tall buildings forming a nice skyline during day and night and best to be seen from the old town where we stayed. It was such a nice change to be in clean and modern surroundings, do shopping and eat in fancy restaurants. For Christmas they had lights and illumination everywhere and loud music in the streets. There was as well a big parade along the coast road with thousands of Panamanians celebrating. Interesting to spend Xmas like this. But as well strange for me, it was my first one away from home and family. No traditional Gluehwein, a real Christmas tree or cookies but next year I hope to be back for that.
The day after Christmas we went to see the Canal. What a huge Canal system and construction. Impressive how these big cruise liners or cargo ships go through all the gates. From the Atlantic to the Pacific it is 80 km and it takes them 10 h to pass the three locks. For my friends at my very home it must look like the little locks in the "Spreewald", just a few times bigger here. ;-)Spent the whole afternoon there watching the big ships passing by and all the technical features.
After few days more in this cosmopolitan city we booked a sailboat to Colombia and went to Portobelo to board there. We started the sailing trip on the 30th and spent New Years at the San Blas Islands which was amazing. These islands are so very beautiful, fine white sand and turquoise water. A dream!!But then we sailed into open water away from the coast towards Colombia and this time of the year the sea is the roughest. Well I didn't know that before I started and so it was wild! The boat went up and down the waves, normal walking was not possible and toilet breaks very difficult. haha ;-) Out of 17 people, three survived without getting sea sick. I luckily somehow managed to be one of them. And it took one day longer to get to Cartagena due to the wind and waves. But we all made it and arrived in a beautiful old colonial town and as well in South America!
