Panama

When we actually made it to wake up, I started realising on what a beautiful rastafari carribean island we stranded. The island where we spend the first night is called "Isla Colon" but our hostel/room (little house swimming on the sea) was on Isla Bastimentos (only reachable by boat). This island, I swear, was only populated by approximately 500 rasta(black) people. The rest of the island was forest and white sand beaches.

In the afternoon tough, we returned to Colon to start my open water dive license (which I could, luckily enough to Alex, make for free). Checking the equipment, getting on a boat, putting on a very sexy neoprem suit, mask, regulator, BCI, ... and when we finally were ready, i was, too be honest a bit nervous. Getting used to breath with a mashine is really really freaky at first. But once I got under water and got to regulate my respiration under water and we acutally slowly started to sink down to the ground. I was amazed by the big diversity of the ocean. Such a great diversity of fish, underwater life, plants. It s incredible. Did some basic excercise with Saara (who was acutally my dive master) and Alex (my dive instructor). After having done that the real fun dive could start. We stayed under water for around an hour. Peace, silence, only the water bubble that one hears and nothing else. Diving makes you forget about all the problems one possibly could have. It makes you get lost in a completly new world.

The next day basically looked the same only that in the moring we went horse back riding. Dont imagine it to be so easy. Its the exact opposite. The horses were supposed to be ready at 9 oclock. Apparently we were still too european, because by the time we came at around 9:30, there were only 2 horses ready and the other 2 that we needed, were still running around freely, not intending to be ridden any time soon. So imagine all the effort and time the locals invested to get to more horses. A little black boy actually got on a tree and hid with a rope and threw it down by the time the horse passed. Unluckily he missed the horse and seconds later did the horse disappear in the nearby jungle - we never saw it again. Anyhow 2 hours later, somehow 2 sattled horses turned up and the adventure was about to start. Horse back riding (something that seems so far back in time the last time I did it I think i was 10). Galloping threw a jungle for 1 hour. Threw mud tough because it was raining all morning. Arriving finally to these white sandy beaches, peace, no tourists none....simply us gallpoing in the sea (I know it s too much like a s wthe backgroundmusic.... but that came with the sound of the ocean... it felt like a really cheesy movie and I have to admit I LOVED IT). Saara (my traveling mate fell off the horse almost 2). Alex my surfinstructor (got kicked of the horse while galloping at high speed and almost got his head crunched by another horse behind him)... but other than that, everything went smoothly.
IN the afternoon a little dive to get down from the adrenaline high. Couple of excersises under water and actually my 4th dive was when i completed my "license" and had a little dance party under water. juhuuuuuuu

The next day, we were just soooo exhausted so we spontaneously decided to stay another night in Bastimentos and just do nothing but read, walk around ate, ate, drank beer and ate. The usual hang loose day. What more can I say

The next adventure part is about to start tough. We left the island and went down to the pacific coast. (rented actually a car and Alex who is a brit was driving --- yes, he did pull te the left every once in a while... but we managed without any accidents... which is the cool part.) anyhow we went down to Playa Venao on the Pacific side. (THE surfer paradise)... yes... I did acutally learn surfing too (because as it happens, Alex is a surf instructor too) :) .... tried hard to get on that board, while the waves were actually moving full speed.... got sunburned as hell and relaxed on the only bar nearby with some nice beer... looking out to that untouch surfer beach.... where there is seriously NOTHING but an ocean and our hostel.

Panama city the next day, simply made me fall in love. This city reminded me a lot of "Havana(CUBA)". Imagine this. Colonial houses, music on the street. Old man playing chess in the park. Kuna ladies (indigenous tribe from Panama, dressed very colourful and with a piecing in their nose) walking around the entire town. Men screaming "oh, guapa" on the street. Seriously, i love that city. Its incredible. NIghtlife is excellent and the food is fairly ok. Went to see the canal too. Was least spectacular tough. Big gigantic construction with fairies and boats. As we acutally only had 2 days, we rented a taxi who took us around the city within no time picked up our stuff, and went to the airport to continue our journey to Nicaragua.