We woke up the next day in a considerable amount of pain (mike and Sarah were soar from the hike, and my shoulder hurt from the fall). We went to breakfast, and met up with the coffee company for our tour. We went to this really cool plantation, and learned all about coffee. It was informative, and interesting, and overall a very cool tour. I now think of coffee similarly as I do wine. There is an art to it, and every little thing makes a huge difference.
After the tour we got into a taxi and went back to David to catch our flight back to Panama city. Once there we got into another cab, and had him take us back. I asked the driver where the best Panamanian food was, and he insisted it was El Rico Pollo. He loved that place so much he drove us there, and went on and on about how wonderful it was. He eventually took us back to the hostel, and we changed and went to dinner.
We ended up finding this place really close to the hostel that was super nice and really cheap (its good to be in Central America). We got steaks and some sangria, it was delicious.
We then met up with some Austrians, a few Germans, a couple of Brits along with a french man and a few other Americans at our hostel. There was also this weird guy from Ecuador who was very touchy feely and made me very awkward. We drank for a while, and then we all walked to calle Uruguay where we were told it would be a party. As it turns out the street was kind of dead, but we ended up going to the same bar I was at the very first night, and had a good time. we sat down for a while and Sarah took a liking to the British guy (he was cross-eyed). Mike and I were hanging out with the Austrians. We were having a good time until something about the Holocaust came up, and one girl was grilling me about it. It was just awkward, and terrible. Eventually around 2 Mike and I headed back, and were in bed by 3:30ish. Sarah came home around 7 or so.
The next day we woke up, went to get breakfast, and then headed to the airport. Our trip was over, and honestly in an appropriate amount of time, I was getting kind of tiered. I think I may be getting too old to be doing the backpacking hostel ting. I have a great time, but I'm exhausted.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Boquete and Volcan Baru
Early on the morning of the 29th we headed to the domestic airport, and then flew out to David. Once in David we walked around the market a little bit. It was cool, but mostly similar to other third world markets I've seen before. soon we took a bus (we got on while it was moving) to Boquete. We arrived at out hotel (which was paid for by the airlines due to a scheduling mistake by them), and began to do research about the volcano. We soon learned we should rent equipment and head up that night, spend the night on the volcano, and then hike down in the morning. SO we found a hostel to rent us the equipment, and headed up around 2ish. It's important to remember that we woke up around 4:30 or so to catch a 6:30 flight to David this morning, so we were all already very tiered.
As we were dropped off we saw a sign that said 15 KM to the volcano, which was concerning, because we were told it was 11 to the summit, so if it was 15 to the volcano we would never make it in a day.we were walking, and eventually asked a local farmer how far to the volcano's peek, and were told 135 KMs, which was again concerning. Soon after this we came to the ranger station, and found out that it was only 13.5 KMs from there to the summit. So we paid out entrance fee, and began our accent to the top. It was gruellingly steep, and every step was very difficult. There were places with at least a 70 degree incline. We walked for a few hours, and eventually Sarah noticed that the landscape was similar to Scotland, except without sheep. Luckily about ten minutes later we came across a heard of sheep being ;lead down the mountain. It was actually really crazy, and one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It kind of reminded me of the bulls I saw on the bike path in Holland, except less dangerous.
After the sheep we continued to climb, and it became obvious that Mike was the weak link in this group. He began to become very slow, and was struggling around every curve. we began to take more and more breaks, and around 6 it became obvious that we could never make it before dark, so we decided to high tail it for the next hour or so until sundown and then take a break before dark. Mike couldn't have been struggling more at this point, but he pressed onwards. Around 5 minutes to sundown we had just walked up this incredibly steep section, and so we decided to call it dinner time prematurely. We sat for a while and ate and laughed. Over all our spirits were high, but the cold was coming, so we needed to bundle up with winter coats and hats. Around 7:30 we headed out to continue on our journey. It was really cold, but moving was keeping us warm. The stars were out, and everything was making creepy forest sounds. After about an hour Sarah's flash light ran out of batteries, and Mikes followed soon after, so we were all sharing mine, which made things even more difficult. We came across a cat, which kind of freaked us out a little bit. and continued our slow accent in the dark.
Around 9:30 after numerous breaks we finally found the campsite. We were tiered, sweaty, and horribly in need of a good night sleep. I began to attempt to build a fire, but because of the altitude, and because there had obviously been many other travelers who had made fires here, there was no dry wood available to make one. We tried with the wet wood, but had no success, and eventually just called it a lost cause, and went to go to sleep. I began to build our tent in this shelter that was at the campsite. While building it I accidentally fell through a hole in that platform, and only caught myself from falling the 10 or so feet to the ground with my arm. However, by catching myself I think i hyper extended my shoulder, I thin threw myself back on the platform and laid there in horrible pain for a while. I then finished making the tent and tried to go to sleep.
Once in the tent we all tried to go to sleep, but were having a hard time doing so. I was still wet from sweating so much during the hike, and since it was below freezing at night, I was shivering, and in a lot of pain from my shoulder. Eventually I had to be switched into the middle because I was so cold we thought the body heat from Mike and Sarah would help me. It did, but only minimally. I then began to feel Sarah shivering, so the two of us huddled together and tried to keep each other warm. Eventually we did fall asleep for an hour or so, but we then had to get up to get to the top for sunrise.
We packed up the tent, and began to hike in the dark the rest of the way up the volcano. We got up to the top, and it was really cool. We could see both oceans from the top, and see into south and north America. Unfortunately it became unbearably cold and windy up there, so we had to go down a little bit to get some shelter from the buildings on the top of the volcano. I think it was like a radio or television broadcast antenna or something, but there were a bunch of different buildings up there, and we sat behind one to block the wind. We stayed up there for about an hour and a half, and just kind of enjoyed the view, but after a while we began our decent.
On the way down we were going much faster, but we were constantly twisting our ankles, and slipping on loose rocks. It was less physically demanding than the way up, but was much more taxing on your ankles and feet. I believe we were fine for about 8 or so KMs, but then we began to break down. Sarah was first, she began not speaking to us, and became kind of irritable. Next was Mike, with about 3 KMs left he began to guess that around every corner was the end. Even I became a little tiered towards the end, but eventually we made it. It was actually kind of cool walking down, only because it was crazy steep that it was hard to believe that we had actually done this. Honestly I was kind of proud of Mike that he was able to do this, and didn't quit, because I can imagine he must have had a terrible time the day before.
Once we arrived at the ranger station at the base we learned that there was no way to get back, which was concerning. Luckily we convinced one of the rangers to drive us to a main road where we were dropped off, and then caught a bus back to our hotel. We then fell asleep for a few hours, but forced ourselves to get up, get dinner, and then we were back in bed by 8ish.
Overall it was 2 crazy days, but probably the most memorable part of this trip so far.
As we were dropped off we saw a sign that said 15 KM to the volcano, which was concerning, because we were told it was 11 to the summit, so if it was 15 to the volcano we would never make it in a day.we were walking, and eventually asked a local farmer how far to the volcano's peek, and were told 135 KMs, which was again concerning. Soon after this we came to the ranger station, and found out that it was only 13.5 KMs from there to the summit. So we paid out entrance fee, and began our accent to the top. It was gruellingly steep, and every step was very difficult. There were places with at least a 70 degree incline. We walked for a few hours, and eventually Sarah noticed that the landscape was similar to Scotland, except without sheep. Luckily about ten minutes later we came across a heard of sheep being ;lead down the mountain. It was actually really crazy, and one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It kind of reminded me of the bulls I saw on the bike path in Holland, except less dangerous.
After the sheep we continued to climb, and it became obvious that Mike was the weak link in this group. He began to become very slow, and was struggling around every curve. we began to take more and more breaks, and around 6 it became obvious that we could never make it before dark, so we decided to high tail it for the next hour or so until sundown and then take a break before dark. Mike couldn't have been struggling more at this point, but he pressed onwards. Around 5 minutes to sundown we had just walked up this incredibly steep section, and so we decided to call it dinner time prematurely. We sat for a while and ate and laughed. Over all our spirits were high, but the cold was coming, so we needed to bundle up with winter coats and hats. Around 7:30 we headed out to continue on our journey. It was really cold, but moving was keeping us warm. The stars were out, and everything was making creepy forest sounds. After about an hour Sarah's flash light ran out of batteries, and Mikes followed soon after, so we were all sharing mine, which made things even more difficult. We came across a cat, which kind of freaked us out a little bit. and continued our slow accent in the dark.
Around 9:30 after numerous breaks we finally found the campsite. We were tiered, sweaty, and horribly in need of a good night sleep. I began to attempt to build a fire, but because of the altitude, and because there had obviously been many other travelers who had made fires here, there was no dry wood available to make one. We tried with the wet wood, but had no success, and eventually just called it a lost cause, and went to go to sleep. I began to build our tent in this shelter that was at the campsite. While building it I accidentally fell through a hole in that platform, and only caught myself from falling the 10 or so feet to the ground with my arm. However, by catching myself I think i hyper extended my shoulder, I thin threw myself back on the platform and laid there in horrible pain for a while. I then finished making the tent and tried to go to sleep.
Once in the tent we all tried to go to sleep, but were having a hard time doing so. I was still wet from sweating so much during the hike, and since it was below freezing at night, I was shivering, and in a lot of pain from my shoulder. Eventually I had to be switched into the middle because I was so cold we thought the body heat from Mike and Sarah would help me. It did, but only minimally. I then began to feel Sarah shivering, so the two of us huddled together and tried to keep each other warm. Eventually we did fall asleep for an hour or so, but we then had to get up to get to the top for sunrise.
We packed up the tent, and began to hike in the dark the rest of the way up the volcano. We got up to the top, and it was really cool. We could see both oceans from the top, and see into south and north America. Unfortunately it became unbearably cold and windy up there, so we had to go down a little bit to get some shelter from the buildings on the top of the volcano. I think it was like a radio or television broadcast antenna or something, but there were a bunch of different buildings up there, and we sat behind one to block the wind. We stayed up there for about an hour and a half, and just kind of enjoyed the view, but after a while we began our decent.
On the way down we were going much faster, but we were constantly twisting our ankles, and slipping on loose rocks. It was less physically demanding than the way up, but was much more taxing on your ankles and feet. I believe we were fine for about 8 or so KMs, but then we began to break down. Sarah was first, she began not speaking to us, and became kind of irritable. Next was Mike, with about 3 KMs left he began to guess that around every corner was the end. Even I became a little tiered towards the end, but eventually we made it. It was actually kind of cool walking down, only because it was crazy steep that it was hard to believe that we had actually done this. Honestly I was kind of proud of Mike that he was able to do this, and didn't quit, because I can imagine he must have had a terrible time the day before.
Once we arrived at the ranger station at the base we learned that there was no way to get back, which was concerning. Luckily we convinced one of the rangers to drive us to a main road where we were dropped off, and then caught a bus back to our hotel. We then fell asleep for a few hours, but forced ourselves to get up, get dinner, and then we were back in bed by 8ish.
Overall it was 2 crazy days, but probably the most memorable part of this trip so far.
Cosco Viejo
With our final day in Panama city we decided to go to the colonial section of town. It was kind of cool, but a little run down and had a lot of dangerous areas surrounding it. So dangerous that when we wondered off of the main strip for a moment a police officer came up to us, asked us where we were going, and then escorted us to the market we were going to to ensure nothing happened to us. We ended up walking all over the area, and even saw where the Panamanian president lives, which was cool. we then got milkshakes and called it a tour of colonial Panama.
Afterwards we went to this Lebanese place for dinner, which was good, but obviously not the local food. We then went to a place called green house for martinis (we read the were the best in the city), and then to another place for a beer. At the second place (an English pub) I met a guy who lived close to me in Chicago, so he bought me a shot, and then we parted.
After this we headed home because of our early flight in the morning.
Afterwards we went to this Lebanese place for dinner, which was good, but obviously not the local food. We then went to a place called green house for martinis (we read the were the best in the city), and then to another place for a beer. At the second place (an English pub) I met a guy who lived close to me in Chicago, so he bought me a shot, and then we parted.
After this we headed home because of our early flight in the morning.
Taboga Island
We decided that we had spent enough time in the city, and thought we would head out for one night to Taboga Island. Taboga island is a small island on the Pacific side of Panama with a population of 900. When we first arrived we walked around and discovered that there was only one hotel on the island (which makes sense for an island with a population of 900). So, we rented a room, but were kind of ripped off and paid 77 for the night. We then began to walk through town. The town was obviously tinny, but was very beautiful. The center of town was a church that was over 500 years old, and is the second oldest church in the western hemisphere. The church was playing music, mostly Christmas themed, which I would have thought to be annoying, but as it turns out was very surreal, and made the whole town just seem nice. You could hear the music faintly over everywhere on the island, it was kind of cool, and made the whole island even more surreal.
We then walked out of town and began to hike to the top of the island, where there was a giant cross overlooking the rest of the island. As it turns out it was a cool walk, and was a good warm up for the Volcano which we planned to hike in a few days. The only issue was that we had sandals on, and it was difficult to climb without traction. The top was really cool, and you could see the whole town, and still hear the music from the church, which was really awesome. Mike then began to sing "Te gusta Banditos" over and over again, which became kind of the theme song of the rest of our trip.
When we got back, we changed and went to the beach. It was actually really dirty, and had garbage everywhere, which isn't what you expect for these remote islands, but it was the case. We went in the ocean, but the water was so salty, we just got out and laid on the beach. After a while we got bored, we played with the sand, and eventually buried me completely in the sand.
After that we went back to the hotel, and realized that they also had a monopoly on restaurants, so we were forced to eat an expensive dinner there as well. After dinner we walked around, but obviously the town doesn't have too much going on, so we ended up just making silly drawings in the sand.
The next morning we headed back to Panama City.
We then walked out of town and began to hike to the top of the island, where there was a giant cross overlooking the rest of the island. As it turns out it was a cool walk, and was a good warm up for the Volcano which we planned to hike in a few days. The only issue was that we had sandals on, and it was difficult to climb without traction. The top was really cool, and you could see the whole town, and still hear the music from the church, which was really awesome. Mike then began to sing "Te gusta Banditos" over and over again, which became kind of the theme song of the rest of our trip.
When we got back, we changed and went to the beach. It was actually really dirty, and had garbage everywhere, which isn't what you expect for these remote islands, but it was the case. We went in the ocean, but the water was so salty, we just got out and laid on the beach. After a while we got bored, we played with the sand, and eventually buried me completely in the sand.
After that we went back to the hotel, and realized that they also had a monopoly on restaurants, so we were forced to eat an expensive dinner there as well. After dinner we walked around, but obviously the town doesn't have too much going on, so we ended up just making silly drawings in the sand.
The next morning we headed back to Panama City.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Canal and Park
We woke up early and had a good breakfast. From there the three of us went to the famous Canal. It was kind of cool, and we saw a few boats go by. All in all its really important, and cool that it was done, but there isn´t much to look at. We saw a little museum about it and a movie. Overall I´m glad to have been there, but it was no big deal.
After that we went to the national park. This was really cool. It was just a rain forest but with a few walking paths. We saw Monkey, sloths, a ton of birds and lizards, and a few animals that we weren´t sure what they were. This was really cool, and was capped off by it raining a little, but because of all the trees we felt nothing, but could hear this rain. It was a really cool experience.
After the forest we went to the hostel where we changed and met up with my Israeli friends. We all headed to Chabad house. We saw Solomon there, and sat through a very long service, but had dinner with about two dozen other Israeli travelers afterwards. It was kind of cool, and the food was really good, but the whole thing took forever, and they made us stay until after we benched.
The three of us then headed to Calle Urague. There we went to a bar called greenhouse, and had some fiance girlie drinks. We then waked around the crowded street, and eventually went into an English pub. In there met a guy who also lived in Bucktown just off armatidge, so he bought me a shot and we chatted a little.
It was a long day, so we just called it a night after this.
After that we went to the national park. This was really cool. It was just a rain forest but with a few walking paths. We saw Monkey, sloths, a ton of birds and lizards, and a few animals that we weren´t sure what they were. This was really cool, and was capped off by it raining a little, but because of all the trees we felt nothing, but could hear this rain. It was a really cool experience.
After the forest we went to the hostel where we changed and met up with my Israeli friends. We all headed to Chabad house. We saw Solomon there, and sat through a very long service, but had dinner with about two dozen other Israeli travelers afterwards. It was kind of cool, and the food was really good, but the whole thing took forever, and they made us stay until after we benched.
The three of us then headed to Calle Urague. There we went to a bar called greenhouse, and had some fiance girlie drinks. We then waked around the crowded street, and eventually went into an English pub. In there met a guy who also lived in Bucktown just off armatidge, so he bought me a shot and we chatted a little.
It was a long day, so we just called it a night after this.
Christmas
Mike and Sarah were supposed to arrive at 2, and then be at the hostel by 4ish. So, with the day to kill before that I ventured out to the common area of the hostel, were I met a guy names Solomon, and two Israelis. We all laughed how only the Jews were out on Christmas, and then Solomon and I went to grab some food. He was a really interesting fella, he was hitch-hiking all over central America, and had done much hitch-hiking in the past. We grabbed a bite, and then went back to the hostel where we chatted with the Israelis for several hours.
At around 3 Sarah showed up, and informed me that Mike had missed the flight. so, not knowing what to do Sarah and I ventured out to try to find an Internet cafe that would be open. Unfortunately we found nothing for a while, and were just wondering empty streets. Eventually we found one, and discovered that Mike had gotten on a 4:30fight, and would arrive around midnight. From there Sarah and myself went to dinner, where we met two other people from our hostel. A guy named Aaron, and his Wife who's name I don´t remember, but who was from Japan. We had dinner with them, and since it was the only open place in town Solomon eventually wondered in and joined us. After this we went to the liqueur store, and bought a few six packs, and then went back to the hostel.
At the hostel we played poker and were joined by a French man named Charles. We played for a while, and eventually Mike showed up. We finished the game, and then went to bed.
At around 3 Sarah showed up, and informed me that Mike had missed the flight. so, not knowing what to do Sarah and I ventured out to try to find an Internet cafe that would be open. Unfortunately we found nothing for a while, and were just wondering empty streets. Eventually we found one, and discovered that Mike had gotten on a 4:30fight, and would arrive around midnight. From there Sarah and myself went to dinner, where we met two other people from our hostel. A guy named Aaron, and his Wife who's name I don´t remember, but who was from Japan. We had dinner with them, and since it was the only open place in town Solomon eventually wondered in and joined us. After this we went to the liqueur store, and bought a few six packs, and then went back to the hostel.
At the hostel we played poker and were joined by a French man named Charles. We played for a while, and eventually Mike showed up. We finished the game, and then went to bed.
Friday, December 26, 2008
My first night
I arrived in the evning and instantly met a couple of canadians (Gates and Ben) at my hostel. We began to talk, and they invited me to come out with them. Since I knew no one and had nothing to do, I agreed to join them. We initially went to these other canadian girls hostel way out in the suburbs of Panama. From there Gates, Ben, the two Canadian Girls, a guy from Panama, and a couple from LA, and myself went to Calle Uraguey. We went to a bar there, and began to play pool. We were challenged by a guy who was studing at west point and two prostitutes he was with. At first we didn´t realize the deal with the girls, and just thought they were friendly, but after a while we figured it out after they propositioned us. We had a good time at the bar, and after went to get in a cab and go home. In the cab Gates asked it the driver could hook us uip with some pot. He saids he could an began to drive us to a very shaddy area. Once in the ghetto we paid a crack head to watch guard over our car as the driver went in to this appartemnt to get us some herb. While we waited the crack head we hiered kept yelling at other crack heads as they tried to reach intop the car, or steal the hubcaps off the car. About ten minutes later our driver came out, paid the crack head an additional dollar, and we left. We arrived back at the hostel, and the cab driver got out, and smokled a joint with Gates as Ben and I chatted. After that I went to bed, and my Canadian friends went to the Casino.
It was an eventfull night to say the least.
It was an eventfull night to say the least.
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