The Caribbean and Portobelo

Panama at its best! An hour and a half drive from Panama City and just 30min from Colon is a Caribbean paradise. White sandy beaches and blue water, and some Spanish ruins to boot. Cory and I left Panama city around 9ish, with a quick stop in Colon to check out the free trade zone. Unfortunately, we did not get in. We waited in line at the guard stop, as we pulled up the guard took one look at us, said something in Spanish and just waived us to the side and told us to wait. After about 5min or so a very official truck pulled up with government tags. Two gentlemen got out of the truck talked to the guard and started walking toward us. It took all of 2 seconds for them to figure out we didn't speak Spanish, then the walked away to find somebody that could I guess. In another 5 min or so the guys from the truck come back with another guy, who I think was the teller at the fried chicken place down the street. In any case this guy spoke English and informed us that we can not just drive in to the trade zone. We were supposed to go into Colon take a right at the first street and after we see the sign for Panama Cable and Wireless (it the local phone, TV and Internet provider) go six doors down and we could get a day pass for the free trade zone there. After some quick Internet research we found multiple people saying all they needed to get in to the trade zone was a passport and a smile. But, what the hell. We went into Colon to try and get a pass. Colon is kinda like Tacoma, but dirtier and not nearly as nice (people from Washington state will understand). All that is there really is just a port and the free trade zone. After we drove down a couple amazing blocks and things started to look worse we decided that the trade zone pass was not all that important. After all it was sun and beaches we were after. Off to Portobelo we went. In another 30min, including several double backs and u-turns we made it to what the map say's is a major highway, but in reality is a two lane back road that people drive about 60mph with houses and kids playing along the side (you gotta love Panama). our first stop was an awesome beach that we found by chance down a little dirt road. Picnic tables, bathrooms, a small restaurant and a hut selling beer. Perfect!...

 These kids were in an intense soccer game, The little ones were pretty good too.

 

After an swim and some $0.80 beers we were off again to our next stop, hich just happened to be another 10min down to the Blue Oyster Hotel Bar and Restaurant. We stopped here on a whim and it turned out to be great. I met some of the workers, a guy named Leo from Brazil who came to Panama to paint the Bridge of America's but their project got delayed so the owner of the hotel just had him come work for him for a while. Did I mention that in addition to the hotel and everything else they also run a dive shop here? The dive master Lito gave a ton of good info on how to get certified and good places for diving and spear fishing. You can arrange for boat tours right of the dock to take you to nearby islands as well. The Hotel had 10 rooms, I think, and were reasonably priced, especially for the view. All around a pretty awesome place. We will definitely be going back....

 That Lito with the black shirt. Not sure what the telescope was for but it worked!

The view and the lower deck area.

 

A couple more beers and we were off again. Next stop: Portobelo, only another 15 to 20 min down the road. Portobelo is a small fishing town. Tourism hasn't quite made it here yet but it certainly will. Just before you get into town you'll see an old Spanish fortress with canons and light house. Once in the town there is an amazing old church, not sure from when, but there are local vendors with tables set up selling odds and ends. A little coconut water straight form the source for a dollar and we were feeling great. We walked around the town for about an hour, up and down the streets taking it all in. The locals were super friendly even though we were probably walking through their back yards. Down at the docks we met a guy who would take you out to the islands or on a tour of the bay. He said $50 for two of us but I talked to some people earlier who said they did it for $20. Everything is negotiable here. Whatever price is given to you, cut it in two thirds and that's probably what you should pay. We were a little short on time so no tour of the islands this time around, but we will be back. Back into the town for lunch at very nice looking place, we walked in and all the workers were sitting at a table talking it up. I asked if we could have lunch. "Sure." "Menu?" "On the wall." "How about ceviche?" "No, can't have that." "O.K. How about camorones (shrimp)?" "No, can't have that either." "Well then I will have the carimanolas" (little fried dumpling like things, super good) "No, can't have that either." So I asked what I could have and got a chicken Cesar wrap. What ever, it was still good. We met the owner of the place, a very nice woman from Spain, and it turns out she also has a hotel attached to the restaurant, and it's all a non-profit. Everything goes right back into the town. She has started two music schools and an art studio for the locals to make crafts and sell them to tourists. We checked out the rooms and they were very nice, a little on the small side but who cares. They were right on the water. I got her number and told here we would be coming to stay soon.

 where we had lunch

  I tried to find the owner of one of those boats to make friends, but no dice. Maybe next time.

 

 

We hung out in town a little longer then it was back to Panama City after another quick swim at the beach. Made it back to the city just before dark. Not a bad way to spend a day.