Cooking

Well we all know me and how good my cooking skills are.  Pretty sure I ate pasta everyday in college and if it wasn't pasta it consisted of eating out??  I do miss Chinese food and Mexican food.  Just rice and beans here... all the time... all the time.  

I am having some issues with cooking beans... have only attempted once though, that is my new goal this week.  However, I decided to post a picture of what I eat almost everyday at least once.  It consists of a variety of vegetables (fresh that IIII cut by hand!) and rice, sometimes with a variation of red or garbanzo beans (from a can, I am trying to make beans not from a can!). 

Check out my lovely cooking skills on my lovely little stove.  Doesn't it look pretty???

It's actually quite good and makes me feel quite healthy.  It's been a long time since I have eaten this many vegetables in one day.  I think I am definitely getting my filling of veggies on the food chart table.  Just a guess though!  

Final Night in Bocas

The final night in Bocas approached us rather quickly.  Originally we had planned on returning to Cahuita on Monday and had extended our trip till Tuesday.  The weather Tuesday morning was way to perfect to pass up.  After which my entire body was burnt, ehh what ya gonna do? 

I went to use the Internet for 50 cents and than returned to our new place.  We had switched from Mondo Taitu to another location after the second night, the smell of stale smoke was getting to me.  We moved into the center of town and were only paying 7.50 each instead of 11. 

After cleaning up we went to Mondo Taitu and had a few cocktails, it was martini night.  They sometimes have a theme for an evening including the happy hour.  What fun!!  After a while, I decided we should try out another bar.  We headed to Om Cafe, where we were pretty much the only ones there.  I had met the bartender at the previous bar and he gave me my drink for free because he liked my earrings.  I had bought some earrings which really were not my favorite but it was in good spirit!! I than proceeded to drink for free the rest of the time we were there, with them coming and handing me drinks.  I felt quite like a little princess being waited on.  Not to mention normally a guy buys you a drink and than talks to you, they just gave them to me and walked away!  It was perfect, no awkward talking where you are having to just be polite the entire time, quite the girls dream if I don't say so myself!  

We than went on to Barco Hundido, a bar on the water in town.  It had nice seating and a dock that you could sit on.  The evening was settling down and it was a great time.  We stopped and had a hot dog before deciding to go out and go for a last swim in the sea.  It was so perfect and the moon lit up everything.  

The night fun did not end there though, oh no.  After returning home at 4 and quickly rinsing off I go into bed.  Glenn jumped in the shower after me and after about 20 minutes I heard the door rattling.  I took out my ipod and asked if Glenn was alright.  He was furious and said he the door was locked and that he couldn't get out.  I was like nooo just try it again, he said irritated I have tried go get help.   So I went downstairs and woke the guy at the front desk, who proceeded to come up and for 20 minutes try to get Glenn out, he finally looked at me and in spanish said I don't know I have tried everything and walked out.  I could not stop laughing at this point, I thought ok well Glenn could sleep in there tonight but what about in the morning?  So I told Glenn that the guy had left, and Glenn was furious with me.  He told me he was going to kick the door in, which made me laugh even harder, it would have been physically impossible for him to kick the door in with how the bathroom was situated.  The guy came back up with another guy who after 5 minutes of trying said, screw this, right when I was saying Glenn look out, he had kicked the door in, turned and walked out.  By now it was almost 5 in the morning and I could not stop laughing, this was by far one of the funniest things I had ever seen.  Glenn was feeling scared and alone and the door was in two pieces.  He didn't even say anything after he kicked the door in, they both just turned and left.  It was priceless.  

Perfect story to end a perfect trip.  

The next morning we woke up at around 9, packed up and headed back to Cahuita.  We met a lovely couple upon arriving at the border who were from the states now living in San Jose.  We rode back with them in their car and they dropped us off in Cahuita.  They were probably some of the nicest people I have ever met.  I also did not realize how much I missed air conditioning till I got out of the car in Cahuita and was overtaken by heat and humidity.  

I must say when all is said in done that I am very happy to be back in Cahuita attending my life here.  Bocas was fun, but felt like a spring break trip.  A little to much of everything going on there.  I am very thankful to have returned to my small town of peacefulness and tranquility.  

Some pictures I have posted are of some of the people we met traveling.  Some of the nicest people with the biggest hearts.  I am so happy to say that I have met them and will hopefully be keeping in touch with them!  I wish you all safe travels, be safe and be happy!  

Also they have swings at the bars!  Why don't we have fun activities like that?  Oh yeah wait, because Americans would sue!!

Bocas del Drago/ La Gruta / 30 Kilometer Bike Ride

The night before we called it an early evening and had planned to ride bikes the next morning.  We woke feeling refreshed and ready to go, although that is a lie, I was still very tired. 

Woke up, threw on a dress and set out to find Tim.  The beach we had originally planned on biking to was supposed to be absolutely breathtaking and impossible to  swim at.  SOoo I decided that I was not going for a 40 minute bike ride if I couldn’t swim.  That of course extended our trip to a two hour bike ride.  We hadn’t quite realized what we had gotten ourselves into. Oops, story of your life if you travel with me. 

Although all throughout the first hour I wanted to kill myself, it was so hot and I couldn’t make it up any hills, it was the most beautiful and peaceful bike ride I have ever had.  I did not except the beautiful green rolling hills to be apart of this journey. 

Along the way we stopped at a bat cave where you paid one dollar to enter.  We weren’t exactly dressed for the occasion but decided, when in Bocas.  We paid the entrance fee and I got about two feet in when Tim saw a huge spider and I said I am outta here.  I had seen the bats but in no way was going to walk with spiders in sandals!  I ventured back out and waited near the bikes.  The entrance to the cave was beautiful with historical figures set around it creating almost a religious feel. 

About an hour later we arrived at our destination, locked our bikes up, and headed down the beach.  We found a secluded area and jumped into the refreshing sea.  The views, the colors, everything was perfect.  All I kept thinking was, “I AM IN PANAMA!”  It was by far the best day I had in a long time.  Completely full of pleasure and peacefulness.  We ate lunch on the beach, I took a walk down the beach, swam and we headed back on the bikes a good three hours later.  We arrived back in town with the ride being only an hour and a half this time.  I kicked some major butt going up and down those hills this time.  I was game and ready  to go, feeling very alive.  I took some amazing scenery photos and surprisingly some beautiful pictures of cows.  It was a literally a perfect day and when returning to town I was so happy.  Filled with happiness.  

I kept wishing everyone I knew was there with me taking in this scenery.  The bike ride was hard and very fulfilling!  I was very proud of myself!  As you can see from all of the pictures I have posted this was by far my favorite day.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed being there!

Zapatilla

Waking up around 8 and seeing the sun out, I was so excited, I decided Glenn and I should go get some breakfast before deciding what we were doing that day.  We went to a place called Lilly’s Café.  The food was actually quite horrible and not worth the price, but right on the sea; the view making it all worth the while. 

We ran into Tori and a few other people we had met and decided to take a boat out to Zapatilla Island.  It was around a 40 minute drive by boat, but an exotic national park.  We were practically the only one’s there.  You could walk around the exterior in about 30 minutes.  Breathtaking views a perfect day to say the least.  We stayed there approximately 4 hours taking in the marvelous sunshine and contemplating life. 

I could not stop laughing at the conversations we were having.  I swear if we stop to actually listen to people half the time we would wonder what they were actually talking about.  We talked, and I mean had a serious discussion about starfish... none of us knew anything about starfish, but would sit and guess and ask questions.  It was sooo funny.  After so much discussion I decided I needed to know some stuff about starfish and hopped online to do some research (mother aren't you proud?).  A starfish can have up to 50 arms… ( who would of thought) just a little fact for you guys to use later on if you want. 

We drove back breeze in our hair after an amazing day.

Aqualounge

Saturday night after of course having dinner at the burrito festival and engaging in a few happy hour cocktails at Mondo Taitu, we ventured our way over to another island called Bastimentos.  You pay a dollar to take a boat literally 3 minutes from Colon, where a bar called Aqualounge was.  Agualounge is a bar and hostel, and of course on this Saturday it was ladies night!!!  Glenn was quite frustrated by the fact that there was not a "guys night" anywhere.  Even though I had gotten him a few free drinks.... Oh Glenn.  

 The bar however is centered on the edge of the island, so you are surrounded by sea.  The wooden deck extends out into the ocean where they have encircled a part of sea for people to jump of a diving board into.  It actually got a little dangerous as the night progressed.  People were getting a little to adventurous with their jumps, it made me a little nervous.  I was trying to remember how to do CPR just in case... I know I was, maybe am? certified... and I honestly can't remember how many reps it is.... I hope I don't have to safe a life anytime soon!!

 As most of you know jumping in was not an option for me, and as most of you know I normally don’t get a choice.  I saw Austin come towards me, we looked at each other, I said “no  no no no no” he said “haha oh yes.”  I luckily had a few seconds to spare and was able to throw my purse and shoes.  I was not please when all was said and done.  When I got out of the water and walked back to where we were standing I than in turn got body slammed by another one of the guys we were with.  I was getting very upset.  I think at the end of it all I ended up being pushed in the water oh around 15 to 20 times… at that point.. whatever!! I was already wet.

All in all it was a good night, we danced, swam, and had ate some food.  When we returned to town it was already 2:30 in the morning.  Where had the night gone?  I only have on picture and that is after the entire throwing incident while on the dance floor! I wish I would of had more of the evening, it was hard to get the pictures to turn out!  Bummer!  All in all a very fun evening.  

Bocas Boat Tour

The previous day we had decided that we would go on a boat tour with a bunch of the people we had just met.  The boat tour was going to be $15 going to Dolphin Bay, Cayo Crawl, Red Frog Beach (National Park)(wizard beach) and hospital point.

The trip started off with dreary weather and a nice little ride on the water seeing all the different and evolving islands.  Our first stop was Dolphin Bay, where we circled for a good half hour seeing, oh maybe three dolphins.  Which, dolphins are great and I love them, but I would just like to say that being quite hungover the next morning along with everyone else in the boat, that literally was going in a small circle for a half hour made me want to throw our Captain out and take over, the Captains name being Willie.  Not to mention some of the other people were doing everything they could to take a photo of this one dolphin… I wanted to kill.  Tori and I just kept looking at each other (while I for some reason the only one in the boat getting wet) and I finally said, "This could quite possibly be the worst idea ever!" 

We than stopped next at Cayo Crawl where we snorkeled.  It was awesome coral, I had never seen colors like that before blues, purples, yellows, oranges, you name it!  The scenery was beautiful and exotic and soo very green, green everywhere.  I have also never seen water so blue and green and clear in my life.  You could always see to the bottom.  My snorkel gear didn’t work the best, so every time I put the mouth gear in my mouth and put my face in water I started chocking and came up gasping for air.  I was already having a hard time swimming and this gasping for air thing wasn’t working for me so I hung onto the outside of the boat, where we got our first glimpse of sunshine. 

Our next stop was Red Frog Beach, that is a national park.  We were not allowed to bring in our cooler so we decided to skip Red Frog Beach and head onto Wizard Beach where the entrance was free and just as beautiful.  I sadly did not get any pictures off this beach, it was however one of the most people and secluded beaches I have seen.  It was a perfect place to stop for a few hours, walk around and swim, a very reflective spot. 

The clouds starting coming in and we barely got into the boat in time before the rains came down.  We decided to skip the last snorkel spot and head back.  We had enough of the boats for that day.  In the end was a great journey, was able to see a lot of the different islands and views in the area while experiencing some of the tourism life in Bocas.    

Mondo Taitu - The Night Life

At first night in Panama of course turned out to be an interesting one.  Mondo Taitu lived up to it’s expectation with wild parties at night.  You met travelers from all over the world and everyone was having a great time, which how could you not with happy hour being $1 cocktails!  Which is what?, the cheapest I have drank, oh let me think… ever!! Than of course Bocas does a lovely “ladies night,” where girls drink for free!  How perfect is that??  Dollar drinks than drinking for free!  After happy hour we went across the street to where they were having ladies night and had a great time talking and meeting new people.  The night went by quickly and soon it was time to head to bed.