bocas del toro

my whirlwind tour of bocas del toro is coming to an end.  i could probably spend a couple months here and not see everything.  but i guess that's true of everywhere i've been.  not enough time (or too many bars).

i only did one day of scuba diving, that was plenty.  after belize and roatan i'm not sure that any diving will be spectacular again.  but i'm looking forward to diving in cuba, i've heard that many of the reefs are pristine.

on wednesday i did a full day catamaran trip with 2 snorkel stops.  the first stop was super clear, we swam on the edge of the mangroves.  starfish were everywhere, corals, little fish, lots of jellyfish.  ever since belize, mangroves remind me of crocodile hunting and i was a bit timid at first, but after a while i was able to swim into the trees to look around.  still creepy though.  the second snorkel was nice, had to dive down a bit to see things, and still not alot of fish.  good time though.

i had been out drinking the nite before the boat trip.  i went to rip tide, a boat that is permanently anchored and turned into a bar.  fun locals but nothing too crazy.  then i tried to go to the indian place and it was so packed, i waited forever and never got a drink, much less had anyone say hello.  as i was wandering out i noticed people drinking downstairs and walked over, its the towns book store with a bar.  another local hangout, super friendly, and possibly the craziest bartender i've ever met.  i stayed way too late, did way too many shots, and wasn't feeling real great the next morning.

so i get on the boat and after about 10 minutes i started feeling really bad.  i've never been boat sick but hangover on a boat is probably the same.  i crawled onto the wooden slats on the very back and let everyone know that there was a good possibility that i would be barfing soon.

i didn't, surprisingly, and after about an hour everything was good.  snorkel in some cold water and lunch, ready for a beer.

i fished for most of the day but didn't catch anything.

i met up with captain hardy last nite for some drinks at rip tide and purposely left early because he invited me to go fishing on his boat today.  but what was on my way home?  the book store.  total fail.

the bartender told me that if i went topless for 10 seconds all my drinks for the nite were free.  being a budget traveller i thought that this would be a smart money saving move.  it was, but again, i woke up this morning (barely) and wasn't sure i could survive a boat.

this one was much better, motoring along in a fishing boat was easier on the stomach.  as it was, i couldn't even look at a beer until about 1pm.

we ended up catching a 10 pound yellow fin tuna and a 5 pound mackerel.  not much for the 4 hours we were out but i got to see several of the islands.  on the way home we stopped at isla bastimento and pulled up to the dock at los secretos, the owners are friends of hardy and pete.  possibly one of the most beautiful bars i've ever sat at.  if i come back here i might have to stay there for a nite or 2.  we had dinner, then pete filleted the tuna and we had sashimi.   nothing better than fresh caught sushi.

and now its time to pack up and move on. 6:30am flight to panama city tomorrow for a last day with mandy and kids, then i'm off to cuba for 12 days!  i have no idea where i'm going or what i'm doing but as long as i have cash everything will be ok.  i'm want to smoke a cigar and drink rum in a bar blaring salsa music.

i cannot go out tonite.  i cannot go out tonite.  i cannot go out tonite.