The Trip to Panama...Part One

The trip to Panama began easily enough. My flights were all on time and I arrived at the airport in Panama City about 10 pm. After going through immigration and customs I was supposed to be met by a taxi or transportation from a hostel where I had made a reservation. The hostel was a private home which had been converted into a bed and breakfast and I like staying in them because they are safe and usually run by friendly helpful people. This particular one was on the edge of an area which I like with good restaurants and shops. I waited and waited and no one appeared. Finally as it was getting late I took a taxi into the city and we tried to find the hostel. Despite many attempts to phone them and searching the street where they were supposed to be located we came up empty. Another hotel we tried was full. So I ended up doing what I never do...letting the taxi driver suggest a hotel. When they do this they invariably are getting a commission from the hotel which is added to your bill. But the surprise of the trip was that the hotel turned out to be ok...not much further than out than I like to stay...and the price I paid was the same price listed in the lobby. The first two nights I took a single room...small but that was ok...nice hot shower and cable TV...and the hotel even had free internet and a rooftop pool...all for $27.50 a night including tax! This is in a town with lots of $300 and up hotel rooms.
The only problem with the room was that it was right on the street with lots of noisy busses going by.
The second morning I was off at the crack of dawn (6am) for the quick flight from the city to an Island called El Provenir in Kuna Yalu...the San Blas Islands. It was rainy and dark so we didn't get a perfect view of the islands when we arrived. There are at least 365 of them and the runway takes up most of the island we landed on.

The waiting area.The airport gift shop.

My guide Orlando, (a Kuna Indian who was always barefoot) always rode standing up in the boat. I stayed on the island of Wichub-Huala...a small island with about 300 residents, a hotel and a school.

One of the islands in the distance.Most people live in huts like this with bamboo walls and thatch roofs.

One of the many stands on the island where women displayed their molas for sale. I bought the fourth one from the left on the second row up.