Bocas del Toro; Home again!

Hey Everyone,
We made it to Bocas del Toro! We left the city Friday night at 9:30 on a bus for Bocas. We met up with a german girl named Veronica who stayed at Lunas Castle with us, but she was on the 8 o`clock bus, so she said she´d wait for us at the bus stop in Almirante. It was about an 11 hour ride, with 2 short stops, and one long invesitgation of our bus by the police for drugs. It was at about 2:00am. They stopped us, came on the bus, and demanded IDs and Passports. Then after they were done checks they made everyone get off the bus so they could search for drugs. There was a Kuna woman traveling alone with 2 small children; one infant and one baby, about 1 1/2 years old. I asked her if she needed any help with her kids, so she carried the infant, I the addorable baby boy, and lindsay her bag. He slept in my arms while the police and drug dog (a friendly cockerspaniel) searched our luggage for cocain. Once they were done we got back on the bus and headed off again. Between the sub zero temeratures of the airconditioning and the loud and disgusting musica romantica that was blaring from the speakers, we didn´t get much sleep.
When we arrived in Almirante, we met up with Veronica and headed to the Lancha station, where we quickly got on a boat, and arrived at around 7 am on bocas islands. We walked from the port with all of our things to avoid paying for a taxi, to Mondo Taitu. Their reception didn´t open until 8, so we sat in the drizzling rain and waited. Once someone came, they informed us they were full up, and suggested their sister hostel, Heike, which is just in the center of town.
We walked to Heike, and got 3 beds in a dorm room with airconditioning for $11 a night. We went out and grabbed a bite to eat, and then headed back to the hostel and slept until about 3. At 4:00 we went out with Michael to a bar and had a couple of beers on a floating dock, with reggae music in the background. Then we took a lancha to Aqua Lounge, had a few more drinks, met some nice guys from Amsterdam and chatted with them for a while, and ate some dinner. From there we came back to the mainland a bit tipsy, dropped off our purses at the hostel, and went to Mondo Taitu for Happy Hour from 7-8 with 50 cent beers, and 1 dollar cocktails. We didn´t had some beers, met some of Michaels friends, including some who I ironically had been to the Feria del Mar with 3 years ago when I was an exchange student. Then we decided to do a Muff Diver, the bar tender made 3, one for each of us. These are a shot of baileys, coconut liquir, banana liquir, and also some vodka I believe. Then they put the shot in a martini glass and full the glass and shot with whipped cream. You must take the shot without using your hands. This was HILLARIOUS! Veronica spilled hers, I spilled some of mine, and Linds was a pro. We all had faces covered in whipped cream, and laughed until we nearly cried. It´s recorded and I´m sure it will find it´s way onto YouTube when I get home. After one more of these, we headed back to the Aqua Lounge for free drinks for ladies. We had a drink there, came back, went back to Mondo Taitu. Our night went on like this for a while, meeting people from all over all the way, picking some up, and leaving some behind as we continued to bar hop. It was quite fun! By 11 or so, we were quite tired, seeing as how we started at 4, and decided to call it a night.
Today we slept in, made a breakfast of fresh piña and pancakes, and then the 3 of us were off again. We went to Isla Bastimentos, my favorite place on earth, and made our way to Wizard Beach. Here we saw a Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, which are becoming endangered. We stayed for 2 hours, swimming in the perfectly terquoise warm water, and lying in the powdery sand. We made our way back to the village on Bastimentos, and ate at Roots Resteraunt; heaping plates of coconut rice and beans, patacones, salad, and lobster, while sipping cold coca colas on a dock under a thatched roof. We made our way back to the main island around 4, took showers to rinse the sand and salt off our sticky bodies, and headed here, to the internet cafe. Tonight it projected to be a night similar to last night, but with less drinking and more dancing; though who can resist 50 cent beers?!?! Cheers!

Finally in Panama

Hey Everyone!
Today we arrived in Panama City! We were scheduled to come in at 9:30pm yesterday, but our flight was canceled. After standing in multiple lines, running back and fourth through the airport, and generally being frustrated, our ticket agent decided the soonest she could get us on our way was at 11:20pm (keep in mind, we arrived at SFO at 7:15 am) which was frustrating to say the least. I've come to the conclusion that American Airlines kinda blows the big one, but Betty, our ticket agent, rocked my socks! She comped us a room at the Westin for the day, so Lindsay and I spent about 14 hours laying on down comforters watching bad cable t.v. While we would have rather been on our way, at least we were'nt in the airport.
After we suffered through our red eye to Miami sitting next to an incredibly obese man with a snoring problem, we had a 5 hour wait in between flights in Miami. It went by slowly, but just because we wanted to be here so badly. We met a cool guy named Joel (not gonna lie, he was pretty cute too) who we chatted with on and off to pass the time.
When we got off the plane in the city, it was fairly overcast, and the roads were wet with previous downpours. Just shortly after we checked in at our hostel (Luna's Castle) in Casco Viejo, another insane downpour started. Just average Panama City weather. We showered, brushed our teeth, and changed clothes (god knows we needed it!) and were on our way down to Ave. Central; a street that turns into a pedestrian only marketplace, with street venders, bargain shops, and all sorts of people. We mozied along and found a vendor selling one of my absolute favorite snacks; fresh pineapple cut and soaked in and citrusy type of juice. We bought cups, for 30 cents a piece, and ate them as we walked along and took in the sights and sounds. We ate dinner at Cafe Coca Cola, I had some delish fried chicken, and Lindsay, a more questionable grilled cheese (possibly cheese whiz?) for next to nothing, and we came back to the hostel.
I just finished sipping on an Atlas beer, chatting with some girls from Sweden who are on their way out of the city to Bocas del Toro; we figure we'll see them this weekend when we head out there.
Since nothing much else has happened, and this probably isn't the most interesting start, I'll leave you guys with what I've written. We're going out to do some exploring of the city tomorrow; maybe in a couple of days we'll have some exciting adventures to write about!
I'm missing everyone at home but can't say I'm not exstatic to be here!

T -8 Days Until Departure

Hey Everyone!
This is hopefully my first of many posts to keep everyone updated no my adventures in Central America. I can't believe I leave home in a week! With months and months of anticipation and working towards this, it's all coming to a climax! Insane right?! Lindsay and I have been talking about doing this for years, and the fact that it's finally happening is almost too much to believe!
With just a few days left, I've begun the packing process, checking my documents, and sending my last few emails to friends down in Panama letting them know we're on our way! I can't help but worry a bit about how I'm going to fit everything I need for 2 months inside a backpack! I have faith in myself though. I don't know if I've ever been more excited in my life! First Panama, then Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador... This is going to be insanity! I can't tell you how ready I am to experience the rich culture; the flavors, the sights, the sounds, the language (encanto Espanol!); everything! So watch out Central America; here we come! First stop: Panama!