Days 2-4

January 8, 2012 – Update for Days 2 – 4 

It is Sunday morning at 8:30 and we are just about to anchor at Bocas del Toro, Panama.

First a brief update on our last two days. Day 2, Friday, we anchored off Georgetown, Cayman Islands. A short tender ride in a calm bay brought us right to the town center. It is comprised of 600 plus banks for all that offshore U.S. money and what seemed like thousands of jewelry stores. Every brand of watch and kind of gem is available here. All you need is money. Somebody must have it because there are more shops here now than there were 12 years ago, when we last stopped here. We managed to leave a few dollars at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Had a peaceful drink out of the sun and bustle. Then back to the ship after just 3 hours ashore. More than enough for us.

Saturday, day 3, was a sea day full of lectures, crafts etc. Not bad. Plenty of leisure time. Oh, did I mention eating, too? Food has been great, and we have been restrained.  Training for the next 65 days. The seas have been fine. Just some gentle rolling.

Sunday, day 4, we just dropped anchor. I am looking out our cabin window at a beautiful little harbor filled with good-looking sailboats. Time for breakfast. Be back after our trip ashore.

As promised here is our shore report. The ship has not stopped here before, and they kept telling us it would be a quaint place under development. The development thing must be for expanded tourism because there is quite a well established town with churches, schools, an airport, a hospital and many dive shops. This is a chain of islands belonging to Panama, but only 30 miles from Costa Rica. As near as we could tell, the tourists were water-oriented Spanish speaking folks. Snorkeling and diving are the big draw.The only Americans seemed to be from the Prinsendam. There  are many hotels and B&B’s. 

We had a good time walking the streets to see the sights and some craft booths. Usually everything is closed on Sunday, but who could resist 762 cruisers ( if we all went ashore.) So everything was open and waiting for us. It was very nice.

We went out on deck 11 after lunch to watch the locals circle around us in their boats. Many of them did this. Life seems pretty good for them!

The islands are planted with bananas, grown for Chiquita, that are shipped all around the world. 17 refrigerated freighters per month leave here destined for Europe and the U.S.

This was a charming stop. Tomorrow the Panama Canal.