No mans land Panama

I did not know that getting to our next continent would be so difficult, Panama will test you. If ever there was a great big hole of a city, it has got to be Colon, Panama. Devin and I both agree that there are some really kind people here probably just waiting to hear the Gospel, but we have both never felt so hated and nervous as we have just walking down the street. It is soo dirty and rough. No one says Hola or Bueno and they won[t even look at you. We dang near got mugged after dinner the other night by a couple of street rats that were looking for trouble, but we got outta there with a huge adrenalin rush and a torn shirt and all is well. We will save the details of that story for another day maybe.

Finally found the part of Panama we have been looking for after about 400 miles and lots of frustrating riding. We camped last night right below the walls of an Old castle looking fort with huge rusted cannons and probably 10 foot walls. All was well as we pulled in well after dark and cut the lights and looked out across the bay to see a dozen or so sailboats anchored in the harbor. What a perfect campsite!! We set up cots under the stars and thought we were in for a peaceful sleep, until about 2 am a couple of evangelists climbed up on one of the walls and started sermonizing at the top of their lungs. I am not kidding......I would have thought it was a crazy dream if Devin had not heard the same thing. Then came the rain and they left for about 20 minutes til it stopped and then they carried on again. They finally quit after the Lord really showered on them and we got a little sleep under a good tarp I was glad Devin had packed along. The sun came up and the clouds parted and made for a good morning afterall. WHO PREACHES AT 2 AM on a castle wall to no one in particular- felt like Samuel the Lamanite in spanish.

Did some good snorkeling today along a really good reef with tons of fish and noo speargun. Adios till Columbia.

pics

We spent a very long night in the rain. . .

Our hotel with all our cloths haning to dry

Colon, dirty dirty City.

Panama Canal, way way cool. We stayed and watched the boats go by for about an hour. I hear the US gave it to Panama in 1999, why did we do that.

Matt should be posting more.

Later

Stuck in Panama

Made to Panama but now we are stuck waiting for a boat. there should be one leaving sometime next week. I don´t care for Panama so much, it has rained everyday we have been here.


We left Costa Rica and made it to the boarder which was another headache. We waited for a big storm to calm down before heading off. About 30 minutes after the boarder we got stopped by the police. They made up some story about that we were driving to close together and wanted $100 dollars. Matt wrote their names down which they didn´t like and were about to arrest him. I tried my best to tell them in Spanish we did not know any better because it was legal in other country's. . .


I told them that there were bad cops in Mexico, Guatemala and then asked him if there were bad cops here or not? They told Matt to leave and after got really nice and said they would do me a favor and let me go but I was to tell my friend they could arrest him. I think more then anything Matt called their bluff by writing there names down. Or something I said, not sure. not a fun ordeal though.


We drove in the rain all afternoon and were socked through and still drove on in the night for quite some time. we stopped at a gas station and asked where a hotel was. A guy there was amazed that we had drove the whole way so offered for us to stay in his house. So we took him up on it.. His wife fed us a big dinner, so nice, Dang I wish I spoke Spanish.


The next day we drove to Colon, which was a mistake. Worst place I have ever been in my life the place just felt evil. we were most defiantly the outsidders everyone was staring us down. Most where blacks , I think I have a glimpse what it feels like to be discriminated against.


We heard that there might be boats to take us to Columbia there, but there was nothing but a very trashy town. We got a hotel and hung all our cloths having drove in the rain again all day.


We then got some dinner. I was going to leave this story out but Matt is planning on writing about it so I better give my side of the story. Read on accept for my Mom you better skip the next two paragraphs.


Everyone was staring us down and two guys were on the sidewalk in front of us, one started to dance (kinda weird). Matt passed and the man gave him a high five. I then walking passed (I being behind Matt, and much small, maybe a better target) he looked like he was going to give me a high five. . . but then very quickly he grabbed my shirt very hard at the same time the other guy ran over and started feeling for my wallet. But never having put my wallet in my back pocket my whole life (why would anyone want to sit on their wallet all day) he never got it.


I quickly pushed the man away at the sometime yelled for Matt. They quickly walked away. All I got out of the deal was a ripped shirt. Quit honestly you could probably get into just as much trouble on the wrong streets in the US.


Anyway we went south to Portabela a very pretty town and are staying in a very nice hotel until we sail south. Has very good snorkeling. Might be some time before I write again.


I am a little lazy this time so I am going to post my pics separate.