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Hola Todos,
We have just arrived in Panama City after spending a full week sailing on a 37 foot yacht called Fenicia from Cartagena, Colombia. We had a very crazy Italian captain called Fabio who yelled commands in very pigeon English such as `put hand up stop` which meant `to put your hand above the switch´. He also insisted on cooking pasta for every meal (which was actually fantastic) and would dance around to very strange italian songs in his underwear doing very weird hand actions. So as you can imagine we have had a very tiring but entertaining week aboard Fenicia.
We broke the record for taking the longest time to reach the San Blas Islands. What usually takes between 36 and 50 hours took us 84 hours! We were cursed with NO WIND and as Fabio didnt have much gas we found ourselves on the 3rd day just bobbing around the warm Carribean seas (we actually went backwards at one stage by 8 nautical miles!).
Finally we reached the San Blas Islands and were not dissapointed. There are over 300 islands here, some uninhabited and others with a few huts where the Kuna families reside. Beautiful islands varying in size all with white sand beaches, cooling palm trees and crystal clear waters surrounding them. The reefs here are made for great snorkelling, viewing colourful fish and coral beds. The locals would row out in dugouts (some with sails) and sell mola (colourful embroided materials), fish and lobsters. We bought two huge lobsters for $15US and cooked them up for lunch one day. The locals are very traditional in colourful dress with embroided beading wound around their legs and paint on their faces. To date, they definitely have the most traditional indian features that we have seen.
Had a brilliant time on the yacht, relaxing, swimming, snorkelling, eating and helping out with the sailing. However on arriving to the shores of Panama we were well ready for a comfortable bed and a fresh water shower.
We are now in Panama city where its pretty cloudy with rain (it is the rainy season after all) and are looking forward to checking out the famous Panama Canal and what the bright lights of this city have to offer.
Will let you know the haps soon.
Love to you all.
Sarah and Shane xx
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