Pais Numero Dos

The second week of the project was different in many ways. There were no more turtles to speak of, in fact two of the nests are unlikely to hatch as they are long overdue, so it was long six-hour shifts at the hatchery with very little possibility of seeing turtles. Did I mention that six hours was a long time when you´re waiting for nothing to happen? The second week was also different because it ushered out all the volunteers I had been working with but brought new ones in, which was great since I had worried I´d be alone for four days.

The new volunteers were much more youthful; in fact, I far exceeded them in years though they didn´t really seem to notice. There was much more conversation in the evenings, even went to the bar one night. I enjoyed their company so much I actually stayed an additional day there, not leaving until Thursday. I even debated staying an additional day but the thought of an additional shift at the hatchery, a night shift at that, persuaded me to leave. Turns out it was the sand flies who ate my feet, and it was usually on the night shift. My feet, which look quite like a leper´s I think, desperately need to heal and STOP ITCHING!

My last shift at the hatchery was on Wednesday from 12-3, a shift I was splitting but I ended up there til 4:30. It was a beautiful overcast day, not too hot, nice breeze on the beach. And I have to say that everyone should have the opportunity at least once in their life to dance on a deserted beach to Bob Marley and sing aloud to your headphones. ¨Don´t worry, ´bout a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be alright.¨ It was a beautiful last day.

I woke up early Thursday morning for the journey to pais numero dos (country number 2), Panama. My transportation to Sixaola and the border was a van that transports school children. A broke down van whose door almost fell off every time it was opened and whose transmission has clearly seen better days. I wasn´t sure we would make it the entire 15 km. I walked across the border into Panama where I was forced to buy a bus ticket out of the country. If you can´t show you´re going to be leaving, they won´t let you in. Nevermind that my ticket is an open day ticket, meaning I could technically stay past their 90 day limit. I guess they just wanted to know that eventually I would be leaving. I then shared a van with 14 other people to a little town called Almirante where I caught a 30-minute water taxi to the island of Bocas del Toro, Panama.

I was anxious that morning at going to a new place, as I always am when I´m heading somewhere new and don´t know what to expect. I found a hostel fairly easily, well after realizing that el centro del turismo (tourism center) gives you the history of the place not info about lodging! And within 45 minutes of my arrival, I was headed to the beach with four girls (instafriends I call them because within moments you have new friends): an American, two Germans, and a Mexican who resides in the US. The beach was fabulous--white sand, swimmable water. We had brought bread and cheese for sandwiches, and the Swiss army knife continues to prove its worth as it was responsible for slicing the cheese and cucumber.

The rest of the day consisted of eating ice cream in the park, souvenir shopping (for them because they were leaving the next day; I merely ´window´shopped), a great dinner on the water, some Internet time, and then free drinks at ladies night at the Iguana. Bummer that all four of the girls left this morning. I´m sure, though, that there will be new people in my room at some point today. More instafriends!

The plan was to start Spanish school on Monday, but there was a snafu. If I test Monday morning into the same group as the others, I´ll study in a small group for 20 hours next week. If not, I´ll probably just pay for 15 hours of private lessons rather than pack up and leave. I´m also hoping to do some scuba diving next week. I think I´m going on a dolphin watching, snorkeling, beach tour tomorrow for the low price of $13 for an all-day trip. The prices are amazingly low.

Oh, I should mention the improved accomodations. For the low price of $10 per night, I have a comfortable bed in a dorm room that has air conditioning (muy bueno) and its own bathroom. No more trekking outside to the bathroom with a headtorch. No more waking up to howler monkeys. No more waking up sweating. At least for the next 9 days or so! Though I still slept poorly last night, I´m thinking with these accomodations, I´ll soon adjust and sleep peacefully through the night.

And now it´s off to run errands: food shopping and laundry . . .