Back to the Ciuadad

Today is a travel day, back to the City and back to Hostel Mamallena.  I must be ready for the sailboat departure at 5:30 AM tomorrow.  Actually, its will be the grumpy 4-wheel drive transfer drivers who will be waiting for us at 5:30.  They have a reputation only slightly better than the Tuk-Tuk drivers in Vientiene.  So it is up early today for three buses to Panama City, four counting the metro bus.  I will have very fond memories of Pedasi' and especially my chill little garden oasis.

Tomorrow, the grumpy drivers will pilot us through the highlands and a National Park to the Gulf side of Panama where will board the sailboat, the Corto II.  From there it is four or five days by boat through the San Blas Archipelago to Cartagena, Colombia.

Last night, walking back from dinner, I had a close encounter of the 2.25 variety.  Down the dark street came a strange pattern of lights and some loud music.  I expected to see one of the local kids in a pickup or beat up Honda, but the light pattern was much to small and the vision was traveling much to slow.  As it got closer, I realized it was a tiny bicycle, rigged with lights front, back and underneath.  The square shape of lights on the front served to outline the two large stereo speakers attached to the frame.  A car battery powered the whole things.

I told the kid how great his bike was and asked permission to take a photo.  He was too cool in front of his friends to act overtly pleased, but he managed a pretty jaunty pose for the photo.