Panama Canal

Today, Mateo and I had a chance to explore Panama City so the first thing we did was go to the famous Canal.  SUPER cool.  I won’t bore you with all of the facts (please ask for details and videos if in fact you are interested), but we got to watch a few HUGE barges pass through one of the locks.  Then we watched a 3D movie about the canal and toured the museum.  Totally worth the $8 admission.  Here are some quick facts:

It costs between $300 – 400k to pass through.

If you go around Africa instead, it adds 13 days to transit and probably millions of dollars.

There are 3 sets of locks to raise boats 26 meters into the man-made lake and back down.

While passing through the locks, there is only TWO FEET of free space on each side.

The canal will celebrate its 100^th anniversary in October.

Big boat now level with the lake heading towards the Atlantic

Boat just off the Pacific

After the canal, Mateo and I walked through “Old Town” and saw some of the sights

White house of Panama

Tomorrow we're exploring and little more of the city and then prepping to RETURN HOME FOR GOOD!

Welcome to Panama!

Mateo and I are finally in Panama City!  Here’s the quick recap:

Friday we traveled on 3 different buses totaling 9 hours to Boquete, a quaint town up in the mountains of northern Panama.  LOVED Boquete.  It was touristy but still had a Panamanian feel.  We ate some great shrimp tacos and played pool in a very local bar.

Saturday we had a great brunch and went to some hot springs.  Then we traveled to David and ate dinner at TGI Fridays.

Sunday we made another long journey to Playa Blanca, an all-inclusive resort outside of Panama City.  Instead of explaining the awesomeness that Mateo and I enjoyed, here is a series of pictures.

Watched the USA v Panama game

Played pool

A very non-romantic candle lit dinner on the beach

Now we've arrived in Panama City.  Off to the canal tomorrow so I should have another post soon!

Tico Adventures

Sorry for my long absence; been on a near constant move.  Quick recap:

Tuesday, we went whitewater rafting.  I’ve gone a handful of times but this was definitely the most intense.  Generally rivers have slow points where it’s calm and rafters can go swimming.  Not the Balsa River.  We had to paddle almost non-stop through class III and IV rapids for 2.5 hours.  Besides randomly getting sick halfway, it was a GREAT time.  After rafting we stopped at an organic farm and had a late great lunch which included a shot of moonshine made from sugarcane.

Wednesday, we left La Fortuna.  After what was maybe the longest bus ride I’ve ever been on (5 hours), we arrived safely in San Jose.  Since it was already late, Mateo and I found a sports bar and watched Gold Cup games.  We called it an early night because…

Thursday, WE WENT BUNGEE JUMPING!

Fearless

Jump and pray

AHH!

Adios!

 It was incredible.  The bridge was 265 feet high.  The best way I can describe it:

Stepping up to the ledge and looking down = scariest thing ever.

One second = I CAN FLY

Two seconds = Uh oh…

Three seconds = AHH!

Four seconds = Phew!

Honestly, it wasn’t hard on my head, neck or back at all.  Slamming on the brakes while driving 5mph is more uncomfortable than bungee jumping.  I’ll try to upload a video sometime soon.

Tomorrow, we cross the border into Panama.  Talk to you later!

La Fortuna

I’ve officially relocated and reunited with my PCV friend Mateo in La Fortuna de San Carlos (aka right in the middle of Costa Rica).  Mateo and I passed the day by going on a little hike up to a lagoon.

Heading into the very muddy rainforest

Tomorrow we’re going whitewater rafting, so excited!

Rincon National Reserve

Today I went on a long hike in La Rincon National Park.  Less than an hour from Liberia, there is this beautiful reserve with hiking trails.  I walked through lush rainforest and saw waterfalls, monkeys and toucans!

Rope bridge not up to code

Super cool tree

Then the jungles opened up to a prairie

Lizard!

Another day, another beautiful waterfall

And just a word on prices, while Costa Rica is more expensive than Nicaragua, it’s still quite affordable.  Examples:

Lodging = $10/night

Meals = $23 (was the most expensive.  On the beach and included fish and several beers)

Transportation = $20 (to get to and from the national park.  All other transportation has been under $4)

Tomorrow I travel to La Fortuna (by Arenal Volcano, a touristier place).  I don’t plan on having many adventures until Monday so check back then!

Life’s a beach

Today after all my hiking adventures yesterday, I decided to take a day off and go to the beach.  A short hour bus ride from Liberia (where I’m staying) is a string of nearly disserted beaches.  Playa Panama was the most accessible so I tried that first but wasn’t impressed.  But a 4km walk / hitchhike led me to Playa Hermosa.

Hermosa indeed, no?

Practically Pedro's private beach

I spent the afternoon swimming, reading, walking, eating, drinking and blogging (I’m at a restaurant on the beach right now!).  Not too shabby huh?  Tomorrow I’m passing the day hiking in a nature reserve, talk later!

Just another Thursday

I’ll be the first to admit that my geography knowledge isn’t great but I’m pretty sure the Costa Rica is not on the African Continent.  That confusion stems from “Africa Mia” a safari type zoo here in Liberia.  There are a lot of things that can get on my nerves in other countries (customs, traditions, the lack of climate control), but one thing I love is the tranquilo or “make it work” type philosophy.  For example, we’ve all been to zoos in the past, right?  How many times have you gone to your favorite exhibit and the animal is sleeping or just plain not there?  That is completely unacceptable at Africa Mia.  They promised us up close and personal encounters with wild beasts and that’s what you’re going to get.  If the animal is grazing on the other side of vast fields, the zookeepers inconvenience the animals and herd them over to us for our enjoyment.

Did you know they are black with white stripes?

Hungry giraffe!

Ostriche's eyeballs are bigger than their brains

I honestly don't remember what this thing is...

Pumba!  Hakuna matata!

Chicken with a bad hair day?

Antelope?

I look alarmingly lovestruck...

All of these animals seemed quite happy and well fed.  Plus they weren’t in cages; they had acres of open space to roam around and interact.  I also feel the need to say that most of those photos were taken without a zoom.  I was up close and feeding them, SO COOL!

But my day wasn’t over, not by a long shot!  I also made the trek here:

Waterfall!

Tired but happy Pedro

Overall, it was a great day.  How was your Thursday?