Arriving on Isla Colon

After a good night’s sleep, got up around 6:45am to shower and head down for the buffet breakfast. Hotel Riu does buffet breakfast right. First, it’s huge with everything you could possibly want for breakfast. Second, they take extreme precautions in assuring cleanliness and safety during these challenging times. And last, the food is actually pretty good. No scrambled egg soup or powdered eggs here! Here in Panama, they have staff that will select your food for you and place it on your plate keeping visitors hands away from rest of the food. Good idea.

After chowing down, we checked out of Riu and grabbed a taxi to Panama City’s second international airport, Albrook Gelabert Airport, named after the famous Panamanian aviator, Marcos Gelabert, and former site of the U.S Albrook Air Force Base. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it was determined that a stronger military presence was needed in Panama to protect the Pacific entrance to the canal. In 1966, the U.S. flew U-2 missions from this base to perform atmospheric sampling during French nuclear explosions. I think that was when powdered sugar was discovered but don’t hold me to that.

If you’re ever traveling in or out of this airport, couple of things to know. One, the airport is very small, only one area where you check-in or buy tickets. There is one coffee shop, a souvenir shop and one restaurant, the Grande Oriente. Once you pass through security, there is nothing but a waiting room and two “banos” so you better be ready to just wait for your flight.

Boarded our Fokker 50 for the 1.5hr flight to Bocas del Toro, the Isla Colon, right on time. Easy flight, minimal turbulence. Not like our last time flying from Albrook where we thought Collette’s dad was going to get married to the woman next to him.  Apparently, neither were comfortable flying so holding hands seemed to make it better, right up to when it was time to get off the plane. Alas, the short romance was not to be.

Gathered our bags and moseyed our way towards the harbor where we can find a grocery store, a restaurant for a bit of lunch, and a water taxi to our house on Bastimentos,. Success! Super Market Isla Colon for groceries, Buena Vista restaurant for lunch, and Captain Mario for the water taxi, what a deal.

Who is Captain Mario? He and his brother, David, run a fishing charter out of Buena Vista restaurant. And since they weren’t busy, they could take us to Bastimentos for $10 each. Since we were told the going rate was $3 each (it’s actually $5) Mario and David agreed to $6 for both of us but only after they finished a couple of beers. What a deal!

Me and First Mate John

Party ship and Panamanian Navy training vessel

Fried fish sandwich

Blackened chicken sandwich

Arrived at Bastimentos and found the cement path from Old Town to our house, Casa de Mar. Unfortunately, the cement path ends about ½ mile from the house but Collette did fine. I just love how she never complains.

Bastimentos “Old Town” dock

Mi casa for the next 5 weeks

Got to the house, just as advertised, Collette started to unpack while I made my way back to Old Bank for water and ice. Time for a vodka-cranberry  and some listening to the waves.

Cheers.