Wallamble

One the way to breaky number at Red Frog Beach we saw our juvenile sloth from yesterday (yay he was still there!)

We then took a water taxi (check out that sky! yes it absolutely bucketed with rain!)

To Salt Creek – a remote Ngobe-Bugle village
(note Lachie did a little shopping and a few cameos in these photos. See if you can spot him!)

Then past Sloth Island on the way home where we saw a number of sloths.

Time for a little R&R before dinner at the hostel next door.

Even with the poor weather, we’d thought we’d try a little walk along Playa Larga to see if any turtles were nesting. Unfortunately the trip was unsuccessful and we headed back to sleep 🙂

Today we’re off to Red Frog Beach in Bocas del Toro.

Unfortunately our flight left at 6:30am!!! and so it was a very early start to the day.
(Luckily the hotel had very thoughtfully left hot coffee, juice and fresh rolls in the foyer for those departing early)

A boat transfer to Red Frog Beach on Isla Bastimentos where we would be staying

we played on the beach while we waited for our room to be ready

What a surprise the room was!  We’d been upgraded from a hotel room to a LUXURY VILLA!!!
(it is HUGE and comes with a golf cart!!! three nights here would cost as much as our entire vacation)

Time for lunch at the backpacker hostel next door

A little swimming and relaxing

Our first sloth sighting
(you can tell how humid it is as the camera lens in foggy 😦  )

Our first local-kids-with-machetes sighting

A water taxi into Bocas for dinner

Our trip was a little delayed home due to an outpouring of the heavens (oh well ice-cream time!) – so the boat home and then golf cart back to the villa was quite an adventure. Before calling it a night 🙂

Another fun day in Panama 🙂 🙂 🙂
(P.S. we won’t mention getting absolutely saturated – yes-this-is-the-rainy-season – while in Bocas)

Buenas noches amigos!

Mmmm buffet breakfast….don’t get used to this kids. It is the last one for a while!

Today it was time to leave the rainforest and see some of the countryside.

We happily shared the road with all sorts of interesting users – from Panama’s version of the Navy Seals to coulourful busses

First stop was Fuerte Santiago in Portobelo

Then a little wander around the town of Portobelo

Inglesia de San Felipe with its Cristo Negro

Fuerte San Jeronimo

Then back in the car to drive to the viewing center for the Gatun Locks. This was incredible! The viewing platform was feet away from the locks and we’d managed to time if perfectly (all timed of course – check out the name of the ship – “Spirit of Sydney”!).

Then we checked out the new lock that is building close by

Like there is a place for the boats to wait, so too there is a place for the kids to wait (for the parents)

Then we headed back to Albrook to our new hotel to be near the airport for our 6:30am departure (ouch!) in the morning.
A western dinner in the mall (where we saw a Gorilla and a Koala – who’d have expected that!).

A quick swim (of course – there is always time for a swim in this weather). Check out the amazing view from the roof!

and then off to bed – good night 🙂

With still a little energy, we thought we’d visit the infamous Pipeline Road. So after a short drive along unmarked roads we were there 🙂 We had a beautiful walk through the rain forest seeing birds, howler monkeys and gorgeous vegetation.

Before returning to the car to find a flat tyre! Eek and no-one around. Luckily we travel with a Nathan who can deal with such hurdles with grace and ease. I guess it is lucky (???) he had a few offsiders to help!

After a short delay, we were back at the hotel organizing a new tyre from the rental company and another wonderful day drew to a close. Good night Gamboa. Thanks for a wonderful day xx

A refreshing swim, lunch and then we were off again!
This time to do an aerial tram ride through the rainforest…

a walk…

then we climbed the canopy tower for the beautiful view from the top!

We saw lots of birds (including a Rainbow Toucan), an Indigenous village and lots of luscious vegetation.

We stepped out of our room and Eli spotted an ant-eater.  Awesome job little-bear! Not to be out done, Lachie then started spotting birds faster than I could see them.
(My job as a parent is done! E+L can appreciated the finer things in life)

After a leisurely breakfast (we are on holidays after all!)

We took a boat trip around the canal on Gatun Lake.

We saw huge ships…

seriously cool massive machinery for maintaining the canal

and navigating the canal

playful tamarins

a snoozing baby crocodilo

a hesitant hiding howler monkey

curious capuchin monkeys

birds galore

Beautiful scenery

It was amazing!
Then back to our hotel for lunch and a swim.

Lachie was off to an awesome start. After a little prepping on the plane was confidently opening with “Me llamo Lachie” through customers and the terminal.

B+N: Put the kindles away and look out the window.

N: As long as we have a phone with data we can go anywhere.
(B’s comment – that sounds like a challenge to me!)

B: Gosh! There is a petrol station on every corner.

N: You can park a car in that pothole!

E: Ooh! You are going to let me drink red soda in Panama? This is the best place ever!

Panama here we come. Today is day one of our two week adventure 🙂

Whilst we left Newark airport an hour late we were pretty happy to arrive only 20 mins late into Panama City airport 🙂

We arrived to find that our car seat (that we had bought especially for the trip was lost in transit and unfortunately one couldn’t be hired in Panama. As car seats are only compulsory up until the age of 2 – so there was no chance of finding a booster seat. Not much we could do but push on 😦

With out best Spanish and a pleading smile – we picked up the hire car, a phone card to use in our cell phone, a cold drink and we were off!

Through torrential rain, past pot-holes the size of cars and unmarked streets…

…we made it to Gamboa and our hotel. Nothing could stop us!

The view of the Chagres River from our room was sensational.

and the hotel was a beautiful dame!

Lunch over the world cup….

A swim! Ahhhh it was heavenly after the trip and to help us adjust to the heat 🙂

We were impressed by the leaf cutter ants. Check out the totally stripped plant in the second photo:

The hotel did an evening drive/tour around the property – which was our first introduction to the local wildlife. The highlights were two capybaras and the cayman eyes looking back at us from the river. After which we fell into bed for a well-deserved much-needed snooze 🙂

The day started with a bike parade and relay races…

Somewhere in there mum found time to pack and dad found time to build an arbor…

The evening finished with a picnic and fireworks

Happy Fourth!