9th October 2009 - 11th October 2009

We left Panama City and headed for Puerto Lindo as we were booked on a sailing trip with our friends Carlo and Toni to head down to Colombia. The bus trip from Panama City to Colon was great but when we found out we had to wait at the dodgiest bus station yet we weren't too impressed. It took two hours for our chicken bus to leave and another two hours on the packed and hot bus to get to the infamous Hostal Wunderbar which ran the sailing trip.

We were also less than impressed to arrive at the hostal as it wasn't quite as 'nice' as it made out to be on the web. We were even more disappointed to discover that there were to be 10 people and 3 motorbikes on the 50 foot sailing boat as well as the captain and first mate. The website said they had a max of six passengers which is why we chose it. We were happy however that our friends Carlo and Toni were there to share the pain. They too had had an awful experience travelling down to the hostal with their bike breaking down due to tyre issues about 5 times since we last saw them - not happy bikers at that point.

There wasn't a whole lot to the town but we did decide to head over to an island with some new friends - Cory and Ryan - brothers from Florida. They'd been told that there were 'rogue' monkeys that walked on two legs at this old American research centre on the island so we were extremely disappointed when we didn't find any there. When we got back that afternoon we found out that the already delayed boat wasn't going to be leaving until the following morning so instead of eating at the same restaurant for the fourth time we headed into the small village for some local BBQ which was great. It only cost us a dollar for some great steak and veggies and on the way back we saw a huge boa constrictor cross the road. Sammy didn't believe me at first when I told him it was a crocodile but when the 'tree trunk' started moving we were both shocked. Biggest snake we'd both ever seen in the wild.

The next day we rose at 5am to get on the boat early. True to form this didn't happen and we were again stuck at the hostal being kicked out of our hammocks because the old wrinkly 40 something German owner had to breast feed her 2 year old daughter. Her face and bikini clad body is definitely one we won't miss in a hurry.

Around 11am we were on the boat and sailing into the horizon - finally! San Blas islands here we come.