January 1st to 10th, 2013, Bocas del Toro archipelago, Panama
We started the New Year with 10 nights of gunkholing around the many little islands of Bocas del Toro.
There are multiple definitions of gunkholing, but this one* best describes our gunkholing:
“… gunkholing is a more earthy term for anchoring your boat on a pleasant out-of-the-way cove or creek. A simple cruise with peace and quiet, beautiful surroundings, tranquil waters and none of the usual daily grind as your destination.”
January 7th, 2012, Salt Creek Community, Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Pete, Tony and I took the dinghy, with its malfunctioning outboard, up Salt Creek to visit the Ngöbe Indian Community. We most certainly took paddles (and used them). The dinghy motor has only one speed — fast. (Requires a “neutral drop” to start.) Travelling at a constant but high speed gave the twisty trip up the mangrove-lined creek the distinct feel of a video game.
December 24th, 2012 to January 1st, 2013
I haven’t written anything yet about Bocas del Toro, Panama. Unfortunately, it is the rainy, buggy season here, and that has coloured our impression of the place.
Panama City, December 13 to 17th, 2012
We spent some days in Panama City. Pete & Gayle flew in from NJ, and Yogi, the awesome harbour master at Green Turtle Cay Marina, drove Tony & Jane to the Wyndham Tryp hotel in Panama City — 2.5 hours from the south east coast where we left On Delay.
November 2012, Kuna Yala
We really enjoyed the seafood in Kuna Yala. Fruit and vegetables in the shops were scarce and mostly poor quality, but the fresh seafood almost made up for it.
Imagine door-to-door salemen offering fresh fish, crab and lobster at reasonable prices. With Gayle away, Tony and I tried particularly hard to tire of crab and lobster. [For the record, I discovered it takes me three days and then I need two days off.]
Kuna Yala, November 2012
Shannon and CJ came to visit On Delay for a week in November. Shannon wrote this wonderful journal of her time with us and kindly agreed to let us share it with you, our blog readers. (I added in the photos; many taken by Shannon but some taken by the rest of the crew.) I hope you enjoy this fine trip report.
Aridup to Snug Harbour, December 3, 2012
Last posting about our time in Kuna Yala
We were hanging out in Aridup (a beautiful spot north of Playon Chico) and we were approached by a Kuna man (later introduced as Señor Delion) and his grandson. We bought some Kuna bread from him and then he asked where we were going next and when. He asked if we could take him to Snug Harbour with us as his home is nearby.
Kuna Yala (aka San Blas islands) November 9 to December 9, 2012
Molas are fabric panels of reverse appliqué. They are handmade by Kuna women in Panama. The Kuna woman use two mola panels as the basis for the blouses of their traditional dress.
This is a mola blouse. There is a similar mola panel at the back of the blouse. This is a traditional Kuna design, not related to the Nazi swastika.
Kuna Yala (aka San Blas islands) November 9 to December 9, 2012
Kuna Yala is a semi-autonomous region of Panama. The region is an archipelago of islands (300 – 400 of them) and a long thin strip of Atlantic-side mainland adjacent to the islands. Kuna Yala begins just west of the border with Colombia.
The region is mostly governed and peopled by the Kuna indians, many of whom live in family or tribal communities. Homes are typically made of bamboo with thatched roofs. The men mostly fish, gather coconuts, and do some subsistence farming on the mainland (bananas, plantains, yucca, mango, etc.). Kuna society is matriarchal. The women make molas for sale to collectors and tourists and so are major contributors to the economy of Kuna Yala. The women also wear traditional dress.
San Blas Islands, Panama, Wednesday, December 5, 2012
A couple of weeks ago, Pete and Gayle flew off for Thanksgiving and other family fun in California and New Jersey. Tony and Jane are soldering (should be soldiering) on in remote Kuna Yala (aka San Blas islands).
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