New Nationwide Movement Restrictions in Panama

Posted on by by Posted in Central and South Americas, Pacific Islands, Sailings
COVID19 Movement Restrictions in Panama
(Women on Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays, Men on Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays)

Effective April 1, 2020, new movement restrictions will begin in Panama. Both Women and Men are allowed to go for essential shopping on separate days. On Sundays, everyone must stay home. Designated movement times are depending on the last digit of your Identification Card (National ID or Passport). People 60 and over are only allowed between the hours of 11 am to 1 pm. John’s passport number ends with “5”. He is allowed to go shopping between the hours of 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm.

…

Continue Reading >>


Keeping Social Distance in Panama

Posted on by by Posted in Central and South Americas, Pacific Islands, Sailings

What can I do to make my day bright? Is it avoiding listening to the media?

I have watched so many YouTube videos in the last two weeks, more than I have watched in my whole life prior to this “Coronavirus Pandemic”. I did learn a lot, and found some really crazy and interesting things that I didn’t care much about but were pretty funny and silly at the same time. We are fortunate that we arrived in a Marina with decent WiFi speed. There are other marinas that we have been in that we either had to use a Simcard tethering a phone or even worse walking up to the office and sitting in the sun to a internet connection.

…

Continue Reading >>


Pictures from Panama Canal Crossing – Bunny and Fox

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Central and South Americas, Pacific Islands, Sailings

Bunny and Fox: Our Boat “Bad Bunny” and a Belgium Boat “Fox” in front of the Big Freighter “Maersk Bali” in one of the three Pacific Side Locks

(February 9 to 10, 2020) We enlisted an agent to aid us in the panama canal crossing paperwork. The process was painless on our side, just a bit expensive, but it was worth it. We also hired four Panamanian line handlers as we felt more comfortable using people who had done this many times rather than enlisting the help of other yachties who may or may not know what they are doing.

…

Continue Reading >>


Pictures from Old Panama City (Casco Viejo)

Posted on by by Posted in Central and South Americas, Pacific Islands, Sailings

Panama City View from Hotel Swimming Pool in Old Town Panama City, Panama

Since my last blog, we have been very busy. We crossed the Panama Canal from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean. It was a lot of work preparing for the Canal Transit. Crossing the canal was a huge experience. We cheerfully toasted the success of the crossing.

After arriving in the Pacific side of Panama, I went home in Florida and sold my condo. I got rid of most of belongings and put the rest of my history in a small storage room (200 Cubic Feet).

…

Continue Reading >>


Pictures from the San Blas Islands in Panama

Posted on by by Posted in Caribbean Islands, Sailings, South America

One of East Coco Bandero Islands, San Blas, Panama. Tourists can sleep overnight in a small building on a hammock.

Small building with palm fronds and solar panels. Coco Bandero Island, San Blas, Panama

Hammocks in the Building on Coco Bandero Island, San Blas, Panama

View from my cabin looking at the Island where we buried my cat, four years ago.

I made to my cat’s island. San Blas, Panama…

Continue Reading >>


Pictures from Santa Marta, Colombia

Posted on by by Posted in Sailings, South America

Sculpture by the Beach in Santa Marta, Colombia

Souvenirs Made from Venezuelan Money, Santa Marta, Colombia

Street Vendors on the Main Street, Santa Marta, Colombia

Street Vendors on the Main Street, Santa Marta, Colombia

Sancocho, A Type of Typical Colombian Soup

A Shot during a Break for Hiking for River Tubing, Palomino, Colombia
We took a moto-taxi to the trail (10 Minutes), hiked more (1 Hour), and tube ride to the ocean (3 hours).

Fried Fish (Snook) Lunch by the Beach after Tubing, Palomino, Colombia

Before departing Santa Marta, we loaded with lots of tropical fruits and vegetables.…

Continue Reading >>


Joined Gym Membership in Santa Marta

Posted on by by Posted in Sailings, South America

Rumba Class (Instuctor: Luis Marrugo) at Santa Marta Fitness Center, Colombia

My recent hobby is going to the gym; because, a work-out makes me feel good. While staying in Santa Marta, I decided to join the fitness center. A temporary membership cost about USD 25 (= 80,000 Pesos for 15 uses in two months ). They offer various classes. I attended a Rumba class and a Combat class. The Combat class was the same as the Kickboxing class in my gym in Fort Lauderdale (Broward General Hospital Fitness Center). I liked both the Rumba and Combat Classes. I developed a friendship with my classmates and the instructors.

…

Continue Reading >>


Very Windy Santa Marta, Colombia

Posted on by by Posted in Sailings, South America

Wind blows plastics bags uphill to get stuck in the brush.

It has been extremely windy in Santa Marta, blowing easily 30 to 40 knots at the marina for a week now. Sometimes, almost to 50 knots. Definitely not smart walking with a dog or a kid. When I was in 2015, it was so hot. This time, it is so windy. This area is notorious with strong wind in the Caribbean, especially in December, January, and February. We are looking for a good weather window to leave Santa Marta.

Very windy, note the waves in the marina and the palm tree!…

Continue Reading >>


Drinking Water, Fruits and Vegetables in Santa Marta

Posted on by by Posted in Sailings, South America
Plastic bags of drinking water are economical.

The Central Market in Santa Marta is busy and alive. Fruits and Vegetables are real tasty here. Tomatoes taste like tomatoes and Pineapple melts in your mouth. We have been eating lots of fruits. Making a big jar of Salsa with fresh Cilantro, Tomatoes, Onion, Pepper, Garlic, Lime Juice, Salt, Pepper, and Sugar. For breakfast, we put salsa and oil in a pan. Then, add eggs. It is simple to make and very delicious. For drinking water, we are cautious. Thus, we buy bags of water and transfer it to bottles.

…

Continue Reading >>


Welcome Aboard, Santa Marta, Colombia Part Dos

Posted on by by Posted in Sailings, South America

S/V Bad Bunny at Santa Marta Marina, Colombia

I am back on the boat. Good or bad, I chose to live this way. Some challenges and some incredible experiences. During my absence on the boat, John’s Spanish skills improved greatly. We lost one cat, and now have only the other cat, Swat.

People start the day early in Santa Marta in order to beat the heat of the day. For the last 15 months, John hired a local worker, Daniel for his boat projects. Daniel’s schedule was 6 am to 11 am, 3 hours lunch break,

…

Continue Reading >>


Posts By Month

Top