A Trip to Changuinola

Paperwork issues always confront travelers.  Panama offers no exceptions.  When arriving by air, we were only allowed this time to procure a 30 day travel visa.  When we came in by boat, it was a 6 month visa.  The present norm for mariners is a 90 day window.  Changing from 30 to 90 and back, now seem to be the norm in Panamanian 'what do we do today guys' way of planning.  So, off we went to Changuinola today.  The small town/city of 50,000 is maybe 30 miles away from Bocas, but to get there we had to take a 30 minute water taxi @ 40 mph.plus 25 miles south to Almirante, then take a tourista van 40 or miles NW from there.

It was a nice day and we left at 7 a.m. to be sure to be back to our boat in one day.  All went well and the Immigration office was actually a fun experience, although we left $70 poorer.  We had to fill out forms, get fingerprinted and supply double sets of passport size color photos of each of us.  Then after more signing, questioning and a shift to 2 other desks, we got to see the gal who takes your bucks.  Cordial but for us, confusing.  No matter, we went with the flow and left smiling.

While at the office we ran into another  cruising couple, Ron and Carol from the Virgin Islands.  We all decided to walk town a bit and see if there was any good shopping to be had..  Americans! What would we do if not to shop?  After doing so for maybe an hour, Dorothy and I had bought something each.  She, an article of clothing and I, a plastic washing machine for the boat.  More on that another time.

We left the small department store which had a surprising variety of 'stuff' and also ..... ONE  'UP' escalator !? (Guess the misplaced the DOWN escalator or it sold to a competitor.  Quite thirsty in the late morning heat, we ambled next door to a little eatery.  Taking the edge off day with 4 bottles of beverage-- 2 beers a coke and a water, I went over to the manager to pay the tab.  He raised 3 fingers. ?  I handed him a 10 and got 7 back.  Now I've got to ask you, "When was the last time you were anywhere that you could sit in a restaurant and get a couple of beers, a coke and bottled water for 3 bucks total?"

Amazing.  'Local' economy  and not much of any outsiders, so they price accordingly.

Made me think of those 7,8 and $10 dollar beers I've had before..  sigh

The washing machine story?  Maybe  tomorrow ;)