We left for Panama on Dec 29 and had one week in Gamboa (near the canal) roaming around the jungle collecting ants for my husband's work. We went down with two young students from the university, and met up with an American couple who live down there and who helped us out with administration, collecting etc. They also showed us around Panama City and took us to a New Years Eve party and we became great friends and were very sorry to have to say goodbye at the end.
Our accommodation was simple but nice and it was just a short walk to everything (Gamboa is an extremely small town). In the mornings we would get ready and pack our lunches, then head off into the jungle. We saw many different animals including agoutis, howler monkeys, capuchins, otters, heaps of frogs including poison dart frogs, snakes, spiders and much more.
All in all, it was a wonderful time in Gamboa. The jungle was beautiful, the weather was beautiful, and having my 30th birthday in such a wonderful place was the icing on the cake.
After the collecting work was finished, we said goodbye to the couple and took the 2 students back to the airport and then continued on our way to the other side of Panama, near the Colombian border, to a group of islands called San Blas or Kuna Yala Comarca. This was our holiday part of the trip and our last chance to see some sun and warm weather for some time!
We stayed on a main island with the Kuna Yala people, in a dirt floor hut with no running water and a toilet that was a shack over the sea (you could see the fish swimming below!). The people fed us 3 meals a day and took us, in motorized canoes, to other small islands every day. All the islands we went to were inhabited by one or two families only. Some days there were lots of visitors, and other days we were the only ones there. Each of the islands we went to could be walked around in under 10 minutes, had beautiful clear water and white sand, and hammocks to lounge around in. The total cost per day for this great experience was 20USD. I challenge you to find an island paradise for less! Granted, I did get sick and ended up in hospital once back in Atlanta, but leave it to my delicate stomach to find fault with something. Anyhow, it was totally worth it, Panama is a beautiful country with so many things on offer & we were so lucky to have 5 days to ourselves, lying on a beautiful beach, discussing our future and the busy year ahead.
Now that we are back, the madness is creeping back in again. We have now moved twice since we left our house just before Christmas (a sewage problem caused us to pack up in a hurry and move out), and will be moving for a third (and final) time tomorrow. Fortunately we have some kind friends who have let us use their places while they have been away. Tomorrow we move in with a couple and their 1 year old son.
The good news is that I now have my re-entry permit for the States, which is designed to not cause problems because I'll be out of the country for a long period (green card holders aren't meant to live in other countries!) We also found out today that we have temporary accommodation lined up. It's only until the end of March unfortunately, so we'll have to get on to finding a permanent place very quickly. Otherwise, we're pretty much all packed and sorted and a count up at this stage shows 3 suitcases, 2 packs, 2 carry on, and 4 boxes. Not too bad for all our worldly possessions.
So, this may be good bye from Atlanta. We'll be able to get back in touch fairly quickly once we arrive in Zurich as the apartment has internet. Until then, take care and see you in Zurich sometime soon!
