17 hours of traveling does wonders to your ass

I could almost see the “finish line”. At the same time I knew there was lots of interesting things on the way. One of those interesting things was the countries most pristine tourist atraction, Bocas Del Toro. These apparently beautiful Caribbean islands had to wait for some other time. I did go to the harbor where to boats leave to the islands but just didn’t feel like hopping into one.

The morning had started at 6 a.m in Puerto Viejo in small town by the Caribbean sea. Shitty tourist town with some serious surf if your up to it. After walk on the beach I got my stuff together and planned on jumping on a bus heading to the border. The bus was delayed because of heavy rain had destroyed many roads. Instead a minivan took us, a punch of foreigners, to the border. On the way we saw a bus that couldn’t cross a part of the road that was washed away by the heavy rains. People were standing by the road and waiting for taxis. Too bad for them..

Border officer: “Where is your return ticket to Costa Rica?”
Me: “I’m not planning on coming back.”
Border officer: “Where are you going After Panama?”
Me: “None of your business!” ok actually I made up a lie: “I have a flight to Columbia” In reality I had no idea where I was going.
Border officer: “Hmmmm.. ok.”

You see technically you can’t enter Panama unless you have a flight or bus ticket to some other country.

- Exit stamp!
- Adios Costa Rica!
- I’ll miss your surf the rest you can keep for now!

On the other side of the border I made the mistake of taking ridiculously expensive minivan. I should know by now these cheaters… Then again I was in a hurry.

Next another bus to David. 4 hour bus ride started from the coast and climbed over the mountains. The forrest looked like thick jungle. At some point we reached the clouds and it started raining. My backpack got soaked on the roof, no biggie. As we reached the top of the mountain the driver started speeding down the road. I hoped the tires were in decent shape.

The landscape had changed entirely. Pine trees and dry looking vegetation surrounded to scenery. I was scratching my head, I guess the rain doesn’t reach that side of the mountain that easy. Further down the nice and fresh air soon changed back to humid rainforest and the sweating started again.

In David 30 minutes layover gave me just enough time to eat a hamburger without meat. The last leg of the trip was only seven hours. After watching the same movie without sound and subtitles from the farthest seat of the bus, twice(!) I made an important realization about myself and fell asleep feeling happy.

At this point I have to mention how shitty the leg space in busses is in Central America (excluding Mexico). All the vehicles are planned out for small people. You always have two options while sitting down. Window seat for nice ventilation or aisle seat for more leg space and as a joker let’s not forget about the standing up position. Of course that rule doesn’t apply to Guatemala and chicken busses in general. In those things you always want the window seat. That way you wont be surrounded by two fat women from both sides on a bench meant for 2 school children. Window seat = nice pressure from 2 women and the wall of the bus to keep you from sliding on the bench + nice ventilation. You have to choose the left or right side of the bus depending of the direction where you are heading and time of the day. It’s an art form and I don’t expect you to master it after these few short instructions.

Finally after 17 hours of traveling at 1.am the bus had arrived to it’s last stop. Taxi playing really loud reggeton music took me to my accommodation. The reception of the hostel had closed but they had the policy of letting people sleep on the sofas. How cool is that?! That would never happen in Finland!

So here I am at my final destination in Central America – Panama City! I didn’t know they had skyscrapers…

I have to say that after taking a quick morning walk around the Casco Viejo (the old town) I like the place. The surroundings make me want to take photos again… Then back to reality, just like many other places in Central America, this place is also suffering from water shortage. No water to take a shower after pretty sweaty trip. Don’t really care about that shower but I am worried about fresh water in general.

Only in Central America: From one major ocean to another in one day. Now what? My ass was still sore from sitting, I stunk like a big and had no idea where I was going. I love it! I just don’t think the swedish girl next to me on this sofa loves me. Man I stink!