Humanity Squared: Portobelo, Panama

Friday, April 26, 2013

Portobelo, Panama

So we sailed into the Portobelo harbor and dropped anchor in what we hoped would be a quiet spot. Needing more information about the particulars of transiting the canal we started questioning other boaters that looked like they may be ahead of us in the process. Of course you hear horror stories...the long delays, where not to wait, transits gone wrong, the expense and the bureaucratic nightmare we were to face. But until we actually started the process we thought we would enjoy Portobelo.

The vultures were everywhere, especially swarming above the church called San Felipe. i kind of wondered about that.

The old and the new!

Another black christ but this one has quite a history. He is said to have been delivered to Portobelo accidentally but didn't want to leave and caused all sorts of turmoil and miracles. Every year hundreds of people crawl into town on their knees to ask forgiveness. You can find more of the history HERE.

Scariest mask at the show.

We met nice people everywhere even though we were warned not to walk the streets of Colon and that 28 gangs were just waiting to attack us just because we were Gringos with dollar signs written all over us. When i actually went there on a bus later it didn't look so dangerous but we did follow directions and take the really inexpensive taxi's that are everywhere. A lot of the negatory story was worst case scenario.

Sailing to Colon

The ZONE...I counted 38 tankers just waiting to transit. There were loads more in the other direction.

Colon didn't look dangerous...but looks can be deceiving. The people on the streets and in the grocery stores and on the bus were nothing but kind. We took taxis like we were instructed but i was dying to get out and walk around.

we had to go wait somewhere until they called to tell us when to come get measured. We found a little secluded spot at the Flats and spent the night. The horns and containers dropping all night made it a bit rough.

We got measured the next day.. the stories unfortunately had sunk in so after we paid the transit fee at the Citi bank you accessed from mooring at Club Nautico we booked it on out of there and found a nicer secluded spot to wait.

Spent two nights here...no crocodiles...did lots of swimming and more boat maintenance then back to Portobelo where i got off to spend a few nights on shore with an old friend from St. Croix that i had run into accidentally. That's a great story but too long to go into here. That friend ended up being our 4th line handler and professionally photographed the whole journey through the canal.