Stuck in San Blas because of heavy weather
Trip Start
Mar 22, 2010
1
270
331
Trip End
Feb 12, 2011
Where I stayed
Wichup Wala, Kuna Yala, Panama
Monday, December 13, 2010
Around 7:00 the plane should land, but didn't then we heard it was delayed, so we waited and waited at the restaurant on the island (Restaurante Nan Magiryai).
Good thing about it, I found my addiction again, as they had coke in the restaurant. So after 4 days I had a real Coca Cola ;) Then around 11:00 I heard from some Americans who where waiting for there sons to arrive, that there sons where about to leave Panama City with the plane that would pick me up. That would mean the plane would arrive at 12:00, five hours later then planned.
Around 12:15 we heard that the flight was canceled because of the bad weather, and that we had to try again tomorrow :( So Orlando told me to get some lunch, as in the hotel they where not prepared so there would be no lunch at the hotel.
After my lunch I met a German sailor who told me that the weather was the worst in a 100 years. The Panama canal was closed for the first time in 20 years, because of all the rain, a sail boat sunk, a big cargo ship was stuck on the reef, there was a mud slide on the border with Colombia that washed away a whole village and all the roads from the main land to the coast where washed away. So a lot of problems and disaster.
When I finished my lunch Orlando asked me to stay on El Porvenir while he would go home to get some lunch and that he would be back at 14:00 or 15:00. So I got my laptop out and wrote my blog.
Then around 13:30 we heard a plane, but it was false alarm, the plane was not landing at El Porvenir :( But after a while i heard a gossip that maybe around 15:00 a plane would arrive. But I don't believe in it anymore, as the wind is pretty heavy. It would be nice as they predict for tomorrow even worse weather and I really want to catch my plane to Ecuador the day after tomorrow.
While waiting for Orlando, I decided to install a old DOS game called SpeedBall II. And played that for a while ;) Around 15:30 the restaurant closed, so I went to the border control on the island, as that was the only place left that was open.
Then someone called Orlando and he came to pick me up at 16:00, we went back to Wichup Wala. And I walked back to my accommodation. Geraldo (the owner) was surprised to see me again. He told me that I could move into my old room ;)
After I checked-in again, I went for a walk on the island, when I was at one of the docks, I saw people trowing rubbish out of their canoe. Really weird, most of the tribe members don't watch the environment. Even the kids trough there empty chips packets everywhere. Sad to see. I heard from some sailors that they where picking up rubbish out of the ocean, and that tribe members told them to keep there hands of it, as it was theirs. Weird.
After my walk around dinner was ready, another nice meal potato, veggies and of course fish ;) But all good, every time they prepare the fish in a different way. The cook is pretty good, he worked as cook for the Americans on the Panama Canal for years.
After my dinner I read the Flair and Viva, girls magazines in Dutch Afke left ;) And wanted to buy a soda, and guess what they had Coca Cola and it was possible again to buy beer. I already thought I saw some ships with goods docking today. So I bought a nice coke, suggested to Geraldo that my night tonight would cost USD$ 20.00 as I didn't have breakfast and lunch, he agreed so I paid him and went to my room.
I started my PC and updated my blog, made a backup of my photos and relaxed a bit, till the generator stopped and it was time to go to bed. Tomorrow another early morning. My alarm is set for 5:40, hopefully I will be able to catch a plane, otherwise it will be tied if I want to make it to Quito on time.
Patrick
Facts:
Lunch at Restaurante Nan Magiryai (Chicken, rice and spagetti) @ USD$ 4.50
Coffee at Restaurante Nan Magiryai @ USD$ 0.50
Coke at Restaurante Nan Magiryai @ USD$ 1.00
Room for the night USD$ 20.00 (only dinner included)
