4 to 6 Feb, 2009 – Boca Brava, Panama
Our first bout of bad weather. Rain on our bus ride, resulting in wet packs (they were on the roof, and honestly, it looked bright and sunny when we got on the bus and put them up there). So we eventually get to Boca Brava, a little island just off the coast, on the Pacific side of the country. A fantastic setup, relatively inexpensive, with a magnificent dining area. 180 degree plus views from open terraces, built high on a point of the island. And therein lay the first problem. Open terraces. With the wind and rain howling, all the guests huddled on a few tables closest to the bar.
Arcoiris
View from terrace
Looking from the terrace back to the mainland.
During the night, the wind picked up more and more. Would we open the door in the morning to find two legs in striped stockings sticking out from underneath? “This doesn't look like Kansas, Jo!” But no, the cabin proved itself to be solid enough. Although the rain had pretty much disappeared and the clouds were few and high, the wind was brutal. Electricity was off. In the terraced dining area, “breezy” was no longer an appropriate adjective. “Breezy” was just sarcasm, now. Chairs and tables were now tied down. Some pieces of the roof lay far below, twisted beyond the possibility of re-use. The glass rattled menacingly in its frames. And again, a few tables close to the bar area were densely populated.
So, no rain, just wind. We filled the morning with a walk and a swim on the protected side of the island. So protected, that the water was dead calm in the bay, and the only indication that the weather had not let up was the distant howling and whistling in the trees high above us on the ridge. Zorro, the dog from our hospedaje, joined us for the walk and he waited most patiently on the beach while we swam, in our underwear, because somebody stupid (possibly me) grabbed the wrong bag from the room before they set out. Luckily, the beach was practically deserted. Oh, there were a couple of other dogs, so Zorro had some friends to play with between lounging in the shade.
Zorro waits patiently till we are finished at the beach
Power did not return. Water was starting to run low, as they use pumps to fill the tanks. And although the wind eased over the next night (only just so very slightly - the cabin still sounded like it was being torn from the foundations), by the next morning, the owner had to make the difficult decision to close up. Without water, he could not offer accommodation. And with no definite time line for the power to come back, he had no other option. Guests who were only just showing up after making the two hour trip out were being turned straight around. So, earlier than planned, it was time to move on.
Our first bout of bad weather. Rain on our bus ride, resulting in wet packs (they were on the roof, and honestly, it looked bright and sunny when we got on the bus and put them up there). So we eventually get to Boca Brava, a little island just off the coast, on the Pacific side of the country. A fantastic setup, relatively inexpensive, with a magnificent dining area. 180 degree plus views from open terraces, built high on a point of the island. And therein lay the first problem. Open terraces. With the wind and rain howling, all the guests huddled on a few tables closest to the bar.
Arcoiris
View from terrace
Looking from the terrace back to the mainland.
During the night, the wind picked up more and more. Would we open the door in the morning to find two legs in striped stockings sticking out from underneath? “This doesn't look like Kansas, Jo!” But no, the cabin proved itself to be solid enough. Although the rain had pretty much disappeared and the clouds were few and high, the wind was brutal. Electricity was off. In the terraced dining area, “breezy” was no longer an appropriate adjective. “Breezy” was just sarcasm, now. Chairs and tables were now tied down. Some pieces of the roof lay far below, twisted beyond the possibility of re-use. The glass rattled menacingly in its frames. And again, a few tables close to the bar area were densely populated.
So, no rain, just wind. We filled the morning with a walk and a swim on the protected side of the island. So protected, that the water was dead calm in the bay, and the only indication that the weather had not let up was the distant howling and whistling in the trees high above us on the ridge. Zorro, the dog from our hospedaje, joined us for the walk and he waited most patiently on the beach while we swam, in our underwear, because somebody stupid (possibly me) grabbed the wrong bag from the room before they set out. Luckily, the beach was practically deserted. Oh, there were a couple of other dogs, so Zorro had some friends to play with between lounging in the shade.
Zorro waits patiently till we are finished at the beach
Power did not return. Water was starting to run low, as they use pumps to fill the tanks. And although the wind eased over the next night (only just so very slightly - the cabin still sounded like it was being torn from the foundations), by the next morning, the owner had to make the difficult decision to close up. Without water, he could not offer accommodation. And with no definite time line for the power to come back, he had no other option. Guests who were only just showing up after making the two hour trip out were being turned straight around. So, earlier than planned, it was time to move on.
1 comment:
I would have thought that after the couple of days on that island you guys could cope with no water, power and the like... :)
And Im really bummed about the photos of the square trees... poops!
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