Shelter Bay Marina, Colon Panama

9 22.05 N 79 57.00 W 

We pulled into Shelter Bay marina and took the marina bus to Colon – the second most important city in Panama. We were required to check into Colon then out again when we were due to leave. I don't think I can accurately describe Colon – it is very poor – resembles a city that has been through a war – vacant broken buildings about to fall, no paint or windows – a lot of ill, maimed and starving people on the streets with sores or disfigured limbs – very sad and rather frightening. The Marina had warned us not to walk anywhere – not even across the road from the supermarket to the hardware – take a taxi. Each taxi driver warned us again. It was very dangerous


Shelter Bay marina has a large swimming pool, clean large shower facilities, laundry and a huge lounge/computer/meeting room that is airconditioned – tis rather cold actually. Oh and the room has a huge flat screen tv and comfy couches where you often see yachties catching up on some sleep in the cool air. I begged, bribed and cajoled Don to stay here for the cyclone season rather than sail to Bocas del Toro which is North and situated on the border of Panama and Costa Rica (Caribbean side). I obviously need lessons in “man handling” coz I didn't even see him flinch or reconsider for a second – not even when I threatened to stop cooking his favourite meals (or other services which we shall not mention). We did the sail to Bocas del Toro which was suppose to take approx. 24 hrs but in typical fashion took double that time – what we didn't realise is being offshore meant we were in direct line of the current, which of course was against us. Thunder, lightning, rain and large swell did not improve my temperament. We had read and everyone had told us that Bocas del Toro was the wettest place in Panama and the wet season would be intolerable – lots of bugs also. Bocas lived up to its reputation – the “no-see-ums” were terrible – they bit all day and night – they must have been breeding in our bed – they were worse as the sun set but you could not go without total coverage of the highest content deet lotion found – and then still got bitten as the weather was so humid that the sweat flushed the deet off every few hours. I think I broke the record for the “I told you sooos”. Every night I dreamed of swimming pools and airconditioned rooms with tv – oh and Shelter Bay had a restaurant also !!!