Started out with an internet café and a quick trip to the bank. The Sigma speedo decided to start working again after drying out all day. I changed my direction for today’s destination. Mixed salad for brunch and a coffee, then of I went into the flooding rain with occasional spells of sauna like heat. Cycled passed two of the biggest banana producers in this country (Chiquita and Del Monte) and had a chance for a chat and quick look how the packing process worked before the bananas go on the ship to Europe and North America.
Later on I acquired a friend who turned to be a bit of a con, as some local guy on the bicycle chased him off and told me to be careful.
Had a small break in a bar in the middle of nowhere for a couple of beers and a local “Mondongo” which is basically tripe with crispy tortilla.
Well over 30 km of bumpy muddy track until I arrived in the small village of Cano Blanco. Just seconds after I`ve worked out from an English speaking café owner, the local boat bus had arrived and I had to board for Parismina. The boat driver charged me two thousand local (around 4 US Dollars) and of we went on a speed boat roller coaster around chunks of big trees floating towards the sea. 3km backwater ride was full of birds that I could recognize only a few of. I wouldn’t have minded making this trip a little bit slower! Arrived at my destination under an hour before un set, so had to be quick. I asked the locals for directions to one recommended hostel and ended up in a kind of dead-end beach house. The girl opening the door turned out to be a volunteer from Canada who spoke fluent English and Spanish and helped me out to find accommodation. I was introduced to a local American women who runs the turtle protection centre, but being out of season I got my self a ticket to help cleaning the beach with local youth the following afternoon.
The town has no roads or traffic of any kind, there is one car there and two quad bikes according to my American/Canadian informers.
The town itself seems to be a little seedy but I had only seen it in the dark with lots of young lads hanging around pointlessly. Needless to say the beach stretches for miles slightly divided from town with palm trees and there are some backwaters and wildlife to discover too. Drank my coconut milk, got some sweet bread rolls and tomatoes in the local, poorly stocked shop. Gave up on a karaoke bar 300m from my hotel and decided to watch a film. The room was absolutely massive, probably the size of the flat in Sadyba <approx 60 meters> with two doubles and one single bed, plus a bathroom, all for ten dollars per night. Not too bad with a 30 second walk to the beach. It was twenty past ten when the rain started to poor down over the tin roof cover making a mega racket. I hoped I would be able to sleep through it!
Later on I acquired a friend who turned to be a bit of a con, as some local guy on the bicycle chased him off and told me to be careful.
Had a small break in a bar in the middle of nowhere for a couple of beers and a local “Mondongo” which is basically tripe with crispy tortilla.
Well over 30 km of bumpy muddy track until I arrived in the small village of Cano Blanco. Just seconds after I`ve worked out from an English speaking café owner, the local boat bus had arrived and I had to board for Parismina. The boat driver charged me two thousand local (around 4 US Dollars) and of we went on a speed boat roller coaster around chunks of big trees floating towards the sea. 3km backwater ride was full of birds that I could recognize only a few of. I wouldn’t have minded making this trip a little bit slower! Arrived at my destination under an hour before un set, so had to be quick. I asked the locals for directions to one recommended hostel and ended up in a kind of dead-end beach house. The girl opening the door turned out to be a volunteer from Canada who spoke fluent English and Spanish and helped me out to find accommodation. I was introduced to a local American women who runs the turtle protection centre, but being out of season I got my self a ticket to help cleaning the beach with local youth the following afternoon.
The town has no roads or traffic of any kind, there is one car there and two quad bikes according to my American/Canadian informers.
The town itself seems to be a little seedy but I had only seen it in the dark with lots of young lads hanging around pointlessly. Needless to say the beach stretches for miles slightly divided from town with palm trees and there are some backwaters and wildlife to discover too. Drank my coconut milk, got some sweet bread rolls and tomatoes in the local, poorly stocked shop. Gave up on a karaoke bar 300m from my hotel and decided to watch a film. The room was absolutely massive, probably the size of the flat in Sadyba <approx 60 meters> with two doubles and one single bed, plus a bathroom, all for ten dollars per night. Not too bad with a 30 second walk to the beach. It was twenty past ten when the rain started to poor down over the tin roof cover making a mega racket. I hoped I would be able to sleep through it!