Panama!

Its been a while since my last installment. This is more due to the fact that Ive been finding the internet connection here extremely slow on the singular computer that is shared between staff and guests here at the hotel. In addition to the general unavailability of the computer, there is the problem that when it is available, the keyboard is arranged for german speakers and the keys tend to stick so one needs to pound on the keys with extra force in order to make it work. Its a hunt and peck situation, folks.
On this lazy afternoon in the tropics I have a few minutes to relate some of my journey since leaving Nicaragua two weeks ago. The journey in itself could really be a blog entry. It was an epic 36 hours between leaving Inanitah and arriving at Hotel Hibicus Garden, my new home. Check it out at: www.hibiscusgarden.com . The epic part was really two boarder crossings, one into Costa Rica and one into Panama. On a bus, everyone needs to get off the bus, stand in line at departure country to get stamped out, walk down the street to the next countrys boarder crossing, get stamped in, then take our luggage off the bus and pass it through security before getting back on the bus to get on down the road. This process took about 2 hours in Costa Rica and about 3 hours in Panama with 50 people cycling through together. Mind you, I had my backpack and a massage table with me as luggage, which made the transport a bit more of a challenge. I found myself carrying the table on my head across bridges, streets, and through bus stations alike, often being heckled a bit by bemused locals.
Once in Santiago, I was met by two of our staff members, where we spent the day doing grocery shopping and other random chores in the big city before heading down to our little haven on the beach. The drive down is about 2 hours normally in the 'flying sausage' van. Named so because it has flying sausages painted on the outside, or did, until Mick recently had it painted white. I think I preferred the character of flying sausages to white unmarked van, but not my call to make. Anyway, flying sausage got a flat tire on the way back home, not surprising due to the nature of the roads here and by the time we arrived I had a full blown fever and went right to bed.
Two days later, I emerged from my feverish state, head clear, and began to have a look around me. We are in a place called Lagatero, which is a bay on the southern coast of Panama. It is about a 10k drive to the larger ocean with real waves and lots of surfers. I discovered why its called Lagatero when I went jogging on the beach one of my first mornings after recovery. Lagatero is the Spanish word for Alligator. I found a dead one on the beach! Big one, maybe 6ft long. I told Mick at breakfast about my discovery and he sent Adan and I on horseback to retrieve the head to make alligator tooth necklaces! This was super cool. Adan weilded a machete and cut off the giant head, which probably weighed 15 lbs. or more and tied it onto a rope which he then tied to the saddle of my horse. So, I got to drag a giant alligator head down the beach by horseback. This was a lot of fun, but kinda tricky because I had to steer clear of getting it caught in driftwood or brush while it bumped along against the surf. The next morning Adan tied it up to a tree and about 100 or so vultures held council around this great feast, divying up the goods. I am looking forward to wearing an alligator tooth necklace when the head has fully decomposed and no longer smells of death.
What else? Lets see...I am doing a few massages on guests and staff and teaching yoga at a hotel in Santa Catalina where the beach is located on Tuesday afternoons in a beautiful treetop studio.
Im working kitchen shifts 6 days a week in trade for my room and board and having a good amount of time each day to reflect, read, relax and melt into a hammock. Its a really sweet way to spend winter.
Ok, more soon. I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season. I turned 37 here last week, which was quite, sweet, and the chef made me a lovely coconut, pineapple, rum cake which was amazing.
Love to you all. Write and let me know how you are...