GALACSEA'S ADVENTURES

25 – 28 february 2014 – Cruising from El Porvenir to Shelter Bay Marina, Panama

 

We are now slowly cruising westward toward Shelter Bay Marina, located at the Panama canal entrance, our last marina before reaching French Polynesia. One night stopover behind Isla Linton, home to monkeys who attack and bite those who dare come on shore. We prudently watch them from afar, as a friend does just that – go onshore and get attacked. She returns with bruises and scratches, and very frightened. Instead, we take the dinghy accross the mangrove to Panamarina marina and enjoy a real french dinner at a restaurant owned by a French couple, who came to Panama a long time ago and never left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second night stopover in the Bay of Portobello, discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the site and its magnificent bay were used as a major center for collecting Central and South American riches and dispatching them to Europe. Almost nothing is left of its former splendor. The town is dilapidated. At the « dinghy dock », guys charge us $2 to watch the boat (more like a racket that you’re wise to pay if you want to find your dinghy unharmed upon return) and $4 for our garbage. In fact, we shouldn’t have discharged our garbage. Moments later, looking at the town, it is clear that there is no sanitation here and that the garbage will end up straight into the sea. Aie ! The town is empty, dirty and sad-looking. Here and there, a few lost tourists, clearly misled by guide books, who arrive in shining 4-wheel drive SUVs. We tour the remnants of the main fort, which must have been formidable. And, in the church, we admire the statue of the « Black Christ » a rare representation of Jesus Christ as a black person. We had planned to stay in Portobello throughout the carnaval period (through March 4), but we leave quickly as it is clear that nothing worthwhile will happen here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28 february – Shelter Bay marina, located at the Panama canal entrance.

 

We arrive in Shelter Bay marina and see the canal entrance from a distance. Doesn’t look so busy. The marina is full of boats that await their transit across to the Pacific side. All you need to know is available right here, this is a good place to get and exchange all the info we need. It’s also a good place to find line handlers as each boat needs 4 of them, in addition to the captain. It is common for boaters to volunteer as line handlers to get a first hand experience of the transit before doing it with their own boat. Excitement is in the air. Preparations for the Pacific voyage are the order of the day.