Portobelo

20 March 2016

The Indians of the Kuna tribe inhabit the islands we saw. They live –out of necessity- simple lives. Fish is their main source of nutrition and there were a few palm, bread and mango trees. Two tribes that live on the mainland, exchange fruit and vegetables with them for fish. Fresh water is collected per canoe from the river on the mainland. The villages are crowded and because the walls are made of bamboo it is very noisy. It is very special to walk around there.
We have also visited a very nice other town in Panama: Portobelo. From this port the biggest part of the gold and silver that was looted by the Spaniards was shipped. The city has been plundered many times by pirates, just like Cartagena. We stayed shortly in the beautiful bay. There is not a puff of wind and the heat is unbearable. The jungle grows into the water and one smells the rain forest on deck. 
We welcomed a new group of guests on board and we are now on our way to Bahia de Las Minas, right next to the entrance of the Panama Canal. A light breeze gives us as bit of cooling and just enough speed to be in time for the –mandatory– pilot. In Bahia de Las Minas we will stay for two days.