My first full day in Bocas Del Toro

After my hot start to my stay at Bocas I got up on Thursday morning and had booked a day on a catamaran.  It was a cloudy cool start but just being on a boat is relaxing for me.  We had no wind so had to use the motor to get to Dolphin Bay - where there are ALWAYS dolphin sightings.  We sailed all over the bay and never did see a dolphin.  We pulled into an area by the mangroves and got to snorkel.  The water is very clear and this area has different fish than out in the open and the coral was magnificent. 
While we snorkeled our captain made us lunch and there is nothing better than food while taking in the views of the bay.  We sailed out of that area to more open waters  and he wind had picked up to get the real feel of sailing.  There is something so wonderful about feeling the water under you and the wind moving you.  It gives one time to reflect and just enjoy the beauty of nature around you.
We pulled into our second snorkeling place and and within seconds we were surrounded by an ever growing flurry of black and yellow striped fish.  Our captain told us how this is the spot that he exclusively uses for snorkeling and noticed that as he threw the scraps from the pineapple these fish would come around- now they wait for him to arrive and more so wait for him to toss the goodies.  There were hundreds of the fish churning the water.  But we came to snorkel and this is where we saw the more colorful fish and fabulous reef.  I even got to see my first stingray- they are huge and so graceful as they skim over the bottom.  I could snorkel for hours but one does not realize while in the water how exhausting it is.  Or maybe it is just my age???? but I finally had to board back on to the catamaran, snack on the fresh fruit and sit back and enjoy a cold beer..  The day was all I had expected if not more.  After a month of being grandma I got to do something just for me but I did wish Kaiden too could have experienced this.
We sailed back to Bocas Town and with skin kissed by the sun and pleasantly tired I made the short walk back to the hotel for a cool shower and short nap before heading out to find supper.

Bocas is a throw back to the 1970s.  College age people are all over selling jewelry, carrying surfboards and skateboards.  The people that are more my age are ones who never grew up, they still think and act like they did in their 20s which can be interesting and also humorous. 
As always I love to watch the kids - across the street from my hotel is the local swimming "hole".  At times 30-40 kids are splashing and  jumping off the dock, and I sat and watching them every chance I got.  Bicycles zoom by, taxis are the main form of transportation as this is an island and the  ferry brings any other vehicles on its once a day trip.  There are shops selling the usual touristy items but mixed in are the artist of Panama with wonderful paintings, pottery, jewelry and more.  English is spoken here almost as much as Spanish so communication is easy.

This is one of the few places that you cannot drink the water- and I did worry about forgetting when brushing my teeth ( you should poor water out of a bottle) and the fact that the fruit and veggies is washed in this same water.  Music is every where from the bars and restaurants to musicians on the street hoping for tips.
The day was near perfect and as evening arrived I sat looking over the water, a margarita in my  and being thankful that there are still places like Bocas Del Toro left in this fast paced world